Moving to edinburgh - where to live?

[bigkidsdidit]

hi everyone

I've just been offered a great job in the royal infirmary :) and we are moving up to Scotland in January. I'm looking on Rightmove and getting very excited but was wondering if anyone could help me decide where to look first...

Not being millionaires the centre of town is out as after renting in London I am craving space. As I'm working at the RI and DH is away mon - fri so doesn't really mind I was thinking Midlothian. What are Bonnyrigg, Newtongrange, Gorebridge, Musselburgh like? Ideally space and gardens but a bit of life - a shop, ideally a playgroup - an d a good primary for DS.

Any advice appreciated :)

I've just realised of course lots of people work those shifts, it's a hospital ! I'm an academic not a doc and up till now have worked in uni buildings. Well, that makes park and ride / buses easier.

Thanks everyone :) this has been very useful.

Do you have local meetups, btw?

I have never been to a meetup in Edinburgh, or the East side of the city, we really should get one organised!!! :)

I had a quick scan on the ESPC, not much out there to rent in Morningside/Comiston just found the one on Craighouse Gardens (38 to the NRIE runs right past) for 725 excl Council Tax. My friend works for a letting agent and they have only two properties on their books at the mo so the rental market is booming.

Oops forgot to add a shuttle for NHS staff runs from the Royal Ed in Morningside to the NRIE but it's quite infrequent.

I suppose October must be peak time for students though? Might be more in Feb.

That sounds good - pay £1700 for a 2.5 bed now

What about Liberton/Gilmerton? Quite a lot of (more) affordable houses in the southside. Plus you'd still be in Edinburgh regarding good bus links to ERI.
Or in East Lothian, go a little further than Musselburgh and you get nicer towns/villages (Port Seton, Haddington, Gullane). Gets pricier the further toward N. Berwick you go!

I second Portobllo, Joppa, Musselburgh area there are buses to the Royal from there. Musselburgh gets more for you're money (probably as it is not classed as Edinburgh ) and very pretty bits (river is lovely).

Well chats with DH and my dad (the holder of The Deposit) and we've decided to rent for a year in Morningside or somewhere I can cycle to work. That way I can pass my driving test before we move out and we can spend a whole year investigating East Lothian and the seaside, which sounds lovely (and as keen sailors it is instinctively where we would like to be).

It's a shame, I am fed up with renting after moving every year for 12 years, but DS is still tiny adn we have time to sort it out and buy a family home before he starts preschool. It's not worth rushing in adn ending up somewhere crappy when hopefully it''ll be our home for 20 years!

thanks so much everyone for all this advice, it's been very useful indeed. I hope to see you all at a meetup :)

Newington and Blackford are nice and nearer the Infirmary, the 24 bus actually only takes 10-15 mins to get there from where I live. :)

Newington and Blackford would be better to cycle than Morningside (although all have the same problem - you go mostly uphill on your way home from work).

God I love Edinburgh. Wish we could live there. Lucky thing and congrats OP. I'd plump for Brunstfield/Morningside too. A bit if a hill will keep you fit!

Sounds good, I love the south side of Edinburgh.

If you're an academic at the RI then we'll be working for the same employer. Feel free to pm me!

I will! I'm at the queen's med institute. Pm coming :)

Oh Morningside is fab, the Canny Man can be your new local pub (if it's still there!), it's cosy.

Doing a happy dance for you OP! I think you've made a great decision! Now remember you will have no reason to come to Midlothian.Ever. :)

Primary schools in Musselburgh are good but I realy do not rate the grammar school. I had 3 nieces who went there and lost count of the number of run-ins my brother had with the school, and they are really not complaining type of people. Also one niece and the whole of her class failed one of their Highers (not specified for fear of identification).

The Canny's is still here and does a fab Bloody Mary.

My son was less than impressed with the Canny Mans as he reckons they don't like student types, changed days from when we hung around there!

Take a look at the Lothian Region bus routes to plan a journey to the RIE
[[http://lothianbuses.com/find-your-bus/route-maps.html]

or cycle maps edinburgh.cyclestreets.net/

The RIE has cycle shelter but make sure to lock your bike up with a D lock or stronger

look at espc for whats for sale www.espc.com/ if you put in a postcode under "solicitor search" you will find those that have offices in that area. Many act as estate agents and may have properties to rent on their books

Take the next year to get a feel for the areas of Edinburgh

I'm biased toward the East of Edinburgh , mainly due to the beach

The south side is lovely. Definitely recommend renting until you find your feet. It's a bit of a buyer's market at the moment (although some areas are still very popular) and if you are renting then you can nab a great property with the advantage of being chain free. I don't the espc.com is the best for looking for rentals though (better for sales) so, you might try a site like s1homes.com.

I was going to suggest that a flat would be impractical with your DH's two bikes, especially if you are planning to cycle as well...

Your DH has posted the same question on another forum I frequent!

I hope between you, you get some good advice, and good luck with the move!

Bigkids, my husband is a post doc at QMRI - which group are you going to be working for?

Ha ha there's been cross over between us before! I have two bikes too and we're considering a tandem next year... Hence the need for a garden!

Will pm you wicket

we have an 8" shed in the shared garden, which beautifully fit our Thorn tandem (before DH and DS got rear-ended and the tandem was totalled :( )

I keep trying to persuade my DP to get a tandem, but I think he doesn't trust me to do my share of the hard work. He says the only way he will agree to one is if he gets to sit behind with a cattle prod! [hwink]