Thinking of moving to Edinburgh in next few months/before end of the year

[blendedfamily]

Hi everyone,am new to mumsnet. I am Vita, DH and DD(10months old), blended family-i am mixed, german and Nigerian, DH Romanian and Nigeria. Been living in London/Brighton for last 9 years.
Looking to move to Edinburgh, dd most likely will be at the university.

So looking for somewhere close to city not more than 30mins(by cycling,train,bus). Never lived rural so still want some greenery and city feel, family- orientated, plenty activities for young kids and with nice parks etc- close to beach would be great!!!!, close to shops, multicultural- names please?????

a good nursery,kindergarten!,Montessori????- any names recommendations- also can someone explain the school system for young kids.my dd still has a while but do catchment areas apply for early years

rent -2bed no more than £1000. garden great!

Will be grateful for any information.

Thanks.

am i being a bit unrealistic !!!!!

Bruntsfield/Morningside has everything you ask for and you will just about find a 2 bed flat for £1000 (though with a shared garden). Tons of families with kids, montessori and nursery choices aplenty. Local schools very good (start age 4.5-5.5 years) and if you live in a catchment area you are guaranteed a primary one place at that school. Schools are full of multi-national/cultural families like yours.

In the centre of Edinburgh you will not find many houses with gardens. If you want to be nearer the beach, and live in a house, Portobello might be more your thing. Not sure of the mix of people there, though, as I've never lived in that part of town.

I can recommend Stockbridge / Comely Bank. Lots of rented property. Has been v popular over the last few years so going upmarket. However, lots of parks nearby, the Water of Leith (river that runs through city with lovely riverbank walk), a recently restored Victorian swimming pool, all 10/ 15 mins walk from Princes St. Not near the beach but nowhere in Edinburgh is more than a bus ride away from the beach. I would echo Portobello/ Joppa and also Cramond for beach proximity but you will then be much further way from the city centre. The schools in the area are great. Mine were/are at Stockbridge Primary School - lovely small school although now v oversubscribed but , if you're in the catchment area, you will get a place. It also has a nursery from 3 years old. My older child is now at Broughton High School , which is the academy for the whole city for Music, Dance and Football - as well as the local high school. It has a v mixed intake of pupils but the additional mix from the academy pupils creates a great vibe and I am very impressed so far (2 years in). Don't be put off by exam tables - remember the percentage given of children achieving Highers (taken at 17) is a percentage of the school roll at 16 - if you have a lot of children who leave after taking qualifications at 16 that distorts the percentage. What you need to know is how many children taking Highers get good results. A number of children from Broughton achieved Oxbridge places last year (unlike some of the apparently higher ranking state schools in Edinburgh).

Hope this is useful www.edinburgh.gov.uk/info/20074/schools

Hi there,
We moved up to Edinburgh from Brighton in April. It's been great so far. I've got a 12 year old daughter and am currently 39 weeks pregnant. We live in Sciennes which is right by the Meadows, sandwiched between Marchmont and Newington. We've got a very nice two bedroom with a plot in the communal garden for 795.00 a month. It's in the catchment for Sciennes Primary which comes very highly rated as well as James Gillespies Secondary which my daughter currently attends. I've heard good things about Stepping Stones Nursery which is also just around the corner. We're renting through White Lettings although I found the place by scouring Property Finder, Right Move, Lettingweb and the like for weeks on end. I think it's a great area with easy access to parks, shopping and it seems quite multicultural. We spend quite a lot of time in Portobello (by the beach) as well, but I don't know much about the primary schools in that direction. My husband works at Uni Edinburgh and this area can't be beat as far as ease of commute.. He's got a 7 minute walk across the park! Meaning he can usually come home for lunch.

I second Stockbridge, Morningside, Brunstfield and would also include Murrayfield and Corstorphine. All have excellent transport links and their fair share of parks and things to do. Cramond is also lovely and would fulfil you wish to be close to the beach but maybe a bit far out from the city centre and the transportation links there are not so great. Good luck with your move!