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Original poster

Where to live in Edinburgh - advice needed please :)

37 replies

gemmac · 26/12/2006 17:36

Hello, this is the first time I've posted although I have lurked for a while.
My dh has been offered a job in Edinburgh and is keen to take it. He was a student there many moons ago and has fond memories.
Can anyone advise about which areas are 'nice' for families (2 kids aged 2 and 9 so looking for good schools, family friendly etc) and roughly how much we will have to pay for a 3 or 4 bedroomed house (pref detached).
Any other advice about living in Edinburgh would be gratefully received. I've never even been there although a visit is planned pretty soon.
I know there have been threads like this for other parts of Scotland recently but haven't really found anything about Edinburgh (could be my fault though )
Any help would be most gratefully received.
Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
gemmac · 27/12/2006 17:44

Hi Pruni,

It certainly is daunting - I didn't realise just how expensive Edinburgh was. I was under the (obviously mistaken) impression that Scotland was relatively cheap.
Are you already living in Edinburgh or are you moving up there?
Dh says he lived in Marchmont when he was a student - Sylvan Place, next to the Sick Kids hospital - but this was about 25 years ago (he's an old git )
Good luck to you too.

OP posts:
Original poster
gemmac · 27/12/2006 17:48

Tamum,

a good secondary school is definitely very important to me. I've heard too many horror stories (both from friends and in the media) about children going to poor schools. Don't want this to happen to mine.
You mentioned Gillespies and Boroughmuir in your earlier post. ARe there any other secondary schools that get a good name and also, how do I find out whether a particular house is in the catchment area for a school?

OP posts:
Pruni · 27/12/2006 18:03

Message withdrawn

Original poster
gemmac · 27/12/2006 18:10

Pruni,

thanks for that.
I will try to e-mail you later on tonight.
My children are revolting so I think I'd better go and make them some tea.

OP posts:
tamum · 27/12/2006 18:19

The other one that is good is the Royal High. There is a list for Scotland here which will give you some idea; the other central schools don't make it on to the list though. If Pruni sends you the file that will help- the email address is posted on lots of sites though, there's a page about it here which gives the address. Basically for Gillespies and Boroughmuir you need to be looking at Newington/Grange/Marchmont/Morningside/Bruntsfield/Buckstone. Cramond is in the Royal High catchment but I'm not sure how far it extends. There are nice areas to live like Stockbridge which I would nevertheless avoid because of the catchment area for High school (primary fine). Keep asking questions

liatHoHoHo · 27/12/2006 18:27

You might get more for your money in areas like Trinity than Grange/Morningside. I'd definitely look at split level houses, double uppers will usually have a private garden and can be very spacious. Also most buyers in Edinburgh are looking for period properties - we got a detatched house in Newington that had sat on the market for ages because it was modern.

Family life here is just fab and I'd hate to live anywhere else but sadly property prices are getting beyond a joke unless you work in finance or similar and earn a 6 figure salary.

expatinscotland · 27/12/2006 18:44

My DH is from Trinity. I agree, better value for money, well, relatively speaking!

We're looking to move pretty far north and very out of the way, so no, no commuting into Edinburgh.

I've commuted before, before I even had children, and I found it WAY too stressful even then, so I know it's not for me.

Also that was in teh US where petrol is cheap and commuting costs monetarily are pretty negligable.

Not the case here.

expatinscotland · 27/12/2006 18:47

I also agree w/tamum that it can be very, very socially polarised at the secondary level here. We could never afford private school or to live in a decent catchment area, so it's best to quit now whilst we're ahead and count ourselves lucky.

ScottishMummy · 27/12/2006 19:12

balerno and currie have good schools bit can be pricey for houses

juniper green also Okay

North Berwick is a nice wee seaside town, good transport and express bus into E'burgh @1 hour

Good luck

liatHoHoHo · 27/12/2006 21:16

I grew up in North Berwick, the local schools (primary especially) are (or were then) good and it's a lovely town. Have very fond childhood memories .

expatinscotland · 27/12/2006 21:19

Watch the catchment areas w/Juniper Green.

The council re-drew them for 2006. Contact their website for details.

expatinscotland · 27/12/2006 21:25

DH's beloved Nana, Roisin, for whom DD2 in named, first came to N. Berwick from Cork, Ireland, to work as domestic servant to English landowners, who had a holiday home there.

There, she met MIL's father, a fisherman from New Haven there for a pal's wedding and a bit of a break.

She died there. She rests there.

LOTS of fond memories for her family.

AND, Luca's from Musselburgh brings a van round every weekend in summer and sells the best ice cream around!

Check it out!

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