Good places to live near Edinburgh?

[Kittypillar]

Morning all, would be really grateful for some help from anyone who is familiar with the areas around Edinburgh please...

My husband has been offered an opportunity to work there and we're considering the move up from the South West with our two young kids (ages 2 and 2 months). We're both excited by the idea in theory because we absolutely love Edinburgh, but we don't know the surrounding areas where you might commute from well enough to choose a place to live.

So we're hoping for an area within commuting distance from the city centre, although DH will probably be working from home at least 3 days a week, so we don't mind if it's a little bit further out - probably 45 minutes ish tops and by public transport if possible? Our priorities are it being a good place to raise two children, so safe, good schools, nice community feel, would be lovely to have some shops nearby. We currently live in
a suburban area just outside of a city but both grew up in villages so would be happy with that too. And it would be ideal to be easily accessible as (hopefully) our families from the England might travel up to visit at some point if they forgive us for moving

Hope that all makes sense (struggling to type as I feed baby and keep an eye on the toddler ), thank you!!

Bus to the old town is a looooong time from most of Edinburgh. If your husband doesn’t cycle you’d be better with train link.

Schools - you get your catchment school, if Catholic you may have a second option. Other than that it’s independent, 25% of edinburgh children attend independents. It’s pay at the door or pay by house value for catchment in Scotland.

If your husband works from home 3 days you need space for that, kid noise could be a problem and with 2 small kids, a private garden would make your life easier. Fife trains are really crowded, or at least were.

I’d be looking for a 4 bed walkable from a station and if you could put the husband in a garden room office even better because you’d have a guest room for family.

Midlothian - lots of new builds if that's your thing

Midlothian - lots of new builds if that's your thing

Agree with all the posters who say avoid Fife, some nice places but the commute is grim. Not keen on Midlothian either. Parts of it sound great on paper but the actuality is not so good. Linlithgow is worth a look, but I would look at the cheaper parts of Edinburgh itself. East Lothian is pretty but again some high prices for the better areas and long long commutes.

Lovely new builds around Edinburgh - definitely my sort of thing, so easy when you’ve got children. The ones near the beach (Gullane) or Haddington nice.

Corstorphine is nice. Family area. Good schools. In Edinburgh, 15 mins by bus to Princes Street. Handy for zoo, airport.