Edinburgh- best places to live for a Londoner and young family

[mousemole]

I am London born and bred and have finally been convinced to move with hubby's job to Edinburgh. I love it as a visitor but am nervous about moving so far away from family and friends. We have 2 boys, 3 and 1.
So, what are best city centre areas to live in ? Where should you live to be near the best nurseries and schools (private or state)?
Am I totally mad or will I fall in love with the place ? Any other tips gratefully received. We will be renting at first.

so do i dsm, for all the reasons you and lulu do. exactly!

yuk,midges- we are going to Wester Ross in August, we will get eaten alive!

Don't talk to me about trams...

They have messed up the city, and are going to continue to do so until bloody 2012 when it is estimated to be finished. They are digging up all the main roads, and half the bloody centre is closed. Traffic is slow, everyone I know has been late for work at some point. Mental.

Agree about midges. Little tiny buggers.

They are 'downsizing' - 380 is the top price which would leave them with no money to buy basic provisions or indeed have any life whatsoever. I'll post my email in a minute just as soon as I've changed it (to avoid being outted!).

Skin So Soft in 'So Fresh' really works against midgies, the only problem is that then the wee feckers die on your skin and stick there in the oily Skin So Soft.

Damn! Need to plan my trip to the Farmer's Market more carefully then, if there will be tramworks on.

Am going to really load up and use a bus, too.

Might take DH along as I'll be pretty pregnant by then and might not be up to heavy rucksack level.

NO way I'm coming back without a year's supply of beeswax candles and honey from Scarlett's apiary, bacon trimmings from Ballencrieff and a few bottles of Cairn O'Mohr for after the baby's birth.

Dirtysexy - if you have a minute email me the details on ScummyMummy @ aol dot com. I'd really appreciate it. Their house hunt is doing my head in.

Comley Bank is nice. MIL lives there are there are nice parks and wee shops, cafes etc. ot sure about schools though

Oh yes - Comely Bank. I think Flora's is a good school isn't it?

And the Waitrose is there, MB, where the Safeway once was.

Also a wee shop that sells Lorina lemonade, which is truly yummy.

AND some of the best charity shops in town are just up the road.

I've got a very big shopping list.

lots of charity shops. My kids love the parks, and it is nice and close to the Botanics as well

and there is a Sainsburys up the road, and they are rare in Scotland

I LOVE the Botanics.

And Inverleith Park is a terrific place to watch the fireworks.

Bring a picnic, a picnic blanket and the kids.

We could see them pretty well from our flat in Leith, but it's just not as good as Inverleith Park.

Feeling all emotional about Edinburgh now. Nothing to do with the wine of course....

we have to pay for hte Botanics here.

there are a number of really cool classes offered at the Botanics, too.

The Stockbridge colonies are lovely - family community feel (in a kind of posh bohemian way!)also very close to Botanics, where I practically live in the summer.. love the cafe cos has play area and I actually get coffee in peace as DS will play in there instead of running around screeching as in other cafes! does anyone know of any other cafes with play areas in da Burgh (apart form soft plays) ?

Expat - are you somewhere near Tighnabruaich or did I imagine that?

Ooooh yes - the colonies. I'd love to live there but DH is worried that he'd get to know the neighbours .

Not far from Tignabruaich at all, LuLu .

Expat - I thought so! Glad to know all those hours lurking on MN haven't been wasted. You're in a lovely part of the world.

Hee hee - yes DP refused as well as thinks that everyone would know his business, is a bit like that to be honest but I would like to be friendly with my neighbours espec as last lot threatened us with violence!
I think we are all just discussing edinburgh areas between ourselves now though as no sign of OP

It is indeed!

Pissing the rain just now, however, but the wind is blowing, and that means a very good thing: NO midgies.

I sometimes wonder - there's not a lot to do out here - where do midgies go when it's blowy?

Expat - into trees and bushes?

Good question.

that was my guess, DSM, because there's really no other place for them to shelter here, unless like their cousin the mozzie they ride on the water.

Ooh, yeah maybe they do.

Oh I really want to know now..

'espec as last lot threatened us with violence!'

that sux. we had this little ned living under us when we first moved into our last flat.

and he kept blasting Coldplay!

ugggh. so i asked him nicely to chilll the bass on the Coldplay.

then he started letting the air out of DH's tires.

till i caught his ghetto ass on camera.

everyone knows your business here. you go to a pub, and there's all your child's teachers in there and your GP and/or their family.