Where to live with a young family in Edinburgh/The Lothians

[Nuttypops]

Does anyone have any recommendations of area/small towns to look around with a view to buying a house to move to with a young family in and around Edinburgh and The Lothians please?

We are hoping to move next year, and trying to get an idea of areas to look at to start narrowing down options.
We will have a 3 year old and a 1 year old when we move, DH is likely to be working in central Edinburgh, so anywhere within an hour commute of there is ideal. I am a teacher so will hopefully be able to work more locally.

Looking for somewhere with access to local shops, parks, swimming etc and good primary school options for the DC. Less concerned about secondary school options at this stage.

I spent some of my teenage years in Edinburgh, and my parents still live there but near Balerno and we would struggle to buy there for the size of house we are looking for.

Budget is around £250,000 for a 3/4 bedroom house which I imagine means we need to look out of Edinburgh realistically.

Any thoughts? We are going to look around Linlithgow and Dalkeith so far.
Thanks!

Following as we are selling our 2 bed flat for a family home. Does anyone know Newcraighall? There is a new housing development there. Also anything about the school and nursery?

At the moment Newcraighall is small. As in it has the identity of Newcraighall Village (even though part of Edinburgh!)
The school seems lovely. A small school at the moment...but hundreds (and I mean hundreds) of new homes are being built.
IMHO it's growing too big, too quickly. The roads will be hellish (often gridlocked at the moment if an accident on A1) and the school will need to anticipate for quick growth.
Right next to a train station (Borders railway line), a shopping and leisure facility (Fort Kinnaird) and handy for the beach 15 minutes drive away.

Not Falkirk - the town centre is dying. Linlithgow is brilliant, but you will struggle in your price range.

Bo'ness is starting to grow with people looking to use Linlithgow station, but parking is a bit of an issue.

Yes Sci Fi that's what I was thinking. The Barratts development is just staring out really, and I noticed a board for Avant homes.

I wonder the pros and cons for moving to a fast growing new development. It sounds great on paper. Just got to consider all practicalities.

Have you tried searching on ESPC & Rightmove, using search criteria of number of bedrooms, price bracket, type of property? Should give you an idea of what you can get for your money - and where.

I live in West Edinburgh & work across the bridge in Fife. The traffic coming in from Fife in the morning is horrendous. I don't think the new bridge will improve the situation, as it's not additional. I expect the old bridge will be swiftly closed for inspection/repairs then will be for public transport only. TBH, I wouldn't consider doing it by road.

If coming in on the train is an option, then consider Dalgety Bay, Aberdour, Burntisland & Kinghorn. Dunfermline has 2 train stations, there is also one at Rosyth so you could think about Limekilns, Culross etc.

I think you'll struggle to get 3-4 beds for 250K in Edinburgh, unless you're prepared to consider ex-council, flats, lower conversions etc, or areas which are considered a bit dodgy.

But out with, I think there's plenty within budget.

Queensferry is great and an easy cycle. You won't get a pretty house for that budget, but you will get a roomy 70s build in a nice estate. Schools all good and a good high school - I know you said that wasn't a concern but actually I think it's worth thinking about. Primary schools in Edinburgh generally are all good - there's more variance in high schools.

Oh and if he's commuting to central central Edinburgh, don't assume he'll get a parking space! So the drive may be a moot point anyway. (DH has just started a very central job and at the age of 50 is getting a bus for the first time. It's vair amusing watching him deal with 'other people')

nutty, Eskbank is nice in Dalkeith, lots of new build but close to the centre. King's Park is the primary, but it's pretty over subscribed. Lots of nice green space.

weebarra, shooshty, keep this wee spot of ours a secret xx

Buckstone? Houses are pretty ugly but good schools.

I think you have to think about the high schools your kids will go to. Eskbank is quite cheap & local but Dalkeith High has a terrible rep & poor results.

West Linton is quite nice but town is basically an antique shop, coop, pub & restaurant. You'll spend a fortune on petrol driving everywhere & will potentially have to fund 2 cars. Our friend spends £200/250 a month driving from Peebles to Edinburgh for work & it's an hour commute each way. For her it's worth it as she has a huge 5 bedroom house she couldn't afford in Edinburgh.

On the espc web page you can search for houses by school catchment so I would find out more about the schools & search for a house that way.

What about Stirling, you'd get 3/4 bedrooms for your budget. There are also a few houses in Bridge of Allan & Dunblane which are both lovely that are in your price range. Would be at the limit of your commute time.

Livingston?

Grovee I always thought Corstorphine was really dear - can you suggest an area I should search in?

What does anyone think about Currie?

Good pointer to the espc pages, I didn't realise you could search by schools!

Thanks for all of the suggestions and info, we have a long list to work through!

Try Broomhall/Wester Broom. Parts of Carrick Knowe has nice houses for reasonable prices. It's once you go up the hill that prices increase.

Thanks for those ideas Grovee

Woodburn & Kings Park are two good schools in Dalkeith, Eskbank have some lovely new builds as does just above Woodburn.