looking into moving to Edinburgh

[theDudesmummy]

Hi there, I would be really grateful for advice. We are looking into moving to Edinburgh (I have lived in London for thirty years so it's a big step, I still can't quite believe I am contemplating it!). If we did move I would be working in the centre of Dunfermline and travelling to other parts of Fife, but want to actually live in Edinburgh near to major amenities etc. I would need to be able to get to the train station and airport easily as I will have to travel to various parts of England regularly, also I prefer cities.

Can anyone recommend which areas would be nicest? I like greenery but also nice interesting neighbourhoods, and I have an eight-year old son.

What kind of price range are you looking at?

If you need access to the train station and airport, then west is probably best for you. I'm not that well up on the west of the city, but places like Corstophine and Cramond are well spoken-of and would also be good for road links towards Fife it's that's a concern. If you're a real city person and have the cash, you could look at somewhere like Dean Village which is very central (walking distance to Princes Street) but also very green. It's pricey, though! Or a little further out of the city there's Currie and Juniper Green both of which have a village-y feel and good schools, are on the right side of the city for the airport and are also close to the Pentlands for walking if that's your thing. Portobello ticks your boxes for an interesting neighhbourhood and it has seaside as well as green spaces and easy access to the city, but it's not the best for airport access so it might not be the place for you.

I moved up from the south-east about 15 years ago and haven't regretted it for a single second.

Thanks for the reply. We will be renting, could pay up to about £2500 a month (but do need 3-4 bedrooms). I did look at Dean Village, it did seem pricey! Thanks for the suggestions, I will look into all of them. I am glad to hear you have not regretted the move!

Have a look around the A90 & A8 corridors, both major arterial routes with links to the airport & town.

A90: start at Stockbridge & go through Comely Bank, Craigleith, Blackhall, Davidsons Mains, Barnton, Cramond, Cammo. There is to be a new airport bus along the A90.

A8: I'd consider Murrayfield, Corstorphine, East Craigs. The existing airport bus goes this route, along with the tram.

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Homes

In both cases, it gets more suburban as you get further out.

I travel from Barnton to Dunfermline & it's an easy commute, although if something is up with the bridge it's not fun.

That's very helpful, thanks. I had looked at Stockbridge, which seems well-thought of, the idea of following the main roads along is a good one.

We live in Corstorphine close to South Gyle and Edinburgh Gateway stations which the fife trains use. I work in South Queensferry and my travelling time is usually 12-15 minutes. Sometimes a bit longer on the way home if I get stuck turning right at the bottom of Drumbrae.

Trains between Dunfermline and Edinburgh can be bad. One feck up on the bridge and you are screwed for hours.

Why live in Edinburgh? (although Barton is an option as mentioned?)

Unless you are hot on the things like big poncy theatre or national orchestras then Fife has most of what you'd need.

If you are looking for local hipsterish or non-chain shops then Stockbridge in town is probably best but places like Bridge of Allan or Cupar or even St Andrews work on that level as well (depending on how much you like to drive). Perth is an option I would look at if driving in Fife was a part of the role as well. Falkland is worth a look.

I am a Fifer who grew up in Dalgety Bay (would recommend it but is basically a commuter town for Edinburgh) and would live there again but I dont need to drink and so can do the drive back from nights out in Edinburgh. I also lived in Edinburgh a lot before a recent move to Dublin so know a few of the areas.

Google maps has an interesting feature that can show you how long drives usually take during rush hours. I would look at that but remember, there is usually a problem on the bridge every few weeks. Breakdowns or idiot lorry drivers ignoring high winds signs.

I wouldn't contemplate driving over the bridge from Fife to Edinburgh in the morning or back in the evening peak times - it is the commute from hell! The traffic jam is regularly about 10 miles long - no exaggeration!

Thanks for that. I probably do need to be in Edinburgh because of my son's special needs, the specialised tutors he needs will be harder to find outside of a big city. I could actually also get a job in Perth rather than Dunfermline, but Perth is not big enough to ensure I will always get tutors. I would be going out of Edinburgh to Fife in the morning and back in in the afternoon. And every couple of weeks I would be going to England by train or plane for a couple of days, so the airport and train station need to be doable too.

I am looking in to all the areas mentioned, so thanks very much!

We have lived in Currie and Colinton village and love both. Pentland hills on the doorstep (literally), but a reasonable bus ride to Haymarket and near the bypass.

I was going to suggest Colinton/Bonaly too. Handy for bypass, hills and lots of city amenities. Good bus service too.

I wouldn't contemplate driving over the bridge from Fife to Edinburgh in the morning or back in the evening peak times

But OP would be going opposite direction - edinburgh to fife in the morning and back in the afternoon. Agree Corstorphine/Murrayfield is a good shout, schools are good around there too, easy to get onto roads and the new station is easy for the trains.

You are right about support being more available in Edinburgh. Just make sure you keep an eye on the bridge traffic if you are driving.

Persoanlly I like a little bit of big poncy theatre...but my DH certainly doesn't do we never really go in London anyway! It would be more about support and activities for my son that I'd want to be in Edinburgh.

There is good theatre in Dunfermline and Kirkcaldy but none of the big national tours.

In terms of support there will be a smaller pool available in Fife but it will be far less transient and more local. Some in Fife would be travelling to Edinburgh anyway so make sure that you check their travel plans when recruiting to make sure bridge issues are avoided. There is a good bus service from Dunfermline to Edinburgh airport.

Might be worth a look at South Queensferry. It has a lovely village-feel and is a fairly straightforward commute into Edinburgh and over to Fife - assuming no problems with trains or bridges! You could even cycle sometimes. You'd have Dalmeny train station which is on the Fife Circle to get you between the city centre and most main areas in Fife, and you'd be right by the bridge (whichever one is in use by the time you get here!), so you could have a choice of car/train for commuting. Also easy reach of the airport and sort of tucked in between the major motorways with easy access to smaller local roads, so if you're driving and hear of a problem, you can often change your route quite easily. There are a few nice restaurants/bars, and a taxi into the city centre is usually £25 or so if you want more culture/nightlife. Lots of pretty walks, country houses etc, it's right on the water so technically there's a beach... It can feel cut-off from Edinburgh sometimes but definitely pretty and good in terms of amenities (apart from public transport). Plus 'interesting neighbourhoods' are only a short drive/train away, so maybe not on your doorstep but close enough for an impromptu visit.

Hello! We moved up from London in Sept and absolutely love it! Give me a shout when you get here and we will arrange another Edinburgh MN meet up. I second what everyone says here about traffic around the bypass and over the bridge being slow. I don't know what it is like to the West, as am in the South. But Murrayfield has easy access to the airport and has good schools. Welcome!

Blackhall another possibility?