Relocating to Edinburgh

[newbie2003]

Hi there,

I currently live in London with my long term bf and we are reaching that point of needing to escape the London scene. We've recently been talking about a move to Edinburgh as it's somewhere we both love (based on the odd weekend away that is!) and suits us both workwise.

However, one of the things I've struggled with in London is having a close group of friends to meet up with regularly. I'm from a small town up North originally and grew up around my parents having the same close group of friends that they would see almost every weekend... Although we know lots of people here, we just haven't found that in London and for such a busy place sometimes I just crave someone to pop in for a chat and a cuppa without me having to book it in 4 months in advance!

I guess my question is... what's it like making close friends in Edinburgh? BF and I are both in our early 30s with no kids (as yet) and like the idea of having a regular group of friends to hang around with... go out for dinner and drinks/have round to ours.. that kinda thing. Has anyone moved to Edinburgh and managed to find that? I'm just scared with it being a big city we might encounter the same thing again...

Thanks xx

I moved to Edinburgh about 20 years ago as a single parent with two young children. I moved up from southern England including spending a few years in London and I can honestly say that making friends was much, much easier up here. You'll need to make an effort at first, and of course your friends won't be close instantly. But one of the things about Edinburgh is that it has tons going on, so if you and/or BF are (or could be) 'joiners' you'll find there are groups to suit just about anything you could be interested in, and it's a good starting point for making friends. And there are lots of communities in and around the city that function as real communities where it's easy and expected to get to know your neighbours. I live in wonderful Portobello, Edinburgh's seaside, which is uber-friendly and I can't recommend it highly enough - and others will say similar things about their own localities.

I now have lots of friends to hang around with in the way you've said. I know what you mean about having to arrange meeting up aeons in advance in London where everyone is so busy and getting around takes forever. Edinburgh's not like that, in my experience! It took a year or two to get there, but yes, I know if I get home and feel like a chat I can phone someone to see if they fancy coming round for a bit of supper or a drink, that kind of thing, which it sounds like you're after.

I'm from Edinburgh originally but haven't lived there for many years. i have however moved around quite a lot and am not really a joiner. I've always made friends through work quite easily and continued those outside and after I've moved on to other jobs. In my experience, a new build estate can be really good, even without kids. They tend to have open plan front areas and driveways so you get to know neighbours easily when you are out gardening/washing the car/general coming and going. It's also a lot easier when you have young children. That would likely be more in a suburban part of the city though or one of the outlying towns and villages. You are also more likely to get folk going to the local pub so get to know "regulars". the Borders is also a good friendly area with a lot of incomers. Peebles and the surrounds e.g. Innerleithen is commutable and lovely.

As a Weegie, I'd say that you'd more easily find the sort of neighbourhood and environment you're looking for in Glasgow than Edinburgh but I would, wouldn't I

Ha, something else we'll have to agree to disagree about pb! I think there is a tendancy to confuse nosiness with friendliness...:o. The reality is that there isn't really much difference I don't think. It's just about finding people you have things in common with.

I have to agree with what mornington says and her recommendation of somewhere like Portobello. It's in the city but still has that community vibe. In Edinburgh most places are close to the city center (it's a very small city!) and with the amazing bus service you can be in town really rather quickly and cheaply if you enjoy nightlife, so I'd definitely look at somewhere a bit further out. I would personally avoid places like Southside and Stockbridge and look more to the coast and outskirts, so places like Portobello, Newcraighall, Liberton, and even Mussleburgh and Dalkeith which are technically outside the boundary but still very close. All good places to start a "base" that will suit you well enough as childless professionals but will also be good when/ if you start a family.

For newbuilds if that's your thing, there is a huge development going on near the A1 / major retail center, apparently the long term plan is to completely redevelop the area including schools etc (The Wisp area) so might be worth looking into something like that as everyone will be trying to put down roots at the same time.

Have a look at some of the Meetup groups in Edinburgh- there's loads on.

If you're wanting to be in the thick of it socially, I'd go for Stockbridge/Comely Bank or Bruntsfield areas - maybe Leith which is very vibrant & a bit more diverse. Or maybe the area around Broughton Street. Maybe around the Meadows eg Quartermile.

Many move out to the suburbs when they have kids & life there revolves round that. I think the suburbs without kids would be quite isolating.

Having lived in the southeast for 8 years and then returning to Edinburgh, I would say that Edinburgh is a much friendlier place to live. I could give you many examples of this but much prefer it here.