Moving to Edinburgh - best city areas for families

[HouseOfConkers]

Hi everyone,

We are looking to move to Edinburgh in the new year. It's something that 10 years ago when I first visited would have been something I could only imagine in my wildest dreams. A lot has changed since then, we have 2 children (boys, one aged 5 one aged 10 months). We've toyed with the idea of different areas but I suppose we always come back to the city centre (Stockbridge, new town, marchmont etc).

I must admit we are settled here now here in England (Leeds) we have a nice life, friends etc. Hubby works away a LOT so it does help to have a little bit of support here. (Although that's just friends as neither family live nearby). We moved here 5 years ago from Scotland (ex RAF) and told ourselves it was temporary and we would always go back.

I suppose I'm asking the following, I know you can't tell me if the grass is greener but has anybody else on here with children moved to any of these areas? How well did you settle in? Is it easy to make friends? Ive met the majority of my friends here through the boys. I'm scared to start again but can't shake the idea from my head and like I said, it's been YEARS now so surely something is calling me there... As del boy would say, he who dares, wins! (I hope)

Hubby (thankfully) v laid back and has said he will live anywhere (I do realise I'm hard work) and eldest boy is equally excited (although sometimes changes his mind) as he loves Edinburgh too.

We own our home here but would be renting initially. Budget would be around £450k. More than happy with a flat (which I know is all we will get).

Any answers welcome, thank you in advance xx

I’d definitely look at Comely Bank/Stockbridge/Craigleith it I we’re you. I moved from England 10 years ago and have lived in them all - they all run into each other. Both Flora Stevenson & Stockbridge primary are excellent schools & it’s been very easy to make friends. Most of The parents of my daughters friends are from outside Edinburgh (mainly England/Poland/US/India and Canada) so everyone has been in the same situation of moving to a new place. There are fab amenities in the area too. Average house price is around £500K but loads of rentals about x

espc.com/property/40-craigleith-hill-park-edinburgh-eh4-2nr/35801843?sid=702213
Under budget house in the Flora Stevenson catchment - not period, but room for a family

Forget that, this is much nicer - offers over £360 and on the road Corstorphine Hill is on.
espc.com/property/71a-clermiston-road-edinburgh-eh12-6uy/35804000?sid=160225

I love living in the city. If you don’t mind a tenement flat I’d be looking at bruntsfield or Polworth area for bruntsfield or James Gillespie’s primary schools. You’d get a big flat with bay windows and a high ceiling and original features for your budget.

In the city is a bit more international than the suburbs also.

Oh wow that's lovely! X

Thank you all for your lovely and informative replies. We have decided to come up in 2 weeks time to enjoy christmas and have a nosy around.. but I think we are pretty settled on stockbridge, comely bank area. So my new questions is

Do a lot of people rent long term in these areas?

Are anybody's children at Flora Stevensons and if so, how are they getting on and do they thrive there?

Where we are now in leeds is lovely but very cliquey. Is this area like that? I am hoping not.

What are the chances of renting and living amongst students in this area? I have nothing against students, I just dont particularly want to live with them.

Looking to put our house up for sale at the end of Jan. Thanks in advance for any replies! Xx

I can only really answer your last question re students. I think it is highly unlikely as there are no colleges or universities nearby. Students prefer gorgie, dalry, haymarket, marchmont. I could go on but basically the other side of Edinburgh.

I lived on Comely Bank Street, 1st owned flat actually, some 25 years ago. It's a little more crowded. Back then it was hard to find a parking spot, doubt that's changed. One difference is there are now large bins for residents to use but I think that's the norm for Edinburgh city where there are flats.

I loved it as it was easy to walk up to the West End where I worked.

Hi. We moved here 6 years ago. It was from abroad and I didn’t know Edinburgh at all. I was looking online for houses to buy and I was thinking New Town, Marchmont, Grange. We didn’t find anything to buy so we rented for a year and I’m glad we did. I didn’t know anything about Bruntsfield until I moved here and visited friends and this is where we bought. I’m so glad we decided to rent first. So basically what I’m saying is that you don’t know a place until you live there and really get to know the neighborhoods. Good luck with your search! It’s a great city and I have never regretted moving here.

Dunbar vs. Dunfermline?
My family and I are hoping to move from Carlisle to the Edinburgh area within the next 6 months. We are considering doing a part exchange with one of new home developments happening and so we have looked at several areas, mostly outside the bypass of Edinburgh City. Obviously, housing is more expensive the closer you are to the city; I work for the university and would need to commute into Waverly Station daily.

After having searched several areas and housing developments we are focused on East Lothian and Fife, specifically Dunbar and Dunfermline. The main reason for us moving (beyond reducing my 100-mile commute) is to help find a better school for my 13-year-old daughter. She has “additional support needs” with dyscalculia and dyspraxia and is really struggling with the lack of support in Cumbria. So, another important factor is a school that has good ASN for its students.

I welcome any thoughts about the community and the local high schools. In Dunbar is Dunbar Grammar School and the areas in Dunfermline fall with the catchments of Queen Anne High School, Inverkeithing High School and St. Columba’s RC High School.

Thanks for your help in advance!

Thank you all for your responses, @hapagirl totally agree, we will definitely be renting first to suss out each area properly. We are somewhat focused on the stockbridge and comely bank area for now but I'm always open to suggestion.

@LizzieMacQueen oh I do love that street. I am mainly focusing on the catchment for flora stevensons now, I have found that some properties on the perimeter of the catchment have caught my eye though, anybody any experience with Drumsheugh gardens? I've moved into a ground floor one in my head already, but cant say I'm overly familiar with the area. If anybody is, please let me know!

@MandTHoff you may want to start a new thread, I wouldn't want your comment to get lost on here. Also if you start your own a whole new host of friendly mumsnetters may he able to help you that aren't on this thread! Hope you get some answers x

@hapagirl sorry to bother you on this thread again but I think we are really focusing on bruntsfield now. I could ask a million questions but what do you really love about it? Is it family orientated and do many families live in tenement flats? X

Hi. No problem! I like Bruntsfield because it is family orientated and the high street has lots of shops and cafes, many which are small business. I find that the community here is really international and open minded. The state high school is great. Now my kids are bigger, we walk into town all the time. It’s a 20-30 minute walk into town or 10 mins on the bus. I love the craziness of Edinburgh’s August but equally love that I can get away from it easily. Lots of families live in flats and there is no stigma attached to that at all. The Links and the Meadows are nearby for green open areas. You can PM me if you have more specific questions!

@hapagirl thank you so much, that's great to hear. We would be looking to rent initially but when it comes to buying I doubt our budget would cover more than a 3 bed flat. I understand that further outside of the city could offer more but I just have a real desire to live central. Really happy to hear some great feedback. Would be lovely to pm you to find out more, thank you x