Moving solo to Edinburgh: where to live?

[cluckandcollect]

I was born in Scotland but my family moved south when I was young and I'm currently living in the rural outskirts of Bristol. I'm 57 and about to finalise my divorce, at which point I'll be free to move on. I have no children to worry about and I am able to WFH, so there's nothing to hold me back. I have a friend in Edinburgh and visit the city a couple of times a year and I'm excited about the chance to move there for this latter stage of life.

I lived and worked in London for years before moving to the country with my soon-to-be ex. After a decade of rural life I want to live fairly centrally and take advantage of the history, culture, art, theatre and great bars and restaurants of a great city. Ideally I'd like to be within half an hour's walking distance of, say Waverley Station as a central point.

My friend lives in a quiet street off York Place. She's lived there for more than 20 years and the only property I could afford around there would be top-floor — not a great idea, really, as you get older.

I love the buzz of the city centre but I'm not sure I want it all day, every day. I'm also not sure, after Covid, that I want to be potentially trapped in a tenement flat with no access to green space.

I've seen a couple of low-rise late-90s/ early 2000s apartments for sale in the Morningside/ Colinton Road area that look like a compromise. Those areas don't have the city buzz I'm looking for and feel more suburban, but they do have trees and a quieter greenish outlook which will be easier to negotiate as I get older.

Are there other, as yet unexplored, areas that you think might fit the bill? If I were to rent for the first year where would you recommend?

Watching with way too much interest! The thought of moving (back) to Edinburgh makes my heart somersault. I have absolute favourite streets in both the Old and New Town - which I won't mention for fear of jinxing my own prospects.

I agree there's a huge difference between living centrally enough to walk home from the theatre and living a little way out. And, having tried both options in/near other cities - I'd honestly go for the city centre if you're living alone. Otherwise you'll spend your life driving/ looking for parking/ waiting for taxis and trains ...

I'm interested in your remark about top floors and getting older! Seriously? Do you have current health/mobility concerns? I'm ... not quite as young as you and (barring accident and events) I'm expecting at least twenty or thirty years of sufficient mobility to manage several flights of stairs. (Though I admit the lack of a lift would be tedious for furniture moving.) I've almost always lived at least three or four flights up in Edinburgh (fifth and sixth floors were best) and felt hemmed in on the second floor. That would be a compromise too far for me.

So I'd say my ideal for now would be a central flat with access to private gardens - and my name on the waiting list for an allotment.

What's your budget OP? Does it it have to be period or would modern work? I am fully prepared to get over invested in this as 'moving back to Edinburgh' is my favourite rainy day daydream...

Budget is really important, personally I'd go for a colony in Stockbridge if it was just me, but that's ££££ for not a lot of space. If you're happy with a modern apartment there's lots of new builds along the top half of Leith Walk/Easter road which are quieter but 10 mins walk into the city centre.

Personally I don't want to move again after this one so totally see why the top flat of a tenement wouldn't quite work. You've got to factor in heating bills as well, I think that's why I'm mostly thinking of a modern flat or a tiny house...

I'd go for the Shore area of Leith. Fantastic pubs and restaurants, excellent bus services into the centre, and lots of nice flats.

I prefer country life to city but when I lived in town I stayed in Fountainbridge and in Leith. Leith probably has more of a buzz but honestly I preferred Fountainbridge.

this is modern and spacious has a lift and a parking space...

I'd also go for Stockbridge or off Easter Road

Here is a colony house up today at Stockbridge
espc.com/property/1-glenogle-place-stockbridge-edinburgh-eh3-5hp/35910328?sid=921767

this is period in Stockbridge so a bit further out but Stockbridge itself has it's own naice villagey feel...

Haha @slippermum, great minds... It's fab isn't it?

What about a bottom flat of a tenament apartment? You often get a bit of green space to yourself but not a private garden as such. I like the areas between the water of Leith and the botanic gardens. So around Dean village, Stockbridge and Canonmills. It's also close to nice walks.

Is a private garden something you need? And what is your budget roughly so we don't suggest things which are too pricey.

What’s a colony house? Is it an east coast version of a conversion?

@NellNorth

What’s a colony house? Is it an east coast version of a conversion?

It's just the local name for a style of small house/flat. I think they were built for skilled work people at the end of the 18th century. There are some in Stockbridge, off Leith Links and in Abbeyhill.

Lothian Buses are pretty good for getting into the centre from almost anywhere in under 40 mins - you could consider Newington/Bruntsfield/Fountainbridge/Abbeyhill as well.

Another thing to consider is that Granton Waterfront is getting massive investment over the next 5 years - new coastal park to be created, fun stuff like wakeboarding/surfing to be set up, new jobs/amenities, new housing. The idea is to make it more like The Shore, and there are heaps of projects planned to make that happen.

Polwarth is nice too.

I'm early 50s and live just outside Edinburgh now but was in the city for the last 30 years. I have a few friends who are recently divorced and are in the same position as you so we talk about this a lot.

I'd say move somewhere where transport links into town are good - that means lots of buses and not going round the houses. Important I think if you are on your own and especially if you are going out into town at night for food, cinema etc.
Friends in Colinton hate it as the bus takes ages and there isn't really any 'village hub'. Same with friends in Barnton etc.
Morningside and Bruntsfield are better but pricey especially if you find yourself in a school catchment area. Stockbridge is ok but busy and similarly expensive.
We sort of agreed as well that new builds might be the way to go. We've done the old tenement living and just want somewhere with little hassle. Parking space, little upkeep etc
If it was me I'd look for somewhere off the top of Leith walk. Loads of buses, nowhere too far off the bus route when walking home at night and the trams will be up and running at some point. - there are modern flats in the area off Leith Walk towards Bonnington area. Flats on Annandale Street, Hopetoun Crescent and nice places like that

I lived in Portobello for 10 years, which I loved, but the transport connections are utterly shit and taxis there are expensive. I was in Leith before that, which I loved, but Leith prices are just stupid now.

it really depends on budget - you could look at Roseburn/murrayfield area to the west - walkable into town but handy for either the bus or tram. Or the likes of Colinton village (within the city). There are also colonies tucked away at Haymarket.

I don't live in Edinburgh anymore sadly but there must be plenty to choose from that is neither rural or city centre but with easy access, Edinburgh does have great transport.

lol @HoldontoOneMoreDay Yes Snap!, I was looking at it this morning on my daily Rightmove trawl

I lived in Edinburgh for 11 years in a range of locations and my favourite was Leith. The Shore area is fab and its an easy bus into town. If I moved back now I would be looking at Leith or maybe Stockbridge.

What's your budget? this is really critical!
My top areas would be Stockbridge, Morningside, Bruntsfield, Portobello. I'm intrigued by the comment that says the transport connections are shit from Portobello, there's usually a convoy of buses going along the high street!

That flat in Stockbridge is stretching the definition of "bedroom"! More like a walk-in cupboard that you can fit a mattress in.

@Plexie

That flat in Stockbridge is stretching the definition of "bedroom"! More like a walk-in cupboard that you can fit a mattress in.

Aye it's a box room - very common to see them advertised as bedrooms but they are usually tiny. It's quite unusual to have a window to be honest! Saw loads of them in my student days, luckily we never succumbed but I knew a few people who lived in the box room off the living room in a party flat - not much fun...

I'm really tempted to go for something small and central (I'm starting to look at the Murrayfield area now, after stumbling across a flat there on Rightmove) rather than something bigger.

I have an Achilles tendon issue. It's manageable at the moment but will only get worse with age, so the first floor is the limit for me without a lift. I'm also becoming more and more aware of the bathroom shortfalls in so many New Town tenements. £400,000 for a 2-bed flat with amazing 20ft high ceilings and cornices (and single glazing) but only a tiny, cramped bathroom with a shower curtain and a basin where you have to rinse one hand at a time. I know it's because of the design of the tenements, but as you get older decent bathrooms matter more.

I'm looking at this, which is a bit snug for my liking but has the kind of low-density and green outlook I suspect I need while possibly being close enough to the centre of town.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/77930116#/

I was admiring this:

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/102041477#/media?id=media1

but would have to use pension money to afford it and I want to be able to really enjoy retirement and not have to blow theatre and concert ticket money on heating.

I'm glad to meet someone else who appreciates the importance of being able to walk home from the theatre or a concert. Waiting in the drizzle for a bus that never turns up can ruin a wonderful evening.

You're better on espc than right move for Edinburgh properties.
Also bear in mind the "offers over" system in Scotland. That lovely flat that's on at offers over £425k will probably sell for around £500 or more.
You can expect to pay up to 20% over the valuation price (not the offers over) in Edinburgh at the moment.

Murrayfield's nice but Stockbridge well stocked for amenities and friendly feel. There are various new builds inverleith and canonmills way, period properties can be a heating nightmare.

www.onthemarket.com/details/9199462/

See also

canonmillsgarden.com/homes-for-sale