Moving to Edinburgh from USA - need recommendations on catchment areas

[Felicia44]

I'm hoping for insight on the areas of Edinburgh best suited for an expat with a 4 year old. Friends and family have recommended the areas of Leith, Bellevue, and Trinity, but we want to ensure we can land in a great Primary catchment, preferably with lovely parks and not so "student-y". Any recommendations would be helpful, we are leaving in a few weeks and trying to narrow our search area.

Our must haves: great schools, 2 BR, respectful neighbors, a yard or park close by, walking distance to public transport/train and grocery (preferred).

We have a preschool spot held in Merchiston (Corner House Spylaw), but are unsure if we will use it - how is that area for little ones?

How is Cramond? Can anyone advise on schools in that area?

Any insight you can provide will be appreciated.

I'm afraid I don't know about schools but I don't think any of those areas are particularly studenty. Parts of Bellevue and Leith are a bit "gritty" but on the whole Trinity is nice.
Cramond has nice housing but it's on the flight place for the airport and can be busy for driving in/out as you always need to go out of one of two junctions onto Queensferry Road and it gets used as a rat run a lot at rush hour. The bus service also isn't the best.
Are you looking to rent or buy and what's your budget?

Also, where are you going to be working or need transport connections to?

Stockbridge is one of the nicest areas of Edinburgh. It’s a fantastic city, I moved here from London 6 years ago and never looked back.

Biggest dependencies are budget and commute really to give you any meaningful help

Stockbridge sounds ideal for you. Agree with previous comments about Cramond.

For schools depends on whether you want state or independent. Stockbridge has a good Primary school. Cramond has Cargilfield
which is private. Cramond Primary is OK. Lots of private schools in Edinburgh to choose from. Traffic is very heavy though, so you need to think about that.

Cramond, Barnton, Corstorphine, Blackhall, Davidson's mains, Trinity Stockbridge, comely Bank, Murrayfield, Merchiston, Morningside, Greenbank, Fairmilehead, Colinton,
Buckston are all nice family areas with good schools, primary and secondary
But it really depends where you need to get to for work as you don't really want to be crossing north to south in rush hour.
Also depends on budget. Edinburgh is expensive

We'll be renting initially, hoping to find a place around or under 1350 pcm. I'll be working at the University of Edinburgh, but from home most days.

Thanks for this insight. I've heard there is a lovely Farmer's Market in Stockbridge as well, is it year round?

We'll be renting initially, hoping to find a place around or under 1350 pcm. I'll be working at the University of Edinburgh, from home most days, but it will need to visit campus at least 1x per week.

£1350 might be tight for 2 beds in Stockbridge but it’s a nice area and up towards Fettes and Craigleith is all very family orientated and still within walking distance of Inverleith park and Stockbridge village shops.

Think you need to visit them really at least renting you can move around. I've spent many days at Cramond on the beach which is lovely for children.

Merchiston (where that nursery is) is a lovely area, lots of bustling shops and cafes nearby but Merchiston itself quiet and pretty upmarket (the big name authors all used to live there - JK Rowling, Ian Rankin). Some great schools. But it will be a bit of a pain to get to and from Trinity/Stockbridge/Leith and a waste of your precious life to go to and from Cramond to Merchiston.

As suspected, your budget isn't going to stretch to Stockbridge! Do you need the property furnished too? www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/map/property/edinburgh/stockbridge/?beds_min=2&price_frequency=per_month&q=Stockbridge%2C%20Edinburgh&results_sort=lowest_price&search_source=refine&radius=0&polyenc=cbstIz%7DkR%3F%60sMpeC%3F%3FasM&hidePoly=true&pn=1#listing_62878108

You can at

Oops sent too soon.

You can get the 41 bus from Cramond to the university, but it's cross town.

It doesn't have much of a centre to it & flight noise is an issue.

I'd go for Blackhall or over the other side of town.

The rental market is crazy just now

Morningside? There's a park just up the street from this one, lots of nice shops etc, 23 bus from the door and I presume this is Morningside PS catchment??

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129612410#/?channel=RES_LET

What I've shared isn't as high as my budget can go, just our aim at the moment while researching areas.

Yes it is.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129068198

Nice place to rent, round the corner from Stockbridge & has parking

Round the corner is being generous, it’s well over a mile walk but you get more flat for your money than in Stockbridge village.

I'd say no to Leith based on what you've said you are looking for. Other posters suggestions are good but if you can afford Stockbridge it's lovely and very central.

I'd definitely choose Morningside over Stockbridge if you're working at Edinburgh Uni.

If you're after a beach, I'd suggest Portobello rather than Cramond - it's the right side of town to commute to the uni, and Towerbank Primary gets a good name. Nice community feel, regular markets, lots of families, not studenty. Not sure about rental prices but I'd imagine it would be cheaper than Stockbridge.

I'd go for Morningside as it ticks all your boxes.

Nice area, good primary catchment of South Morningside school and a good secondary if you are intending to stay. Small supermarkets and local shops and the Meadows is within walking distance.