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Sell it to me!
(I don't think it needs much selling tbh)
Various things. Housing, transport (can I get away without using the car) Town v outskirts, cost of living, stuff like nice restaurants. Areas to completely avoid, areas that are just silly money. What is the traffic like at 8am compared to the m25.
And of course, the riding.
Is there a job waiting, and roughly where is it?
Traffic.
The bypass can be a big car park but more folk live in London than Scotland. It's only two lanes.
Loads of decent areas. Pentlands to the south, Forth to the north.
Glentress about 30 mins from the city bypass.
Loads of inner city riding (MTB) that stretches out to the rest of the Lothians.
Road riding round East Lothian can be very quiet.
Decent bus network, trams, a few train lines.
There's a potential and I'm not sure exactly will find out
Apparently near the uni.
Are you a fair weather person or can you cope with being cold? The further north you get, the colder it gets. I wanted South Edinburgh as well but I'm nesh so we went for Lancashire/Cumbria instead and very glad I did whenever I go further north, about 5 degrees colder in the Caingorms than it was at home a few weeks ago.
Well I'm from Fife and today at 930am there was slow traffic coming down hill queue started as I crossed the river almond all the way to Clermiston rd 2 maybe 3 miles took ficking ages all due to a lane closed for 50 yards to repair tarmac at a bus stop, why can't they do it overnight?
I like Edinburgh but hate driving there
As someone from the south east that now lives much closer to Edinburgh I can definitely say it would be a good move, can't help on where in Edinburgh mind!
so we went for Lancashire/Cumbria instead and very glad I did whenever I go further north, about 5 degrees colder in the Caingorms than it was at home a few weeks ago.
TBH it's about 5 degrees colder in the Cairngorms than it is in Inverness.
Fife and west Lothian are generally cheaper than Edinburgh but the traffic into town from out with can be a pain. I could commute across town by bike quicker than by car via either town or the bypass.
There are campuses all over town as well
Someone who did this recently told me: don't buy more land than you want to be responsible for. Land is work. Nice problem he had with the money from selling up in the south east though!
Is most of Heriot Watt based at the main campus outside the ring road? Still only a couple of miles from the nearest station.
I’m nesh so we went for Lancashire/Cumbria instead and very glad I did whenever I go further north, about 5 degrees colder in the Caingorms
where you get twice as many rainy days. Edinburgh is on average 2 degrees colder than london - but that is a lot
Edinburgh. Its a very dry climate - the only part of the UK that is drier is Kent. Its cold tho when you get the easterlies - they come straight from Siberia. Housing and living is expensive. traffic is awful. cycling is good so long as you can ride assertively on the urban roads. Its a beautiful city and very compact. I can be in countryside in any direction in 40 mins on my bike - much less in some directions
Pentlands are decent natural riding
For me - and I chose to live here- its the best city in the UK to live in and many surveys agree. Its ( for Scotland) cosmopolitan. It has everything you need in a city but its small enough to get out of when needed. It also so easy on the eye and wherever you are you get vistas and views
the suburbs like all suburbs are awful. If you are going to do it live in the city FFS. I have 25 pubs and restaurants withing 400mof my door - and 3 of them have michelin stars. Good bike shops as well. I get 30 buses an hour past my door. I have easy access to trains.
I love it. 30 odd years I have been here. I lived in London and Manchester as well - and Edinburgh is so much better its not funny
Where in Edinburgh? How much money do you have? Can you afford a house not a flat? Most of Edinburgh is old flats. Where there are houses they are expensive unless you want a 30s bungalow
If you can afford a house then Trinity ( cheapest nice houses in the city). If you want to be right close to the centre them southside / bruntsfeild / morningside. But Leith where I live is where its at. flats only tho.
You need to find a house in Boswall. It’s the buffer zone between the Bourgeoisie and the Hoi Polloi. Joking aside, Edinburgh is easy to move around it’s just a nightmare to get in and out of ( take it from someone who has driven in it every day for 20 years) What campus are you heading to as there is ones all over the city. If Herriot Watt then Currie, Balerno. If QMU then Musselburgh and Portobello would be ideal
A little unfair on the suburbs, there, TJ, especially as OP sounds like they don't live in London itself (so probably a suburb). To be fair, a lot depends on how much cash you have.
It's not exactly that the weather is much worse. It's more that it is much gloomier for longer, and you don't get the bright sunny summer says you get in colder climes.
The road traffic is awful. Do whatever you can to walk, ride or train to work.
The cost of living isn't very different to the southeast. It's a great place to live if you're very sporty and/or you can live in a seaside town or suburb.
its near the airport if that helps.
been looking at houses the same as my mid terraced in a town in essex 35 miles from london and i can get a detached place with a garage. i dont necessarily want one though. so you have ulez? i like to keep cars going for decades ideally, so mine is quite old. is commuting on a rev and go scooter realistic if its a bit further out? its a no no in london you will get stabbed for it. and of course just run over by an suv.
politecameraaction - nah - not really. All suburbs are awful places. Edinburgh particularly so. 🙂 Jeepers - they are nearly as bad as dutch suburbs and they are truly frightening. Want to live in the city then do so and enjoy it. Or else live in a town or a village or out in the sticks.
Its also a very sunny city. Yes winters are dark for longer but the summers more than make up for it
To be sensible for a moment - I think the key thing for the OP is where he is going to be working.
Near the airport? then you certainly want to be that side of town and as much as I hate to say it Balerno / Currie / Juniper Green maybe? Getting in and out of the city that side can be and often does get really jammed up - tho going against the main traffic ie out of the city in the morning is not so bad. Depending on where you end up a nice cycle commute could be a possibility. The water of leith walkway and the canal both make good options
Edit: ULEZ might well be coming - and in the city Boswell is a good call.at least one STWer lives there
Edit2: A scooter would be fine. You are unlikely to get stabbed for it but SUVs are the same plague here. But remember winters and traffic!
The LEZ will only really bother you if driving through the centre and you can find the map on the council website. I wouldn't want to travel from the east to Heriot Watt which I'm guessing is the Uni in question. Wester Hailes and Shitehill are two of the less attractive parts of the city. Because Edinburgh is so small the really nice parts are next door to some of the roughest areas. Fettes is literally within spitting distance of Pilton. Same in TJ's beloved Leith. Although a true spoon burner will tell you Leith isn't part of Edinburgh.
We live in Colinton (south west). Can't think of anywhere in the UK I'd rather be.
We can walk to the city centre in an hour and a quarter, or take a regular bus in 20 minutes. A 30 second bike ride or 5 minute walk has us in the Pentlands, with a huge amount of scope for walking, riding, running, swimming, paddle boarding, skiing etc.
A 2 minute drive and we are on the bypass, 15 minutes more to the airport and 2 or 3 hours later up in the Highlands. Glentress is 40 minutes away. Likewise East Lothian with tons of great beaches.
You can eat in a different restaurant in Edinburgh every night of the year and not get bored. If culture is your thing you have loads all year round as well as the world's biggest arts festival. Bypass traffic can get busy but nothing even close to the M25. Edinburgh city centre is beautiful, and everywhere can be walked to.
Yes it's a bit colder than London, but no big deal and given the way the climate is changing Edinburgh is only going to improve. And if anyone from the Edinburgh Tourist Board is reading this I'll expect a cheque in the post thank you.
Oh and ignore the guff about the suburbs, they are fine places to live. Edinburgh is small enough that the suburbs are close enough to the centre.
I'm going to stick up for the suburbs. Much more space for your money and generally quicker and easier to get to places further afield for biking. Depends how much you want the city life of pubs, bars, clubs, restaurants, theatres, events etc and how often you use them.
It probably takes TJ at least 30mins more travel time to get to Glentress than for someone living outside the bypass.
If you're near the airport then have a look at South Queensferry, Kirkliston, Dalmeny maybe out as far as Winchburgh / Linlithgow.
Oh and ignore the guff about the suburbs, they are fine places to live. And Edinburgh is small enough that the suburbs are close enough to the centre.
he is right really - and Colington is not a bad choice choice with a job that side if you can afford it, Still not leith tho 😉
It probably takes TJ at least 30mins more travel time to get to Glentress than for someone living outside the bypass.
significantly more as I don't own a car 🙂
My son ran The Boundary pub on Leith Walk for a couple of years before some lunatic bought it and re-named it The Beer Hoos. The boundary between Edinburgh and Leith splits the pub in half, rumour has it they're turning it back to its origins. He rents in Leith, one bedroom 4th floor flat costs him 700 per month; nothing flash either. He loves it, as do we. Massive change in vibe over the last 5yrs in Leith, for the better imo.
Op, what is it about Berwickshire that makes you want to leave and move to Edinburgh?
If you are working out the airport side then maybe barnton/braepark or corstorphine areas might be worth a look, there was a load of new builds going up near the barnton roundabout (when I was last there in the summer). I used to live in Liberton (but you get Gilmerton as your neighbour), it was handy for the bypass but wouldn’t want to be driving the buy pass everyday and on the right side of the city for the Pentlands. A lot depends on what lifestyle you want, my mates lived in the city (cannonmills/leithwalk areas) and had a different lifestyle (as TJ said cafes pubs etc all in walking distance) I relied more on cabs/buses to get into town and shops etc and did feel more out the way but got a much nicer place for my money being that wee bit further out. No idea about house prices now, I just remember I sold my wee flat for £96k in 2001( and a nice profit at the time) It’s now worth around £250k!!
Edinburgh is great, truly. Lived in leith 8 years, it rocks. Downside is entering and exiting as you have to go across the city one way or another. Getting out to east Lothian is the easiest route. You can walk or bike into the heart of the city in no time.
However.
Traffic around the bypass sucks the big one.
Air quality is a concern
Traffic is ghastly across town. Bikes are essential, there are good cycle networks although not necessarily on roads
Personally if it wasn't leith then next stop would be fife, although as my neighbour used to inform me, "they'd have the sugar out of your tea"
Tldr:I now live in the Highlands 😀
edit - crap link
search on here to get an idea of house prices
Seriously I would look for a nice house with a nice cycle route within 5 miles of work - you will get plenty of nice choices.
I live in south Edinburgh in a suburb called Buckstone (sorry TJ 🤣). I've lived in Leith and the city centre too. Edinburgh is a great place to live, especially if you like riding bikes. As mentioned Colinton's nice, as is near by Bonaly. Other nice, but expensive, areas are Stockbridge, Morningside and Marchmont/Bruntsfield. Crammond is nice too but further out to the west, but if you're working near the airport that works. South Queensferry might be worth a look too. Just outside of Edinburgh Rosslyn would be my pick. From where I live I can be riding trails in under 5 minutes from the door. The Morton hall estate, Braid and Blackford hills are covered in trails and there's more urban singletrack on Costorphine and Craigmillar hills. As mentioned the Pentlands are great for old school mtbing and the Tweed Valley isn't far. As far as restaurants and night life go it's pretty well catered for.
I moved from Buckinghamshire to Edinburgh in 1999 for 12 months. I ended up staying for 6 years and then moved to the Scottish Borders. I absolutely love Edinburgh and think it’s the best city in the UK to live in. I would never move back down south.
Porter_jamie - your location is a bit vague near the Uni and near the airport sounds like it’s maybe on the research park at Heriot Watt (Riccarton) but it could be something near Napier’s sighthill campus or you are measuring “near” on London scales and it’s one of about four other campuses!
Edinburgh and the surrounds have a lot going for them but exactly where is optimal for you depends on what you do when not at work (presumably at least partly ride bikes). Are there kids or a partner to consider? Is going out for food or drinks a two/three times a week event or a Saturday night only, or special occasions. Do you want to get out the city and into real mountains (TJs beloved Leith becomes a pita for that), every weekend or a handful of times a year? Is a nice house important or a cheap house? Is the job 5 days in an office or weird shifts when busses might not run or hybrid? Etc
I also think the traffic isn't anything like as bad as it was before the pandemic. You can always use Google maps to get an idea of travel times.
Poly, yes sorry not exactly sure I the address details to follow but I believe on that park.
Missus and dog, not straight away. Probably rent or house share to start with. Being able to walk dog from front door ideal, same with MTB. Being able to cycle to work traffic free would be perfect. Going out occasionally nice. I would have to come and look re houses ideally off-road parking for 2 and a garage to store my junk.
Traffic is and will forever be totally horrific. I've lived in Edinburgh for nearly 17 years and I can't remember one part of that time when some critical part of the city isn't being dug up, traffic re-routed etc. etc. Nightmare. I grew up in central London and I think Edinburgh is worse.
Lots else going for it but it is DARK in the winter. Much much darker than down south. That gets me much more than the weather.
Do you have to take into account things like kids and schools? Free uni for Scottish residents could be a big plus, Edinburgh’s overwhelming fee paying primary/high schools might be a minus.
TJs balerno, curry, juniper green are your easiest nice areas that allow easy access to town, work and pentlands.
It does sound like Heriot Watt.
There's not many cities I think I could live in. Edinburgh is one.
We too moved from England to Scotland - and I'm never going back. There's something different about attitudes and society up here, people are incredibly friendly, the proximity to nature and access to 'wilds' is just amazing.
Balerno weather is different from the city weather X2 the amount of rain
Matt +1
We've been in Colinton now for 13 years and wouldn't be anywhere else in the city. The kids have an awesome school, we've got a great community and overall it's a great place to live. We can get out the city fast for riding, walking, driving or flying, whatever.
Only place I'd move to now is a family place in Polin. Because it's quieter.
Mleh, Edinburgh's just like any other small UK city (see Newcastle, Bristol, Sheffield etc etc) Poor traffic. ill-thought out public transport, and bus company war. Bad air, same shops pubs and restaurants, same weather. Only with the added bonus of 'hoards of Touristica' - Hairy Coo/Pick your own Tartan shops and random bagpipe* surprise around every other corner and toy-town Monopoly money
*surely comes under some UN agreement about cruel and unusual punishment
Public transport is good and there is no bus war. But apart from that.................... 🙂
I tried catching a bus by Scott's Thunderbird 1 monument the other day, and it felt like just about the only thing the bus companies hadn't done was fit Ramming spikes/grenade launchers to the front of their buses 🤣
It was worse than Piccadilly Gardens...
To be fair. We rarely use the city itself. Often go to Aberdeen more than Edinburgh city centre
As usual, this is a priorities question. If you want parking, a garage, space for a dog to run around and easy access to the trails then you'll end up on the outskirts. If regular eating/drinking out is more important then head for the centre.
Having done both during my 50+ years in Edinburgh, I'd never live in a city centre again - even Edinburgh.
If you think kids might be on the horizon then a garden and better air must be a consideration too. As regards schools, I don't know where the idea comes from that the majority are fee-paying.
Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green all give you an easy, downhill commute to Heriot Watt, are on the Water of Leith Walkway for easy cycling into town and only minutes (seconds even) from trails into the Pentland Hills. When I was working from home I'd regularly head up there for a wee spin at lunchtime.
What about Ratho? Easy to get to HW Uni. Close to motorways, airport and on the canal for some nice cycling. Maybe not as expensive as Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green....
Schools thing confused me too. There are lots of fee paying schools but obviously heaps of normal schools. We'll be using the non fee paying ones cause we read the Guardian and like lentils.
Some right nonsense being talked on this thread...
Anyone who complains about traffic in Edinburgh hasn’t spent any time driving on or inside the M25. Edinburgh traffic really isn’t a big deal compared to most big cities
1) I've lived half my life in London and Edinburgh.
2) Edinburgh is objectively the 4th worst city in the UK for traffic. The traffic is horrendous - and feels worse than other cities like Newcastle or Liverpool or London because you can rarely get around it by getting on a tube or train. Even if you're not driving, you're probably stuck on a bus. To be fair this has improved a lot recently with the tram and new commuter rail lines.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/most-congested-cities-uk-ranked-26380797
3) you'd be mad to move halfway across the country and then choose to be dependent on a commute around the M25 or the Bypass. Bad traffic is bad traffic.
Edinburgh’s overwhelming fee paying primary/high schools might be a minus.
25% of Edinburgh schoolkids are in private schools. That's much higher than the Scottish or UK average (and I'd rather private schools didn't exist at all). However...I don't think that's overwhelming and I don't think that's entirely a reflection on the quality of the state schools (although it is worrying that the SNP has been so slippery and interfered with international benchmarking on education). Edinburgh is a bourgeois city and its also "exports" its private education ie the figures are a little exaggerated by the number of boarding kids from outside Edinburgh. There are plenty of state schools and plenty of decent state schools in Edinburgh.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/38263/nicola-sturgeon-wants-to-mark-her-own-homework
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17439524.economists-issue-dire-warning-future-edinburgh-private-schools/
Poor traffic. ill-thought out public transport, and bus company war.
The public transport is not great, but you've made a mistake about a "bus war". Now you're inviting the Edinbores to drone on about the Corporation Buses (which tbf are generally pretty good apart from being stuck in traffic).
Anyone live on the beach near Musselburgh? Stayed in a hotel there once, one or two stops out of centre, less than 10 min commute. Had a nice cafe, hifi shop and pool. Seemed nice, easy to avoid traffic.
but you’ve made a mistake about a “bus war”.
Nah, we were standing at the stop by the Apple Store on Princess street and the buses were cutting each other up, getting in each other's way and generally having a barney (lots of hand gestures and associated macho horseshit), is what I meant. There was not enough 'stop' and too much 'bus' going on to accommodate them all.
25% of Edinburgh schoolkids are in private schools.
That number surprises me. Do they mean 25% of children who are educated in Edinburgh are in private schools or 25% of children who live permanently in Edinburgh attend private schools. The two are different things. Not just because of boarders from all over the world but also a large number of day pupils at Edinburgh's private schools who travel in from Fife, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian, the Borders etc.
We’ll be using the non fee paying ones cause we read the Guardian and like lentils.
I'm informed by a teacher at one of Edinburgh's well-known private schools that this would make you an ideal customer.
Nah, we were standing at the stop by the Apple Store on Princess street and the buses were cutting each other up, getting in each other’s way and generally having a barney (lots of hand gestures and associated macho horseshit), is what I meant.
Strange, as I have caught a bus on Princes St literally hundreds of times and never seen this. Never heard of it either. Though there are a lot of buses I'll grant you. Oh and LRT bus drivers get very specific training as regards cyclists. They are very good at giving us loads of space. And generally a very friendly bunch too.
That number surprises me. Do they mean 25% of children who are educated in Edinburgh are in private schools or 25% of children who live permanently in Edinburgh attend private schools.
I don't know the exact numbers (I've heard 1 in 3 quoted) but it is far more than anywhere else in the country. Where we are I reckon about 70% of kids are in private schools, and there are quite a few areas like that. However there are some very good state schools around, though that's reflected in the house prices.
he is right really – and Colington is not a bad choice
There's always been a bit of a debate as to whether the historical spelling was Colinton or Colington. I think both were quite common.
As mentioned Colinton’s nice, as is near by Bonaly.
I hate to be a pedant (well that's not true, I love it) but Bonaly is part of Colinton. Bonaly (the hamlet) hasn't really existed as a separate entity since the 18th century).
Re traffic, it's not great but what city is. Yes the bypass needs another lane (and that stupid roundabout done away with) but compared to most English cities I've seen, Edinburgh traffic is no different. And being small it's easy to get about on a bike. I will concede that the potholes are a nightmare though. And as someone else said, post-pandemic traffic levels have dropped.
Lots else going for it but it is DARK in the winter. Much much darker than down south. That gets me much more than the weather.
True but the upside is that it's very light in the summer. Doesn't get dark till way past ten a lot of the time.
Anyone live on the beach near Musselburgh?
No but I spend a fair bit of time down at Portobello for swimming, rowing etc. It's a great place too. And East Lothian has tons of nice places along the coast (and inland). Excellent road biking there as well.
Scott’s Thunderbird 1 monument
Sorry but it's Thunderbird 3.
Strange, as I have caught a bus on Princes St literally hundreds of times and never seen this. Never heard of it either.
@politecameraaction, I see what you mean 🤣
Obviously Edinburugh is much less racially diverse and multicultural than London and the South East. Whether that's a good, bad or indifferent thing for you will depend on your prejudices. Edinburghers may explain at great length how Scots are less racist than English people, they're all Jock Tamson's bairns up there, it's a kinder polity etc...
is commuting on a rev and go scooter realistic if its a bit further out? its a no no in london you will get stabbed for it.
This is another bit of nonsense.
I’m informed by a teacher at one of Edinburgh’s well-known private schools that this would make you an ideal customer.
Exactly correct.
I used to live in Liberton (but you get Gilmerton as your neighbour)
Oi! To be fair it's been a lot better since they knocked down the high rises.
The schools thing is weird. 30 Cubs in the local pack from a range of backgrounds go to 9 different primary schools (including RC, plus one that's home-schooled) but they get on brilliantly. Don't know if that's typical across the city but there's loads for them to do. Taking them to the Robotarium at Heriot Watt next month.
When I worked at an Edinburgh independent school the number bandied about was 20% of those in school in Edinburgh were in independents. It was used as an argument to government to be very careful around taxes as CEC couldn't possibly build the number of schools needed to accomodate this number of pupils (yes I'm all too aware that there's a huge number of non Edinburgh resident pupils in those schools. We had a lot from the far East both in terms of the globe and the Lothians)
Colington
Spelling like that will get you a stern letter from the residents association. Colinton/Juniper Green/Currie/Balerno are maybe more commuter villages that happen to be linked to Edinburgh than actually part of the city.
On that side of town, you do have good public transport links to the centre- tram and train from Sighthill. They don't serve the nicer parts all that well though. Also very easy to head north or west towards the highlands via M90 and M9.
That said, I'm born and bred Edinburger and moved to Peebles nearly ten years ago. Nothing would get me back into town.
Edinburgh meh. I wouldn’t want to be cycling in the centre regularly. The bus drivers are very aggressive it scared the bejesus out of me the last time I was there. It would have to be off road cycle ways for me if I was commuting within the city. It’s great for pubs and cafes but far too busy for me. My advice would be live somewhere outside of Edinburgh with good transport links. The countryside to the south, south/east e.g. Lammermuirs is lovely.
Edinburgh is the business. I live very close to the city centre, but can go mountain biking from the doorstep and barely touch a road because our cycle network is so good. I can cycle to work in less than ten minutes, but also the theatre, national museums and art galleries and a world heritage site.
Moving to Edinburgh then driving to get about when you own a bicycle is lunacy. I cannot fathom why people drive here (unless they are tight and chose to live in South West Fife or West Lothian, which are awful). So, your question about traffic and ULEZ is irrelevant - you'll just ride a bike everywhere. The bus drivers (Lothian anyway) are exceptionally well trained on how to behave around cyclists.
We own a car, but tend to forget where it is and only use it to go out of town. Which we do a lot, but usually on the train, which gets us to London if we really have to, but also Dunkeld for a day's riding, the Cairngorms, Glasgow and so on.
You could live in the 'burbs, like Costorphine or somewhere, but having quick easy access to the city is better. Balerno and Juniper Green are OK-ish, but it's a 45 minute bus ride to town and only saves fifteen to twenty minutes on a bike ride in the Pentlands.
There's no like buttons so thanks to everyone who has responded.
Ok, things I'm fed up with in sunny Essex.
I'm originally from a small village in Linc's and missus from Devon. People in the SE tend to not to be very friendly. No one ever lets you out at a junction, no one ever seems to wave this thanks if you do let them out. The air quality is bad, the volume of traffic is horrendous, I have to drive 40mins to ride around a mainly flat Forrest and pay for the parking. I work 4 miles from home but there's no way I would cycle. People have no respect for cyclists I've basically given up riding in town now. No infrastructure at all.
The team I work in right now is mainly foreigners from all corners and a couple of northerners and It feels like a close family almost, people, genuinely want to know how you are and if theres anything they can do to help each other and teamwork happens naturally. It's nice. In the other office it's more locals and it's very much dog eat dog. Im on that headcount and have to go back soon.
Also we went to the western isles recently and it was an amazing holiday. Can't wait to go back. And there's so much more to go and look at. I'm used now to convenience of having things like Screwfix 10 minutes away and so on. In Linc's it was 45 mins drive. Not sure I want totally rural also don't think I want city centre. Short cycle to work is a key one and somewhere to MTB without having to load up the bus and drive 45mins just for a mid week pedal.
What's the situation with other things like doctors, dentists? As bad as here? How long to get an appointment?
Somewhere like Currie sounds like it'd be a good fit for you. Can't help with Drs and dentists but it's slap bang between Heriot Watt and the Pentlands. Large DIY places just 5 minutes away along with Decathlon and your usual retail outlet places. If your coming up for a look around give us a shout for a ride or advice. I don't live in Currie but I do work in Baberton once a week.
Not sure I want totally rural also don’t think I want city centre
Yeah I was thinking of city centre when I moved from semi-rural to where I am now (south Manchester) and glad I didn't. If you're used to it, I'm sure it's fine, but the move made me realised that I'm 'country mouse' and I'm glad the centre of town is 'away over there' and not just outside my door.
A house next to the A8 and airport? And you might get hit by a stray bullet!
What’s the situation with other things like doctors, dentists? As bad as here? How long to get an appointment?
OK - assuming you are talking about living somewhere like Currie/Juniper Green, and working at Heriot Watt / Research Park, then there was a Dr's surgery on campus. This information is obviously about 25 yrs out of date, but I assume it still exists! I am pretty sure it took non-students. Getting an appointment in term time, especially in first few weeks of term is probably a nightmare but generally, I think getting GP appointments in Scotland seems to be easier than in England. I don't recall a dentist on campus, but finding an NHS dentist in Scotland is usually simpler than England. Actually getting an appointment once you are on the list is definitely harder than a GP appointment.
People in the SE tend to not to be very friendly.
I wouldn't expect much difference in Edinburgh TBH. IMHO having lived in a couple of places within the city for 5 years and worked and studied there for a good proportion of my adult life I don't consider Edinburgh to be a friendly place. Edinburgh is of course a great city though.
I've got two branches of Screwfix within a 5 minute drive from my house so on that metric at least Edinburgh is winning.
Yeah, about 12% of Edinburgh's population is English so don't expect too much.
OOOOHH - saucer of cream for Mr Scotroutes 🙂
Yeah, about 12% of Edinburgh’s population is English so don’t expect too much.
well, it's clearly rubbing off, you're a miserable **** most of time
Embra vs Glasgow
Different core industries, different class dynamics, different histories, different levels and sources of immigration/migration etc combined.
Too massively simplify things Edinburgh is posher and has always been so.
Edited to add: Edinburgh probably has a bit more of the dour Presbyterian thing going on the Glasgow as well. Which it has in common with much of the south & east coast.
Ian Rankin mentions it in many of the Rebus books as well.
And Leith isn't Edinburgh 😉
I live in the Slateford Road/Chesser Avenue area of Edinburgh (west of the city centre, I don't know if it counts as one of TJ's awful suburbs or not) and work at the research park at Heriot-Watt. I cycle to work most days and generally it isn't a bad commute, though of course you can't account for the occasional awful driver (there was one this morning so it's on my mind!).
I like Edinburgh, I came here from near Aberdeen as a student and have stayed here ever since. It feels like it has a decent amount of stuff in it without feeling as overwhelmingly large like some cities do. Where I live is close to where the Union Canal crosses over the Water of Leith so I have decent access to walks and rides that are away from the roads, and which allow me easy access to the Pentland Hills, despite being not that far from the city centre too.
I don’t consider Edinburgh to be a friendly place.
At least they're not Glaswegians that repeatedly lecture you about how friendly they are...
We've put up with TJ for years so we can't be that bad.
Sheriffhall queue back at The Water of Leith this afternoon, but I don't think I could cope with Southern England's traffic. The traffic is back to pre-lurgy levels but it really is well below what I have to put up with when visiting England.
I am based on the edge - the city is growing rapidly and we are about to be swallowed up, but I get to live by the sea without silly money. I often travel into Edinburgh to ride, there is so much there and then there is the Pentlands. While true of the whole of Scotland, never be unappreciative of the access laws.
Welcome to the New Southeast.
Wellies, goretex, a sense of humour, a taste for Scotch Pies.....