City of Edinburgh

The county of City Edinburgh is one of the most desirable places to live in Britain. It’s a county with a rich history and thriving culture, and it’s also the home of many prestigious universities. If you’re thinking about moving to Scotland – or even if you’re just curious about this wonderful place – we hope that our guide will be helpful!

4.70
Average Location Score

Excellent

76%

Very Good

18%

Average

5%

Disappointing

0%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in City of Edinburgh

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

Town houses in Edinburgh

Where is City of Edinburgh?

The county of City of Edinburgh is located in the central part of Scotland. It’s bordered by the Firth of Forth to the north and the Pentland Hills to the south.

Areas in City of Edinburgh

The City of Edinburgh is divided into a number of different areas, each with its own unique character. Some of the most popular areas include:

Inverleith – A wealthy area located to the north of the city of Edinburgh, Inverleith is home to leafy parks and grand Georgian architecture and is popular with families.

Broughton – A trendy and vibrant area located in the northeast of the city, Broughton is home to a large student population and has plenty of bars, cafes and restaurants.

Pentland Hills – A popular area located to the south of City of Edinburgh, Pentland Hills is a semi-rural location that has great views over the city and boasts a number of historic features.

Almond – A desirable and affluent area located in the southwest of Edinburgh, Almond is popular with young professionals and families.

Inverleith – A wealthy area located in the north of the city, Inverleith is home to a number of large parks and some of Edinburgh’s most prestigious schools.

Murrayfield – A centrally located area that is popular with families, Murrayfield is known for its rugby stadium and has a wide range of shops and restaurants.

View over Edinburgh at night

Leith – Once an independent town, Leith is now a district of Edinburgh and is popular with young professionals. It has a lively nightlife and a strong arts scene.

Stockbridge – An affluent area located in the northwest of the city, Stockbridge is home to a number of independent boutiques and restaurants.

South Queensferry – A picturesque town on the banks of the Firth of Forth, South Queensferry is popular with commuters who work in Edinburgh but want to live outside of the city centre.

Universities in City of Edinburgh

There are several universities located within the county of City of Edinburgh, including:

The University of Edinburgh – Founded in 1583, the University of Edinburgh is one of Scotland’s ancient universities and has a strong reputation across the world. The University offers a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate courses.

Heriot-Watt University – Established in 1821, Heriot-Watt university is a public research university with campuses across the UK including City of Edinburgh. The institution offers a range of courses from foundation to doctoral degrees as well as professional qualifications for business and industry.

Queen Margaret University College – Queen Margaret University College (informally QMUC) is a public university based in the City of Edinburgh, Scotland. The college was founded as Queen Margaret College in 1875 with its main campus located on Colinton Road adjacent to the Meadows and around three miles from the centre of the city of Edinburgh.

Top Schools in City of Edinburgh

Edinburgh Castle

There are a number of top schools located within the county, including:

Our Lady’s – a Roman Catholic girls’ school in Edinburgh, Our Lady’s has a reputation for very high academic standards achieved through a selective admissions policy.

George Watson’s College – George Watson’s is an independent day school for boys aged between seven and eighteen years, situated on Colinton Road in the southwest of Edinburgh. The School was founded at the bequest of Robert Watson in 1741, making it one of the oldest independent schools in Scotland.

George Heriot’s School – a private, independent, coeducational day school in Edinburgh, Scotland, catering for pupils from pre-school age to 18 years. The school is housed in a building that was designed by the world-renowned architect Sir Robert Smirke and built in the neo-gothic style between 1823 and 1829.

Royal High School – a selective state secondary school for boys in the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. Royal High School is one of the four traditional ancient “public schools” in Edinburgh, and seven other such schools operate in various locations throughout Scotland.

St Columba’s – a co-educational independent day school in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is a member of the Headmasters’ and Headmistresses’ Conference and the Eton Group.

Population of City of Edinburgh

The Population of City of Edinburgh sits at around 527,620 as of 2019. The county plays host to the capital of Scotland and has seen a rise in population over recent years as people are being priced out of other areas, such as London.

 

Reviews in City of Edinburgh

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From the castle to calton hill!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Feb 2024

Great area which is very close to Leith, St James, Princes St and even down to the Shore area. Generally a nice quiet safe area.

Please review your development:

Lovely building with accessible social areas. Nice gym with good equipment. Great Rooftop space with most stunning views across Edinburgh from the castle to calton hill. Very quick responsive maintenance team. Close by free parking which seems safe. Nice neighbourhood.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Be mindful of the space within your apartment & master the skill of organisation / minimalisation!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Very quickly & efficiently. High praise for the facilities / maintenance team.

4
Facilities
4
Design
4
Location
4
Value
4
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Jozi,

Thanks for your lovely review.

We are glad to hear you are impressed with all the Kingsford Residence has to offer.

Kind regards
Jade

The best location and the best amenities!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Feb 2024

Kingsford Residence is located in between the city centre and Leith, which gives us access to everything that matters in Edinburgh within walking distance.

All kinds of shops, supermarkets, pubs, bars, restaurants are walkable and this is very nice.

Please review your development:

Kingsford Residence is an old school renovated into modern flats with all the necessary convenience for us.
From the conference room, to a lounge (with unlimited coffee!), a fully equipped gym and the most amazing terrace overlooking Edinburgh’s skyline, we’ve got everything.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The fridge is on the small side, but it’s not a problem at all.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Everytime we had small problems the maintenance team was ready to help us and fix everything in no-time.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Andre,

Thanks for your lovely review.

We are glad to hear you are impressed with all the Kingsford Residence has to offer.

Kind regards
Jade

Needed last minute move-in before Christmas, and the Kingsford team made it happen!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Feb 2024

Kingsford is within walking distance to many local shops and restaurants. There is a smaller Co-op, a Tesco Express toward Leith Walk, and a bigger Tesco downhill on the other side. The McDonald Road tram stop is also close by. There is a small coffee shop out of an old police box right in front of a park. There are two nearby bus stops, one being directly outside the residence and the other just a 5-minute walk away. If you prefer to take taxis, an Uber to Waverley station costs approx £5-8. I live on the top floor so I barely get any traffic noise, and the occasional noise from the nearby school during the children’s breaks does not bother me or affect my sleep and work pattern at all.

Please review your development:

Upon seeing Kingsford Residence online, I knew I immediately had to book in for a viewing. I needed to relocate to be closer to university and work, and I knew nothing about the local area as I only recently moved to the UK. The Kingsford team were very helpful and responsive from the get go. They took my enquiries seriously and did not treat me as less than even if I did not have any UK rental history to provide – a huge barrier whilst speaking to other landlords. The flats and amenities are beautiful as advertised and well-maintained.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I didn’t get this from the viewing, but I did ask for a building floor plan which the management provided promptly. I viewed a different flat to the one I moved into, and wasn’t fully aware of what the view outside the window would be. My flat is directly across the primary school, so I have to keep my curtains partially shut for privacy when I happen to work from home. Otherwise, the noise levels are not an issue for me at all. One other thing is that they advertise as pet-friendly and as a cat owner, I was unsure if the mezzanine area would be safe for my adventurous pet that likes to climb. It would have been more helpful if I asked for the dimensions of the stair width and the bannister above so I could better estimate how I can pet-proof the flat. A neighbour recommended using a pet gate, but I personally chose to decorate the ledge with artificial plants to prevent my cat from climbing and potentially jumping or falling.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

They respond promptly to questions via email or even if you casually bump into onsite. There is a pending issue that I was aware of before I moved in that I wish we had a better time estimate on when it would be repaired, but it is not urgent.

5
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Jess,

Thanks for your lovely review.

We are glad to hear you are impressed with all the Kingsford Residence has to offer.

We are sorry to hear you had some information missing when you moved in, please feel free to contact us at anytime with further questions.

Kind regards
Jade Clair

Stylish and Comfy Stay

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Feb 2024

It’s peaceful and quiet area, however, the transport links to the city centre are a bit scarce and there are very limited parking spaces

Please review your development:

I like living at Kingsford. The amenities are top notch and two floors apartment look stylish. There are a few slight downsides that include limited space on the kitchen stove and fairly poor energy efficiency. These, however, are minor inconveniences in comparison to the living standards and quality available here at Kingsford.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I think I knew everything I wanted to know before arriving due to helpful staff here at Kingsford

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

I have a few questions over the course of my living at Kingsford and I always gotten prompt responses

5
Facilities
4
Design
3
Location
3
Value
4
Management
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Manager Response

Hi Audrius,

Thanks for your lovely review.

We are glad to hear you are impressed with all the Kingsford Residence has to offer.

Kind regards
Jade