A guide to living in Edinburgh

Excellent

82.8%

Very Good

13.2%

Average

2.6%

Disappointing

0.7%

Very poor

0.7%

Best places to live in Edinburgh

How is ranking calculated?

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and the amount of verified reviews over the past 12 months.

Viewing 1-5 out of 21

Rental Only

New Fountainbridge, EH3

By Native Communities

4.96

4.96

(36 reviews)

Studio, 1, 2, 3 & 4 bedroom homes to rent. Set along the scenic Union Canal and just a short stroll from the West End, Grassmarket and Edinburgh Castle, this thoughtfully designed development blends location, style and substance.
1st

Ranked 1st out of 14 in Edinburgh

View development
Rental Only
Award Winner 2025

Dockside, EH6

By Dockside

Award winner 2025

4.89

4.89

(172 reviews)

Welcome to Dockside – a fresh take on waterfront living. Our vibrant new rental community offers sleek studios and spacious one, two, and three-bedroom apartments, combining stylish design with exceptional amenities.Imagine living in one of the world’s coolest neighbourhoods, where creativity and community collide. That’s Leith. Recognised by Time Out for its vibrant energy, Leith has a thriving start-up scene, eclectic arts culture, and a welcoming spirit.
2nd

Ranked 2nd out of 14 in Edinburgh

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Rental Only
Award Winner 2025

The McEwan, EH3

By Moda Living

Award winner 2025

4.72

4.72

(229 reviews)

The McEwan is located in the heart of Fountainbridge, just a few minute walk away from Haymarket Train Station. There are 476 brand new, state of the art rental homes. Residents have access to a wide range of amenity spaces including a gym, studio, cinema room, a co-working space, shared lounges and public spaces. On site, there are also two private dining rooms with panoramic views over the City and Edinburgh Castle. In addition, The McEwan has 24 hour concierge and maintenance services and the development is also pet-friendly.
3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 14 in Edinburgh

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Rental Only
Award Winner 2025

Kingsford Residence, EH7

By Kingsford Group

Award winner 2025

4.68

4.68

(133 reviews)

Kingsford Residence, managed by the Kingsford Group and located on McDonald Road, offers residents the opportunity to stay in a former Victorian school building which has been converted to form one of Edinburgh’s first operational Build to Rent developments. The apartments retain many of the original features of the building while blending them seamlessly with contemporary open plan living and modern fixtures. Located in the area of Broughton, the Kingsford Residence on McDonald Road is within easy walking distance of all that the City Centre has to offer as well as tram and bus links on the same street. Within the development we have a variety of communal spaces including the Club Room, Gym, the Bridge (dining/co-working space, which can also be hired for private event space), the Garden, and our Roof Terrace which offers spectacular views across the Edinburgh sky line.
4th

Ranked 4th out of 14 in Edinburgh

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Rental Only

Lochrin Quay, EH3

By JLL

4.48

4.48

(30 reviews)

Lochrin Quay, managed by JLL, sits next to the Union Canal. The development comprises of 113 contemporary apartments, a mixture of 1, 2 & 4-bed options to rent. In addition to this, residents benefit from bike storage, communal lounge and superfast wifi.
5th

Ranked 5th out of 14 in Edinburgh

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Page 1 of 5

Featured developments in Edinburgh

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Latest Reviews in Edinburgh

721 total reviews

Viewing 1-5 out of 721

Reviews marked with a green tick show tenants whose residency we have been able to verify. Those that could not be verified are marked 'unverified'.

Murray B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

5
5
This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.
5

Almost a year in! Loving life

Murray B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

There’s a Tesco express in ocean terminal which is 2 minutes across the road, it’s great for the essentials (running low on milk or when I need a quick snack!) and then I go to Aldi which is on commercial street for a big shop. It’s no more than 10 minutes away and I sometimes cycle for the convenience. It isn’t fair to make the trams not being on against the site as this is impacting Edinburgh altogether, but then they’re running its great for hoping into town. Takes 10/15 minutes to get to St James Quarter when I fancy a look in the shops. Little to no noise, I can see others mention the port but I live on the city facing side . I find the area on a whole super peaceful but The Shore has a bit of a buzz about it especially on nice weather days!

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

Quickly, with good understanding and knowledge makes me feel I’m being looked after well

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

The events are well thought out. Also everything is designed paying homage to Albert Dock so some quirky designs but I think that’s better than your bog standard square box apartment.


Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Anon (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

3
3
This is rated 3.00 out of 5.00.
3

Expensive for what you get

Anon (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Shops: the closest shops are in Ocean Terminal but the selection is poor (Boots and a poorly-stocked Tesco Express), it's about 10-20 minutes walk to the nearest shops (Aldi/Lidl/big Tesco). Public transport: right between two tram stops, which is nice - unfortunately the trams aren't running now. There's good bus service within 5-10 minutes walk. Parking: there is very little parking available on-site and it was all booked by the time I moved in. If you have a car you have to find parking elsewhere. Noise: the buildings are opposite a working port. The windows aren't soundproofed so if they're being loud you can hear it. Green spaces: nothing nearby, there's some greenery around the development but you can tell it's very new and still establishing.

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

Really quick to respond and solve any issues I've raised, so no complaints here.

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

Much like Platform, I understand that Dockside have proposed rent increases for everyone at the 12 month mark of their tenancy, up to 18% in some cases. Given how high the rent is to start with, make sure you plan for this if you intend to stay that long.


Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Samantha (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

5
5
This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.
5

Dockside Living

Samantha (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

Stunning views over the ocean, and Edinburgh city. A short 5 minute walk from trendy Leith Shore with lots of great food and drink options. Easily commutable to city centre by tram.

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

They have been helpful and have gone out of their way to find solutions quickly and easily.

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

It was a lovely surprise to discover just how close Leith Shore is!


Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Marco and Ines (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

5
5
This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.
5

Dockside is great!

Marco and Ines (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

We've been at Dockside for two months now. Not a single thing has been lacking, the place is quiet and amenities are clean and ready to use . The staff is genuinely helpful, always going above and beyond to make you feel right at home from day one. They're really taking this place to the next level. From our first week to now, every touchpoint has been smooth, thoughtful, and just good. If you're looking for somewhere that actually cares about residents, this is it. Would recommend without hesitation.

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

Their responsiveness exceeded expectations! A fan developed a fault shortly after moving in. We reported via app, and management acted immediately. The issue was fully resolved within the same week, no hassle or runaround at all.

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

The community is even more vibrant than expected! We thought it'd be standard rental living, but there's constant buzz. Social events, friendly neighbors, real connections forming. It's made settling in way easier.

Manager response

Hi Marco and Ines, Thank you so much for this review, it's brilliant to read. So glad the design, facilities, and events have all added up to a real sense of community for you, and great to know the team's responsiveness (right down to that fan fix) has been so on point! We're so pleased Dockside is delivering the experience we strive for.

Posted by

Rachel Virtue, Leasing Manager

Aug 2026


Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

Andy M. (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

5
5
This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.
5

A really easy place to settle into

Andy M. (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Aug 2026

Please tell us about the good and bad aspects of living in your local area:

I think the location is one of the best things about living here. You've got Leith on your doorstep, but you're also really close to the city centre, so it's easy to make the most of both. There are loads of places to eat and drink in Leith and it's easy to meet friends without having to plan your whole evening around getting across Edinburgh.

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

I've had a really straightforward experience with the team. Whenever I've had a question, they've been happy to help and have always been approachable and easy to deal with.

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

The staff are all really lovely, Belen in particular has always been very nice. Everyone is friendly, helpful and easy to approach, and they create a really welcoming atmosphere around the building.

Manager response

Hi Andy, Thank you for such a generous review. It's brilliant to hear the apartment, the gym, and the location have all made settling in feel so easy, and lovely to know Belen and the wider team have made things so welcoming along the way! If there's ever anything we can help with, don't hesitate to let us know.

Posted by

Rachel Virtue, Leasing Manager

Aug 2026


Reviewer was offered an incentive for an honest review, regardless of rating

HomeViews

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These reviews are the subjective opinion of a HomeViews user and not of HomeViews