Scotland

Boasting some of the highest scores for standards of living in the UK, Scotland is a country of extraordinary natural beauty. Add to that its friendly, cultured cities and a rich history stretching back for centuries, and you have a location that offers something for everyone. Whether you live in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen or another of its cities, or find a home closer to nature, Scotland provides plenty to appeal to property hunters of all ages and inclinations.

4.65
Average Location Score

Excellent

73%

Very Good

20%

Average

6%

Disappointing

0%

Very Poor

0%

Best places to live in Scotland

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

View over Edinburgh, capital city of Scotland

Where to live in Scotland?

In the far north, the Highlands & Islands region offers some of the country’s wildest scenery and includes islands such as Shetland and Orkney. The way of life here is largely rural, with farming and tourism the main sources of income.

In the north-east of the country lies the Grampian region, famous for its synonymous mountain range and Scotland’s third-largest city, Aberdeen. The ‘Granite City’ has recently been named the best city in Scotland to live in, thanks in part to its good employment prospects and low cost of living.

Moving south, you’ll find Glasgow to the west and Edinburgh to the east. As the country’s two largest cities, both are obvious choices for great places to live in Scotland, with Glasgow offering the lower cost of living out of the two.

Even further south and towards the border with England lie the cities of Ayr and Dumfries. Dumfries is just 25 miles by road from the border, and offers residents a charming and characterful market town set amidst the unique beauty of the Scottish lowlands.

Isle of Skye in the west of Scotland

Best places to visit in Scotland

We don’t have space to list all the best places to visit in Scotland but we can offer a few highlights that shouldn’t be missed.

The enduring legend of the Loch Ness Monster brings many visitors to Inverness. This city can be found where the River Ness flows over the northeast coast of Scotland into the Moray Firth. Even if you don’t spot the beast, Loch Ness itself is a stunning natural feature at 23 miles long and containing more water than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.

Whiskey is another famous product of Scotland’s plentiful water. Make sure you take in a distillery tour or two – the oldest sites are Strathisla, Bowmore and Glenturret. The latter has had a distillery on the site since 1775.

Edinburgh and Glasgow are two obvious city destinations visitors to Scotland should try to take in. Other cities well worth a visit include Inverness, Perth, Stirling and Ayr.

For natural scenery, the Isle of Skye is hard to beat. Orkney and Arran are also spectacularly beautiful islands to visit. Other sites offering stunning scenery and outstanding hiking options include Glencoe, Loch Lomond, The Cairngorms National Park, The Trossachs and Kintail.

Best castles in Scotland

Scotland has more than its fair share of stunning castles. From beautifully preserved examples like Edinburgh Castle, Stirling Castle or Dunrobin Castle, to ruined fortresses like the craggy Dunnottar Castle, there’s plenty here for history buffs. Even Balmoral Castle – holiday home of the Royal Family – opens its doors to the public for visits each year from April to July.

View over the city of Inverness in Scotland

What is the population of Scotland?

The population of Scotland is around 5,466,000, according to the latest figures from National Records of Scotland. The capital city of Edinburgh is the second largest city in the country, with a population of 524,930. Glasgow is the largest with a population of 633,210.

Best schools in Scotland

The best school in Scotland is currently Jordanhill School Glasgow, according to league tables for 2021. Other top schools making up the top ten include St Ninian’s High School East Renfrewshire, Gryffe High School Renfrewshire and Dunblane High School in Stirling.

The highest-ranked universities in Scotland for 2021 are St Andrews in the top spot, followed by the University of Edinburgh in second and Glasgow University in third. Heriot-Watt University and the University of Dundee take up fourth and fifth places.

Reviews in Scotland

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McLoving It!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Nov 2023

Apartments are beautiful & have good transport links.

As a newbie to the city I’m still finding my way around but the team have been super helpful helping me to settle in.

Please review your development:

Apartments- everything has been thought out well & practically designed.

Shared spaces – gym, cinema, private dining room etc all gorgeous. Basically there’s everything you need here!

Events – as a newbie these have helped me to make friends in the building. There is an eclectic mix of events!

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

How friendly everyone is & how easy it is to meet people

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

No issues so far but can use the app to report any issues

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Modern and Functional

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Nov 2023

Local shops and groceries are nearby. I like having access to parking as well. The bike storage has been extremely useful as well.

Please review your development:

The design is modern and sleek. And there is a mixture of outdoor and indoor living. The canal being nearby gives a very nice ambiance. Gym is also nearby. The building also has various common areas which is kept clean and tidy. It is a good place to hang out with friends as well.

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

Nothing much to be honest . I enjoy the area and knew a decent amount

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

Yes. When something is broke , for example the bike storage door and the window, they are very prompt with their repairs.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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Amazing building with very friendly staff and management

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Nov 2023

Amazing location, super central and easy to get to anything you need in town. Great security around the building. Beautiful area just outside the development.

Please review your development:

Beautiful development, amazing flats. Always met with a smile by the management, really lovely people and great to have a chat with. The common areas are great and well thought out, the flats are bright, warm and very well sound isolated. The lift would break down a bit more than I am used to but with a professional team they would get that fixed and up and running in no time. Great place to live.

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

I wish I had know the insane council tax the council had put on these flats.

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

Swiftly and with great communication. Easy to get in contact with if you have any issues and handled promptly.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
User submitted image of  Solasta Riverside, G5
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Live peacefully!!

Review Date Nov 2023

All the amenities are near by. Shops, restaurants & night clubs all are few steps away. Walking distance to my office which saves me extra money.

Please review your development:

This is one of the best place I have ever lived in my life. Security is 100%, Staff was really helpful. Rooms are nice and clean. No disturbance. Club room is my favourite place as I had few parties with my mates. Gym & Laundry room is big enough. All the facilities are under one roof for reasonable price.

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

I’d prefer to have a more space in the bathroom. But later I used it.

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

Very quickly and sort the issues without any questions

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
5
Management
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