A guide to living in 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.

Excellent

77.9%

Very Good

16.1%

Average

4.3%

Disappointing

1.0%

Very poor

0.7%

Best places to live in Scotland

How is ranking calculated?

Viewing 1-5 out of 81

Rental Only

New Fountainbridge, EH3

By Native Communities

4.96

(21 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 54 in Scotland

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Rental Only

Award Winner 2025

Dockside, EH6

By Dockside

Award winner 2025

4.94

(71 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 54 in Scotland

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Award Winner 2025

The Point, AB10

By Dandara Living

Award winner 2025

4.89

(192 reviews)

£650-£3,978 pcm

Studios, 1, 6 beds

The Point is a unique development of studio apartments centrally located in the Schoolhill area of Aberdeen. The development has a free resident's gym, TV and screening rooms, co-working facilities, residents lounges and bookable rooms for parties and events. The on-site team are available 24/7 and include customer service and maintenance teams. Aberdeen Train and Bus Station, the city's main retail and leisure district and the Union Square shopping mall, which is home to over 150 retail outlets and the 10-screen Cineworld Multiplex. A 2-minute walk will take you to Belmont Street, home to some of the city's most popular bars, cafes and restaurants. Aberdeen University is 1.4 miles away and Robert Gordon University 2.7 miles to the south. It's a great place to base yourself if you're studying or working in Aberdeen and utility bills and superfast broadband are also included in the rent.

3rd

Ranked 3rd out of 54 in Scotland

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Award Winner 2025

Holland Park, G2

By Moda Living

Award winner 2025

4.83

(105 reviews)

£1,052-£3,035 pcm

Studios, 1, 2, 3 beds

Holland Park in Glasgow features 433 high-tech apartments spread across four buildings. Residents have access to a wide range of facilities including a 24hr gym, 24hr concierge and co-working and meeting rooms. In addition, the development is pet-friendly and wifi is included.

4th

Ranked 4th out of 54 in Scotland

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Award Winner 2025

Candleriggs, G1

By Legal & General, urbanbubble

Award winner 2025

4.82

(52 reviews)

Candleriggs offers studio, 1, 2, and 3 bedroom boutique apartments to rent in the heart of Merchant City. Residents can enjoy free superfast broadband and social events. Additionally, there are communal gardens, sky terraces, and spaces to work, play, and relax—all included in your rent.

5th

Ranked 5th out of 54 in Scotland

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Page 1 of 17

Featured developments in Scotland

Latest Reviews in Scotland

1666 total reviews

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Viewing 1-5 out of 1666

Chloe M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

New Fountainbridge, EH3

Mar 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

My favourite property I’ve ever rented!

Chloe M (Tenant)

Verified Resident

New Fountainbridge, EH3

Mar 2026

It’s absolutely stunning! Some facilities aren’t always working/operating fully I.e the lifts often stop working and can be out of order from a few hours to a few weeks at a time, making it difficult on shopping days or for those with mobility difficulties. The building is clean, tidy and always has a lovely vibe. The management team are very helpful and are just round the corner which makes it extremely easy to contact them.

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

The area is amazing as it’s a very short walk to Princes Street and Edinburgh Castle. There are plenty of shops and cafe’s around and the area is generally quite safe.

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

Response times are rapid! They are always on top of any issue, in a timely manner whatever it may be.

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

If you want to live in the heart of Edinburgh, this is the place you want to be.

・・

HomeViews

Ellie B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

This is rated 4.00 out of 5.00.

Great place to live

Ellie B (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

The design of the building is very modern and stylish, the rooftop terrace is particularly nice, excited so see this in summer. The gym is well equipped and I have also attended a few classes in there with the PTs and they were very good. The building and management teams are great, always answering enquiries very quickly, and they hold events quite regularly for neighbours to meet and get to know each other

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

Good range of shops, with aldi just a short walk away and ocean terminal round the corner can get a lot of necessities. The tram stop also being a few minutes away is really convenient for getting to and from town and the airport. It a quiet area not much street noise and feels safe

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

They’ve answered promptly and everything has been repaired or dealt with perfectly

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

WiFi can be spotty in the apartment but fine in communal areas

・・

HomeViews

Robyn Alvarez (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

I love dockside!

Robyn Alvarez (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

Dockside is welcoming, modern, clean, safe and has everything that I need to feel at home. The staff here have been so helpful and warm from the day we came for a viewing. Special shoutout to Lloyd who has been so lovely and kind to my partner and I. The fob system makes me feel really safe and secure in the building. The communal areas are perfect for working from home as it means you get to see people in the building, chat to other residents and have another space to use that isn’t your flat. The flat itself is well equipped with modern appliances and allows for personalisation to make it your own.

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

I love the local area, it’s safe, quiet, pretty and there’s loads of bars and restaurants and a range of shops close by

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

They have been quick to respond and helpful with answering my questions. They’re friendly and understanding.

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

The only thing I wish I’d known more about before moving is the parking situation as there is limited parking nearby.

・・

HomeViews

Tommy V (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

High quality living in a new development

Tommy V (Tenant)

Verified Resident

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

The buildings have been well designed, the flats are spacious, well insulated and comfortable. The building management/property management team are easy to deal with and friendly. The building amenities are really good - the gym is a good size and the communal working areas are great. Our property manager/leasing associate Paula Dickson was great! She was very friendly and professional in showing us the properties for rent, as well as very knowledgeable. She was also understanding about our situation as we were moving to Edinburgh from overseas (Australia).

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

Good: Close to Aldi and Tesco Close to the tram Quiet Great views Great amenities Helpful staff Great flat, well furnished and thoughtfully designed. Bad: Minimal, nothing stands out at the moment.

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

We haven’t had to raise any issues, so can’t comment on this yet.

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

Nothing really, there was good explanations of everything beforehand, so we knew what to expect.

・・

HomeViews

Peter (Tenant)

Unverified

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

This is rated 5.00 out of 5.00.

Amazing, perfect place to live.

Peter (Tenant)

Unverified

Dockside, EH6

Mar 2026

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

All staff very friendly. Very smooth move in process. 0 issues thus far and really happy living here. Everything is super clean I love it.

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

Very quick and friendly. Any issues you submit get actioned straight away.

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

That there is a service called tulu where you can hire everyday items like a hoover etc

・・

HomeViews

Page 1 of 334

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

Useful articles

Aberdeen

Aberdeen is a city in the northeast of Scotland and has been an important port for centuries. It's known as one of Europe's energy capitals and boasts some beautiful scenery with many parks and green spaces to explore. The City of Aberdeen covers over 300 square miles, but only about 20% of this area is residential. If you're looking to buy property in the area then it's worth knowing that there are several factors which you'll need to take into account before making your decision!

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Aberdeenshire

Set within easy reach of the Cairngorms National Park, the city of Aberdeen was named as the best place to live and work in Scotland in a 2019 report by Demos-PwC. Alongside the stunning local scenery, another of the reasons for this was the low property prices relative to earnings. This offers residents an excellent standard of living – driven in large part by the oil and gas industry. The lively harbour city is also known as the ‘Granite City’ or ‘Silver City’ thanks to its historic granite buildings.

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City of Dundee

The City of Dundee is located on the northern banks of the Firth of Tay. It has a population of around 150,000 people and is ranked as one of the best cities to live in Scotland. Dundee was established during Roman times when it was known as "Din Eidyn." The city encompasses many different areas including Angus, Abertay University Campus, Caird Hall, Fauldhouse Golf Club, Glenshee Ski Centre and more!

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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!

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City of Glasgow

The City of Glasgow is a large city in Scotland that lies on the River Clyde. It has a population of 598,040 and an area of 335 square miles. Known as "the Dear Green Place," the city offers residents plenty to do with over 300 parks, gardens, and golf courses. The University of Glasgow is one of its notable institutions as well as being home to some 80 different languages spoken by students from all around the world!

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