A capital city with only around half a million residents yet crammed with over 4,500 listed buildings, Edinburgh is a shining gem in Scotland’s crown. And with a strong economy, excellent transport links, and fantastic educational opportunities, it’s clear why it’s a popular place for renters and buyers alike. But which developments in the area are worth the price tag? We’ve asked current residents to share their honest opinion about apartments in Edinburgh. Which did they rate the highest? Read on to find out.
Where is Edinburgh?
Edinburgh is Scotland’s second most populated city. As the capital city, Edinburgh is also home to the Scottish Government, Parliament, and the high courts. It lies 4km southwest of the Frith of Forth and 42 km inland from the east coast and the North Sea as the crow flies. Edinburgh lies at the heart of the Edinburgh and South East Scotland city region. This is made up of East Lothian, West Lothian, Midlothian, Edinburgh, Fife, Midlothian, and the Scottish Borders.
Allegedly built on seven hills, the modern city has a legendary link to Rome – and King Arthur. Its most prominent landmark is perhaps Edinburgh Castle on Castle Rock, while the Old Town sweeps down to Holyrood Palace, the official residence of the British monarchy. Princes Street and the New Town lie to the north.
Apartments in Edinburgh: Top 10 rated by residents
We can reveal the 10 top-rated apartments in Edinburgh. Click on the link below each development to read all the in-depth reviews left by actual residents.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance.
Living in Edinburgh
In many ways, Edinburgh can be considered the cultural seat of Scotland. With an ingrained culture based on law, medicine, science and literature, it’s a city steeped in learning and history. This is why, despite Edinburgh’s relatively small population, it attracts millions of tourists a year, helping fuel its economy.
But it’s not just tourism that enriches its reputation as an economic powerhouse. Home to institutions such as the Bank of Scotland and Scottish Widows, this is a city that runs on finance. You’ll find the heart of these operations in the West End.
Edinburgh’s History and Culture
Edinburgh also has an academic reputation, with a high proportion of its residents educated to degree-level, working in professional roles, or studying at one of three well-ranked universities. The cultural offerings are pretty potent too. We’ve already mentioned the extraordinary number of listed buildings dotted along the winding streets.
Other than that, you’ll spot the famous castle, various churches, and the Old and New Towns, which both have UNESCO World Heritage status. The area becomes a riot of colour, sound and spectacle during the annual Fringe Festival and The Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo. Several theatres and production companies keep the populace entertained the rest of the year.
Shopping in Edinburgh
Besides this, there’s plenty of shopping and dining to get done. From the buzz surrounding Princes Street to upmarket independents nestled in George Street, your options are many and varied. Alternatively, escape the hustle and bustle by visiting Edinburgh’s numerous parks or the remains of an ancient volcano. Just outside the city, Pentland Hill’s wild, rugged landscape awaits.
Transport in Edinburgh
Besides a comprehensive rail and tram system, a 24-hour bus service operates in the city, alongside several park-and-ride sites. Most routes run via Princes Street, providing convenient access to the main districts via the city centre.
In addition, two encircling A-roads connect Edinburgh to the Scottish border and the settlements north of the Forth Bridge. The M8 also provides a direct route to Glasgow (c. 46m). Meanwhile, Edinburgh Airport offers a variety of domestic and international flights, including to the USA, Canada, and European destinations.
Edinburgh property prices
So, are apartments in Edinburgh within your budget?
The average property price in Scotland was £187,000 in December 2022. However, according to Zoopla, the Edinburgh average hit £332,500 in February 2023. Perhaps this is not surprising, given all the benefits Scotland’s cultural capital offers.
The good news is that apartments come in at a more affordable £266,000. Meanwhile, terraced, semi-detached and detached properties currently cost £431,617, £431,022 and £673,119, respectively.
Data from Home.co.uk reveals that renting in Edinburgh will set you back around £2,528 PCM on average. But this falls to £1,700 PCM if you take the median average into account. Breaking rentals down by size, one-bedroom homes cost £1050 PCM, rising to £3,000 for a five-bedroom property.
What did you think about our top-rated apartments in Edinburgh? To learn more about the city, visit our dedicated area guide below.
HomeViews provides verified resident reviews of the UK’s housing developments. We’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to recognise high performers and help improve standards in the built environment.
