Public transport is good and there is no bus war. But apart from that.................... 🙂
I tried catching a bus by Scott's Thunderbird 1 monument the other day, and it felt like just about the only thing the bus companies hadn't done was fit Ramming spikes/grenade launchers to the front of their buses 🤣
It was worse than Piccadilly Gardens...
To be fair. We rarely use the city itself. Often go to Aberdeen more than Edinburgh city centre
As usual, this is a priorities question. If you want parking, a garage, space for a dog to run around and easy access to the trails then you'll end up on the outskirts. If regular eating/drinking out is more important then head for the centre.
Having done both during my 50+ years in Edinburgh, I'd never live in a city centre again - even Edinburgh.
If you think kids might be on the horizon then a garden and better air must be a consideration too. As regards schools, I don't know where the idea comes from that the majority are fee-paying.
Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green all give you an easy, downhill commute to Heriot Watt, are on the Water of Leith Walkway for easy cycling into town and only minutes (seconds even) from trails into the Pentland Hills. When I was working from home I'd regularly head up there for a wee spin at lunchtime.
What about Ratho? Easy to get to HW Uni. Close to motorways, airport and on the canal for some nice cycling. Maybe not as expensive as Balerno, Currie and Juniper Green....
Schools thing confused me too. There are lots of fee paying schools but obviously heaps of normal schools. We'll be using the non fee paying ones cause we read the Guardian and like lentils.
Some right nonsense being talked on this thread...
Anyone who complains about traffic in Edinburgh hasn’t spent any time driving on or inside the M25. Edinburgh traffic really isn’t a big deal compared to most big cities
1) I've lived half my life in London and Edinburgh.
2) Edinburgh is objectively the 4th worst city in the UK for traffic. The traffic is horrendous - and feels worse than other cities like Newcastle or Liverpool or London because you can rarely get around it by getting on a tube or train. Even if you're not driving, you're probably stuck on a bus. To be fair this has improved a lot recently with the tram and new commuter rail lines.
https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/most-congested-cities-uk-ranked-26380797
3) you'd be mad to move halfway across the country and then choose to be dependent on a commute around the M25 or the Bypass. Bad traffic is bad traffic.
Edinburgh’s overwhelming fee paying primary/high schools might be a minus.
25% of Edinburgh schoolkids are in private schools. That's much higher than the Scottish or UK average (and I'd rather private schools didn't exist at all). However...I don't think that's overwhelming and I don't think that's entirely a reflection on the quality of the state schools (although it is worrying that the SNP has been so slippery and interfered with international benchmarking on education). Edinburgh is a bourgeois city and its also "exports" its private education ie the figures are a little exaggerated by the number of boarding kids from outside Edinburgh. There are plenty of state schools and plenty of decent state schools in Edinburgh.
https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/politics/38263/nicola-sturgeon-wants-to-mark-her-own-homework
https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/17439524.economists-issue-dire-warning-future-edinburgh-private-schools/
Poor traffic. ill-thought out public transport, and bus company war.
The public transport is not great, but you've made a mistake about a "bus war". Now you're inviting the Edinbores to drone on about the Corporation Buses (which tbf are generally pretty good apart from being stuck in traffic).
Anyone live on the beach near Musselburgh? Stayed in a hotel there once, one or two stops out of centre, less than 10 min commute. Had a nice cafe, hifi shop and pool. Seemed nice, easy to avoid traffic.
but you’ve made a mistake about a “bus war”.
Nah, we were standing at the stop by the Apple Store on Princess street and the buses were cutting each other up, getting in each other's way and generally having a barney (lots of hand gestures and associated macho horseshit), is what I meant. There was not enough 'stop' and too much 'bus' going on to accommodate them all.
25% of Edinburgh schoolkids are in private schools.
That number surprises me. Do they mean 25% of children who are educated in Edinburgh are in private schools or 25% of children who live permanently in Edinburgh attend private schools. The two are different things. Not just because of boarders from all over the world but also a large number of day pupils at Edinburgh's private schools who travel in from Fife, West Lothian, Midlothian, East Lothian, the Borders etc.
We’ll be using the non fee paying ones cause we read the Guardian and like lentils.
I'm informed by a teacher at one of Edinburgh's well-known private schools that this would make you an ideal customer.
Nah, we were standing at the stop by the Apple Store on Princess street and the buses were cutting each other up, getting in each other’s way and generally having a barney (lots of hand gestures and associated macho horseshit), is what I meant.
Strange, as I have caught a bus on Princes St literally hundreds of times and never seen this. Never heard of it either. Though there are a lot of buses I'll grant you. Oh and LRT bus drivers get very specific training as regards cyclists. They are very good at giving us loads of space. And generally a very friendly bunch too.
That number surprises me. Do they mean 25% of children who are educated in Edinburgh are in private schools or 25% of children who live permanently in Edinburgh attend private schools.
I don't know the exact numbers (I've heard 1 in 3 quoted) but it is far more than anywhere else in the country. Where we are I reckon about 70% of kids are in private schools, and there are quite a few areas like that. However there are some very good state schools around, though that's reflected in the house prices.
he is right really – and Colington is not a bad choice
There's always been a bit of a debate as to whether the historical spelling was Colinton or Colington. I think both were quite common.
As mentioned Colinton’s nice, as is near by Bonaly.
I hate to be a pedant (well that's not true, I love it) but Bonaly is part of Colinton. Bonaly (the hamlet) hasn't really existed as a separate entity since the 18th century).
Re traffic, it's not great but what city is. Yes the bypass needs another lane (and that stupid roundabout done away with) but compared to most English cities I've seen, Edinburgh traffic is no different. And being small it's easy to get about on a bike. I will concede that the potholes are a nightmare though. And as someone else said, post-pandemic traffic levels have dropped.
Lots else going for it but it is DARK in the winter. Much much darker than down south. That gets me much more than the weather.
True but the upside is that it's very light in the summer. Doesn't get dark till way past ten a lot of the time.
Anyone live on the beach near Musselburgh?
No but I spend a fair bit of time down at Portobello for swimming, rowing etc. It's a great place too. And East Lothian has tons of nice places along the coast (and inland). Excellent road biking there as well.
Scott’s Thunderbird 1 monument
Sorry but it's Thunderbird 3.
Strange, as I have caught a bus on Princes St literally hundreds of times and never seen this. Never heard of it either.
@politecameraaction, I see what you mean 🤣
Obviously Edinburugh is much less racially diverse and multicultural than London and the South East. Whether that's a good, bad or indifferent thing for you will depend on your prejudices. Edinburghers may explain at great length how Scots are less racist than English people, they're all Jock Tamson's bairns up there, it's a kinder polity etc...
is commuting on a rev and go scooter realistic if its a bit further out? its a no no in london you will get stabbed for it.
This is another bit of nonsense.
I’m informed by a teacher at one of Edinburgh’s well-known private schools that this would make you an ideal customer.
Exactly correct.
I used to live in Liberton (but you get Gilmerton as your neighbour)
Oi! To be fair it's been a lot better since they knocked down the high rises.
The schools thing is weird. 30 Cubs in the local pack from a range of backgrounds go to 9 different primary schools (including RC, plus one that's home-schooled) but they get on brilliantly. Don't know if that's typical across the city but there's loads for them to do. Taking them to the Robotarium at Heriot Watt next month.
When I worked at an Edinburgh independent school the number bandied about was 20% of those in school in Edinburgh were in independents. It was used as an argument to government to be very careful around taxes as CEC couldn't possibly build the number of schools needed to accomodate this number of pupils (yes I'm all too aware that there's a huge number of non Edinburgh resident pupils in those schools. We had a lot from the far East both in terms of the globe and the Lothians)
Colington
Spelling like that will get you a stern letter from the residents association. Colinton/Juniper Green/Currie/Balerno are maybe more commuter villages that happen to be linked to Edinburgh than actually part of the city.
On that side of town, you do have good public transport links to the centre- tram and train from Sighthill. They don't serve the nicer parts all that well though. Also very easy to head north or west towards the highlands via M90 and M9.
That said, I'm born and bred Edinburger and moved to Peebles nearly ten years ago. Nothing would get me back into town.
Edinburgh meh. I wouldn’t want to be cycling in the centre regularly. The bus drivers are very aggressive it scared the bejesus out of me the last time I was there. It would have to be off road cycle ways for me if I was commuting within the city. It’s great for pubs and cafes but far too busy for me. My advice would be live somewhere outside of Edinburgh with good transport links. The countryside to the south, south/east e.g. Lammermuirs is lovely.
Edinburgh is the business. I live very close to the city centre, but can go mountain biking from the doorstep and barely touch a road because our cycle network is so good. I can cycle to work in less than ten minutes, but also the theatre, national museums and art galleries and a world heritage site.
Moving to Edinburgh then driving to get about when you own a bicycle is lunacy. I cannot fathom why people drive here (unless they are tight and chose to live in South West Fife or West Lothian, which are awful). So, your question about traffic and ULEZ is irrelevant - you'll just ride a bike everywhere. The bus drivers (Lothian anyway) are exceptionally well trained on how to behave around cyclists.
We own a car, but tend to forget where it is and only use it to go out of town. Which we do a lot, but usually on the train, which gets us to London if we really have to, but also Dunkeld for a day's riding, the Cairngorms, Glasgow and so on.
You could live in the 'burbs, like Costorphine or somewhere, but having quick easy access to the city is better. Balerno and Juniper Green are OK-ish, but it's a 45 minute bus ride to town and only saves fifteen to twenty minutes on a bike ride in the Pentlands.
There's no like buttons so thanks to everyone who has responded.
Ok, things I'm fed up with in sunny Essex.
I'm originally from a small village in Linc's and missus from Devon. People in the SE tend to not to be very friendly. No one ever lets you out at a junction, no one ever seems to wave this thanks if you do let them out. The air quality is bad, the volume of traffic is horrendous, I have to drive 40mins to ride around a mainly flat Forrest and pay for the parking. I work 4 miles from home but there's no way I would cycle. People have no respect for cyclists I've basically given up riding in town now. No infrastructure at all.
The team I work in right now is mainly foreigners from all corners and a couple of northerners and It feels like a close family almost, people, genuinely want to know how you are and if theres anything they can do to help each other and teamwork happens naturally. It's nice. In the other office it's more locals and it's very much dog eat dog. Im on that headcount and have to go back soon.
Also we went to the western isles recently and it was an amazing holiday. Can't wait to go back. And there's so much more to go and look at. I'm used now to convenience of having things like Screwfix 10 minutes away and so on. In Linc's it was 45 mins drive. Not sure I want totally rural also don't think I want city centre. Short cycle to work is a key one and somewhere to MTB without having to load up the bus and drive 45mins just for a mid week pedal.
What's the situation with other things like doctors, dentists? As bad as here? How long to get an appointment?
Somewhere like Currie sounds like it'd be a good fit for you. Can't help with Drs and dentists but it's slap bang between Heriot Watt and the Pentlands. Large DIY places just 5 minutes away along with Decathlon and your usual retail outlet places. If your coming up for a look around give us a shout for a ride or advice. I don't live in Currie but I do work in Baberton once a week.
Not sure I want totally rural also don’t think I want city centre
Yeah I was thinking of city centre when I moved from semi-rural to where I am now (south Manchester) and glad I didn't. If you're used to it, I'm sure it's fine, but the move made me realised that I'm 'country mouse' and I'm glad the centre of town is 'away over there' and not just outside my door.
A house next to the A8 and airport? And you might get hit by a stray bullet!
What’s the situation with other things like doctors, dentists? As bad as here? How long to get an appointment?
OK - assuming you are talking about living somewhere like Currie/Juniper Green, and working at Heriot Watt / Research Park, then there was a Dr's surgery on campus. This information is obviously about 25 yrs out of date, but I assume it still exists! I am pretty sure it took non-students. Getting an appointment in term time, especially in first few weeks of term is probably a nightmare but generally, I think getting GP appointments in Scotland seems to be easier than in England. I don't recall a dentist on campus, but finding an NHS dentist in Scotland is usually simpler than England. Actually getting an appointment once you are on the list is definitely harder than a GP appointment.
People in the SE tend to not to be very friendly.
I wouldn't expect much difference in Edinburgh TBH. IMHO having lived in a couple of places within the city for 5 years and worked and studied there for a good proportion of my adult life I don't consider Edinburgh to be a friendly place. Edinburgh is of course a great city though.
I've got two branches of Screwfix within a 5 minute drive from my house so on that metric at least Edinburgh is winning.
Yeah, about 12% of Edinburgh's population is English so don't expect too much.
OOOOHH - saucer of cream for Mr Scotroutes 🙂
Yeah, about 12% of Edinburgh’s population is English so don’t expect too much.
well, it's clearly rubbing off, you're a miserable **** most of time
Embra vs Glasgow
Different core industries, different class dynamics, different histories, different levels and sources of immigration/migration etc combined.
Too massively simplify things Edinburgh is posher and has always been so.
Edited to add: Edinburgh probably has a bit more of the dour Presbyterian thing going on the Glasgow as well. Which it has in common with much of the south & east coast.
Ian Rankin mentions it in many of the Rebus books as well.
And Leith isn't Edinburgh 😉
I live in the Slateford Road/Chesser Avenue area of Edinburgh (west of the city centre, I don't know if it counts as one of TJ's awful suburbs or not) and work at the research park at Heriot-Watt. I cycle to work most days and generally it isn't a bad commute, though of course you can't account for the occasional awful driver (there was one this morning so it's on my mind!).
I like Edinburgh, I came here from near Aberdeen as a student and have stayed here ever since. It feels like it has a decent amount of stuff in it without feeling as overwhelmingly large like some cities do. Where I live is close to where the Union Canal crosses over the Water of Leith so I have decent access to walks and rides that are away from the roads, and which allow me easy access to the Pentland Hills, despite being not that far from the city centre too.
I don’t consider Edinburgh to be a friendly place.
At least they're not Glaswegians that repeatedly lecture you about how friendly they are...
We've put up with TJ for years so we can't be that bad.
Sheriffhall queue back at The Water of Leith this afternoon, but I don't think I could cope with Southern England's traffic. The traffic is back to pre-lurgy levels but it really is well below what I have to put up with when visiting England.
I am based on the edge - the city is growing rapidly and we are about to be swallowed up, but I get to live by the sea without silly money. I often travel into Edinburgh to ride, there is so much there and then there is the Pentlands. While true of the whole of Scotland, never be unappreciative of the access laws.
Welcome to the New Southeast.
Wellies, goretex, a sense of humour, a taste for Scotch Pies.....
.... and chippy sauce.
I've been in Edinburgh 23 years and love it.
Weather is dry and mild for Scotland.
City itself is compact and beautiful - the Castle, Arthur's Seat.
Some great pubs and restaurants.
Hogmanay, the festival, and 6N rugby weekends all add to the buzz.
If you're going to be working near the airport then I can recommend Cramond (4 miles away by bike) - nice place, if a bit expensive, River Almond, and beach on your doorstep. Five minutes and I can be in the countryside on road bike or mountain/gravel bike (into Dalmeny Estate, which is lovely).
Great choice of city 👌
Haven't read it all bug.
I live in Peebles and commute to herriot watt campus.
40minute drive.
1.5hr bike bus and bike
Like 2hours on the bus (because while everyone says the Edinburgh buses are decent (and they are) the actual routes are atrocious and drag you all the way in to the centre and all the way back out.
Peebles is shit though obviously, don't come here.
You want a bus to take you from door to door?
No far from it.
What I want is a bus network that is set up to get people where they need to be sensibly.
Ie. Orbital routes. There isn't even a proper route on the bypass.
My general commute is bus with bike to gowkley moss. Get off and cycle round the city about split 50/50 timewise.
To continue on public transport... another half hour to Princes Street then 45minutes back out.
In a less extreme example Newington to herriot watt shouldn't be a two bus* (more specifically two charges) routed through the city centre. It should be three buses. One to the nearest orbital, orbital to the suitable branch then in or out of town to the closest bus stop. And it should be one fee in the same way if you are lucky enough to live in Leith means you can nearly always get a single bus to your location and therefore one charge.
Routing everything across town means unnecessary congestion in the centre.
Simples.
*Might be a bad example but I think you should get my point.
Does the 32/52 not still do the circular route?
Edinburgh used to have a circular bus route the 32/52. One went clockwise and the other went counter-clockwise, joining up Sighthill with Craigmillar with Granton etc. Always an interesting trip. It was canned about 20 years ago. Irvine Welsh said that every tourist or festival luvvie who comes to Edinburgh should be dragged out of the Old Town and made to do a circuit and see Edinburgh properly.