Edinburgh, Wow.

I’ve spent the latter part of this week working in Edinburgh, not on a customer site, but just remotely.*

I have to ask: when did Edinburgh become such an eclectic, cosmopolitan, friendly, wonderful place? It’s been bloody lush, like a less pretentious, generally better large city in the southwest. Food’s been great; hotel, right on the Grassmarket was awesome; shops are great; people have been friendly; cycling provision looks great; parking and traffic isn’t insane, the lad and his classmates have had a brilliant time. Has it always been like this?

*my son’s here on a residential with his school. As part of the risk assessment /mitigation for his autism I have to go and be prepared to helicopter in, if needed, to support the teaching staff. This never happens.

One of the great cities of the world

It’s certainly one of the nicest cities in the UK for sure. Generally speaking we are happier and nicer up here I would say. When my mum still lived down near Stratford upon Avon where I grew up and I would go back ‘home’ to visit it really struck me how rude, or rather just kind of nothing people are, in shops, bars, driving etc. And the same when I went down to a trade show in the midlands in Feb. It’s grim down south 🤣 I guess we haven’t fully had 14 years of Tory rule. And the lower population density gives you a bit more room to breathe.

I do really notice the litter though, no idea if it’s the same down south. There is pretty much a web of plastic in every gutter/hedge/field/beach.

cycling provision is a mix of great and downright dangerous.  Its a great place to live but too many tourists is a double edged sword for sure.l  city centre is pretty much a no go area for me 3 months of the year and these days they find their way down to Shore as well

I would say Edinburgh is the nicest city in England

My memory of living in Edinburgh was two families crammed into a 2 bed tenement infested with mice, and being saddened by the story of Greyfriars Bobby. Plus sides were those sweets that looked like pebbles, 1 o clock gun and Arthur’s Seat. So on balance, alright.

parking and traffic isn’t insane,

Edinburgh?! It’s an absolute nightmare. Ok, not as bad as Birmingham but that’s hardly a recommendation!

Otherwise, yes, it’s my local city, 25 miles away. I am not a city person at all but it’s one of the UK’s least worst

I would say Edinburgh is the nicest city in England

Downside is there’s no shortage of folk whinging about the tourists and students, but overlook that these help bring in the vibrancy and range of cafes & restaurants that are constantly popping up along with a huge variety of art that comes to town each year.

Pentlands on doorstep for weekday evening fun and can be on the West Coast on in the proper highlands within 3 hours for weekend playing depending on your fancy.

Overall, it’s a pretty decent place to live with decent jobs and quality of life.

I would say Edinburgh is the nicest city in England

And the sad thing is… that’s probably why 😉

When my mum still lived down near Stratford upon Avon where I grew up and I would go back ‘home’ to visit it really struck me how rude, or rather just kind of nothing people are, in shops, bars, driving etc

an opinion you share with Osama Bin Laden apparently- a childhood visit to Stratford was something he cited as having  formed his views of the decadent west

no blue plaque though. Yet.

I’ve lived here 35 years and love it. Quality of life is fantastic. Yes there are lots of tourists in the centre in the summer but we still go in and have fun. Always quieter bits to go to if you want. I’m Sorry I Haven’t a Clue last week on Radio 4 described Edinburgh as the “England of Scotland”. Probably quite accurate.

Lived there for a few months many years ago. If my lottery win came in and I could drag the kids out of their current school it’s where I’d be moving to.

Scotlands second best city isn’t bad.

Scotland’s 2nd best city?

I’m not sure about that. Okay, Dundee and Aberdeen are nice enough places, but better than Edinburgh? Really?

You missed out St Andrews, Perth, Inverness and Kirkwall.

Yeah I love Edinburgh, definitely my favourite UK city.

I generally avoid cities at all costs, but not Edinburgh, happily have a weekend there any time. Quite taken with Inverness too.

Edinburgh is too hilly

Yup very nice city.

They sell haggis burritos. Both a thing of genius and torture.

Radio 4 described Edinburgh as the “England of Scotland”.

Surely that would be Bridge of Allan? 😉

This is old data (2001) but I’ve not found a newer set yet.

%age of English by region

Dumfries & Galloway: 15.64%
Scottish Borders: 16.84%
Argyll & Bute: 17.04%
Orkney: 13.63%
Highland: 13.70%
City of Edinburgh: 12.14%

The first two are hardly surprising. I knew Argyll was high, just not quite as high. IIRC Dollar is about 15% English by birth,

Edinburgh is too hilly

It’s perfectly hilly.

https://seven-hills.org.uk/default.asp

I would say Edinburgh is the nicest city in England

As said by Jack Dee last week.

Scotroutes: were there stats for Moray or Grampian? Moray would be high I’d have thought, given military presence.

Like Edinburgh. Wife’s from there!!

IIRC Dollar is about 15% English by birth,
aye, we sent them there so they were away from the rest of the Hillfoots 😉

Edinburgh is too hilly

You better stay away from Glasgow then. It’s even hillier

It’s been bloody lush, like a less pretentious, generally better large city in the southwest.

Bath, perchance?

I was in Bath yesterday afternoon, (it’s a free bus ride for me, with no pissing around with expensive car parking), and I heard someone say Bath reminded them of Edinburgh, just smaller, and easier to get around. Not been there myself, but from what I’ve seen on telly, that seems like a reasonable comparison.

I used to commute to Edinburgh every week for work (from Cardiff!), and loved it then. I had visited many times as a tourist, but having a flat there (yes, even though it was Leith), was brilliant.

My daughter lives there now. She moved up for uni, but it looking like she’s going to stay, and although I would rather have her close to us, I can’t say I’m surprised or disappointed. Edinburgh is pretty darn nice.

My only experience of Edinburgh dates to a night out around Easter 1997. Stayed at a youth hostel in an old church (?) and walked into the city. Drank until 2am, had a fight* on the way back to the YH with the American friend destined to be my best man. Got separated and he ended up sleeping on a bench in a cemetery (a pleasant experience apparently). Left the city in the morning way behind schedule to head north and at the queue for the bridge tolls someone drove into the back of the car I’d borrowed from my stepdad.

7/10.

*in jest

Yeah, I grew up in Edinburgh (several decades ago now) and wasn’t hugely impressed. Spent some time there in recent years and it’s great. Not sure how much of that is my growing up/being an adult, vs the city actually changing. Either way, if I wanted to live in a city, I think it would be close to the top of the list.