Yes, you’ve read that right!
Time Out have this week crowned Edinburgh as the Best City in The World 2022 in a yearly survey of thousands of locals about what it’s like to live in their city. With Glasgow coming in fourth spot, living in the central belt of Scotland has never been more appealing.
Edinburgh boasts a refined foodie scene, with a choice of both traditional and international cuisines at your fingertips. Pair that with famous historical landmarks, numerous museums and galleries, and a vibrant nightlife, it’s easy to see why Edinburgh has clinched the top spot. With locals citing walkability and the city’s beauty as being two leading reasons for why Edinburgh is just so great, it’s easy to see why the property market is thriving here.
Our estate agency team have pulled together details on some of the best spots to buy a property in Edinburgh. Whether you’re a first-time buyer, a young family, or someone looking for your retirement haven, there really is something here for everyone.
Leith
Within walking distance of the city centre, Leith is a lively area to the northeast of Edinburgh, packed full of things to do and places to see. Popular with locals and visitors alike, the area is home to a mix of Michelin star and independent restaurants serving up Scottish and international cuisines prepared with locally sourced ingredients.
There are plenty of markets to visit in the area. Leith Market is open at Dock Place every Saturday offering artisan bread, homemade preserves, and smoked seafood for sale, and The Pitt market is open every weekend, where you can enjoy everything from buffalo chicken burgers to speciality desserts.
The locals are proud of their heritage, with Leith docks once acting as one of the busiest ports in Scotland, and now home to the infamous Royal Yacht Britannia visitor attraction. With the ongoing construction of a vertical whisky distillery at the port, teamed with the fantastic local bars and restaurants along the shore, Leith is most definitely a trendy, up and coming area of Edinburgh to live in.
If you like being out in the open air, there are plenty of green spaces in Leith where you can experience Edinburgh’s rated “walkability”, with Leith Links, Claremont Park, and The Water of Leith walkway all on your doorstep.
Corstorphine
Situated to the west of Edinburgh, Corstorphine is a leafy residential area boasting excellent transport links to both the city centre and Edinburgh airport. If you favour the outdoors, Corstorphine is home to beautiful green spaces and Corstorphine Hill is popular with walkers, especially on a hot summer’s day.
With local schools highly rated in the area, Corstorphine would be the perfect place to purchase your family home. With local amenities like The Gyle shopping centre and a 24-hour Tesco supermarket, you won’t have to travel far to get your shopping done.
For the sportier individual, Corstorphine is perfect, benefitting from its own rugby, football, and cricket clubs, as well as local golf courses.
Bruntsfield
Moving on to the southwest of the city centre, Bruntsfield is one of Edinburgh’s most sought-after residential areas. Popular with foodies, Bruntsfield and neighbouring Morningside boast a variety of independent brunch spots and bistros, alongside traditional pubs, and fine-dining restaurants.
The area is well served by public transport, but you don’t need to travel if it’s outdoor space you’re looking for. Bruntsfield Links and The Meadows are fantastic green areas, with the inviting smell of barbeques lingering in the air during the summer months. Not too far a walk from Bruntsfield is the famous Arthur’s Seat for those who like a more challenging outdoor walking adventure, and the area is well-served by gyms and fitness studios.
For the more culturally drawn individual, Bruntsfield is home to theatres and galleries, and some fantastic arthouse cinemas, and the area is bursting with both independent shops and larger supermarkets like Waitrose and M&S. Ideally located for those attending Edinburgh Napier University, The University of Edinburgh, and Edinburgh College of Art, it’s hard to find anything amiss with Bruntsfield.
Bonnington
Located within one mile of Edinburgh city centre, Bonnington is the ideal location for those working in the city, who prefer a slightly quieter way of life. The area is home to some fantastic local bars, coffee shops and eateries, and a large Tesco and Lidl for all your grocery-shopping needs. Bonnington is also ideally located just a short distance from the afore mentioned Leith and is home to beautiful green spaces like Victoria Park and the Water of Leith walkway.
For those who like a swim, it’s a short walk or cycle along the Water of Leith to neighbouring Newhaven, home to Wardie Bay, where you can find locals swimming in the height of summer (and the depths of winter!).
Not far from Lidl you can find Alien Bloc, a centre offering fantastic indoor climbing and bouldering facilities, and there is a modern gym and indoor swimming pool in the area, too.
With local primary and secondary schools highly rated in the area, Bonnington is a great choice for families looking to locate close to the city centre.
With such a varied and vibrant selection of areas to live in, it’s not difficult to see why Edinburgh has been voted as The Best City in the World 2022.
At Watermans, we have an array of properties for sale in the most sought-after areas in Edinburgh. You can view our properties for sale or call our estate agency team on 0131 555 7055 to enquire further.