Locations

The 'West End' of Edinburgh lies in the New Town, serviced by many buses and Haymarket Train Station.  It is a short walk to Princes and George Streets.  As with the rest of the New Town, it is comprised of wide streets and beautiful georgian buildings - originally built as private residences, many have been converted into prestigious office space with a large number of foreign embassies choosing to have their headquarters here.  William and Stafford Streets are home to a number of small independent shops and boutiques as well as some old traditional Edinburgh pubs and restaurants.  Charlotte Square was one of the first areas of the New Town to be built.  Other attractions include the National Gallery of Modern Art and the Dean Gallery.

The West End is conveniently situated on the way to the airport and the Airport Bus stops at Haymarket.  From here it is also a short ride to the Edinburgh Zoo and Murrayfield Stadium.

The old town is an area in the city centre and home to the famous street, the Royal Mile, where we have a number of apartments.   There are many shops, restaurants, bars and visitor attractions in walking distance in this area.  Many of the cultural highlights are just a stone throw away including many of the Edinburgh museums and galleries - the National Portrait Gallery, the Gallery of Modern Art, the Museum of Scotland, as are many of the principle theatre venues, the Playhouse Theartre, Festival Theatre, Queens Hall, Usher Hall, Traverse Theatre, Assembly Rooms.
 

Murrayfield is a central location in the West of Edinburgh.  It is close to the West End of Edinburgh's city centre and is only 15 minutes from Edinburgh Airport and 5 minutes from Edinburgh Haymarket train station.  It is also the home of the Scottish Rugby Union and is the largest stadium in Scotland, with an all-seater capacity of 67,800.  Although mostly used for Scottish International Rugby Union matches, Murrayfield has also hosted rugby league, football and american football as well as concerts including Live 8 in 2005.  Nearby attractions also include Edinburgh Zoo and Murrayfield Ice Rink.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Edinburgh's New Town is often considered a masterpiece of city planning.  Built between 1765 and 1850, the area still contains much of the original neo classical period architecture.  It is home to The National Gallery of Scotland and the Royal Scottish Academy, both located on the Mound.  Other notable buildings in the area include the National Portrait Gallery, the Assembly Rooms, Waverley Station, The Balmoral Hotel and the Scotts Monument.  The shopping areas of Princes Street, George Street  and the St James Centre are also in the New Town.

The Leith district of Edinburgh is very fashionable and vibrant area of Edinburgh with many excellent restaurants, bars and boutiques. There is also a large shopping, restaurant and cinema terminal - Ocean Terminal - within walking distance, as is the Royal Yacht Britannia. Similarly the city centre is only a 5 minute drive/bus ride away.

Golf

Situated just along the coast from Leith, lies the seaside town of Portobello.  In 1650, the town was used by Oliver Cromwell and the Scottish Leaders in a secret meeting about the execution of King Charles 1 and the dissolution of Parliament.  During the 18th century, Portobello was used as a haunt for smugglers and seamen but the 19th century saw the area develop with the manufacture of glass, lead, brick and soap. 

Now a thriving beach resort, Portobello is an ideal location for those who prefer to lodge by the sea and travel the short distance to visit Edinburgh's sights.

Perfect for evenings when you want to feel like you've done something but don't want to go very far to do it, Portobello is ideal for an evening stroll and a picnic dinner.  It boasts one of the longest promenades in Europe and a perfectly pebble-free stretch of sand.  Located just 3 miles from Princes Street, you can be desk to beach in in minutes. 

Situated in the northern part of Edinburgh, Inverleith is an affluent residential area neighbouring Trinity to the north and the New Town to the south.  It is home to Edinburgh's Royal Botanic Garden and Inverleith Park as well as the buildings and playing fields of a number of Edinburgh's finest independent schools.  Nearby Stockbridge provides local shops, bars and restaurants and there are regular buses into the centre of Edinburgh.

A quarter mile from Edinburgh Castle, a quarter mile from the Royal Mile and a quarter mile from corner to corner, a vibrant new area has blossomed within the Scottish capital’s World Heritage site. Master-planned by world-renowned architects Foster + Partners, Quartermile blends the capital's heritage with striking new additions to form an exciting business and residential community.

Originally a small village, Stockbridge is now a vibrant suburb of Edinburgh that still retains its 'village' feel with numerous independent shops, bars and restaurants.  Raeburn Place (now the home of the Edinburgh Academy sports ground) hosted the first ever international rugby match on March 27 1871.  The home of scottish cricket (The Grange) is also located here.  The Water of Leith (a 25 mile river running from the Pentlands to the Firth of Forth) flows through Stockbridge which is part of its 12.25 mile walkway from Balerno to Leith.  This walkway is an attractive haven for wildlife and since 1988 Stockbridge has hosted an annual charity duck race (as part of its community festival at the end of June) where 1000 plastic ducks are 'released' into the Water of Leith for charity.  The first ducks across the finish line win prizes for their sponsors.

Marchmont is situated approximately a mile south of the Old Town.  It is an area popular with students and professionals alike due to its local amenities and proximity to both Edinburgh and Napier Universities and the city centre.  Situated south of The Meadows (a large public park) and Bruntsfield Links (with a free public pitch and putt golf course), Marchmont is also home to the mosaic-tile B-Listed Warrender Swimming Baths which were opened in 1887 and recently restored, although retaining its Victorian architecture and old-fashioned poolside changing facilities.

Newington is located approximately 15 - 20 minutes walk south of the city centre and the Old Town.  It is a predominantly student area with Edinburgh University having a purpose-built halls of residence here; it is also very close to the University's main campuses of George Square and King's Buildings.  Its main road is highly commercial, accommodating numerous shops, bars and restaurants.  Newington is home to the Jewish Cemetary at Sciennes House Place which adjoins 5 Sciennes House Place (formerly Sciennes Hill House), the site of the only known meeting of Sir Walter Scott and Robbie Burns in the winter of 1786-87. A plaque on the site commemorates this event.

The Grassmarket is situated in Edinburgh's Old Town, with Edinburgh Castle towering above it.  It was the site of one of Edinburgh's main markets as well as public executions (The Last Drop pub is where prisoners were taken for their last drink before heading to the gallows).   There is a plethora of bars, clubs and restaurants here and in the surrounding areas (Cowgate, Victoria Street, George IV Bridge) and as such is very lively at weekends.  Currently undergoing a revamp, the Grassmarket will have more space for markets and outdoor seating at the cafes and restaurants.

Orignally a municipal burgh, the Port of Leith is now a suburb in Edinburgh's north, lying on the shore of the Firth of Forth.  Leith holds a significant role in scottish history.  In the mid 17th century, Leith was a battleground for Oliver Cromwell's forces - the remains of this battlefield now form the park called Leith Links - the mounds of grass dotted around the park mark former cannon emplacement earthworks.  The Links are also the site of a 5-hole 18th century golf course - the official rules of golf were initially formulated here, before being adopted by St Andrews, thus bolstering Leith's claim of being 'the home of golf'.

Nowadays, after decades of decline, slum clearance and post-war depopulation, Leith has been rejuvenated into a thriving commercial and residential district with attractions such as The Royal Yacht Britannia and Ocean Terminal adding to its appeal.   Along The Shore are some great pubs and restaurants serving up delicious traditional fish and seafood dishes.

The City of Edinburgh is one of Europe's major tourist destinations, attracting around 13 million visitors a year and is the 2nd most visited city in Britain after London.  During the annual Edinburgh Festival in August, the population literally doubles its usual 500,000.

Due to the relatively small size of Edinburgh's city centre, it is incredibly easy to walk around, from exploring narrow cobbled alleyways off the Royal Mile to standing on the unfinished acropolis on Calton Hill.  The mile walk from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace is literally bursting with small shops, bars, cafes, restaurants, museums - and during the festival there are hundreds of street performers to entertain you.  High street and designer shopping can be found on Princes and George Streets.  Or you can sit in Princes Street Gardens and take in the awesome view of the castle high above you before maybe heading to the National Gallery on the mound or climbing the Scotts Monument.

Abbeyhill is one of the oldest parts of Edinburgh, taking its name from the ruined Holyrood Abbey - a major historical religious site.  It is largely a residential area but very close to Meadowbank Retail Park as well as the city centre, although there are some local shops located around London Road.

Situated to the east of Edinburgh's city centre, Broughton is a vibrant area with many great independent pubs, shops and restaurants - the majority of which are located on Broughton Street.  Nearby Gayfield Square and Gayfield Police Stations frequently figure in author Ian Rankin's Inspector Rebus series.  Broughton Street is also the main thoroughfare of Edinburgh's 'pink triangle', an area of the city with a number of gay bars and clubs.  The St James Shopping Centre and the Omni Centre are both minutes walk away from the top of Broughton Street.  Broughton is also close to Leith and Stockbridge.

Polwarth is a mainly residential area of Edinburgh which has the Union Canal running through it - this is a lovely walk that ends very close to the city centre where you can rent a barge or sit outside at one of the new restaurants, that have recently been built here.