Edinburgh, a city that manages to uniquely intertwine its gruesome history with its beauty. A city of almost two halves. On one side you have the urban and raw elements of the Old Town that preserves its medieval aura through the gothic architecture and dark cobbled lanes, where you will find locals drinking brilliant ales in the haunted pubs. On the other half, we have the grander of the two brothers, where the architecture neatly transitions into the grand Georgian buildings that exuberate elegance and wealth.
Edinburgh’s beauty and quality of living have made it become the UK’s most desirable city to live in, making it an expensive place to buy a house. With house prices expected to rise by a ridiculous 23% over the next three years, it is important to try and get into the Edinburgh property market as soon as you can. Despite the existing high house prices in Edinburgh, through careful planning and prudency, investing in property in the right areas will pay dividends for you in the future. It is certainly possible, as I will show you below. With over 20 years experience carrying out removals in Edinburgh, we have a good idea of where the best up and coming suburbs are, so grab a cup of tea and read our complete guide.
Buying a house in Leith
Leith is without a doubt one of the best places you should think to buy a house. Anybody that knows a little bit about Edinburgh will also know that Leith only became formally part of the city in 1920. To this day, traditional Leithers haven’t forgiven Edinburgh for the takeover and still think of themselves as coming from a different place. Its solid working class and maritime character was by the 1960s blighted by the death of traditional industries, which led to unemployment and a wave of drug abuse in later years, thus providing the background of the iconic novel Trainspotting.
If you have read or seen Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting then you will be all too aware that Leith didn’t tend to top the list of many things except for class As, drug addiction and violence. However, like an addict trying hard to escape a life of drugs and crime, Leith has turned over a new leaf in recent times by slowly but surely becoming more gentrified. This location undoubtedly has a lot of potential to be something a bit special in the future, since it has the core foundations in place. Currently, due to its lower prices compared to other parts of the city, Leith is an excellent place to begin investing in property.
Leith Walk has the size and capabilities to become an attractive high street and there are already signs of its transformation due to the number of trendy bars and restaurants appearing towards the top. Down the bottom of Leith Walk, we come across the Water of Leith, where people have the freedom to gently lean away from the urbanism of the city into a more scenic and tranquil experience that nature has to offer.
As pretty a picture I am painting for you right now, it is important to acknowledge that Leith still has a darker side to it, where crime still occurs. The rule is the further you go down on Leith Walk the scruffier it gets and that’s why house prices are cheaper here than in other neighbourhoods. For those of you interested in buying a house here, the average begins at £170,462
South Side
The Edinburgh Southside, as you can imagine, is located just south of Princess Street, but the specific location I am referring to is the older area surrounding Nicholson Street. This area enjoys having a rather colourful personality, with a whole range of contrasting characters residing in the neighbourhood. Expect to see more pit bulls than Labradors, more cottons than chinos, more Adidas than Jack Wills, more lager than fancy IPAs, more bacon rolls than avacados on toast for breakfast, and definitely a lot more cigarettes than fruity vapes. This isn’t Wester Hailes but it certainly isn’t the New Town either, which is why the price for a house here sits at a happy medium. The potential for this neighbourhood is easy to see, due to its geographical location. Definitely a place where you should think about buying a house as I will explain.
To begin with, it sits very comfortably next to the High Street, making it merely a 15-minute walk to heart of the city, Princes Street. Next to Nicholson Street is the famous Meadows – a large public park that hosts many festivals during the summer and where people from all backgrounds come to play sport and socialise.
In terms of food and pubs, Southside will often pose a dilemma about where to grab a drink or some grub due to the endless amount of restaurants and bars. The more upmarket Peartree and the special gin bar – 56 North – symbolise the gentrification of the area, whilst perhaps the more ‘local’ pubs, shall we say, will still serve you a pint of Tennants for around £3.50 instead of a fancy cocktail.
Southside residents come from all backgrounds. Due to its location, you will see many ordinary people passing through and out of town. The location has become a lot more studenty, thanks to the University buildings, the fantastic Pleasance Gym and their favoured social hub, the Peartree. The Edinburgh Southside also accommodates a diverse and multicultural community that is symbolised by the Mosque as well as an impressive variety of authentic Middle Eastern restaurants.
However, the darker and more impoverished side is still represented by the number of drug addicts that typically tend to socialise in Nicholson Street Gardens, where their neglect reminds us of the city’s failures in addressing its dire homeless situation. The rule in this part of town is simple: mind your manners, don’t be rude and you’ll certainly be alright.
Getting into the Edinburgh property market is not as difficult as you think since a one-bedroom apartment in this part of town can begin at around £135,000. See it as an investment for the future.
Canonmills
Canonmills sits next to Stockbridge and although it isn’t quite as upmarket and lavish as its neighbour, it certainly isn’t too far off it. Definitely the most expensive out of the 3 neighbourhoods in this blog, the price of property in Canonmillis is on the rise. The area is located by the Water of Leith, offering residents the opportunity to walk its banks as far as Leith or, in the other direction, the approaches to the Pentland Hills.
Indeed, the option for residents to seek refuge from the hustle and bustle of the city in a more tranquil environment has made Canonmills a much-desired location to invest in a house. Taking its name from the mills owned by the medieval monks of Holyrood Abbey, Canonmills still reflects a solidly traditional character.
The area’s cafes, bars and shops are reminiscent of the New Town but rather less grand. It is important to point out that Canonmills has more of a family feel to it than most other areas of the city. Typically, the bars are fairly upmarket and offer a wide range of real ales and malt whiskies. If you are still interested in being in a neighbourhood that offers a vibrant nightlife, this will probably not be your first choice. Canonmills, however, provides an opportunity for peaceful domestic existence.
To buy a house here expect prices to begin at around £175,000.
