A Quick Guide to Living in Edinburgh

At FDM, our clients are spread out all over the UK which gives our consultants the opportunity to move to bright new locations that best matches their skills with the client’s needs. With clients such as RBS, Standard Life, HSBC and more based in Edinburgh, we have provided some recommendations for you to follow if you are placed in this picture-perfect city.

Edinburgh is a historical and magical city that people fall in love with, tourists get stuck into, and students don’t want to leave. With excellent food, colourful cocktails and a vibrant nightlife, this beautiful city has so much to offer throughout the year; from the Edinburgh Fringe Festival throughout August to the Christmas markets from the end of November to the beginning of January. The city becomes a hub of energy during the Six Nations Rugby Championships or the Hogmanay Street Party on New Year’s Eve. Despite being fast-paced; Edinburgh is still known to be one of the safest cities around.

The Scenic Route

Arthur’s Seat is a must; situated not far from Edinburgh Castle, the hill rises about 250 metres providing the most extraordinary view of the city. It is also the largest of the three parts of Arthur’s Seat Volcano that is relatively easy to climb.

With its grassy slopes and panoramic views of the city, Calton Hill is in central Edinburgh a short distance from Princes Street. Its unfinished monument ‘The Acropolis’ symbolises a replica of the Parthenon in Athens and stands as a memorial to all those who died in the Napoleonic War.

From the city centre, The Union Canal is a 12-mile walk all the way down to the Water of Leith. On this stroll, you will be able to see ducks, swans, colourful canal boats and the occasional rower.

If you head slightly out of town you can come across Cramond Island. This is a small tidal inhabited island which is connected to the mainland with sand. Many enjoy adventuring off on this little island, but make sure you have enough time to return to land before the tide comes in.

From Happy Hour to Date Night

Have a date you want to impress? Head over to Bramble Bar for a quaint and cosy romantic night together. Salsa dancing time? Get your dancing shoes on because El Barrio is the place to be for some night-long salsa. Cocktail o’clock? Check out Copper Blossom with its upscale drinks and food menu, attracting people of all ages. The Boozy Cow is always another good shout, with a wide range of the tastiest cocktails, in the quirkiest setting with amazing food. Looking for some cheap eats? Mum’s Great Comfort Food and Oink are all excellent options for fresh, home-made food at great prices. The Grassmarket and Cowgate area is always a top choice for some live music and sports. The Liquid Room, Sneaky Pete’s and Cabaret Voltaire may not be the fanciest of venues but you can always count on excellent DJ’s playing to a jam-packed dance floor.

The Best Events & Attractions

One of Edinburgh’s most popular events is the Fringe. The month-long festival will attract thousands of people worldwide to the biggest celebration of arts and culture. With over 50,000 performances and approximately 300 venues scattered all over the city, it is the home to thousands of performers from comedy and magic to cabaret and circus acts. Throughout the month of August, the whole city is transformed into a hub of excitement.

Christmas spirit in Edinburgh is like no other; the Christmas market lasts about six weeks and offers activities such as ice-rinks and rides, performances from various choirs and a breath-taking light show. Stop by Santa Land (that everybody loves, not just the kids) and walk through the stalls offering delicious worldwide food and little Christmas goodies.

Edinburgh Castle and the Royal Mile is a popular tourist choice with bagpipes being played throughout the day and tourists flooding the mile, snapping photos of everything and anything.

Featured image credit: Photo by Liam Macleod on Unsplash