53 Reasons Living In Edinburgh Ruins You For Life
Great food, beautiful views, and incredible New Year’s Eve parties. What more could you want?
1. Because the outdoor art is dazzling.
A field of light in the city centre? Why not.
2. Because this is what happens on an average summer evening.
This happens every night in August. EVERY NIGHT.
3. Because you’ll be able to afford a flat like this.
For about £700 a month. Sorry, Londoners.
4. Because this is your gym.
“Hey look, someone left a bunch of countryside in the middle of the city.”
5. Because the universities are among the best in the world…
Edinburgh University is ranked as the 17th best university in the 2014–15 QS rankings. And it’s the sixth oldest university on the planet.
6. …and the student union buildings look like Hogwarts.
7. Because our shopping centres know their place.
Who wants a branch of The Body Shop or New Look blocking their view? Better to keep them neatly tucked away underground.
8. Because the vintage shops are second to none.
Armstrong’s is basically second-hand clothes Narnia.
9. Because the pubs are truly historic, wonderfully unique…
The Sheep Heid in Duddingston is home to a vintage skittle alley and the finest selection of cask ales in east central Edinburgh.
10. …and you run into famous authors whenever you go for a drink.
If you visit The Oxford Bar you’ll probably end up sitting next to Ian Rankin; it’s his local.
11. Because a long black at Brew Lab is the finest thing.
Also, the tiny milk bottles are adorable.
12. Because this is the city centre.
This is the view just 10 minutes away from Princes Street. HOW IS THAT POSSIBLE?
13. Because you haven’t really had a baked potato until you’ve had a Baked Potato Shop baked potato.
Haggis-topped tattie? Don’t mind if I do.
14. Because Newhaven.
Newhaven is basically heaven with better seafood.
15. Because our food shops are packed to the rafters.
Who needs Tesco when you’ve got world-class delis like Valvona and Crolla, Mellis, and Lupe Pintos?
16. Because winter has never looked so beautiful.
Dean Village is perfection, and just a stone’s throw from Princes Street.
17. Seriously, SO beautiful.
This is what you get to look at while you trail up and down Princes Street doing your Christmas shopping.
18. Because all Christmas markets should look like this.
19. Because it’s Christmas all year round.
Want to buy festive baubles in July? No problem.
20. Because New Year in Edinburgh is beyond spectacular.
Why would you want to be anywhere else on Hogmanay?
21. Because the museums are stunningly beautiful.
It isn’t enough that the National Gallery of Scotland boasts world famous paintings by Titian, Monet, and Cezanne. It also looks like a glorious ancient temple.
22. Because this is where you go out to eat.
Famous restaurants at the Shore include The Kitchin, Fishers in the City, Martin Wishart, and, of course, Pizza Express.
23. Because it’s home to the best, most dangerous bookshop in the world.
Armchair Books: famous for its precarious ladders. Enter at your own risk.
24. Because it’s compact, clean, and safe.
You can cycle across the whole city in about an hour, and no one will steal your bike.
25. Because nowhere else in the world has a mysterious book sculpture fairy.
Ten intricate sculptures made from famous Scottish books were hidden at various cultural spaces throughout 2011. No one knows who created them.
26. Because the streets are on another level.
More cities should stack one street on top of another. It saves a lot of space.
27. Because Café Piccante regularly saves your life.
You just know your hangover would be worse if you hadn’t stopped for chips and a deep-fried Mars bar on the way home.
28. Because once a year, the whole world comes to us…
The International Festival is spectacular. Who needs to travel when you have hundreds of cultural events on your doorstep every August?
30. …and hundreds of world-famous authors.
“BRB, just popping out to get my book signed by Neil Gaiman.”
31. Because you know you couldn’t live without your daily burrito from Illegal Jack’s on Lothian Road…
Carnitas, black beans, jalapeños…
32. …or your weekly Sunday brunch from Toast in Marchmont.
Herby sausages, homemade beans, and, of course, a tattie scone. Divine.
33. Because there are hidden gems down every side street.
34. Because why would you go and see any old play when you could watch a brand new one?
The Trav is the home of new writing. And the bar’s not bad either.
35. Because the Forth Rail bridge never fails to take your breath away.
Every time you go to South Queensferry you just have to take a photo.
36. Because Halloween isn’t Halloween. It’s Samhuinn.
What’s the point of living in a city that doesn’t throw an odd pagan festival at least twice a year?
37. Because even the train-station roof is insanely beautiful.
An all-glass train-station roof was a bold move, but it totally paid off.
38. Because anything Cornwall can do, we can do better.
Cramond is basically a Scottish version of Mousehole with a bonus Roman fort.
39. Because dogs are almost always welcome in pubs.
They never get a round in though, the furry skinflints.
40. Because you’d feel weird if you couldn’t climb to the top of an extinct volcano whenever you felt like it.
And take in this glorious view.
41. Because this is a club.
Until you’ve partied in a haunted vault, you haven’t partied at all.
42. Because you love being greeted by these guys on your way to Elm Row.
It’s an urban jungle.
43. Because we all know that the cakes at Mimi’s are the best in the world.
How are they blue? And are those mint Aeros?!
44. Because the parks are truly magical…
Princes Street Gardens, The Meadows, Inverleith Park… You’re spoiled for choice.
45. …and you’re never far from the water.
Edinburgh is criss-crossed with scenic waterways. It’s basically Venice, but colder.
46. Because Edinburgh looks just as beautiful on a rainy day.
Which is good, because there are quite a lot of those.
47. Because this has to be the world’s most scenic Farmers’ Market.
Whenever you visit you snigger at “Well Hung and Tender”.
48. Because this is the high street.
You won’t find any branches of New Look or Argos here. Just whisky shops.
49. Because you’re never more than a 40-minute bus journey away from scenery like this.
The Pentlands are basically Edinburgh’s back garden.
50. Because we don’t have monuments, we have “Gothic rockets”.
No, it’s not an alien spaceship, it’s a tribute to Sir Walter Scott.
51. Because Edinburgh wins at afternoon tea.
From the amazing spread at Prestonfield House to this stunning high tea at the Balmoral, you just can’t beat it.
52. Because when you live in Edinburgh, you lose all sense of perspective.
“Isn’t it normal to have a gigantic 12th-century castle in the middle of the city?”
Other cities pale in comparison to Edinburgh. In fact, it’s ruined you for anywhere else. You can never, ever leave.
“Edina! Scotia’s darling seat! All hail thy palaces and tow’rs.”
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