Right everyone,

I'm leaving Sheffield in a couple of weeks (stop cheering!) and moving to Edinburgh to take a new job. Have just been on the web searching for an internet site like this one where I can chat to people living in Edinburgh, find out about areas to live, events, nights out ect. But it would seem the Scots are a bit backwards when it comes to coming forwards and haven't yet set up The Edinburgh Forum!

So... is anybody familiar with Edinburgh? What are the best areas to live? Best pubs and clubs? Salsa bars? Best places to meet new friends? Helpful web addresses?

And no wise cracks about setting up my own Edinburgh Forum please. Have just about learnt how to switch my computer on, use a word document and surf the net. Don't want to complicate things!

Some info here :

http://www.ed.ac.uk/city/

Nomme

I found this - not sure if it's any good but worth a try :smile:

http://forum.virtualtourist.com/forum-313508-1-Travel-Edinburgh--forum.html

I'm off up there this weekend to visit some ex-Sheffielders who moved there. They live in Broughton, which couldn't really be nearer the city centre. I love going to visit them as it's such a nice city. I will be sure to ask for any tips/websites etc.

Originally posted by JBee
Right everyone,

I'm leaving Sheffield in a couple of weeks (stop cheering!) and moving to Edinburgh to take a new job. Have just been on the web searching for an internet site like this one where I can chat to people living in Edinburgh, find out about areas to live, events, nights out ect. But it would seem the Scots are a bit backwards when it comes to coming forwards and haven't yet set up The Edinburgh Forum!

So... is anybody familiar with Edinburgh? What are the best areas to live? Best pubs and clubs? Salsa bars? Best places to meet new friends? Helpful web addresses?

And no wise cracks about setting up my own Edinburgh Forum please. Have just about learnt how to switch my computer on, use a word document and surf the net. Don't want to complicate things!

Good Luck JBee! I'm sure you'll love it! As an Edinburgh native, I can say it's a very exciting, busy, beautiful place to live with loads going on.

But as I've not lived there for about 20 years, (only go back once or twice a year to visit the parents) I'm afraid I'm really out of date on the sort of info you've asked for!

I can say, though, that the city really needs the the equivalent of the Sheffield Forum! I was looking a couple of weeks ago online for an Edinburgh Forum to see what was happening - there seemed to be a feeble attempt at a local forum, but it was really poor - very disappointing. There's a big gap there if you feel like tackling it, JBee!

If you've any specific questions about good areas to live, etc feel free to contact me. I do know there's an excellent weekly (or fortnightly?) magazine you can buy in Edinburgh newsagents that lists all sorts of events that are on, and gives information on venues, restaurants, pubs, clubs, etc.

Hope that's of some help! Enjoy yourself!

StarSparkle :)

http://www.edinburghguide.com/edgforum/

Hope this helps and best of luck to you with new job and move :D Scots are very friendly, I'm sure you'll love it!

Hi JBee,

best of luck in Edinburgh, my home town. We left 3 years ago and are a little out of date with the latest bars/clubs/reataurants as things can change pretty fast. There are masses of good restaurants and bars though - always somewhere new to try whenever we go back for a visit - and there is something for every taste. There were a couple of good salsa bars when I was there too.

I lived in Leith (loved it), the southside (lots of students) and briefly in Morningside at my partner's place ("all fur coat and nae knickers"). Happy to comment on any other areas.

I find it cold up there now though, especially in the summer. It's often misty and overcast because it's on the east coast and you can get a real stiff wind too. Take a cardi.

It's a tourist city with loads of history so gets very busy, especially at festival time which makes getting around even more of a nightmare than usual. You (or your flat) will be very popular with your Sheffield mates, so make sure you have somewhere for them to crash when they come up for weekends.

It has it's own seaside resort (Portobello) and it's easy to get out into the countryside too. You can be at the gateway to the highlands in under 2 hours by car. By train it's less than an hour to Glasgow and an hour and half to Newcastle.

The events guide magazine mentioned is called The List. I'm not aware of any website like this one unfortunately.

Anything specific you need to know just ask. Best of luck.

Found you this forum:
http://www.ukstudentchat.com/chat/edinburgh

and this one
http://www.edinburgh247.com/forums/forum.asp?FORUM_ID=8

this one
http://www.btinternet.com/~kerrin.sheldrake/edin1.htm?/~kerrin.sheldrake/chat1.htm

then there's
http://www.weirdtown.com/find/chat/where/edinburgh_chat.jsp

and if youre after a bit of the other over yonder
http://www.plentyoffish.com/personals/537onlinedating.htm

Have a fab time! :thumbsup:

My nephew was at Edinburgh Uni and thought Leith was top.

Originally posted by cryinglion

I lived in Leith (loved it), the southside (lots of students) and briefly in Morningside at my partner's place ("all fur coat and nae knickers"). Happy to comment on any other areas.


EXCUSE ME!!! :o

I'll have you know Morningside is a quality place to live!!

(Said in my best Miss Jean Brodie accent)

StarSparkle :D

Oh no! I've been on this forum for about 5 minutes and I've managed to offend somebody already... and Morningside, of all things!

Actually it's not so bad now. The wee Morningside wifies have all but died out and it has a couple of decent pubs now. Still overpriced though, and it's not Leith.

I was in Edinburgh for New Years and it was fantastic! I think I have a thing for a scottish accent!

We had a flat on Leith St which is just off Princes St (i'm pretty sure that's the main street).

Just below our flat was a Czech-themed bar called Pivo. Excellent bar - cool music - had a good crowd while I was there.

Also check out the Out House further down the road which is more relaxed but stylish.

There's also a massive 5-level club called Espionage. Different styles of music on each level.

There's a good row of pubs in the grassmarkets area too.

Be sure to check out the Jekyl-and-Hyde. A bit cheesy but half the fun is watching drunk people trying to locate the hidden door to the toilets.

Hope that keeps you busy! Great city!

Originally posted by cryinglion
Oh no! I've been on this forum for about 5 minutes and I've managed to offend somebody already... and Morningside, of all things!

Actually it's not so bad now. The wee Morningside wifies have all but died out and it has a couple of decent pubs now. Still overpriced though, and it's not Leith.

That's ok Cryinglion - I was only teasing, although I think the saying about fur coat and no knickers refers to Edinburgh itself, not Morningside!

But you're right - Morningside has changed a lot in recent years. It used to be full of genteel old ladies forever twitching their lace curtains and disapproving of the world, especially schoolchildren, it seemed to me at the time!

Nowadays it's much more well-off families living in the houses, and young professionals living in the flats, as far as I can see. And many of them have English accents!! I think younger people just about outnumber the biddies now! :D

StarSparkle :)

That's great guys, really helpful, especially the web links...

Thanks ;-)