Edinburgh is a beautiful city that many people fall in love with when they visit. When you walk through the streets and buildings, it seems like you are in another century. It is not your typical city with skyscrapers everywhere. Living in Edinburgh has a special charm. The combination of medieval buildings and 18th century urban renewal attempts, the lush vegetation (large and small parks everywhere), the proximity to the sea and the wonderful riverfront along the Leith make Edinburgh truly unique. Edinburgh is the perfect blend of old and new.
It’s a wonderfully human city, you can walk almost everywhere, and for everything else the bike is perfect. With a population of half a million, Edinburgh is a great little city to live in and has a lot to offer in terms of art and culture. You do not need a car to live in Edinburgh, because the city is easily accessible on foot and has a good public transport system.
The people in Edinburgh are quite aloof. People in Glasgow are more open and friendly. In general, people don’t talk much to strangers. Don’t expect to be smiled at or greeted in a friendly manner. In reality, this reputation is not entirely undeserved. Unlike Glasgow, in Edinburgh people tend to assume that they do not want to be bothered by a stranger who wants to talk to them. In Glasgow, it would be perfectly normal for someone to approach you and talk to you as if they have known you all your life. In Edinburgh, that does not happen that often. It’s a cultural fact.
If you want to make friends, you probably need to make the first move. Once the social ice is broken, you’ll find that people in Edinburgh are just like Scots in general: welcoming, polite, honest and down-to-earth. And once they see that you are a foreigner, they will be interested in getting to know you better. They are also very helpful, both in finding accommodation and in obtaining the documents necessary for settlement. By the way, Edinburgh has experienced massive immigration in the last decade and has become immensely multicultural, you will hear languages from all over the world.
Since Edinburgh is a fairly small city, it can sometimes feel a bit provincial and sleepy. Some like it, some do not. In Edinburgh, the days are very short. You eat dinner around six in the evening and go to bed at ten or earlier. But there is also a nightlife with excellent restaurants, bars and pubs for every taste. The peak is reached during the Fringe Festival, when there are hourly performances and the city is full of tourists. The Edinburgh International Festival in August is a huge cosmopolitan event with official art and events all over the city and in all kinds of places.
The climate in the city is very changeable, it is said that here you can experience all four seasons in one day. Winters are cold, although the temperature rarely drops below 0 °C and summers are cool (average temperature 14 °C). Cold, howling gusts of wind from the North Sea are a constant that one would gladly do without. In summer, the sun does not set until after 10:00 p.m. In winter, however, the days are very short and the sun sets at 15:00.
It is an expensive city, probably the most expensive in all of Scotland. Accommodation, transportation and food are expensive. The purchase prices for real estate are
As for work, it is quite easy to find a job in Edinburgh, and the jobs are quite well paid. The job market is very good, and it is expected to grow in the coming years, attracting many young people in the fields of technology and finance. The unemployment rate is only 3.3
When it comes to finding a job, Edinburgh offers the greatest opportunities in the financial and hospitality sectors. There are often new jobs in hospitality and retail. If you are open to any kind of work, there are always several options. In June and July, hospitality and retail applications increase due to the influx of tourists and the festival.
Living and working in Edinburgh – pros and cons
Living and working in Edinburgh, pros
- Beautiful city with beautiful architecture
- Excellent public transportation
- Good education (former home of learning with at least two major universities)
- Good job opportunities
- Friendly people (although there is some snobbery)
Living and working in Edinburgh, cons
- Terrible weather (it rains a lot and summer doesn’t exist)
- High cost of living
Living and working in Edinburgh, conclusion
Edinburgh is a city that attracts many different people and has something for everyone.
For those interested in history, there are many sights to visit. For nature lovers, there are plenty of parks and forests to visit. For shopping and entertainment addicts there are many theaters, cinemas, cafes, excellent restaurants and pubs and stores But best of all are the people. The city is full of people of all ages, races and cultures living in harmony
Sure it’s not the cheapest place to live and the weather is what it is, but Edinburgh is still a great city to live in.
For all the information on how to work in the UK, I recommend you to read the article: How to work in the UK after Brexit
On the other hand, if you want more information on how to move to the UK, I recommend you to read the article: Moving to the UK after brexit
