Hi Gang,

I wonder if I could get a bit of advice from you all.

I haven't been offered it yet but there is a possibility of me working in Edinburgh on a contract role for 9-12 months. Likely to be 4 days a week (with a day in London or at home) so, coming from Essex, I'd be looking to stay somewhere close to the city centre.

Any idea what would be my best bet as far as accommodation..? Book out 3 or 4 nights each week in a citystay style hotel/motel or look for a BnB that would do a deal on recurring 3-4 nights per week.

I wouldn't need anything fancy but would want wifi and close to the centre as I wouldn't;t have my car with me. (i'd fly up from Stansted on Sunday or Monday early and come back Thursday)

Thanks in advance
Ash Ash
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I guess a lot depends on which part of Edinburgh your base will be. A lot of the larger companies are based out at South Gyle or Edinburgh Park (west of the city centre). Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
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Ah - ok - Thanks Alan.

Not sure yet (but I think it will be RBS at their HQ)

Should know more later today so will post back. Ash
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If your at the rbs hq at gogar you are a stones throw from the gyle. Lots of decent priced rentals up there. Quite enough area as well. You will be a 10 minute walk to your work. If you choose a city centre rental/b and b there's a great bus and tram service that will get you to rbs in under 20 minutes..

ok - So I believe the role is at TSB - Edinburgh EH2..?

Does it make a big difference as I think they are all in a similar location in the city?

Thanks Ash
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That's not far from me at all!
The banks are actually surprisingly spread out; there are those that have gone for the out of town option in recent years and others that maintain large bases in the city centre, it will be important to work out which applies.
EH2 is a city centre postcode though, so suspect you'll want to be looking at New Town or Stockbridge.

In your shoes, I'd actually look into short term tenancies on rightmove etc, there are usually quite a few available at any given time, and then you won't be subject to the changes in demand (and ergo price) that come and go with the tourist silly season in August. Even out of season it will likely work out to be cheaper to rent than go for the airbnb/hotels option on a four day basis.

Here's an example, on Abercromby Place which is nice and central but just far enough down from the nightlife on George Street to make it quiet at night.

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-ren...00368.html

Cheers

A

Probable Fettes Row then.

That's perilously close the "Pink Triangle"  Got - 2017 SDV8 Autobiography in Loire Blue
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True, still the right side of Broughton St, but not by much!

Speaking of which, this has been amusing me lately!
https://twitter.com/NewTownFlaneur˙

Now you've got me worried....

I think the job address is 120 George Street.

What is this "Pink Triangle" you speak of..? Ash
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Ah... Google is a wonderful thing.....

not my scene to be honest... (was thinking of a different pink "triangle" I guess  Ash
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Don't sweat it too much, Abercromby is actually quite a long way from that stuff; pretty well to do.

Failing that there's one on my street at the moment!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-ren...79026.html

Or one on Thistle Street, which would be literally 10 seconds walk to work for you, but a bit of a dark and dingy street to be honest... good pubs on it though!
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-ren...29620.html

Right, back to work with me!

The first question is probably whether it would suit you better to have your own place or to stay in a hotel/B&B. If you earn over £43,000 you might want to consider whether having a "home" in Scotland would make you a Scottish taxpayer, so that the higher rate of tax starts from there rather than wherever it starts for England (£45,000?). The sums are not huge and you may not mind paying extra. There are quite complex rules for people who have a "home" in Scotland as well as somewhere else in the UK. Living in a hotel/B&B may be less likely to count as having a "home" than renting a flat.

Edinburgh has a large tourist economy. At Festival time (around August) the population about doubles and costs are much higher. There are plenty of buses and in the centre of town it is easy to get about on foot. Driving and parking are less favoured. You might want to start by deciding how far you want to walk to George Street, drawing a circle on a street plan enclosing the walking distance and then seeing what would suit within that circle. If you are going to travel to the airport regularly then something on the west side would be more convenient, e.g. West End, Dean Village (not ground/basement due to flood risk), maybe Stockbridge, Comely Bank or New Town. Perhaps the company you will be working for can advise too. Ideally you would visit and look at the areas you think might work as noise, traffic, ambience etc can vary quite a bit across smallish areas. Only Range Rovers since 1988

TBH, having lived in Edinburgh for almost 10 years there aren't many places you need to avoid if you are looking at city centre.

Sold my flat at the end of last year or you could have rented that off me!

George street is bang central so you want to be new town or thereabouts. Carlton hill, bruntsfield, marchmont, would work too though on the other side of princes street you are still looking about a 10-15 min walk. The city is so compact there are very few places which can't be walked to/from in the centre.

Stick city centre location wise, avoid looking out towards Leith, and the grotty areas to the west too (Gorgie, wester hailes etc)

Everywhere has a small shop or pub or restaurants and the busses (those large red things) are the best and quickest way to get about. I lived in Morningside, and it's 10 mins on the bus to princes street from there and that a little ways out!

If you want some advice on a particular area then just ask. I've been to them all, passed out in most of them, and would avoid a couple of them again There is nothing that can't be fixed with a hammer😜😜
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Good advice. Some parts of Bruntsfield/Marchmont can have high concentrations of student flats and so can be noisy, as can the Old Town due to tourists, bagpiping buskers etc. I'd say it was more like half an hour to walk from Marchmont/Bruntsfield to George St. Only Range Rovers since 1988

Last edited by CS on 6th Mar 2017 7:55pm. Edited 1 time in total

Great advice guys - thanks for this so far..

I think I will have better idea on the prospects of getting the contract later this week so will let you know the outcome.

I'm in no rush to decide I guess, I could come up and stay in B&B or motel for a while while I look around and see what's what. If it comes off I may well catch up with some of you in that neck of the woods and maybe then you can advise on good/bad areas.

I don't drink (i know - living in Scotland and not drinking is probably illegal right..?) so not too worried about being near pubs BUT probably means i'd rather be in the quieter end of town away from the drunken brawls.

I guess flat would mean I could cook etc so cheaper than eating out but a Motel/Hotel would mean eating out more (so I wouldn't have to cook ..!) so I'd have to cut it all up and see whats best.

Thanks again - really appreciate it and will check back in once I know more...

Cheers Ash
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