Living in Edinburgh
Edinburgh is consistently ranked as one of the most desirable places to live and will provide you with a unique and vibrant home throughout your time at the University. One of the greenest and most architecturally beautiful cities in Europe, approximately 50 per cent of the city is open space. Over 2 million visitors come to Edinburgh each year, not just for its architecture, but to stay in a city rich in social, cultural, learning and sporting facilities.
Places of cultural interest and historical heritage include numerous art galleries and concert halls, the Royal Museum and Museum of Scotland, the Royal Botanic Garden, the National Library of Scotland, the Palace of Holyrood House, Parliament House, St Giles' Cathedral and Edinburgh Castle - why not see for yourself by trying one of many live Edinburgh webcams!
A good place to start if you want to know what's on are the Edinburgh guide and The List. These are comprehensive guides for events, shows, cinema films as well as eating out and going out.
Every August the city plays host to the Edinburgh International Festival and Edinburgh Festival Fringe, the world's largest arts festival, adding even more vibrancy to an always buzzing city and providing a superb selection of events ranging from affordable comedy to orchestral concerts. The festival season climaxes with the spectacular bang of the annual festival fireworks display. With barely a few months to recover from that, late November marks the beginning of the city's beautiful Christmas Festival, which culminates in the world famous Hogmanay Celebrations with even more fireworks to see in the New Year!
Edinburgh is more than just a tourist attraction. The city is a thriving commercial, media and financial centre and the site of the new Scottish Parliament. Amongst the population of 500,000, you will find a diverse and cosmopolitan mix of people, creating a variety of religious, cultural and culinary experiences. Many people come to Edinburgh to study and never leave!
Night Life
Edinburgh enjoys a reputation as a city that can be enjoyed well into the night. As a resident you will notice that its lively cultural and social scene is geared up for the large student population, with many of the clubs and cinemas dotted around the centre offering concessions for students. A liberal licensing policy also means many Edinburgh pubs stay open past midnight.
Sports
For the sportsman and woman there is an array of golf courses, the Royal Commonwealth Pool, Meadowbank Stadium and a huge number of sports clubs, teams and venues in the Edinburgh area. The University itself has impressive sports facilities around its various campuses, and is extremely good value for money. More information can be found at the University Sports Union website.
Getting Around
Edinburgh is a remarkably compact city which makes getting around quick and easy. The popular student areas are all close enough to the University Campuses to be easily reached on foot or on bicycle, though there is also a comprehensive and cheap system of public transport available throughout the city and surrounding areas. If you feel the need to get out and explore Scotland then the coastline, hills and the Scottish Highlands are only a short journey away...