Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland's capital and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Its charming combination of historical landmarks and contemporary architecture makes it a highly desirable place to live, work and study.

Key facts

  • 467,000 population
  • 263.73 square kilometres of land
  • 41.2 percent is designated as greenbelt
  • 92 percent of residents are satisfied with living in Edinburgh

Work in Edinburgh

Edinburgh’s key business sectors include financial services, life sciences, electronic technologies, and energy. Edinburgh is also a great place to start and grow a business.

Edinburgh's economy includes

  • Financial Services — Scotland is a leading centre for financial services in Europe, and is the second largest UK centre for finance after London. There are many international financial services companies headquartered and located in Scotland providing them with easy access to London, European and worldwide markets.
  • Life Sciences — the Scottish life sciences industry has a tradition of innovation that includes the discovery of everything from penicillin and anaesthesia to CAT scans and MRIs
  • Electronic Technologies — Scotland has been a major player in the electronic technologies industry for more than 50 years, producing and attracting some of the world’s most innovative, passionate and well educated engineers
  • Energy — the energy industry in Scotland is an exciting and constantly evolving sector. As home to one of Europe’s most vibrant and diverse energy industries, Scotland attracts the world’s leading companies, engineers and scientists to live and work in its energy centres.

Study in Edinburgh

Edinburgh has a variety of education institutions, from nurseries, primary and secondary schools through to six colleges and four universities.

There are more than 50,000 full and part-time students enrolled at Edinburgh's four universities and around 40,000 students enrolled in Edinburgh's higher and further education colleges.

Live in Edinburgh

Edinburgh is Scotland’s capital and is one of the most beautiful cities in Europe. Its charming combination of historical landmarks and contemporary architecture makes it a highly desirable place to live. 

The city is set against a backdrop of rocky crags and extinct volcanoes, with the ancient Edinburgh Castle dramatically dominating the skyline.

Edinburgh city centre is dissected by atmospheric cobbled streets, medieval "closes" (small alleyways and lanes which run between larger streets) and graceful Georgian terraces.

An abundance of art galleries, museums and impressive historical sites, such as the Walter Scott monument and Edinburgh Castle, populate Scotland’s capital city.

And if it’s shops you want, you’ll find all the usual high street favourites, along with plenty of quirky, individual retailers selling beautiful clothes, fabulous food and fine wines.

Edinburgh is also home to two very upmarket department stores – Jenners on Princes Street and Harvey Nichols in St Andrew Square.

As you would expect from such a cosmopolitan city, eating out choices are plentiful and varied – from the best of Scottish cuisine right through to Asian fusion, Thai, Moroccan and Caribbean.

Theatre performances, comedy shows and musical recitals are all part of the world-renowned Edinburgh International Festival and the Fringe Festival in August, attracting acts and tourists from around the world and culminating in the spectacular Edinburgh Tattoo.

Sport and leisure 

Edinburgh has 112 public parks and more trees per person than any other British city.

Experience the largest, most influential arts festival on the planet. International sporting events and seasonal festivals ensure that there's always something happening in Edinburgh.

Scale the heights in the world’s largest indoor climbing arena, enjoy the tranquillity of Edinburgh’s regional park or fight the fairways at a championship golf course. The capital has proportionately more leisure facilities than anywhere else in Britain.

The city region has an enduring passion for live music, whether performed in pubs or amphitheatres. The club scene delivers rapture and rhythms every night of the week. Irresistible shopping and a wide range of pubs and restaurants reflect its sociable way of life.

Heart of Midlothian and Hibernian are Edinburgh’s football clubs that play in the Scottish Football Premier League.