The neighbourhood of Craigleith – bordered by the major transport arteries of Telford Road, Orchard Brae and Queensferry Road – is a peaceful, residential area with convenient access to both city
amenities and green spaces making it popular with families and professionals.
At its historical heart was Craigleith Quarry, active from 1615 to 1942. The 350-million-year-old carboniferous Craigleith sandstone was used extensively in Edinburgh’s Old and New Towns, in building Buckingham Palace and exported to the US. It was also favoured for cutting stones used to make engraved glass during the Victorian era. Situated at the junction of Queensferry Road and Craigleith Road, the quarry was duly infilled and, in 1995, Craigleith Retail Park was built on the site; its remaining rock face (behind Sainsbury) is now a Local Geodiversity Site.
The area has excellent access to green spaces including Inverleith Park, the Royal Botanic Garden, Corstorphine Hill and the Water of Leith Walkway. Golfers can enjoy the courses of Murrayfield and Ravelston Golf Clubs, while there is a Pure Gym at the Retail Park and multi sports on offer at Ainslie Park Leisure Centre and Westwoods Health Club.
A wide variety of shops – including Marks & Spencer, Sainsbury and TK Maxx – alongside plentiful parking are situated at Craigleith Retail Park. More niche outlets – such as Mellis for cheese, Grow Urban for plants and Golden Hare Books – can be found, alongside a wealth of charity shops, a short walk away in Stockbridge. There’s a Waitrose supermarket nearby and the weekly Stockbridge Sunday Market offers a mix of food and craft fare.
Cafe culture ranges from an M&S Cafe and Costa Coffee in the Retail Park to Mimi’s Bakehouse in Comely Bank and Artisan Roast Stockbridge while diners are well catered for at the highly regarded Ronaq for Indian food, The Scran and Scallie gastropub, Civerinos for pizza and The Raeburn Hotel for family friendly meals.
There are regular bus routes into the city centre and easy access to the Edinburgh City Bypass, M8 motorway and Edinburgh International Airport.
Housing includes traditional villas and bungalows as well as modern developments and architect-designed homes, making the area popular with professionals working at nearby employers like the Western General Hospital and Police Scotland, families looking for outside space and those keen for a brisk walk into the city centre.
A broad range of primary and secondary state and private schools are close by including Flora Stevenson, Fettes College, Broughton High, Erskine Stewart Melville, St George’s and the Edinburgh Academy.
With its friendly vibe, walkability to the city centre, plentiful amenities, desirable mix of housing and easy access to major road networks, Craigleith ticks all the boxes as an ideal location for families, young professionals and those looking to downsize.
If you’re looking for a home in this family friendly area, explore our latest property listings in Craigleith.