Edinburgh
South, Edinburgh: neighborhood guide
Stay in South Edinburgh if you want quiet residential streets, the Meadows on your doorstep and lower prices than Old Town — Bruntsfield, Morningside and Marchmont suit families, students and longer stays. Skip it if you want pubs, tours and the Castle within a two-minute walk; buses into the centre take 10–20 minutes.
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Key facts
- Best for
- Longer stays, families, students, green space at the Meadows
- Not for
- Late-night nightlife on foot; you will bus or taxi back
- Walk to Old Town
- 10–20 minutes from the Meadows' north edge
- Bus to centrecheck
- Frequent services on A7, A701 and A702 corridors
- Parkingcheck
- Residents-only Mon–Sat within about 2 miles of the Meadows
- Park & ridecheck
- Straiton (A701) and Sheriffhall (A7)
- Airport bus 18check
- Runs along the south edge to Royal Infirmary and Fort Kinnaird
- August
- Festival pop-up venues on the Meadows; most of the park stays open
What the area is like
South Edinburgh is the city's residential belt: Bruntsfield, Morningside, Marchmont and Newington, built up in the late 19th century with villas and baronial tenements. It borders Old Town along the Meadows, then stretches south for miles towards the city bypass and the Pentland Hills.
The Meadows is the anchor. It was the South Loch until the 17th century, drained in stages and protected as a public park in the 19th century. It is open 24 hours, dogs are welcome, and walkways and cycleways cross to Sciennes, Marchmont and Bruntsfield. Tennis courts at the east end can be hired. It is generally safe, though assaults have been reported.
Beyond the park the streets turn quieter and greener: Bruntsfield Links, the Hermitage of Braid valley, Blackford Hill and its Royal Observatory, and the Pentlands fringe at Swanston.
Should you stay here
Yes, if you value space, calm and value over proximity. Tenement flats and guesthouses here cost less than equivalent Old Town rooms, and you get a real neighbourhood: delis, cafés, a cinema and a park. It also works well for a stay of four nights or more, or for anyone travelling with children.
No, if your trip is two nights and built around the Castle, Royal Mile and festival venues. You would spend part of each day on buses, and evenings out mean a taxi back. First-timers usually do better in Old Town or New Town; South rewards a slower visit.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Quieter streets, green space, lower room rates | 10–20 minute bus or walk to the main sights |
| Good cafés, delis and local pubs | Few headline attractions inside the district |
| Suits families, students and longer stays | Evening return is a bus or taxi, not a stroll |
| Easy road access south to the bypass and Pentlands | Residents-only parking Mon–Sat near the Meadows |
Eating and drinking
Bruntsfield and Morningside are the eating hubs, with a mix of cafés, bakeries, gastropubs and neighbourhood restaurants along the main streets. Marchmont and Newington lean student-friendly and cheap, with takeaways and coffee shops around the university edges.
Expect the usual UK pattern: 10–12.5% tip in restaurants if no service charge is added, not expected in pubs. Prices are a 2026 estimate and vary by venue; check individual places for hours.
Getting around
Buses follow the main roads: Dalkeith Road (A7) towards Prestonfield and Little France; South Clerk Street (A701) towards Newington, Liberton and Penicuik; the A702 from Tollcross towards Bruntsfield, Morningside and Fairmilehead; and Gilmore Place onto Colinton Road. Services are frequent, and Lothian Buses is the operator to check for routes and fares.
From the Meadows' north edge you can walk into Old Town in 10–20 minutes. Anything further south is a bus ride. Bus 18 from the airport crosses the south edge of the city to the Royal Infirmary and Fort Kinnaird.
Driving is awkward: within about two miles of the Meadows most parking Monday to Saturday is residents-only, and the rest is short-term. Park & Ride sites sit by the ring road at Straiton (A701) and Sheriffhall (A7).
| Destination | How | Rough time |
|---|---|---|
| Old Town / Royal Mile | Walk from the Meadows | 10–20 min |
| New Town | Bus from Tollcross or walk via Old Town | 20–30 min (check) |
| Airport | Bus 18 along the south edge, or tram/train from the centre | check |
| Pentlands / Swanston | Bus then walk, or car | check |
Questions people ask
Is South a good area to stay in?
Yes for longer stays, families and anyone who wants quiet streets and a park, with rooms usually cheaper than Old Town. No if you have two nights and want the Castle, Royal Mile and nightlife on foot — you would bus in and taxi back.
What is there to do in South?
The Meadows and Bruntsfield Links for walks and tennis, the Hermitage of Braid valley, Blackford Hill and the Royal Observatory, Craigmillar Castle, and the Pentland fringe at Swanston. Bruntsfield and Morningside cover cafés, delis and local pubs.
How do I get to South?
Buses run along the A7 (Dalkeith Road), A701 (South Clerk Street) and A702 (Bruntsfield and Morningside). From the Meadows' north edge it is a 10–20 minute walk from Old Town. Bus 18 links the airport with the south edge.
Deep dive
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