Edinburgh's 5 coolest places to live, including Leith, Cowgate and Stockbridge

Leith is the coolest place to live in the Capital, according to a new poll.

The bustling port district was revealed to be the highest rated location in Edinburgh, in a survey of the 50 coolest places to live by Naturecan. Five of Edinburgh's suburbs made the UK-wide list, with Leith coming in seventh overall in the national poll. The second coolest place in the Capital was named as the Cowgate, which is known for being a hub of cool pubs, restaurants, and clubs. Edinburgh’s Southside area was ranked as the third coolest, while the Old Town was fourth and Stockbridge was fifth.

This is not the first time that the waterside district has been highlighted as a great place to live. In 2021, Leith ranked fourth in Time Out Magazine’s list of the 50 coolest neighbourhood. The scenic suburb is known for its variety of hip bars and cafes, as well as for being the background for hit movie Trainspotting – which was filmed in and around the area

Locations were ranked according to the number of independent shops per head of population, the range of cultural events, how ‘Instagrammable’ they were and their popularity as a location for films and TV shows. Naturecan’s chief executive Andy Duckworth said: “Leith is the coolest place to live in Edinburgh and seventh to Polperro in the whole of the UK for the top 50 coolest places. All the 50 places on the list would have been worthy winners and show why the UK and Edinburgh in particular are such beautiful places, loved by film makers and tourists from all over the world.

“What is interesting is how influential Instagram has become in boosting tourism in many of our top 50. It is a massive help for visitor numbers, too, if a popular film or TV show uses a city such as Edinburgh as a location. Hidden gems which are largely only visited by local tourists can find themselves being showcased throughout the world if they are pictured by the right influencer or featured in a movie.”