best thing
It’s such a historical city.
HIDDEN GEMS
has been ranked 17th in the world this
year, and only looks to be rising higher
Be on the look-out for vintage clothes
sales advertised online. For a small entry
fee, you’ll get the chance to shop through
tonnes of clothes, often stuff from likeminded students that you can pay for by
the kilo. Morningside is a neighbourhood
some students might not ever see in their
day-to-day life, but it’s a nice road made
up of boutiques, cafés, charity shops
and restaurants – all of which are fairly
affordable and definitely worth a day trip.
BEST THING ABOUT
YOUR CITY
worst thing
Animal lovers won’t see much other than
dogs and birds during term usually, but if
you’re feeling adventurous head to Gorgie
City Farm (free entry!) and take a look
at their many animals, big and small,
along with a community garden that’s
refreshing for many of us flat inhabitants.
Broughton Street in New Town also offers
a fantastic selection of food, pubs, shops
and even tattoo parlours worthy of a visit
or two; and there’s plenty of green open
spaces nearby if would like to enjoy the
outdoors on a nice day.
EDINBURGH STUDENT
ACCOMMODATION
Edinburgh is extremely welcoming and
easy for student living; and affordable
accommodation can be found both in the
city centre and the suburbs.
The history. Whether it’s the extinct
volcanic nature of Arthur’s Seat, dating
back to the Carboniferous age, or simply
the spine-tingling feeling you experience
from centuries past on excursions such
as the walking ghost tours that descend
beneath the Royal Mile, there’s a neverending list of footsteps to retrace and
interesting facts to discover. Fans of ghost
stories and gore lovers will find fodder
galore, from the supposedly haunted
Greyfriars Kirkyard to the rooms of
Holyroodhouse Palace.
WORST THING ABOUT
YOUR CITY
Probably the wind. Whether you’re from
halfway around the world or you’ve just
moved north from England, students
agree the wind (and the ice, to be fair)
is enough to bring a tear to the corner
of anyone’s eye. As long as you bring
out your winter clothes and accessories
in phases, you should be fine. Just
know that the only people who will be
professionals at handling the weather are
probably from Antarctica or Shetland.
The wind – it’s a shock to anyone who
isn’t from Antarctica.
Users of the AFS website ranked
Edinburgh 5th in the UK, with an overall
score of 62%. Reviews were consistently
positive for Edinburgh, especially with
regards to the public transport.
Average room rental in Edinburgh
weighed in at £79 in 2013 compared
with the national average of £79.43, a
remarkably reasonable price especially
considering the University of Edinburgh
58
www.accommodationforstudents.com