Bored by your hometown?

Do you gaze longingly out of your window wishing you could close your eyes and open them to reveal you’d been magically transported to somewhere much more exciting?

Have you ever taken things a step further and researched house prices in your fantasy family location or even conducted a factfinding trip in person?

Whether you’re serious about upping sticks and or you just enjoy daydreaming about it, it’s always nice to learn new facts about the diverse towns and cities dotted around the map.

With that in mind (and because we’re captivated by all things Caledonian) here are five fab reasons you should live in Edinburgh.

Princes Street

Which other capital city has a main thoroughfare lined on one side by shops nestled in architecturally awesome buildings and on the other by beautiful gardens and a castle sat atop a dormant volcano?

None that we can imagine of outwith the realms of fantasy – that’s why beautiful Princes Street has to be seen to be believed.

Leith

You’ll find Leith in Edinburgh’s north side, and this proud port area was once a separate town – which is why most of its indigenous residents proudly regard themselves as ‘Leithers’.

This is the tough, working-class neighbourhood in which Irvine Welsh’s Trainspotting was set, but these days it’s retained some of its roots while undergoing gentrification. So you’ll find chic cafes and trendy bars right next to down to earth boozers and cheap cafes – pretty cool indeed.

The Fringe

Originally launched as the edgier alternative to the more mainstream Edinburgh International Festival, the Edinburgh Festival Fringe is now the world’s largest arts gathering.

So if you’re a culture vulture, you’ll be in your element every August in Scotland’s capital, when the city streets swell with masses of tourists and performers and you can catch everything from stand up comedy to live DJ sets and interpretive dance at thousands of venues. Oh – the bars are also open even later than usual, which is excellent news if you’re fond of a sociable tipple!

Family attractions

Another brilliant thing about Edinburgh is that it’s practically bursting at the seams with things that keep children entertained for hours on end.

For starters, there’s the National Museum of Scotland, which displays dinosaur skeletons, formula 1 cars and everything else that gets a child’s imagination fired up. Alternatively, rug rats who enjoy the great outdoors can pet pigs and chase chickens at Gorgie City Farm, while Edinburgh Zoo is the home of the UK’s only giant pandas.

Edinburgh Airport

When you’re living away from your hometown or country, being able to get back to your friends and family fast is exceedingly important.

And luckily, Edinburgh Airport is Scotland’s biggest, with regular flights to London, New York and beyond. Plus, you can book SkyParkSecure parking and cruise there in your own car, or jump on a tram in the city centre and arrive in a mere 30 minutes.

Hopefully, you enjoyed our five fab reasons to relocate to Edinburgh – just remember our housewarming invite!