Situated in the sought-after Conservation area of Marchmont, Royal Meadows lies adjacent to Edinburgh’s desirable Morningside, Bruntsfield and The Grange districts, which boast an extensive collection of independent shops, cafés, fashion boutiques, vintage stores and specialist restaurants to explore.
Whether it is the luxury of having high culture, fine dining and exclusive shopping on your doorstep; or the opportunity to be immersed in the many festivals, exhibitions and outdoor events that take place in Edinburgh, Royal Meadows has it all. Historic landmarks such as Calton Hill, Princes Street, the National Museum of Scotland and Edinburgh’s Georgian New Town can be reached within 20 minutes on foot. Closer to home, within a 5-minute walk, you can access a variety of local cafés, restaurants and green open spaces.
The city with a story
Entertainment on tap
Edinburgh’s legendary Scottish National Portrait Gallery is within easy reach in the New Town, and the Scottish Gallery of Modern Art is home to world-famous masterpieces by artists such as Picasso and Matisse.
Marchmont is home to Ian Rankins’ fictional detective John Rebus. And if you take a stroll around the Old Town, you can walk in the footsteps of writers such as Robert Burns, Arthur Conan Doyle and Sir Walter Scott. The King’s Theatre, Church Hill Theatre, Summerhall and Queen’s Hall are all within a 15-minute walk of Royal Meadows. Edinburgh is also host to the annual Fringe Festival, which takes place in August.
For more active leisure pursuits, a game of tennis at The Meadows Tennis Club is a popular choice for many local residents. Nearby, highly regarded Meadowlark Yoga offers yogis a variety of classes, and the Royal Commonwealth Pool is among Scotland’s most famous leisure centres.
Entertainment on tap
The great outdoors
Royal Meadows is not short of options for access to the outdoors. A beautiful, landscaped walkway leads you through the development to The Meadows, one of the city's most popular areas. The 27 acres of elegant parkland offers, paths, cycle lanes and sports pitches and is host to an array of cafés, children's play areas, tennis courts and a croquet club.
A little further afield, you’ll find Princes Street Gardens with its pristine lawns, The Royal Botanic Garden with its stunning glasshouses, and the Braid Hills in Morningside.
If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, take the 15-minute walk from Royal Meadows to Holyrood Park. A hike up Arthur’s Seat will be rewarded with stunning views over Leith and the Firth of Forth.
The great outdoors
A feast for the senses
There are hundreds of excellent restaurants and bars across the city, and – as luck would have it – some of the best of them happen to be within easy reach of Royal Meadows. Fine dining restaurant Kora by award-winning chef Tom Kitchin, for example, and steak restaurant Chop House are both a mere stroll away in Bruntsfield.
Also close to home are the Decanter Winery & Dinery, The Blackbird Bar & Restaurant, and Black Ivy – a popular cocktail bar and restaurant.
For a spot of retail therapy St James Quarter is home to big high street names, and George Street is the place to be for more upmarket boutiques. If luxury brands are more your thing, look no further than Multrees Walk.
A feast for the senses
A wealth of learning opportunities
Sciennes Primary School enjoys an excellent reputation and prides itself on creating a warm, welcoming learning environment. James Gillespie’s High School is the natural choice for older children in the area, welcoming boys and girls aged between 11 and 18.
In the independent sector, George Watson’s College lies just 1.5 miles south of Royal Meadows and offers a campus-based education for 3 to 18-year-olds. Another private school of note is George Heriot's School in Edinburgh’s Old Town which welcomes pupils aged between 4 and 18.
When it comes to higher education, the prestigious University of Edinburgh’s buildings are located a short walk North across The Meadows, and Edinburgh Napier University’s Merchiston Campus is just a mile away on Colinton Road.
A wealth of learning opportunities
Excellent connections
Edinburgh Waverley Station is a 20-minute walk away or an eight-minute drive. From there you can catch a direct train to Glasgow (51 minutes), Aberdeen (2 hours 23 minutes), Inverness (3 hours 24 minutes) or London (4 hours 20 minutes*). For an international trip, Edinburgh airport is a simple 25-minute drive West.
In terms of accessibility, Royal Meadows lends itself extremely well to getting around the city, with the centre just a short walk across the Meadows. Alternatively, you can hop on a bus and arrive on Princes Street within 15 minutes. Edinburgh’s excellent tram service links you to destinations such as the Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Airport and Leith.