$600,000 Homes in Edinburgh – The New York Times

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$600,000 Homes in Edinburgh - The New York Times

This rectangular three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is located in a mews building – a converted stable or coach house – on a quiet cobbled street in Edinburgh's historic Calton Hill district.

Calton Hill is a volcanic hill with numerous historical monuments and stunning views of the city. To the east of the hill is an enclave of Georgian terraces, including the Mews, which are part of a UNESCO World Heritage Site that includes Edinburgh New Town and Old Town, as well as Calton Hill. The area is centrally located and is about a mile from such popular inner-city areas as Princes Street, St Andrew Square and George Street. Buses, including routes 26 and 44, cut journey times by a few minutes.

Shops, cafes, bars, hotels, galleries, theatres and other amenities are within walking distance. A new shopping centre in the St James Quarter with restaurants, banks and pharmacies is about a 15-minute walk or a few minutes by bike or car.

Size: 1,049 square meters

Price per square meter: 572 $

Inside: A private foyer leads up a staircase to the main living and dining area, which features a large skylight and gas fireplace in a marble fireplace chamber. The room is full of character, with a stone wall, pent ceiling and attractive wood floors. At the top of the stairs from the living area is the master bedroom with skylight and window with working shutters.

Beyond the main living area is a hallway that leads to the kitchen, two additional bedrooms, and the bathroom. The kitchen has white cabinets and chopping board countertops. One bedroom has a built-in closet. The bathroom has dual sinks, a glass-walled shower, and a large soaking tub. Closets in the hallway and foyer provide storage. Parking is available with permit.

Outdoor area: Residents can apply for access to a private, 11-acre community garden owned by residents for around $190 (£150) a year.

Cost: Because the apartment is classified as self-catering, no taxes are charged on the apartment.

Contact: Laura Mathieson, Savills, +44-131-247-3770; savills.com

This two-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is on the ground floor of a semi-detached house built in 1882 in Prestonfield, a residential area south of central Edinburgh. The view to the north is dominated by the hills, valleys and cliffs of Arthur's Seat and Salisbury Crags in the 650-acre Holyrood Park, about half a mile away. Also nearby are Prestonfield House, built in 1687 and now a well-known boutique hotel, and the King's Buildings of the University of Edinburgh, the main campus of the School of Science and Engineering.

Although Prestonfield is primarily residential, it borders the Newington area with its shops, restaurants and bars. The Cameron Toll Shopping Centre has grocery stores, banks, pharmacies and other shops. Other nearby amenities include the Royal Commonwealth Pool and several golf courses, the closest of which is the 18-hole Prestonfield Golf Club.

Bus routes to Prestonfield town centre include routes 2, 14 and 30. The bypass, just a few minutes away, provides access to Edinburgh Airport.

Size: 1.05 square meters

Price per square meter: 536 $

Inside: A shared mosaic-tiled vestibule leads to the open-plan living and kitchen area at the front of the building and flows into a hallway leading to the bedrooms at the rear.

The living room has a large bay window overlooking the front garden, as well as hardwood floors and period features such as intricate cornices, a painted decorative ceiling and a fireplace. The open kitchen has tiled floors, dark blue cabinets and space for a dining table.

The master bedroom has a large triple sash window and wooden floors. The second bedroom has ornate cornices, carpeting and a tall window. The windowed bathroom has a bathtub. There are also three large storage rooms and a laundry room.

Outdoor area: The apartment has a private, wraparound lawn courtyard with a small terrace and a bench.

Cost: Approximately $3,257 (£2,570) in taxes per year, including water and sewerage

Contact: Hazel Banner, Clyde Property, +44-131-297-5999; clydeproperty.co.uk

This three-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment is on the top floor of a two-storey 19th-century terraced house in Edinburgh's Trinity district. A quiet neighbourhood of tree-lined streets north of the city centre, Trinity has a mix of houses, from villas and Victorian terraced houses to tenements and modern developments. Although the district is largely residential, there are supermarkets and corner shops. Closer to the water, there are pubs and cafes.

There are many cycle paths and walkways as well as green spaces including the nearby Lomond Park with the Lomond Park Tennis Club and Wardie Recreation Ground. A beach at Wardie Bay is within walking distance as are sailing opportunities at Granton Beach and the David Lloyd Leisure Centre in Newhaven Harbour. Other local attractions include Inverleith Park and the Royal Botanic Garden.

Trinity is well connected to the rest of Edinburgh by numerous bus routes, including route 23 which runs through the city centre. There are also Skylink buses from Trinity to Edinburgh Airport.

Size: 93.5 square meters

Price per square meter: $597

Inside: The entrance to this second floor apartment opens onto a timber-floored hallway lit by a dome. All rooms lead off this hallway, including at the far end a spacious living room with a gas fireplace, timber flooring, built-in shelving and original period features such as ornate cornices. A bay window looks out onto the Lomond Road and offers views of the Firth of Forth, the estuary that separates Edinburgh from Fife.

Adjacent to the living room, to the rear of the apartment, is an eat-in kitchen overlooking the leafy private backyard. The kitchen, with wooden cabinets and polished black granite countertops, adjoins a small room with a farmhouse sink, appliances and additional work space. A period feature is a traditional Victorian drying rack, a ceiling-mounted clothes airer with castors.

Three bedrooms are located off the hall. One has a built-in wardrobe. The third bedroom is considerably smaller than the others. The bathroom has windows and a glass-walled shower. There is a spacious attic with potential for conversion, subject to planning permission.

Outdoor area: The house's well-kept communal areas, including a ground floor entrance hall with storage, are shared with the apartment below. The walled private courtyard has trees and plenty of greenery behind the building.

Cost: Approximately $3,981 (£3,142) in taxes per year, including water and sewerage

Contact: Tom Edwards, Savills, +44-131-247-3770, savills.com

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