A pick of the best homes at the heart of Edinburgh’s Festival scene

With more than 70 prominent art galleries, museums, theatres and cinemas, Scotland’s capital provides multiple cultural options all year round. However, Edinburgh International Festival (taking place from 1 - 25 August in 2025) is the largest annual cultural festival in the world and throws an international spotlight on the city for three weeks every year.

With a number of festivals all happening at the same time – including the Festival Fringe as well as the Edinburgh International Book and Film Festivals – the programme incorporates around 50,000 performances by artists, musicians, authors, comedians, dancers, jugglers, acrobats and actors, from at least 50 different countries worldwide.

Despite the changeable weather – strong winds, bursts of sunshine and rain already making their presence felt this year – around 125,000 attendees flock annually from over 65 countries to experience the festival’s vibrant energy.

Everyone from students to seasoned culture vultures come to see amateur performances as well as world-class ballet, drama, opera and musicals taking place in a range of venues from pop-ups to prestigious theatres.

For many visitors, the bustling, colourful, bohemian city would be scarcely recognisable during the remaining 49 weeks of the year. Yet it is perhaps when the last of the posters, bunting, banners and temporary venues have been taken down that the enduring attributes of the city become most apparent.

It is often described as a city that is easy to live in with historic architecture blending seamlessly with contemporary, and with easy access to education, work and cultural and leisure amenities. Its broad-based economy is also why Edinburgh consistently attracts a large proportion of new residents from all over the world. In fact, around 15-20% of our buyers each year are from outside Scotland, and Edinburgh continues to be the most searched for office on Savills website.

While house prices represent value for money compared with London, the Edinburgh market has outperformed many UK locations over the past few years, both in terms of price growth and the number of sales. Even in a more challenging market, the best properties retain their value, often attracting multiple offers and premiums for the seller.

Whether period, refurbished or brand new, there are great options for those who wish to put down roots in this lively capital and enjoy Edinburgh’s many cultural opportunities all year round. Here is a pick of the best homes to choose from.