Savills Portugal

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 5-28 August this year), is the largest annual cultural festival in the world and throws an international spotlight on the city.

With a number of festivals all happening in the city 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.

The audience is equally diverse, with everyone from students to seasoned culture vultures who 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 and rather 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. That is perhaps why Edinburgh consistently attracts a large proportion of new residents from all over the world. In fact, around 15-20 per cent of Savills 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 most UK locations over the past couple of years, both in terms of price growth and the number of sales. Even in a more challenging market, the best properties retain their value and attract multiple offers, achieving premiums for the seller.

Brand new or refurbished homes in the city are a great option for those who plan to lock-up-and leave Edinburgh for some of the year, as well for those who wish to put down roots in this lively capital all year round. Here are six of the best homes from which to enjoy Edinburgh’s many cultural opportunities.