Stockbridge

St Stephen's

Our flat is in the Stockbridge neighborhood in Edinburgh. A couple years ago, when we visited the city on a recce, we spent days talking to flat rental agencies and walking through neighborhoods. Stockbridge appealed to us. That is why we stayed here two years ago; it was an easy decision to return.

With its cobbled streets, elegant Georgian architecture, lush green parks and gardens, abundant mix of independent shops, numerous restaurants and pubs (about 40 restaurants and a dozen pubs), Stockbridge has a charming village feel. The city center is but a short walk, as are many walking paths, as is the Royal Botanic Garden, as is most everything else. Just under 6,000 people live in the neighborhood, about the same as the South Roanoke neighborhood where we live at home.

Our flat happens to be in the shadow of the most notable landmark in the neighborhood, St. Stephen's Church (see photo). Interestingly, the church's location was selected by the architect to block the view of the city center from a building designed by a competing architect (where Robert Louis Stevenson went to school).