Tucked just south of Edinburgh’s city centre, The Grange is one of the capital’s most celebrated residential enclaves: leafy streets, generous gardens and handsome stone villas that feel like a pocket of refined country living inside a city. Below you’ll find our area guide, including a concise history, a tour of the kinds of period property you’ll find in The Grange, what local life looks like, and a pick for a favourite street to wander (or one day call home).
A Short History
The Grange began life long before Victorian suburbs became an integral part of Edinburgh. The area derives its name from the medieval “grange” – or farm – attached to St Giles’ parish, and the land appears in records stretching back to the Middle Ages. The modern suburb emerged mainly in the 19th century when the estate owners (the Dick Lauder family) sold and feued parcels of land for residential development.
Architects including David Cousin and later Robert Reid Raeburn shaped the layout. The area was initially developed between the 1830s and 1890s and was conceived as an idealised, picturesque suburban retreat with wide streets and large private gardens. The layout and architecture reflect Victorian romanticism and a desire to recreate a genteel rural atmosphere within reach of the city.
The Look and Feel: Types of Period Properties
The Grange’s character is dominated by early-to-late Victorian stone-built villas and mansions, often set in substantial plots with mature trees. You’ll also find later Victorian terraced villas, impressive semi-detached houses, and a smaller number of handsome town-house conversions split into flats. The buildings are typically ashlar sandstone with bay windows, high ceilings, cornicing and other period detailing. Look out for a mix of Scottish baronial touches, Italianate flourishes and plain but dignified classical lines in different pockets.
Many homes here are B- or C-listed and retain original features such as panelled doors, sash-and-case windows and decorative fireplaces. Others have been sensitively renovated for modern family life, offering generous living spaces that combine old and new beautifully.
Because plots are generous, The Grange also offers a variety of living types inside the historic shell. You’ll find grand single-family villas, multi-floor family homes, upper and lower flats in converted villas and occasional mews-style or infill developments that respect the area’s proportions. The result is an attractive mix for professionals, families and those who want a traditional home with modern comforts.
Local Amenities and Community
Although residential in character, The Grange benefits from an excellent set of practical amenities close by. A short walk or cycle delivers you to neighbouring Morningside for cafes and independent shops, to Marchmont and The Meadows to the north for green space and commuter routes, and to Cameron Toll for everyday shopping.
Recreational options include nearby Blackford Hill and pond, and the Grange Cemetery — an atmospheric Victorian cemetery with notable monuments and strong local interest. For leisure, families and individuals tend to use facilities at the Commonwealth Pool and local clubs; there are also good transport links into the city centre.
Schools are a big reason families prize The Grange. The area feeds into well-regarded local state and independent schools and historically has hosted prep schools and private educational establishments, some of which have since converted to other uses.
The local community is active with the Grange Association providing conservation and local-interest work, and residents commonly organise events, seasonal activities and heritage projects.
Buying and Living Here – What to Expect
Properties in The Grange sit at the higher end of Edinburgh’s market. It’s an area associated with senior professionals, legal and business figures and families who prize space, privacy and proximity to the centre.
Because many properties are listed or in a conservation area, renovations usually require listed-building or planning approvals, and buyers often pay a premium for intact period detail and larger gardens. On the upside, the sense of permanence, maturity of the streetscape and high-quality build make The Grange one of the city’s most desirable long-term neighbourhoods.
Our Favourite Street: Whitehouse Terrace
If we had to pick a single street to represent The Grange, it would be Whitehouse Terrace. While the area has many beautiful roads, Whitehouse Terrace encapsulates the virtues of the district: wide, tree-lined pavements, grand villas set in generous plots, and an atmosphere of calm elegance that still feels intimately residential despite being minutes from central Edinburgh.
The street has repeatedly been singled out in property surveys and articles for its desirability and high values — a reflection of the concentration of intact period homes and the street’s classic proportions. Walking down Whitehouse Terrace on a spring morning — stone facades warmed by the light, clipped hedges, the occasional black iron lamp and the distant silhouette of Blackford Hill — gives you the very best of The Grange experience.
Practical Tips for Visitors and Prospective Buyers
- Stroll first: The Grange rewards walking. If you live locally and have the time to look around, we recommend bringing comfortable shoes and allowing time to wander the side-streets as many of the best houses are slightly off the main roads.
- Check conservation rules: If you plan to buy and renovate, make sure you ask about the conservation area restrictions and whether a property is listed. We’re happy to support you in this process.
- Expect garden pride: Mature trees and private gardens are a big part of the area’s charm. Most residents take garden care seriously, which keeps streets attractive year-round.
- Transport: Buses and quick road routes deliver you into the centre in a few minutes; plan commuting times in peak hours.
Final Thoughts
The Grange is a rare combination of genuinely suburban space and greenery, packed within striking period architecture and minutes from a vibrant capital city. For lovers of Victorian stonework, large rooms and private gardens — and for families who want top schools and quiet streets — it’s one of Edinburgh’s most enduring choices. Whether you’re pausing on a bench in Grange Cemetery, peeking through a villa gate on Whitehouse Terrace, or enjoying a coffee in nearby Morningside, the area has a quietly assured, old-city elegance that keeps residents there for decades.
Would a period home in The Grange suit you? Contact us directly to discuss your requirements.
