Home Report Portobello

Portobello is a charming, quirky, and bustling seaside suburb of Edinburgh, practically a stone’s throw from the city centre at roughly 3 miles away, with its own sense of character and identity. While being slightly more affordable than other areas like Morningside or Leith, Portobello is still an area in high demand for it’s 2-mile sandy beach, sea views, many attractive properties, and plentiful amenities not to mention closeness to Leith and Edinburgh city centre.

The area of Portobello as we know it today really started when in the 1800s when the town became industrialised, with local manufacturing industries of brick, glass, paper, lead, soap, and more providing employment and bringing people to the area. The development of the area led to the creation of the promenade and much larger public beach (beforehand it was just a smaller stretch of dry sand) that Portobello is most known for today. Towards the late 1800s Portobello was a seaside resort with its own pier and other seaside attractions. Many a Glaswegian would also venture east during the Glasgow Fair holiday. However, as time went on the area declined in popularity as a resort – likely exacerbated by the demolition of the pier in 1907 – until over the decades it evolved into more of the neighbourhood we know now.

The Portobello of today then, “Porty” to the locals, is a relatively unique neighbourhood but still very much a part of Edinburgh. Many would say it has a very independent and communal character however, boasting a plethora of amenities and independent businesses from coffee shops, restaurants, bars, bookshops, a weekly market and more, as well as a lively arts scene. In fact, almost year-round there are street murals and art pop-ups appearing in the open spaces and parks around the area. While no longer a resort, the fantastic beach is still very much a draw for locals and visitors alike on a sunny day so much so you might be fighting for a good spot. The adjacent Victorian-era promenade makes for great strolling with many shops along the way. The promenade also hosts several events including the annual Big Beach Busk, a unique musical event featuring hundreds of musicians who come and sit on the promenade, playing whatever music they like all at the same time. Another highlight of Portobello is the area’s charming Victorian and Georgian buildings, particularly the buildings lining the seafront. As you can see Portobello is a bustling area with much to offer.

In terms of transport links, Portobello contains one of the main and busiest routes into Edinburgh and outwards into East Lothian; the A199/ St. Harry Lauder Road. There’s no railway station in the area, the closet which is further along in the west end of Edinburgh city centre. It does however have frequent and many bus services provided by Lothian Buses offering locals and visitors speedy travel around the area or wider city.

As for local education, Portobello Primary and St. John’s RC Primary are the local primary schools. Portobello High School is the main high school in the area, and the closest Catholic secondary is St. Ninian’s along in Leith.