What is "inverleith"

Inverleith is an inner suburb in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, on the fringes of the central region of the city. Its neighbours include Trinity to the north and the New Town to the south, with Canonmills at the south-east and Stockbridge at the south-west. Like a great many places in and around Lothian and Edinburgh, the name comes from the Scottish Gaelic Inbhir Lìte, meaning "Mouth of Leith", such is the case with Inverness, meaning mouth of the River Ness etc. Some documents refer to the area as "Inner Leith".

It is characterised by its wealth of open green space. The Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and Inverleith Park, in addition to the numerous playing fields owned and used by the independent schools Edinburgh Academy, Fettes College, Stewart's Melville College and George Heriot's. The Royal Botanic Gardens' nursery garden, for growing and cultivating plants, is also located here. Within Inverleith, there are very few shops and offices, and it is almost entirely a residential and recreational area. Today Inverleith is home to houses often being sold considerably in excess of one million pounds sterling. These include Scotland's most expensive penthouses, selling for £1.5m, and a recently renovated villa, which sold for over two million pounds sterling. The houses are generally handsome and spacious Victorian or Edwardian villas with two or three floors, garages and quite large gardens. The residents tend to be employed in professions in central Edinburgh. It is convenient for such workers, as it lies only a mile and a half from the centre. Being on grounds slightly higher than the centre, it commands views of the Edinburgh skyline, including Edinburgh Castle and Arthur's Seat. It has one of the lowest crime rates in the city.

Within the area are Fettes College, an independent boarding school where former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was educated, and the state-run Broughton High School. Edinburgh Academy, an independent day school where the previous British Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer was educated, is located nearby in the north of the New Town.