Why come to school in Edinburgh?

Edinburgh, winner for the fifth year in a row of The Telegraph: Britain's 20 Best Cities 

Scotland has a long and rich history of educational excellence, with Edinburgh in particular being renowned for its exceptional schooling and universities.

The Boarding House is a short walk from the West end of Princes Street in Edinburgh's historic centre. A UNESCO World Heritage site, Edinburgh is steeped in history and rich in culture and provides the perfect location for children to come to school. Each year children enjoy field trips to sites such as Edinburgh Castle, Holyrood Palace, the National Museum of Scotland, the National Portrait Gallery and the Scottish National Galleries, which are only a few minutes' walk from the Boarding House.

Edinburgh is a thriving, bustling capital city and the home of law and government in Scotland. Edinburgh is a wonderful place for young people to grow up and an ideal place to prepare for the challenges and excitement of higher education and adult life.

I joined the Mary Erskine School so I could do the Highers and Advanced Highers that were not offered at my previous school.

Didi (S5) from Ghana

The Edinburgh International Festival and Royal Edinburgh Military Tattoo take place each year and children from the schools have participated prominently in recent years in the Tattoo, and have performed in events at the 'Fringe'.

Edinburgh is also a fantastic gateway to the rest of Scotland and children boarding at ESMS will enjoy field trips and activities around Scotland including kayaking on Loch Lomond, skiing in the Cairngorms and playing golf in St Andrews.

Find out more about Boarding at ESMS.

Please note that our Boarding House will be closing in July 2025, however we are still accepting new boarders for 2023/24 and 2024/25.