Nurseries in New Town
New Town is one of Edinburgh’s most iconic and desirable neighbourhoods, known for its grand Georgian architecture, elegant streets, cultural landmarks and strong family appeal. Postcodes such as EH2, EH3 and parts of EH1 cover the area, stretching from Princes Street and George Street towards Queen Street Gardens, Canonmills and the northern crescents. With many families, professionals and city-centre commuters living locally, demand for early years childcare is consistently high. New Town benefits from excellent transport links, including multiple Lothian Buses routes, tram stops, walkable city-centre access and quick road connections to Ferry Road, London Road and the wider network. Families enjoy green spaces such as Queen Street Gardens (residents’ access), Inverleith Park and the Water of Leith walkway. Its mix of period townhouses, spacious flats and high-quality amenities makes New Town an attractive choice for parents seeking reliable nursery provision in a central, walkable and well-connected community. EH2, EH3 and EH1 help define the core commercial, residential and cultural zones, supporting easy access to nurseries, schools and everyday facilities.
Market insights for New Town
Parents in New Town typically pay £81 per day for childcare, which is slightly 7% higher than the UK average of £75 per day. This pricing reflects local market conditions, including operational costs, demand levels, and regional economic factors that influence childcare provision. With 6,298 childcare places available across New Town, families have a range of options to consider. Understanding these market insights helps parents make informed decisions about childcare costs and availability in New Town.
- Average daily cost
- £81
- Comparison
- +7% vs UK average
- Total capacity
- 6,298 places
Nurseries near you in New Town
- Forbes Childrens Nursery Bruntsfield (Forbes Road)
- Forbes Children's Nursery Greenhill
- Forbes Childrens Nursery Bruntsfield Place
- Casa Montessori
- Kidzcare at Bruntsfield
- Morningside Children's Nursery
- Demo nursery
- The City Nursery
- Bright Horizons Morton Mains Early Learning and Childcare
- Bright Horizons@Gogarburn
- Early Days Nursery
- Cosy Term Nursery
- Colinton Private Nursery
- St.Margarets Nursery & Preschool Craiglockhart
- Currie Children's Day Nursery
- St. Margarets Nursery & Preschool Craigmillar Park
- Yan San
- Chapter One Childcare Kirk Brae
- Carebears Childrens Nursery
- 123 Test Street
- 123 Test Street Original
- Yan's Private Nursery
- 123 Test Street
- 123 Test Street
- 123 Test Street (AI)
- Links Nursery Musselburgh
- Almond Park Nursery
- Seahorse Nursery
- The Orchard Nursery
- Doune Terrace Nursery
Frequently asked questions
In New Town, children may start private nursery care from around 3 months old depending on the setting; funded early learning and childcare begins **the term after a child’s 3rd birthday** under Scotland’s national entitlement.
Children aged 3 and 4 (and eligible 2-year-olds) receive up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare each year, delivered across partner nurseries and council settings.
For children under 3, families pay privately for childcare. In New Town, private day nurseries typically charge between **£75–£100 per day**, reflecting the central location and premium facilities.
All nurseries in New Town are regulated by the **Care Inspectorate**, with additional oversight from the **City of Edinburgh Council** for funded placements.
Ask about staff-child ratios, qualifications, daily routines, how transitions are managed, how funded hours are applied, additional fees, communication methods, and whether the nursery accepts salary sacrifice childcare fee schemes.
Applying for funding
New Town is covered by City of Edinburgh Council, the local authority for this area. Search their website for early years funding to apply.
Visit the City of Edinburgh Council websiteThe UK's nursery search platform, built for modern parents
Find nurseries near you
Search by location, filter by age group, hours, and (Ofsted, Care Inspectorate Scotland, and Care Inspectorate Wales). Get a clearer picture before you commit to a visit.
Work out what you'll pay
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Get guidance from childcare experts
Our advice hub walks you through every stage of the process, so you know when to start looking and exactly what to ask when you visit.