In the 18th century at the edge of the Grassmarket, there was a tax on every pint of ale and beer brewed outside the city walls. Hence today’s name – Tollcross. Formed around a busy junction, Tollcross’s pillar clock has been an Edinburgh landmark since 1901. It was one of Britain’s largest clocks to be built as a weight-driven pendulum clock and needed to be wound weekly until it was converted to electric in 1969.
South of Edinburgh’s City Centre, it is home to The King’s Theatre and The Cameo cinema as well as a number of restaurants, cafes, delicatessens and bars. A popular area for university students, it is close to Edinburgh University, Napier University and Edinburgh College of Art.
The area offers a real mix of properties, from full townhouses to tenement flats. Mostly Victorian in architecture, many properties offer their residents period features, high ceilings and generous room proportions.
Restaurants, cafes, delicatessens and bars such as Harajuku Kitchen, Mazbaan and Henrick’s offer great food and drink. As Tollcross is close to the Meadows, there is plenty of access to green space. So whether you want a picturesque stroll, a challenging run, a picnic or to take the children to the park, it is the perfect spot.
Tollcross is a quick journey into the City Centre with excellent bus links and easy car routes to other parts of the city. If you have a car, many properties in the area have on-street parking. However, a permit is usually required. This can be arranged through the Edinburgh City Council.
There are a number of excellent local Primary Schools, including Tollcross Primary School and St Peter’s RC Primary School. It is in the catchment area for James Gillespie’s High School, St Thomas of Aquin’s RC High School and St Augustine’s RC High School, but is also in easy reach of a number of public schools including George Watson’s and George Heriot’s.
Close to the New Town (EH2), The West End (EH3), Bruntsfield (EH10) and Marchmont (EH9), Tollcross is also near the Old Town (EH1) and the Grassmarket (EH1).