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Living in Inverkeithing, Scotland:
Tips for Moving and Visiting

seven local experts
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If you've been wondering what it's like to live in or visit Inverkeithing, the Crowdsourced Explorer community can help. We asked seven people living in Inverkeithing what someone who is considering moving to or visiting there should know. Here are their pros and cons, tips, and advice:

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7 comments on “Inverkeithing”

The location of the town is absolutely perfect, with two cities on your doorstep (Edinburgh and Dunfermline) so lots of opportunity for work and play, but also beaches, cute villages (Aberdour, Limekilns, North and South Queensferry) and the coastal path within walking distance too. The town itself is very safe and has a decent community. I regularly use the community facilities at the Civic Centre, HS community use, etc. A few decent public parks too.

Honestly would recommend Inverkeithing for any type of person. Budget wise it is a little cheaper than the city centre, expect rent of around £650 per month for a 1 bed flat compared to £950 in Edinburgh city centre. Plus you get to be by the coast.

Keegan., says: 2024

I would highly recommend living in Inverkeithing for a young professional. I have a part time job in the town and one in Edinburgh at Haymarket – my commute is just 18 minutes by rail because Inverkeithing is close to Haymarket station. As others have said, the town is in an excellent area on the Forth coast for scenery and being within walking distance of some really quaint towns. Also has a proper town centre, which after 2024 conservation work is done should look cute. The town has all your big DIY type stores at Belleknowes too.

Anonymous, says: 2024

It’s a mid sized coastal town with a lot to do. Look on TripAdvisor for the full list. When in the town centre go to Friary Close and see the gardens with impressive views of the capital from above.

Ian Johnson, says: 2023

Inverkeithing pros and cons are as follows:

Pro’s: it’s safe, right next to both City of Dunfermline and Edinburgh, a variety of people (quite a few English like me but also overseas, few Americans living here etc), all the main services like post office, Civic Centre, library etc in the town centre, fairly pretty town with excellent nature around (public parks, forest, beaches, etc), public transport links are excellent for Edinburgh airport, direct services to Newcastle, York, Aberdeen and London etc.

Cons: high street does not have a lot of sit down places to eat (2 lunch places 2 dinner places), so it’s more takeaways and you’ll find yourself going to nearby Edinburgh or City of Dunfermline to eat out. Main town store is a Scotmid supermarket co-op which is fine for a weekly shop but if you want a superstore it’s a 30 min walk (LIDL or ASDA Dalgety Bay, Tesco Rosyth etc) or a 5 min car journey or 9 mins on the bus. The beach in the town is nice (Inverkeithing Bay Beach) but you’ll want to travel a few minutes down the coast for the best one in my opinion, Aberdour Silver Sands.

I am looking to move back to Inverkeithing as I work in Edinburgh, I lived here 8 years ago and love how it is a quieter and safer town just outside the city with all the amenities I need (Scotmid supermarket, post office, 3 pubs, 3 hairdressers, salon, a few good restaurants, couple of bakeries, 3 takeaways, etc.).

The community gardens and Ballast Bank park are just fabulous, it is a great town for outdoor things as the Fife coastal path runs through the town and Inverkeithing Bay Beach is lovely in the summer.

It’s a bit of a hidden gem, houses in Inverkeithing are a little more expensive than neighboring areas but it is well worth it.

It is fantastic for transport, the 4 trains a day take you direct to London Kings Cross and back, buses every hour go to St Andrews, of course for commuters to Edinburgh there are trains every like 15 minutes and buses every half an hour I think. Very commutable to Dunfermline too.

I would prefer to be here and have a short commute of like 20 mins or so (still shorter than I used to spend on buses from Leith to Edinburgh city centre mind) because this means after I finish work I am out of the city just about so you get a nice town with better scenery, fresher air, and a little less hectic, etc. The people really are friendlier here and there are quite a few more younger people here (I’m 29) than other towns in Fife.

Victoria, says: 2023

Inverkeithing is a pleasant, safe and historic coastal town near Edinburgh. The journey to Edinburgh city centre is as little as 20 minutes drive and about the same on the train (they come every 15 minutes, taking a short but beautiful route). The town is well served by an ASDA, ALDI and M&S food a 4 minute drive away at Dalgety Bay, as well as many shops inside the town in its bustling high street. Inverkeithing is on the beautiful Fife Coastal Path and has 2 sandy beaches, as well as a large public park and public gardens with views across to nearby Edinburgh.

There are many reasons why Inverkeithing would be the perfect town for anyone It has a wide range of amenities including local shops, a library and a small supermarket. There are several specialist shops such as a fishmonger and a butcher providing quality produce. Inverkeithing is positioned by the sea offering spectacular views across the river forth. There are many good walks to be had especially along the Coastal Paths. Inverkeithing has very strong transport links to Edinburgh being on the East Coast mainline. Inverkeithing is less than half an hour from Edinburgh by both bus and train making it a perfect commuting town.

Charlotte, says: 2020

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