Dalkeith Area Guide

Dalkeith is a popular town, located just 8 miles south-east of Edinburgh, which makes it the perfect choice for commuters. If you’re thinking of buying a house in Dalkeith, we’ve put together all the information you need to know, from the average house prices in the town, to things to see and do in the area.

Average Property Prices in Dalkeith

Dalkeith is a more affordable option than Edinburgh, so many first-time buyers, families, couples and young professionals who are looking to buy a property make the move to this Midlothian town. It has excellent transport links to the city, and a wide range of amenities within the town itself, so it’s a popular choice.

The average property price in Dalkeith, according to Zoopla data for the last 12 months (Mar 2021), is £231,573. That’s £82,971 less than the average price of buying a property in Edinburgh. To give you an idea of how much you’ll get for your money, we’ve broken down the average prices by property type:

• Detached house: £390,311
• Semi-detached house: £237,255
• Terraced house: £236,909
• Flat: £179,837

Life in Dalkeith

Dalkeith is a town of just over 12,000 people, and is one of the busiest towns in Midlothian. If you’re thinking of buying a property there, you’ll find that it offers the best of both worlds, with the community feel of a small town whilst also offering easy access to the city.

History of Dalkeith

Dalkeith is the main administrative centre of Midlothian, and the town’s history dates back several hundred years. In the 17th century, Dalkeith was known for having one of Scotland’s largest markets, and in 1853, the largest indoor grain market in Scotland was built. Today, the town can be divided into four different areas: the historic town centre; Eskbank, which has many large Victorian houses and new builds; Woodburn, which has historically been a working class council estate, although there are now several new build housing developments; and Newbattle to the south of the town centre, a small rural village.

Culture in Dalkeith

Dalkeith is the perfect choice for those who love to live near open green spaces. Dalkeith Country Park is a 1,000-acre estate with plenty of options for riverside and forest walks. It also has a lovely cafe, a wellness hub and a children’s adventure park for hours of fun. Dalkeith is also home to trampoline park Ryze, a popular option for children and adults alike. There’s also Gilmerton Cove closeby, which is a mysterious underground network of passageways and chambers handcrafted from sandstone. The tunnels are 300 years old, but no one knows who created them, or why!

Food and Drink in Dalkeith

You don’t need to head into Edinburgh for good eating and drinking options, as there are plenty within Dalkeith itself. Itihaas is a popular Indian restaurant in the town, and the Sun Inn in Newbattle is excellent for locally sourced pub food. The Restoration Yard in Dalkeith Country Park has a restaurant for formal dining and a cafe for a more relaxed experience.

Shopping in Dalkeith

There’s a small town centre in Dalkeith, with everything you need on a day-to-day basis, including pharmacies and food shops, with a Tesco Superstore on the outskirts of town. Dalkeith is also close to the retail parks at Fort Kinnaird and Straiton for when you need access to larger high-street shopping outlets.

Schools in Dalkeith

There are several well-regarded primary schools in Dalkeith and the surrounding area, including Lawfield Primary School, King’s Park Primary School and Woodburn Primary School. The majority of secondary-age pupils go to Dalkeith High School, and there’s also St David’s Roman Catholic High School, which shares the same campus as Dalkeith High. Nearby, there’s Newbattle High School, which was designated as a Digital Centre for Excellence in 2018. Newbattle High serves the areas of Easthouses, Mayfield, Gorebridge, Newtongrange, North Middleton, Temple and Borthwick.

Transport in Dalkeith

Dalkeith is a popular choice for commuters to Edinburgh due to its easy access to the city. The journey takes roughly half an hour by car, although this can be longer at peak times. There are frequent buses to Edinburgh, which take roughly 40 minutes into the city centre, and the train station at Eskbank serves Edinburgh with frequent trains for a journey of around 20 minutes.

Help to Buy Properties in Dalkeith

Help to Buy is a government scheme which makes it easier to afford your dream home, whether you’re a first time buyer, or have previously owned a property. You just need to save a deposit of 5% of the total property price, and your combined mortgage and deposit should make up 85% of the total. The government will provide an equity loan for the rest of the cost, making it easier for you to get on the property ladder.

There are a great range of Help to Buy properties in Dalkeith and the surrounding area, whether you’re looking to buy a flat or a large family home. You can find the list of available properties on this page. Our Dalkeith mortgage advice centre opened in 2020 and is on hand to help with any aspects of the home buying and mortgage application process.