Edinburgh Travel Forum

Hi guys,

I'm writing because I'm moving to Edinburgh for a working holiday (till next February) and, having never been to Scotland, I need all the advice I can get.

I'm an economics teacher/graphic designer from the Caribbean, and I simply love the look and sound of Edinburgh. I don't know anyone there though.

I realise most of you are tourists, but if you can offer any advice in terms of long-term accomodations (I'm looking at hostels) and short-term jobs(I'm looking at jobsites) in Edinburgh, please do.

I realise that I'm a complete stranger and this is a bit nuts, but I'm trying to be proactive!

You can check my profile on VT if you like. Not sure what's on there. Thanks so much,

Elle

We are not just tourists on VT: we are also ordinary people who live ordinary lives in countries all over the world, so we can advise you a little.

The first thing to find out is whether you can get a work visa; you will need one even for a 'working holiday'.

You can't just come to the UK and work. At least, not legally. You must have a visa, or you will be breaking the law (and that's not worth it, because you will be deported if you are discovered).

Look here to see if you are eligible for a working holidaymaker visa:

http://www.ukvisas.gov.uk/en/howtoapply/infs/inf15workingholidaymakers

If you are, then apply now because you will need a visa before you travel. Then you can start looking at possible jobs/places to stay (hostels will not be a cheap long-term option, you will do better to find a flat or house-share if you can).

Hope this helps a bit.

Well Edinburgh is a beautiful city and it was voted the best place to live in the UK on a TV programme recently but it is a very very expensive city. As well as the things Leics mentioned you do need to take cost in to account. Accommodation is not cheap. As for jobs - well if you can get permission to work there will be plenty of low paid work around - pubs, restaurants etc but how you would fare as a teacher or graphic designer I am not sure because you only want to stay until February.

It would be much, much more difficult to get work as a teacher, so I did not go into details.

If you get (or are certain you'll get) the working holidaymaker visa, I'll give you some pointers.

But the majority of work you'll get with such a visa will be be low-paid, as noted above.

And the rules for working in the UK have just changed and it is much more difficult for those from outside of the EU to obtain a working permit. Apart from the previous advice/comments, I'll add that Edinburgh is very cold and windy in winter, so you should be prepared for the change in climate after the Caribbean. For the low paid jobs, you will be competing with students for those (and for accommodation) but if you have a working permit, then you will probably find something. However, as mentioned, Edinburgh is a very expensive place to live and you will find it difficult to find a flat share/long-term accommodation as you will be leaving in February. However, you could make some sort of long-term-ish arrangement with a hostel but if you are coming within the next few months, then you will find it very hard to obtain reasonably priced accommodation.

I've always found the Edinburgh Gumtree website very useful and it cover all of your queries above but there are plenty of VTers in & around Edinburgh that will can advise you further. Other than that S1jobs is about the most popular job website but you could also post your CV on Monster. Gumtree also has a weekly pub meet, never personally been to one but it looks OK.

http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/edinburgh/16/23523416.html

Here's the other links;

http://edinburgh.gumtree.com/
http://www.s1jobs.com/
http://www.monster.co.uk/

Thanks for all the tips.

Actually, I do already have a working holiday visa. I wouldn't just move halfway around the world without one! I've been on sites like reed and monster for some time, but it's always better to contact people who live and know a place through and through. That's why I didn't really want the tourist perspective...no offense meant!

Not a problem, though it would have helped if you'd said you already had a visa.

So what sort of work (and accommodation) are you actually looking for?

Hey ya, You've got a lot of great advice here but I'd just like to add that it can be hard to rent accommodation in Edinburgh for relatively short periods of time. A lot of landlords do not want short term tenants and most will want a minimum contract pof 6 months. My girlfriend and I moved to Edinburgh for a few months and found it hard to get accommodation for 3 months. We were lucky in the end but only after lots of persuasion and cohersion ;) Heard something about some law that insists on minimum 6 month contract but not sure if thats true.
Also accommodation is VERY expensive, Even hostels can be expensive in Edinburgh but you might be able to work out a long term agreement. High St. Hostel is an excellent hostel just off the Royal Mile which I use a lot when I visit Edinburgh.

As for jobs, bear in mind that it will be hard to get a job wothout an existing bank account (tax and Social Security reasons) and hard to get an existing bank account without an address, and hard to get an address without a job to pay for rent. Bit of a vicious circle ;) Some of the banks are reluctant tpo even open an account for short term visitors. We got one with Bank of Scotland but some of our friends who moved over the same summer found it extremely hard to open an account. It might be a good idea to do a bit of research before you go. It would be very helpful for yourself if you had accommodation sorted before you go.
Hope this helps - Best of Luck, you will love Edinburgh, it is one of my favourite cities.
Brian

Gosh, I'm beginning to wonder if I should bother after all this discouragement! Thanks for the hoesty though. I am doing research, online forums like this are part of that process. I'm looking to stay for 8 months and had seen a few hostels that offer long term arrangements. Of course, that wouldn't be the safest way to live for 8 months so I thought I'd check here.

Just to clarify Leics, I did say in my original post: "looking for advice in terms of long-term accomodations (I'm looking at hostels) and short-term jobs"...not visas, thanks though.

I have a degree in economics and qualifications in Spanish, TEFL and graphic design. Will keep checking in. Thanks again for the tips.

Not everyone is as genned up as yourself re visas, so we tend to assume that people as whole think they can come and work in the UK without one, or what have you.

Just to clarify further: as noted above many, many people post on VT asking about work in the UK.

As UK work visa regulations have become much tighter over the past year or so (and were pretty tight before this) it is important that all of those who may read this thread (not just the OP) are aware of the regulations and potential difficulties.

As the OP did not mention that a visa was in place, there was no reason to assume that there was; many (the majority?) who ask do not yet have such a visa.

Ah...point taken.

Well, to be specific then, what job markets do you think are most feasible/expanding in edinburgh now? And how does the lifestyle compare to say, London...is it as expensive? as hectic?

My experience of Edinburgh is that it is relatively expensive but not on the same scale as London. As for hectic lifestyle, I would say Edinburgh can be as relaxed or as hectic as you choose it to be. It does have a busy, lively atmosphere but not in a claustrophobic way...if you know what I mean! It is a great city to live in with regard to socialising and things to do. the people are very friendly also and you shouldn't have any problems getting to know people...they are very outgoing and open people.

There is a very large student population but unlike some cities, there is a social life apart from that associated with students. The pace of life is certainly not as hectic as that of London.

Hi leisha (real name?)
If you decide to go ahead with your visit to my city (edinburgh) and need somewhere to rest your head for a couple of nights/till you get sorted with accomodation, I'd be happy to help you out.
We Edinburgers are a friendly/helpful lot, and am willing to extend my hand.
Cheers
Mary

Well, thanks so much!
I leave for London next week and then by coach to Edinburgh in mid June. Will keep you posted. Thanks all,

Leisha

Please let us all know how you get on and if Edinburgh is what you thought it would be.

Hello there, I'm in the exact same position, and just starting the process myself. I plan on landing in Scotland in january 09, and staying until the end of august. I'm a Canadian so the chill may not bother me all that much. I'm worried about accommodation more than anything else. I'm quite sure I'll get the visa easily, but I know all too well the circle of looking for a job/bank account, not having a flat, not being able to get a job paradox... and I'd like to avoid it. I would be fine working as a bartender or some other student'esk job. Any help I can get would be much appreciated.

Kyle