Boasting the likes of Fettes, George Heriot’s, Merchiston Castle and Stewart’s Melville, the sheer number of jaw-dropping school buildings in Edinburgh is quite staggering.
Take a look through our photo gallery to see 12 of Auld Reekie’s most beautiful schools – and let us know your favourites in the comments section before you go.
5. Merchiston Castle School
Steeped in tradition, Merchiston Castle, Scotland's only all-boys independent boarding school, is, like George Watson's, also situated on Colinton Road. Merchiston Castle can trace its origins back to 1828, but this beautiful building dates from 1930 when the school's governing body purchased land on the Colinton estate. Photo: Wattie Cheung Photography
6. Donaldson's school for the Deaf (former)
The former Donaldson's school for the Deaf has recently been converted into luxury accommodation, but it stands today as a prime example of school architecture in Edinburgh. It was so admired, in fact, that Queen Victoria once commented that she would prefer to live there than at Holyrood. Photo: Rob McDougall
7. Boroughmuir High School (former)
Built in 1913, the former Boroughmuir High School was occupied for more than a century until its replacement in 2018 when the school relocated to Fountainbridge. The former school building has since been transformed into luxury flats. Photo: JON SAVAGE PHOTOGRAPHY
8. George Heriot's School
How many schools in the world boast a castle as their backdrop and can legitimately claim to occupy just as fine a building? The school, which operates as both a primary and secondary school, was established in 1628 as George Heriot's Hospital and is notable for its exquisite renaissance architecture. Photo: Greg Macvean