Corstorphine
Location: Corstorphine, Edinburgh, EH12
Corstorphine is a suburb in the west of Edinburgh, which was once a separate village. The area is known for Corstorphine Hill, a large green space offering panoramic views over Edinburgh and beyond. It’s also home to Edinburgh Zoo, one of the city’s top visitor attractions. Corstorphine is a well-connected place for tourists to stay, with regular buses to and from the city centre. It is also quite close to Murrayfield Stadium, making it popular with rugby fans and concert-goers.
The name Corstorphine comes from Crostorfin, where Torfin is thought to be the name of a medieval landowner, and cros refers to a crossing or hill. It’s pronounced Cors-TOR-fin, with emphasis on the middle syllable. With its first recorded mention in 1128, this area has a rich history, and notable landmarks such as Corstorphine Parish Church and Corstorphine Dovecot offer glimpses into its fascinating past.
5 things to do in Corstorphine
- Enjoy a day out at Edinburgh Zoo and meet many animals from all around the world.
- Take a walk and enjoy panoramic views of Edinburgh from Corstorphine Hill.
- See Corstorphine Dovecot, a well-preserved 16th century structure, originally built to house pigeons.
- Admire the medieval architecture of Corstorphine Parish Church.
- Visit the shops, cafés and pubs on St John’s Road, Corstorphine’s main high street.
