Looking for a nursery in Edinburgh? This guide covers where to start, how to compare settings like for like, what nurseries cost across the city, how the 1,140 funded hours work, and when to join waiting lists, with links to Edinburgh nurseries you can tour through Nuuri.
Edinburgh has more than 200 nurseries on Nuuri, from small settings in Stockbridge tenements to large day nurseries out in Corstorphine and Liberton. That choice is great, but it makes shortlisting hard. The steps below keep it manageable.
To go straight to the listings, open nurseries in Edinburgh and filter by area, age range, opening hours and availability.
Start with your area
Most Edinburgh parents pick a nursery near home or on the commute, so start with the neighbourhoods that fit your routine:
- Morningside and Bruntsfield: high demand and short supply, so join waiting lists early. Good bus links, with the Meadows and Hermitage of Braid close by.
- Leith and Trinity: handy for families working in the city centre or along the Waterfront. The tram runs to Newhaven.
- Stockbridge: small, walkable settings near Inverleith Park and the Botanic Garden.
- Portobello: a strong community feel and the beach on your doorstep. Check parking for drop-off.
- Corstorphine: convenient for commutes to West Edinburgh and the airport, with tram and A8 access.
Tip: shortlist at least three nurseries, ideally in two different areas, so you can compare commute times as well as the settings themselves.
Edinburgh nurseries on Nuuri
A few of the nurseries you can explore and book tours with on Nuuri:
- Colinton Private Nursery, Dreghorn Loan, Colinton
- City and Little City Nursery, Greenbank Drive
- Cranley Nursery Buckstone, Braid Road
- Flying Colours Nursery, Cammo Meadows
- Early Days Nursery, Palmerston Place
- The Bonnington House Nursery, Newhaven Road
- Bright Horizons Cramond, Whitehouse Road
- Melville Street Nursery, West End
- Doune Terrace Nursery, Doune Terrace
- Pinocchio's Nursery Heriot-Watt, Riccarton Campus
- Walker Street Nursery, West End
Each profile shows photos, opening hours, age ranges and fees where the nursery has shared them, and you can enquire or book a tour directly.
What nurseries cost in Edinburgh
Based on nurseries listed on Nuuri, a full day at an Edinburgh nursery averages about £81, roughly 7% above the UK average of around £75. Most private day nurseries in the city charge £70–£95 a day. Leith tends to sit a little lower, and Morningside and the New Town towards the top of that range.
When you compare quotes, check what's included: meals, nappies, trips, and any late-collection or registration fees. Our nursery fee calculator estimates your monthly bill once funded hours are taken off.
Funded hours (ELC) in Edinburgh
- 1,140 hours a year: every child in Scotland can get up to 1,140 hours of funded early learning and childcare from the term after their third birthday until they start school. Some two-year-olds qualify too, depending on household income and benefits.
- Partner providers: funded hours are only available at council nurseries and at private or voluntary nurseries that are City of Edinburgh Council partner providers. Ask each nursery on your shortlist whether it is one.
- How the hours are spread: some nurseries deliver the hours during term time only, and others stretch them across 48–52 weeks. Extras such as meals or longer days may still cost money.
- Tax-Free Childcare: the government adds £2 for every £8 you pay in, up to £2,000 a year per child, and you can use it for fees on top of your funded hours. See our Tax-Free Childcare guide.
Our guide to funded hours in Scotland covers eligibility and how to apply.
Waiting lists: when to start looking
Popular Edinburgh areas, especially Morningside, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge, fill up early. Aim to:
- start enquiring 9–12 months before your preferred start date, or earlier for a baby room place
- check whether a registration fee or deposit is needed to hold your place, and whether it's refundable
- join more than one list so you have a back-up
More in how nursery waiting lists work.
How to compare nurseries like for like
Use the same checklist at every nursery so your comparisons are fair:
- Commute: door-to-door time at drop-off and pick-up, including bus, tram and parking.
- Hours and flexibility: day length, early drop-off, late pick-up and holiday closures.
- Ratios and key people: Scotland's minimum ratios are 1:3 for under-twos, 1:5 for two-year-olds and 1:8 for over-threes. Ask how key people are assigned and how room moves are handled.
- Learning: look for play-based practice in line with Curriculum for Excellence (Early Level) and Scotland's national practice guidance, Realising the Ambition.
- Outdoor time: ask how often children get outside, whether in the garden or on trips to places like the Meadows, Inverleith Park or Portobello Prom.
- Food and allergies: ask for a sample menu and the allergy policy.
- Communication with parents: apps, daily updates, photos and how incidents are reported.
- Quality: read the latest Care Inspectorate report (Scotland's regulator; Ofsted doesn't cover Scotland) and check staff are registered with the SSSC.
Questions to ask on a nursery visit
Take this list with you on every tour:
- How do you handle settling in and separation anxiety?
- Who would my child's key person be, and what does a typical day look like?
- How do you fit in naps, feeding and toilet training?
- How do you manage allergies and medication, and what training do staff have?
- Can I see your latest Care Inspectorate report and any action plan?
- What's included in the fees, and how often do they go up?
- Are you a council partner provider for funded hours, and how do you deliver them?
For more ideas, see how to choose a nursery and our settling-in strategies.
Why Edinburgh parents use Nuuri
- Up-to-date profiles for more than 200 Edinburgh nurseries, with photos, facilities and fees where the nursery shares them
- Search by neighbourhood, age range, opening hours and availability
- Links to each nursery's Care Inspectorate report
- Enquiries and tour bookings in a few clicks, without the phone tag
Last updated: 30 September 2026
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Frequently asked questions
Ideally 9–12 months before your target start date, and earlier for under-twos or popular areas such as Morningside, Bruntsfield and Stockbridge.
Based on nurseries listed on Nuuri, a full day averages about £81, and most private day nurseries charge £70–£95 a day. Funded ELC hours and Tax-Free Childcare can bring this down significantly.
The Care Inspectorate is the regulator for nurseries in Scotland (Ofsted doesn't cover Scotland). Each nursery's latest report is public, and many Nuuri profiles link to it.
Yes, as long as it is a City of Edinburgh Council partner provider. Ask the nursery how it delivers the hours and what extras you would pay for.
Visit at least three, then go back to your favourite at a different time of day to see a normal routine.
Use the "Book a tour" or "Enquire" button on any nursery's Nuuri profile. Many nurseries let you pick a slot online.
