Edinburgh's 'most Instagrammable street' turning into party hotspot 'nightmare'

Residents in Edinburgh claim partygoers are turning the city's "most Instagrammable street" into a "nightmare".

Residents on Circus Lane complain they are enduring photoshoots and even weddings on their doorsteps on a daily basis. The charming street has become popular among tourists in recent years, who have flocked to the area to take pictures.

But locals argue the area is becoming a party hotspot with homeowners renting out their properties for short-term stays.

As reported in our sister title, Edinburgh Live, Earl Laks, who has lived on the street for a year, said: "I think most short-term stays don't care, they tend to be a bit noisier and show up in party mode. On occasion, the visitors get a bit loud coming down the street.

"After we moved here, we wanted to be part of the amazing array of garden boxes laid out and we did that but in my experience the owners do not do that and there is a number of them who don't put in the effort to be part of the unique environment that is already here.

"I'd like this to be more of a residential neighbourhood but there are a number of homes that I know of that are applying to become short-term lets. I think there are laws for a reason and it is disappointing that a property's owner so close to me is going against the council as I've lived next to short-term lets in the past and it was a nightmare."

Mr Laks isn't the only local of the lane who wants more of a family environment, with a number of residents expressing their unhappiness about over-enthusiastic social media wannabes. Retiree, Liz, who wishes to only go by her first name, has lived on the street all her life.

She believes that one day, there will be no permanent residents on the street.

She said: "There have been a lot of the houses that have been converted, and as time has gone on they have been purchased as investment properties as the street is very popular and is becoming commercial and also less residential. The street is so busy and as someone living on the street, it is a complete nightmare.

"The amount of time that I have come out of my front door and there would be a photo shoot with people asking me to wait until they are finished. The long-term residents that are still here are lovely and they don't want to leave and it is sad to see them leave but the private gardens in the back can be a lifesaver.

"It used to have a friendly vibe and a community feel along with the events and we all knew each other."

A statement from residents in an Edinburgh City Council report details how they are frequently disturbed by the street's short-term guests.

It reads: “This has happened quite a lot in the last few years and the noise is an issue in my flat, which is just at the back of the premises.”

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