Bankhead

Bankhead lies in the west of Edinburgh, a mostly industrial zone beside the Edinburgh City Bypass and the M8 motorway. It borders residential areas such as Sighthill and South Gyle, while the Calders lie just across a pedestrian underpass to the south. The land is mainly occupied by a large industrial park where Royal Mail and Burtons Biscuits have major operations. A former Ethicon plant has closed and will soon become a sports facility. Nearby stand Edinburgh College, the old Stevenson College, and Napier University’s Sighthill campus. The area is well served by transport links. The Edinburgh-Glasgow railway runs along the northern edge, with Edinburgh Park station close by. Bankhead tram stop sits south of the railway at the junction of Bankhead Drive and South Gyle Access Road. Several Lothian Buses routes pass through, including the 3, 25, 33, 34, 35, X27 and X28 along Calder Road. Others such as the 32, 36 and 400 travel Bankhead Avenue, while the 2 and 21 serve Bankhead Drive and Broomhouse Road. Visitors find a landscape of warehouses, factories and college buildings rather than homes. The industrial park hosts distribution centres and food production units, while the closed plant site awaits its new sports facilities. The railway line and tram stop provide quick access to the city centre. The surrounding neighbourhoods offer quiet residential streets and retail parks. Bankhead shows a side of Edinburgh often overlooked by travellers.