New homes in Haddington

Welcome to Haddington

From historic buildings to independent shopping, museums and nearby beaches, there’s lots to see and do close to Haddington, a small and charming East Midlothian town within easy reach of the Scottish capital. If you’re working in Edinburgh but want to come home to a quiet, rural location, a new home in Haddington could be the perfect choice for you.

A quick history

Haddington dates back to Anglo-Saxon times around the 6th century, and became part of Scotland in the 10th century when the Lothian region was ceded by King Edgar the Peaceful. Haddington was given administration rights in the 12th century, allowing trade and helping it to become a prosperous market town. Although the town was one of the biggest in Scotland during the Middle Ages, modern day Haddington is relatively small, yet popular with commuters and people looking for a peaceful rural lifestyle.

Business and industry

Historically, Haddington was a mill, market and agricultural town, but today it’s home to a wide range of businesses spanning different industries. East Lothian Council is based in Haddington and is one of the town’s biggest employers, while the Pure Malt factory and manufacturing business Lemac are also located in the town.

In nearby Edinburgh, employers include the Royal Bank of Scotland, the University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh Napier University, Lloyds Banking Group, Standard Life and the Scottish Government.

Things to do in the area

Haddington is home to some impressive historic buildings, including the 14th century St Mary’s Church and its walled garden, St Mary’s Pleasance. Haddington House, and the Jane Welsh Carlyle House are also located in the town, while the John Gray Centre is a combined library and museum.

If you enjoy shopping, Haddington has a number of independent shops in the centre, along with a monthly farmer’s market which is perfect if you want to avoid the supermarket and buy fresh, local produce.

If you’ve moved to Haddington with children, there are lots of family-friendly places to visit close-by, including Seacliff Beach, the Scottish Seabird Centre, The National Museum of Flight and Hailes Castle. Golf fans will enjoy a round at Haddington Golf Club, while other attractions within driving distance of the town include Lennoxlove House, the National Flag Heritage Centre, Glenkinchie Distillery and Visitor’s Centre and Yellowcraig beach.

Travel and commuting

Haddington is just 20 miles away from Edinburgh, with good transport links by road via the A1. The car journey to the capital takes around 30 minutes, while Glasgow can be reached in one hour 10 minutes via the M8 motorway.

If you’re venturing to London, the quickest route is by plane from Edinburgh Airport, or train from Edinburgh Waverley, with a journey time of four hours 20 minutes on average.

There is no train station in Haddington, but the town has a good bus network for public transport to Edinburgh and other local towns. If you’re travelling abroad, Edinburgh Airport is just 35 minutes away from Haddington, ideal if you’re going on holiday or taking a business trip.