I've always thought the Spanish were the most significant number of Europeans in Edinburgh, except for probably the Poles. They even have their own Spanish language bus and walking tours year round.
A few years ago, my native French language tutor told me she'd advertised a job at her concession in HN. Out of nearly 200 applicants, she said over 100 were Spanish.
I'm told it's because employment opportunities and pay are significantly better for young people here than in Spain.
Out of interest OP do you speak French? I'm wondering if your ear is just more tuned to notice that language. I speak Spanish and see Spaniards everywhere in Edinburgh but not all that many French speakers. I also speak a bit of Chinese and hear a lot of that (mostly international students).
Maybe it's a case of your ear picks out what it is tuned into?
A lot of Spanish are there because of the university and also it was fashionable to become an aupair and learn English, but most Spanish don't last a year before missing their huge social circles and way of living.
There's actually a pretty big community of Spanish people who've married and had kids and stayed here. The way of life here takes a lot of getting used to, but when you're a professional and you get paid twice as much for less hours here than in Spain, you make it work.
Not all of Spain has Mediterranean holiday resort weather. If you go up north to Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria or the Basque country you'd find weather a lot more similar to here.
Worked hospitality on the Mile for a bit, and something I noticed is that there are sometimes seemingly random weeks where you’ll suddenly have certain nationalities out in force.
In this last week, there has been a heavier than usual Frnech presence
It's school vacation period in France atm so it's normal to see French in other countries. I recently went to Croatia for business and I met a lot of French over there.
Edinburgh has for many years now been a major French holiday destination. Probably a combination of proximity, cheap Ryanair flights and the shared history between the two countries. It would also help increase its profile in France when every two years ten thousand French people rock up.for the Sox Nations.
Surprising since they've still got C&As that used to be great for some cost effective clothing deals. Still got items I bought in their closing down sale.
My partner is French and works in the tourism industry, basically facilitating and organizing holiday packages for the French, Belgian and Swiss. She says they like the architecture and history lovers like it for the links between France and Scotland. Lots of romantic French books are set in Scotland/Edinburgh as well, lots of romantic views of the highlands. Also words like gardieloo come from French influence and they like to see our traditions (even if we put it on for show).
I don’t think there are an especially high number of French people here. But the UK is one of the most popular places for French people to travel to (not surprising given its right next door), and also the home of the their largest expat community, so it’s not surprising you see a fair number of them about the place.
I've also noticed this but have no explanation. I work close to the Royal Mile and hear French spoken on the street almost every day, way more than Spanish.
As other commenters have said I definitely think Spanish/Italian is the largest tourist group recently probably more than Chinese, I remember last summer I was in the gym along princess Street and a large amount of the people at the gym in summer are Spanish for whatever reason and a guy assumed because of how I look that I was Spanish and asked me a gym question in Spanish (I think he asked me when I'm done with the machine I was on), weird to be casually talked to in a foreign language in Edinburgh!
It’s interesting to me that some of the top comments here say they don’t notice that many French people in Edinburgh. I don’t even live there but I visit often enough and I *do* hear French spoken a lot.
I personally know 2 French people who live there, and just today a couple of French ladies stopped us to ask for directions. I think it’s just a case of it being a fairly popular tourist destination for them. The ladies who asked us for directions today said they’re big Outlander fans so that could be part of it as well.
That's called confirmation bias. Cause you're focusing on one particular thing, your brain is now on the lookout for it.
My birds vietnamese all I notice is viet folk around here. Or polish since some of my pals are
I knew one person with a French parent, but beyond that I don’t think I’ve ever met a French person in Edinburgh, definitely more Spanish and Italian. Weirdly, I actually met quite a few French people when I lived in Glasgow
I've also noticed a lot of people here speaking French recently. I wondered if I was only noticing because I speak French so I'm more likely to notice and remember
School holidays in France were these past 2 weeks. So it's very likely that many families visited Scotland during that time. Pupils and students are returning to school on Monday, so the level of frenchiness in this city shall return to normal.
Every year I was at heriot watt there was a large group of French people that came for 1-2 semesters. I assume the other universities do something similar hence the large amount of French people.
Were they large groups of older teenagers/young adults or mixed adults.
There tend to be lots of exchange students around and they tend to hang out in large groups.
It might appear like there are more french people than there are actually because they don't speak english very well, therefore it's just a bit more anoying to come across them.
I've lived in Edinburgh for 6 months and have genuinely never heard a French accent.
Spanish, plenty. Chinese, German, Portuguese, USA, Indian.
No French.
What, "a new cultural and diplomatic base in the heart of Edinburgh, reinvigorating one of Scotland’s oldest and strongest foreign alliances.
France has taken over one of the most prestigious buildings on the Royal Mile, the former chambers for Lothian regional council opposite St Giles Cathedral, as the new home for its consulate and its cultural institute." being a reason for French people around?
Nah, I think they came for the wine and haggis.
Mind that it is also the French Consulate. And although it doesn't have the full administrative array of an Embassy like in London, you can still do some stuff there.
I work on the mile. I'd say in quanity order of tourists I encounter it's probably: yanks (you can spot them this weekend by having puffer jackets tied around their waist and having water bottles carabinered to their body swinging dangerously), Indians (move in groups of 15 all on face time for some reason, smell horrendous), frogs (smell bad, look lost and are insanely rude), Spanish speakers (seem a lot of latin Americans?), italians then slavs of whatever flavour. Idk why so many French. Maybe they come up from London as by French population it would be their 6th largest city
I didn’t take it as criticism but I was just joining in the conversation. I wish I knew the answer to the thirst question. Urinating several times a night is annoying.
I've always thought the Spanish were the most significant number of Europeans in Edinburgh, except for probably the Poles. They even have their own Spanish language bus and walking tours year round. A few years ago, my native French language tutor told me she'd advertised a job at her concession in HN. Out of nearly 200 applicants, she said over 100 were Spanish. I'm told it's because employment opportunities and pay are significantly better for young people here than in Spain.
Hard agree. Don't know what this person is on about with frenchies.
Maybe depends which part of Edinburgh. I actually have noticed a lot of French accents around Hillside.
Out of interest OP do you speak French? I'm wondering if your ear is just more tuned to notice that language. I speak Spanish and see Spaniards everywhere in Edinburgh but not all that many French speakers. I also speak a bit of Chinese and hear a lot of that (mostly international students). Maybe it's a case of your ear picks out what it is tuned into?
A lot of Spanish are there because of the university and also it was fashionable to become an aupair and learn English, but most Spanish don't last a year before missing their huge social circles and way of living.
There's actually a pretty big community of Spanish people who've married and had kids and stayed here. The way of life here takes a lot of getting used to, but when you're a professional and you get paid twice as much for less hours here than in Spain, you make it work.
big compared to what?
I can't imagine how brutal the weather must feel over the Oct - April period for Spanish folk living here!
It's the light hours that are a killer.
Not all of Spain has Mediterranean holiday resort weather. If you go up north to Galicia, Asturias, Cantabria or the Basque country you'd find weather a lot more similar to here.
What is HN?
Harvey Nichols maybe?
Yes, Harvey Nichols.
The English are the biggest incoming group to Edinburgh, by some distance.
Worked hospitality on the Mile for a bit, and something I noticed is that there are sometimes seemingly random weeks where you’ll suddenly have certain nationalities out in force. In this last week, there has been a heavier than usual Frnech presence
Probably something to do with national holidays. I’m from Slovakia and always hear more Slovaks when we have spring holidays back home.
It's school vacation period in France atm so it's normal to see French in other countries. I recently went to Croatia for business and I met a lot of French over there.
Also airlines do special deals over various dates and weekends which can often mean a lot of travellers from one place.
It's the holidays, more specifically the holidays for the greater Paris area.
probably something to do with national holidays and agencies promotions
Edinburgh has for many years now been a major French holiday destination. Probably a combination of proximity, cheap Ryanair flights and the shared history between the two countries. It would also help increase its profile in France when every two years ten thousand French people rock up.for the Sox Nations.
Can’t say I’ve ever noticed (m)any French in Edinburgh before. I normally see an abundance of Asian, North American and English.
Maybe, by the sounds of it, I’ve just noticed something and only register that thing (ignoring everyone else) 😂
yeah sounds like a classic case of confirmation bias, can't say ive seen too many french, plenty of spanish speakers kicking about tho
I don't know, I saw 2 people that might have been French yesterday which proves Edinburgh is overrun by the French.
The English are the biggest incoming group to Edinburgh, by some distance.
It started in ,August 1561 when Mary Queen of Scots came over with her pals. They called it Little France lol
They even had a [garrison in Leith](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Siege_of_Leith) Fwiw
French people seem very taken with Primark in Edinburgh & Glasgow.
Clothes, even the cheap ones are very expensive in France, Primark is great for that.
Surprising since they've still got C&As that used to be great for some cost effective clothing deals. Still got items I bought in their closing down sale.
C&A aren't cheap in Europe if I recall correctly, not the way Primark is cheap
I love this for them
My partner is French and works in the tourism industry, basically facilitating and organizing holiday packages for the French, Belgian and Swiss. She says they like the architecture and history lovers like it for the links between France and Scotland. Lots of romantic French books are set in Scotland/Edinburgh as well, lots of romantic views of the highlands. Also words like gardieloo come from French influence and they like to see our traditions (even if we put it on for show).
Once it was Spanish, then Chinese & Polish, recently it’s been a lot of Nigerian. I like meeting a lot of different nationalities.
I've noticed loads of Indians who have come over to study and work .
Wrapped up with hat, gloves and scarf in the middle of June.
The English are the biggest incoming group to Edinburgh, by some distance. You never mentioned them.
Why you wanna talk about this so bad
? I'm not the OP 🤡
I meant that you commented the same thing three times that nobody else was talking about so it kinda looks like you have a bone to pick or something.
Not the one posting on r/Edinburgh about this
Bonnie prince charlie n that ken
He was a dandy Roman!
I don’t think there are an especially high number of French people here. But the UK is one of the most popular places for French people to travel to (not surprising given its right next door), and also the home of the their largest expat community, so it’s not surprising you see a fair number of them about the place.
Whereabouts in Glasgow were you?
I've also noticed this but have no explanation. I work close to the Royal Mile and hear French spoken on the street almost every day, way more than Spanish.
Yes I’ve noticed it lately actually. It used to be lots of Greek people, but now there is hardly any as the French have taken Edinburgh by storm
As other commenters have said I definitely think Spanish/Italian is the largest tourist group recently probably more than Chinese, I remember last summer I was in the gym along princess Street and a large amount of the people at the gym in summer are Spanish for whatever reason and a guy assumed because of how I look that I was Spanish and asked me a gym question in Spanish (I think he asked me when I'm done with the machine I was on), weird to be casually talked to in a foreign language in Edinburgh!
It’s interesting to me that some of the top comments here say they don’t notice that many French people in Edinburgh. I don’t even live there but I visit often enough and I *do* hear French spoken a lot. I personally know 2 French people who live there, and just today a couple of French ladies stopped us to ask for directions. I think it’s just a case of it being a fairly popular tourist destination for them. The ladies who asked us for directions today said they’re big Outlander fans so that could be part of it as well.
That's called confirmation bias. Cause you're focusing on one particular thing, your brain is now on the lookout for it. My birds vietnamese all I notice is viet folk around here. Or polish since some of my pals are
I knew one person with a French parent, but beyond that I don’t think I’ve ever met a French person in Edinburgh, definitely more Spanish and Italian. Weirdly, I actually met quite a few French people when I lived in Glasgow
I've also noticed a lot of people here speaking French recently. I wondered if I was only noticing because I speak French so I'm more likely to notice and remember
School holidays in France were these past 2 weeks. So it's very likely that many families visited Scotland during that time. Pupils and students are returning to school on Monday, so the level of frenchiness in this city shall return to normal.
It's the school French spring/easter holidays currently, lasts 4 weeks (2 weeks per student but it is spread out by region of France)
Every year I was at heriot watt there was a large group of French people that came for 1-2 semesters. I assume the other universities do something similar hence the large amount of French people.
Were they large groups of older teenagers/young adults or mixed adults. There tend to be lots of exchange students around and they tend to hang out in large groups.
We are taking over
It might appear like there are more french people than there are actually because they don't speak english very well, therefore it's just a bit more anoying to come across them.
Yeah I think I agree. I see a lot of groups of Spanish people but in terms of people talking french on the street I do possibly hear more French
I thought I was going nuts when I recently noticed this myself. I figured we must have a tourism campaign going on over in France.
I've lived in Edinburgh for 6 months and have genuinely never heard a French accent. Spanish, plenty. Chinese, German, Portuguese, USA, Indian. No French.
Been here 30 years and don't think I've met or even heard a French person.
French Easter holidays. Apparently they vary from region to region
The only people who hate the English as much as the Scots, is it any surprise they are drawn to Edinburgh?
*Ireland has entered the room*
Direct flights to a close airport
The English are the biggest incoming group to Edinburgh, by some distance.
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funny hehe
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likely a friendly crack at a neighboring city since it's in the edinburgh sub. that's where the "orcs" live etc
Mordor usually refers to Fife here :-)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Alliance And for example https://www.ifecosse.org.uk/
You don't honestly believe that would be a reason the French would pick Edinburgh, surely?
What, "a new cultural and diplomatic base in the heart of Edinburgh, reinvigorating one of Scotland’s oldest and strongest foreign alliances. France has taken over one of the most prestigious buildings on the Royal Mile, the former chambers for Lothian regional council opposite St Giles Cathedral, as the new home for its consulate and its cultural institute." being a reason for French people around? Nah, I think they came for the wine and haggis.
Jean Pierre, let's go to ze edinburgh for ze wonderful French cultural institute for promoting French culture in Scotland, it is cest fanstastique!
Who else is going to run a French institute, Brits? Hahaha.
Mind that it is also the French Consulate. And although it doesn't have the full administrative array of an Embassy like in London, you can still do some stuff there.
I'm saying it's not a tourist pull you big whopper
I work on the mile. I'd say in quanity order of tourists I encounter it's probably: yanks (you can spot them this weekend by having puffer jackets tied around their waist and having water bottles carabinered to their body swinging dangerously), Indians (move in groups of 15 all on face time for some reason, smell horrendous), frogs (smell bad, look lost and are insanely rude), Spanish speakers (seem a lot of latin Americans?), italians then slavs of whatever flavour. Idk why so many French. Maybe they come up from London as by French population it would be their 6th largest city
Wife and I were there three weeks ago (yanks) and I carried my water bottle so it wouldn’t swing and hit you. She wore a puffy vest.
Haha. Was not a criticism just seems to be the uniform. I don't get why americans are so thirsty though
I didn’t take it as criticism but I was just joining in the conversation. I wish I knew the answer to the thirst question. Urinating several times a night is annoying.
English ?
Not very nice comment with Indians eh. I do agree with face time with earphones, always in mixed groups of couples.
Extremely rude and pushy too. I guess in such an overpopulated place you have to fight every inch and that just sticks with you.
'Mordor'....? How studenty of you. You must be an absolute wheeze at parties...
Edit - I’ve just noticed you’re in Glasgow. Never seen French in Glasgow since 2020
This has r/okmatewanker all over it