What’s going for it? I always forget Edinburgh has a seaside. This would make the city perfect (all the best cities have a seaside), were it not for the distinctly un-Rio-like climate. Instead it’s almost perfect. For, although Portobello lacks Copacabana and 30C year-round heat, it does have sandy beaches and a Rio-like promenade peopled with joggers and lovers arm-in-arm, rollerbladers and scooter kids fronting a sweeping landscape of knobbly hills and a sea of blue (on a good day). But who needs balmy seas when you have a newly restored Victorian Turkish baths to poach in? Who needs the work of Oscar Niemeyer when there are beautiful 19th-century stone villas? Who needs The Girl From Ipanema and an ice-cold caipirinha when you can meet the girl from St Andrews chippy over a bag of scraps and whisk her off for a sundowner pint at The Espy on the seafront?

The case against It’s rather cut off from the rest of the city, with the railway viaducts and the roaring Sir Harry Lauder Road. It feels as if it needs just a little more love (and money).

Well connected? Trains: there’s no station; the nearest is in Brunstane, a 15-minute walk south, which heads to Edinburgh Waverley one way and Galashiels (half-hourly, 45 minutes) the other. Driving: it’s 15 minutes to central Edinburgh; you’re on the A1, so escaping the city is easy. Buses into town or east towards Joppa, Musselburgh and North Berwick. You can cycle to central Edinburgh in 20-30 mins.

Schools Primaries: no current inspection reports, alas, for the local schools, Towerbank , St John’s RC and Duddingston. The Royal High School. Secondaries: Portobello High is mostly “satisfactory”, says Education Scotland, though in “raising attainment and achievement” it’s “good”.

Hang out at… The Espy, on the prom. Otherwise it’s got to be fish and chips at St Andrews on Portobello High Street. Or French/Scottish fusion brunch/supper at the utterly delightful Skylark.

Where to buy There are some excellent stone-built Victorian townhouses and semis in the roads around Abercorn Park and Terrace, and Rosefield Park, Brighton Place, Argyle Crescent. Classic Victorian tenements on and off the High Street. Semis and townhouses, £300,000-£600,000. Flats, £115,000-£260,000.

Rentals Not many; a two- or three-bedroom house, perhaps £1,100-£1,300pcm.

Bargain of the week Studio flat a few minutes from the beach; £88,000, with gsbsolicitors.co.uk.

Let’s move to Abergavenny: home of food, glorious food Read more

From the streets

Jude Nixon ‘There are community skiffs run by RowPorty so you can row at dawn.’

Graham Currie ‘There’s huge community spirit and our kids love it.’

Dougal Marwick ‘Skylark is a great venue that hosts gigs, art events and everything in between.’

Do you live in Littlehampton, Sussex? Do you have a favourite haunt or a pet hate? If so, email lets.move@theguardian.com by Tuesday 20 November.