Despite the gloom created over the capital's gaffe-prone Tram construction and the seemingly never ending commentary on the cities economic woes, residents have been reminded off the cities world class attributes after Edinburgh's status as one of the top cities in the UK was reaffirmed in three separate studies in August.

As well as being named the most popular place to live and work in Scotland, Auld Reekie topped a YouGov poll looking for the most desirable city to live in in Britain, and also came number one in another report of 'must-see-before-you-die' British cities.

In the most extensive of the three reports, which saw YouGov interview 10,000 people on various elements of desirability, Edinburgh topped the list for atmosphere, positive reputation and desirability, beating off competition from London and York. The capital also faired well in terms of cultural experience, safety for visitors, cuisine and variety of shops. Ironically, given the well-documented problems over the laying of tram infrastructure in the city centre, only London was ranked higher in terms of transport.

As thousands of Freshers descend on Edinburgh for their first taste of the city famous for its International Festival and Fringe and world-renowned Hogamany celebrations, The Journal speaks those who live in the city, as well as others who have flown the nest, about whether or not Edinburgh deserves the tag off the best British city to live in.

John Leighton, director general of the National Galleries of Scotland

It is Edinburgh’s cultural life which, for me, makes the city. Edinburgh has always been a city of contrasts, with the well-ordered Enlightenment influenced streets of the New Town on the one hand and the murky, twisting wynds of the Old Town on the other. However, it is this Jekyll and Hyde character of Edinburgh that enables it to provide such a rich and diversified cultural life.

Edinburgh is justly famous for its Festival where, for the month of August, the whole city is taken over by performers with every art form imaginable (and some unimaginable). During this month, the whole city comes alive as the population virtually doubles; no matter what time of the day or night there is always a performance to attend. However, if you think that this is where Edinburgh’s cultural life begins and ends, you would be mistaken. All year round, Edinburgh has something to offer everyone, whether your interests be fine art, film, theatre, music or dance, high culture or low.

Not only does Edinburgh draw on influences from around the world, but it also exports its own influence through the people who visit it. Edinburgh’s ability to look outward and inward ensures that you can find the best of world and Scottish culture on your doorstep. It is here that you can find street performers sitting shoulder to shoulder with some of the finest art in the world; it is here that you can find a classic arts and crafts gallery playing host to an exhibition of graffiti art.

Richard DeMarco has described Edinburgh, perched on its volcanic rock, as a piece of sculpture. It is certainly true that, in coming to Edinburgh, a visitor finds a living and breathing work of art. Like all good works of art, it draws you in, it brings you new experiences and you leave feeling inspired and enriched and therefore I can’t think of a better place in which to live.

Margo MacDonald, Independent MSP for the Lothians

Don’t take my word for it... in surveys and opinion polls on the most desirable UK city in which to live, work and bring up a family, Edinburgh is usually in first place. I love the city I represent in the Scottish Parliament for its beauty, for the unpretentious way it carries its history and status as Scotland’s capital.

Within the city boundaries, that nowadays incorporate the port and former burgh of Leith, citizens born and bred in all parts Scotland and dozens of other countries form a population that is Scots, cosmopolitan and multi-national , making Edinburgh a great place to widen horizons...and eat out. It has all the attractions of a capital city, but it’s small enough to feel like a home town.

Whether you poke around the re-developing, ever-changing docks area in Leith, enjoy seeing the best of Scottish football played in Hibernian’s Easter Road stadium, trawl through the gallery of Modern Art, wander through the New Town and marvel at the Adams’ town planning and architecture, walk down the Royal Mile in the footsteps of long dead courtiers and Kings between the castle and the palace of Holyroodhouse or enjoy the feeling of freedom in walking to the top of Authur’s Seat, a semi-wilderness volcanic plug, if you make the first friendly approach, you’ll exchange too many smiles to feel lost in the city.

Edinburgh’s beauty earned the city the sobriquet of the Athens of the North. It’s a very green city, with a skyline punctuated by tall spires and, from every vantage point, the castle. Just now, when most festivals visitors have left, but trees are still leafy and gardens still bloom, if a game can be wangled at Craigmillerpark golf course, pause at the tenth tee, look down on the relatively quiet, but still vibrant Capital, and across the Forth to Fife... the memory will live with you forever.

Prof. Sir Timothy O'Shea, Principal & Vice-Chancellorof the University of Edinburgh

John Betjeman certainly seemed to think so. In the early Fifties the man who was later to be Poet Laureate went so far as to describe the city as “The most beautiful of all the capitals of Europe”. The wonderful physical presence of the city, its architecture and dramatic landscape are undeniable. It is this that most commonly captures the imagination of visitors, and understandably so.

For those of us resident in the capital, the wonderful physical beauty of the city provides a beautiful backdrop to the vibrant intellectual and cultural life of the place. Edinburgh graduate Ian Rankin captured this when he described the place as not “so much a city, as a way of life” - it's the quality of this way of life, the cultural opportunities, the intellectual endeavours and the inspiring achievements of the people of this city which, for me, make Edinburgh the best city in Britain.

As Principal of the University of Edinburgh, I'm very conscious of the contributions to this Edinburgh “way of life” made by the 36,000 people who study or work at the University. These contributions are many and varied. They include the important contribution made to the local economy by translating research success into successful local companies. Or the significant contributions made to the local community by our dynamic and altruistic student body, and by our 66 different sports clubs and top class sports facilities. As well, of course, as the University's longstanding extensive involvement in the Edinburgh Festivals.

The University of Edinburgh is one of the world's great civic universities and an integral part of the life of the city. It stands alongside the physical beauty of the capital and the various other wonderful cultural and intellectual institutions including the museums, galleries and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. Taken together, these elements contribute to the Edinburgh “way of life” and make it the best city in Britain.

Sarah Smith, Washington correspondent for Channel 4 News

The elegant architectural charms of Edinburgh are so obvious when you first emerge out of Waverly Station that any tourist, visitor or freshly arrived student may immediately imagine that the city's beauty may well make it the best place to live in Britain. But it's not the castle perched on a huge lump of volcanic lava or the exquisite circuses of the New Town that are the real reasons to live in Edinburgh.

If like me you now live far away, it's the more prosaic parts of real Edinburgh life, those which visitors might easily overlook, that you miss the most

Salt and sauce on your chips for instance. With plenty of extra sauce. Undoubtedly one of the best meals available anywhere in the world and a taste that's never been replicated outside Embra'.

The Canny Mans Pub in Morningside is a bit off the beaten path but to the devoted regulars it alone is reason enough to live in Edinburgh. Although you will never, ever, ever find a trendy cocktail list in there.

For a uniquely Edinburgh cocktail you have to head down to the bottom of Stockbridge to find the excellent 'Shambles'. A combination of vodka, Red Bull and Champagne that I think sums up Edinburgh perfectly with its unlikely mix of sophisticated pretension and rather more base popular culture

Locals know all these and many more secrets to enjoying life in Edinburgh but all too often seem to deprive themselves of the very best things the city has to offer. The pride with which so many 'Burghers tell you that they have no intention of attending any Festival shows at all has always baffled me. If it's a little staid at some other times of the year, Edinburgh is the most exciting place on earth for three weeks in August. And surely the opportunity to see a great performance for just £15 when it will cost at least £50 once it transfers to the West End in London should be reason enough to persuade the residents to make the very best of the city they are so happy to live in.

Calum Elliot, Hearts Striker

I have lived in Edinburgh pretty much my entire life for a reason. What I enjoy most is the vibrant history, stories and the sights that make the city so special. There is plenty to do for people of all ages; the leisure centres, cinema complexes, wide array of shops, cafes, restaurants, bars and of course nightclubs. There's certainly no shortage of ways to fill your weekend.

Another strength comes from the fact that you can go into the buzzing town centre one night, and then escape to the outskirts, where I live, and take the dog for a walk into the peaceful hills the next day. There's not much that can be said for the weather, but one thing that comes with living here is the ability to take the rough with the smooth, and just enjoy the sunnier days when they come. Edinburgh is where my family, friends and girlfriend all live, and it will always have a special place in my heart.

Grant Stott, Presenter on Forth One

To be honest, you only need one word to answer the question; “Is Edinburgh the Best City in Britain”?  And that is "Aye". 

As someone who is Edinburgh born and bred and fiercely proud of it, you may accuse me of being biased. My reaction to that would be "of course". If Edinburgh isn't the best city, then which one is?  Sure Edinburgh is not perfect, but when it comes to taking on other cities none else can match it.

There would only be one or two others you could consider - and they’d have to come from down South as not one of Edinburgh’s sisters from Scotland could even think about competing – especially her from the West.  You’d really only include London and Manchester as worthy opponents but only one of them has a Palace, neither has a team that plays in green and only one outdoes us on the tram front. Just.

Space stops me from going any further, but in short, I really honestly can’t think of any other city in the UK worthy of this title. Can you?