With its busy port and docks, it was a burgh in its own right until officially joining up with Edinburgh in 1920.
The old boundary is still marked by a plaque on Leith Walk, the main thoroughfare from the city centre.
Leith has changed greatly over recent decades, shrugging off its industrial past and establishing a new identity as the Shore, Edinburgh’s fashionable waterfront district.
Nowadays it is home to hipster bars and cafes, artists’ studios and top-notch restaurants run by A-list chefs.
This ‘gentrification’ has seen a raft of new developments springing up across the northern shore area and a rise in traditional property prices.
To get your own home in Leith will cost upwards of £130,000 for the smallest bolthole. Meanwhile, at the other end of the market, prices for a newly released luxury three-bedroom apartment in the Moorings complex could set you back more than £1.3 million.
Here we have gathered together a selection of properties currently for sale in the Leith area.
9. Pilrig
This light and well-presented semi-detached house is set in a quiet cul-de-sac in the popular Pilrig area. It boasts a bay-windowed living room, kitchen and bedroom on the ground floor, with two further bedrooms and a bathroom upstairs, as well as a private garden and driveway. Photo: Rightmove
10. Leith Harbour views
Positioned on the 11th floor, this spacious three-bedroom flat offers exceptional views to the Firth of Forth, Leith harbour and the city skyline with the Pentland Hills beyond. It could be yours for offers over £299,950. Contact MOV8 Real Estate for more information. Photo: Rightmove