Edinburgh is divided into areas that generally encompass a park (or green), a high street (i.e. street of local retail shops) and a section of residential buildings. In Edinburgh residences are generally tenements, although the more southern parts of the city have traditionally been richer and have a greater number of detached houses.

The Royal Burgh of Leith was formerly a separate town, but was merged with Edinburgh in 1920.

The edges of these areas are generally defined by roads, though actual lines on the ground are very difficult to draw: most locals tend to have varying ideas, map makers are in equal disagreement and the post code areas are of no real help at all, being skewed more by number of residents than for utility of naming areas.

The names of the areas are mainly chosen for the major road(s) in the area, however in some cases it is believed that the names of the roads are a reflection of the original name or use of the area.