Keeping up the things they love is most of what makes a day good. 108 vetted live-in carers could come to live in Edinburgh. This page shows what they enjoy, what Edinburgh offers for each interest, and how to find someone who shares your mother's or father's.
86 carers near Edinburgh have told us what they enjoy
What the carers enjoy
Live-in carers move in rather than travel each day, so the choice is wide: 108 are within about three hours of Edinburgh. These are the interests on the profiles of the nearest of them. Tap one to see what Edinburgh offers for it.
Listed by manyLess common, so a better matchFrom the profiles of the 100 nearest live-in carers within about three hours of Edinburgh, October 2026; 86 of them list interests.
Common ground is easy
Most carers list walking, cooking & baking and music. If that is what your mother or father enjoys, nearly anyone will share it, so choose on the things that matter more: experience, manner and whether they get on.
The less common interests
Fewer carers list these, which is exactly why they are worth searching on. Someone who shares a real passion makes a long week go quickly.
Carers choose the interests on their own profiles. A shared hobby is a good start, not a guarantee, so talk about it when you meet them.
Interest 1
Edinburgh packs river paths, old railway lines and a long stretch of Forth shoreline into a compact city, so a level walk is rarely far from a bus stop.
78 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list walking
Somewhere to go
Water of Leith Walkway, Edinburgh
A long green route following the river through the city, easy to join in short sections at Slateford, Dean Village or Stockbridge. A carer can drive or bus to one entrance, walk out and back for twenty minutes, and turn round at the first bench.
Getting around: Listed on Euan's Guide as a walkway with disabled access.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Portobello Promenade, Edinburgh
A flat paved promenade along the sands with cafes and shelters just off it. Good for a short walk with a coffee stop, and a carer can shorten or extend the route depending on the day.
Getting around: Listed on Euan's Guide as a venue with disabled access, with a flat promenade surface.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion walks at their pace, knows when to turn back, and drives to the flat, well-surfaced routes so a short walk is still possible when a long one is not.
Live-in carers who enjoy walkingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Precious K.£165 a day23 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, cooking & baking, puzzles, reading
Elizabeth N.£170 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys painting, cooking & baking, socialising, reading
David R.£160 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys dancing, puzzles, socialising, board games
Menongongo K.£155 a day4 yrsAlso enjoys card games, cooking & baking, decorating, embroideryInterest 2
Edinburgh's food life mixes Lothian and Borders produce brought into city markets with old-fashioned confectionery the capital has made for generations.
63 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list cooking & baking
In the calendar
Edinburgh Farmers' Market, Edinburgh
A weekly Saturday market of Scottish growers, bakers and butchers on Castle Terrace. A carer can push a trolley, carry bags and help choose ingredients for something cooked together at home that afternoon.
Source: whatsoninedinburgh.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Local food
Edinburgh
A soft, crumbly pastel sugar stick quite unlike seaside rock, long associated with the city and still sold in sweet shops here. A carer could pick some up as a talking point, or try a simple traditional tablet or shortbread bake at home alongside the stories it brings up.
Source: edinburghnews.scotsman.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer does the lifting, the hot trays and the washing up, so the recipes, the judging and the tasting stay with the person who knows them.
Live-in carers who enjoy cooking & bakingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Interest 3
The capital keeps both ends of Scottish musical life going, nightly fiddle and pipe sessions in old pubs and full orchestral concerts in Victorian halls.
58 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list music
Somewhere to go
Sandy Bell's, Edinburgh
A small city-centre bar known since the folk revival for informal traditional music sessions most days. A carer can go early for a seat, stay an hour rather than a whole evening, and arrange the taxi home.
Source: edinburgh.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Edinburgh
The city's main concert hall, with a year-round programme from classical orchestras to older popular acts. A carer can book accessible seats in advance and handle the arrival and interval, which is often what stops people going.
Getting around: A detailed wheelchair access review describes step-free entry and accessible seating arrangements at the venue.
Source: simplyemma.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Old records, a choir concert, singing along in the kitchen. Music often stays with people long after other things fade, and a companion who enjoys it makes it part of the day.
Live-in carers who enjoy musicSome who could come in Edinburgh
Ednah Miriam M.£148 a day22 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & baking
Nicola A.£180 a day32 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, decorating
Shicinga S.£135 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, gardening
Margaret I.£172 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, reading, writingInterest 4
Edinburgh was the first UNESCO City of Literature and has kept the habit, with a big central library and a major summer festival of books.
51 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list reading
Somewhere to go
Edinburgh
The city's main public library, opened in 1890, with large-print and reference collections and quiet reading rooms. A carer can help with borrowing, reservations and getting books home, or read aloud in one of the reading rooms.
Getting around: Listed on Euan's Guide as a library with disabled access.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Library trips, reading aloud when eyes tire, audiobooks set up and ready, and somebody to talk about the book with.
Live-in carers who enjoy readingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Sheila V.£158 a day24 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, decorating
Clemence K.£135 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys walking, fishing, gardening, socialising
Bruce R.£150 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, DIY, watching TV
Justin N.£135 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & bakingInterest 5
The city has a strong botanical and horticultural tradition, from grand public glasshouses to small volunteer-run gardens tucked behind old walls.
38 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list gardening
Somewhere to go
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh
A large free-entry garden with rock garden, herbaceous borders and glasshouses, popular for repeat visits through the seasons. A carer can plan a short loop around one area, use the cafe as a rest point, and check the access page before setting off.
Getting around: The garden publishes an accessibility page covering routes, parking and facilities for visitors with limited mobility.
Source: rbge.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Dr Neil's Garden, Edinburgh
A quiet garden created by two doctors and still looked after largely by volunteers, running down towards the loch below Arthur's Seat. A carer could combine a short visit with a sit by the water, and it suits someone who wants to talk plants rather than walk far.
Source: scotlandsgardens.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Potting on at a table rather than kneeling, deadheading from a stool, visiting gardens with level paths and a tearoom: a carer keeps the garden in their week.
Live-in carers who enjoy gardeningSome who could come in Edinburgh
Colin Thomas H.£130 a day3 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Deepanshi R.£160 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, decorating
Patience T.£140 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, photography
Martha Alice B.£145 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, cooking & bakingInterest 6
Edinburgh has a council leisure network with activity aimed squarely at older adults, alongside a strong rugby and bowling culture.
32 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list sports
Somewhere to join
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Leisure's Ageing Well programme runs led activity sessions for older adults across city venues, supported by trained volunteers. A carer can get someone to a first session and stay nearby until the group feels familiar.
Source: edinburghleisure.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Scotland's national rugby stadium, used for internationals and club matches and a fixture in many local memories. A carer can arrange accessible tickets and transport, and a quieter club fixture is often easier going than a full international day.
Source: en.wikipedia.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Watching the match together, a trip to the bowls green or the cricket, or gentle exercise done safely with someone alongside.
Live-in carers who enjoy sportsSome who could come in Edinburgh
Tochukwu Godson O.£137 a day1 yrsAlso enjoys walking, DIY, music
Sylvia N.£148 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, decorating
Neil B.£170 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, gardening, video games
Shona D.10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, socialisingInterest 7
Edinburgh is the headquarters of organised Scottish country dancing and also home to Scotland's national centre for dance, so both ceilidh steps and gentler classes are well established here.
30 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list dancing
Somewhere to join
Edinburgh
The city branch of the Royal Scottish Country Dance Society runs classes at various levels plus social dances through the winter season. A carer can get someone to the hall, sit with them between dances, and help them join in walked-through sets rather than the fast ones.
Source: rscdsedinburgh.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Dance Base, Edinburgh
Scotland's national centre for dance in the Grassmarket runs course-based classes including sessions specifically for people aged 60 and over. A carer could handle booking and travel and stay for the class, which makes a first term much less daunting.
Source: dancebase.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
From tea dances to seated movement to music, a companion can find the right session, drive there, and make sure it is enjoyable rather than tiring.
Live-in carers who enjoy dancingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Adaobi A.£180 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, decorating, knitting
Grace B.£145 a day3 yrsAlso enjoys cooking & baking, gardening, photography, music
Roxanne M.£250 a day4 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, socialising, watching TV
Precious O.£150 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, DIY, volunteeringInterest 8
Ridges, bridges and old stone give Edinburgh a photographer's city, and it has one of the oldest camera club traditions in the country.
25 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list photography
Somewhere to join
Edinburgh
Edinburgh Photographic Society, founded in 1861, runs lectures, competitions and outings for members of all standards. A carer can help with transport to evening meetings and with carrying and setting up kit.
Source: en.wikipedia.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Hawes Pier, Queensferry
The pier and waterfront below the rail bridge is one of the classic vantage points for photographing the three Forth crossings. A carer can park nearby, carry a folding stool and wait for the light without a long walk.
Source: theforthbridges.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A companion can plan an outing around the light and the tide, carry the kit, and help sort the pictures afterwards.
Live-in carers who enjoy photographySome who could come in Edinburgh
Paul O.£150 a dayAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & baking
Mutiu A.£131 a day4 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, cooking & baking, puzzles
Alois T.£160 a day8 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, cooking & baking, decorating
Deborah Rose Hart M.£174 a day21 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, gardeningInterest 9
Edinburgh holds the national art collections and an academy of artists on the same central mound, so looking at paintings and learning from them is easy to build into a day.
25 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list painting
Somewhere to go
National Galleries Scotland: National, Edinburgh
Free-entry galleries of Scottish and European painting, small enough to visit one or two rooms at a time. A carer could take a sketchbook along and sit with one picture rather than trying to see everything.
Getting around: Listed on Euan's Guide as a gallery with disabled access.
Source: euansguide.com. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to go
Edinburgh
The academy's building beside the national gallery shows changing exhibitions of contemporary Scottish art, including its annual open shows. A carer can check the published access information, plan a short visit and use the cafe as a break.
Getting around: The academy publishes an accessibility page covering step-free access to its galleries.
Source: royalscottishacademy.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Setting up the table, washing the brushes, finding a gallery with a lift: a carer handles the practical side so the time goes on the painting.
Live-in carers who enjoy paintingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Charity I.£135 a day5 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, decorating
Philip M.£180 a day9 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, card games, gardening
Scarlett L.£140 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, decorating
Rosemary Grace A.£185 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, puzzles, gardening, board gamesInterest 10
The city has a well organised volunteering scene, from botanic and heritage sites to befriending schemes that suit people who prefer company to physical work.
23 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list volunteering
Somewhere to join
Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, Edinburgh
The garden takes volunteers for roles including visitor welcome, herbarium and horticultural work, with training given. A carer can help with the application, the first shifts and the journey until it becomes routine.
Source: rbge.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Edinburgh
The city's volunteer centre lists current opportunities across Edinburgh, including befriending and community roles with flexible hours. A carer can sit down with someone to go through the listings and contact an organisation that fits their energy and interests.
Source: volunteeredinburgh.org.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can help find a role that suits sitting down or short sessions, and handle the lifts there and back.
Live-in carers who enjoy volunteeringSome who could come in Edinburgh
Wilson K.£143 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, puzzles
Kane M.£143 a day2 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, photography, socialising
Juliet C.£140 a day10 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, decorating
Josephine O.£140 a day12 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, reading, watching TVInterest 11
Knit and natter groups run in community centres and libraries across Edinburgh, keeping a social craft going in walkable neighbourhood venues.
12 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list knitting
Somewhere to join
North Edinburgh Arts, Edinburgh
A regular community knitting and crochet group at the arts centre, open to beginners as well as experienced knitters. A carer can come along, help with a pattern or casting on, and make the transport side straightforward.
Source: northedinburgharts.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
Somewhere to join
Edinburgh
A Knit and Natter session run by the Edinburgh Old Town Development Trust for local residents who want to knit in company. A carer could bring the wool and needles and stay for the session, which matters most for someone who would not go alone.
Source: eotdt.org. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
Winding wool, reading the pattern aloud, picking up dropped stitches, and a trip to the wool shop or a knitting group.
Live-in carers who enjoy knittingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Adam G.£160 a day22 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, puzzles, board games
Thenjiwe G.£158 a day17 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Ann M.£200 a day15 yrsAlso enjoys walking, card games, cooking & baking, gardening
Catherine K.£174 a day19 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card gamesInterest 12
The reservoirs in the Pentland foothills on the city's south-western edge give Edinburgh trout water within a short drive of the suburbs.
11 of 86live-in carers we looked at
list fishing
Somewhere to go
Balerno
A stocked hill reservoir above Balerno fished for brown and rainbow trout, with permits and set seasons. A carer can drive out, carry the rods and net from the car park, and sit alongside for the afternoon.
Source: theedinburghreporter.co.uk. Check opening times and access before you go.
How a companion helps
A carer can sort the permit and the tackle, drive to a bank spot close to the car park, and bring the chair, the flask and the patience.
Live-in carers who enjoy fishingSome who could come in Edinburgh
Rachel S.£210 a day6 yrsAlso enjoys walking, dancing, cooking & baking, decorating
Oluwabusayo M.£160 a day3 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, dancing, card games
Onyekachukwu N.£144 a day4 yrsAlso enjoys walking, cooking & baking, gardening, socialising
Kokub M.£145 a day7 yrsAlso enjoys painting, walking, card games, cooking & bakingCloser to home
Not every good day involves going out. These are the everyday interests the carers who could come list most, and each is easier, and more fun, with somebody to share it.
From interest to introduction
Use the link under any interest on this page. It opens a search of live-in carers in Edinburgh with the carers who list that interest first; nobody else is hidden, so you still see everyone who could come.
Each profile shows the carer's interests next to their experience, the conditions they have cared for, their day rate and their reviews. Shortlist two or three.
Message and meet them for free. Ask about the hobby: someone who really gardens will tell you what they grow. Nothing is booked until you decide.
We set up the contract, handle invoicing and payment, and insure the care while the carer works. The rest of the week is theirs to fill.
Charlotte
Care manager for families in Edinburgh
Someone to talk to first
Most families start with a call: what your relative needs, what it would cost, which carers share your parent's interests, and whether live-in care or companionship visits suit them better, and what to ask a carer when you speak to them. Charlotte has those conversations every day and can tell you which of the carers in Edinburgh might suit, though the choice is always yours.
Questions
Yes. Getting out is a normal part of a live-in carer's week: a walk (Water of Leith Walkway is a good one), a garden visit, a choir concert, the bowls club or a lunch with friends. Many carers drive, and the search shows who does. Mileage is only charged if you agree it in advance and in writing, and 55p a mile is the usual figure when a carer uses their own car. Entry tickets and cafe stops for the carer are worth agreeing up front too.
Use the link under the interest on this page: it opens a search of live-in carers in Edinburgh with the ones who list that interest shown first, and the rest still there below them. Every profile shows the carer's interests alongside their experience, rates and reviews. Message the ones you like, and talk about the hobby when you meet them: it is the quickest way to tell whether the interest is real.
For live-in care it matters more than people expect. A live-in carer shares the house for weeks at a time, and the hours between the care tasks are most of the day. Somebody who likes the same programmes, games or garden fills those hours naturally. It is still second to experience and temperament, so treat it as a tie-breaker between good carers rather than the first thing you filter on.
Live-in care through PrimeCarers is typically about £1,120 a week, with our fee included, and each carer sets their own rate, shown on their profile. That covers somebody living in and helping through the day. If your parent needs company rather than round-the-clock help, hourly companionship visits start from about £15 an hour. Companionship care in Edinburgh compares the two.
Then the interest comes to him. A carer can bring the garden to a table on the patio, put the old records on, set up the jigsaw, read the paper aloud or play cards most afternoons. The interests further down this page are mostly the ones done at home, and plenty of carers share them.
Each local suggestion was researched from published sources, and every one on the page has passed a check before appearing: either it was found on a map inside Edinburgh, or its source page, which we link to, is live and names the area. Anything that failed was left out. Opening times, prices and access change, so check with the venue before you go, especially for gardens such as Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh, where it is worth asking ahead about wheelchairs or mobility scooters.
Yes. Before a carer appears on PrimeCarers they have passed an enhanced DBS check, an identity check and a right-to-work check, and had an online interview with our team, with renewal or rechecks depending on the accepted route. Carers write their own profiles, including their interests and skills, so ask about anything that matters to you when you meet them. How we vet carers sets out each step.
See live-in carers with their photos, interests, rates and reviews, and talk to your favourites for free. Nothing is booked until you say so.
