Bonnyrigg is a town in Midlothian, eight miles (13 kilometres) southeast of Edinburgh city centre. The town, also known to locals as the Boomtown, had a population of 11,260 in the 1991 census which has risen to 14,457 according to the 2001 census.

Dalkeith is a town in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the River North Esk. It was granted a burgh of barony in 1401 and a burgh of regality in 1540. The settlement of Dalkeith grew southwestwards from its 12th-century castle (now Dalkeith Palace). Dalkeith has a population of 11,566 people according to the 2001 census. The town is divided into four distinct areas: Dalkeith proper with its town centre and historic core, with Eskbank to its west and Woodburn to its east. Eskbank is the well-heeled district of Dalkeith with many large Victorian and newer houses. To the south of Eskbank is Newbattle with its abbey. Woodburn could not be more different, being a working class council estate built from around 1935 onwards. Dalkeith is the main administrative centre for Midlothian. It is twinned with Jarnac in France. In 2004 Midlothian Council re-paved Jarnac Court in honour of Dalkeith and Jarnac's long standing link.

Easthouses is a town in Midlothian, lying just outside Dalkeith. It forms the northern extension of the settlement of Mayfield, with which it is closely associated. Primarily based on public housing, Easthouses developed in the 1920s to accommodate miners for the nearby Easthouses Colliery, many of whom relocated from the west of Scotland. The settlement was significantly extended in the 1950s. Employment has diversified since the closure of the mines, with many of the population now commuting to Edinburgh. The Easthouses Parish Church (built 1954) is of minor architectural interest.

Loanhead (pop. 6,900) is a small town in Midlothian, Scotland, to the south of Edinburgh, and close to Roslin, Bonnyrigg and Dalkeith. The town was built on coal and shale mining, and paper making.

Penicuik is a burgh in Midlothian, lying on the west bank of the River North Esk. The town was developed as a planned village in 1770 by Sir James Clerk of Penicuik. It became a burgh in 1867 . The town was well known for its paper mills, the last of which closed in 2005. More recently the town was home to the Edinburgh Crystal works. The town's name Penicuik, is derived from the Welsh language. The Ancient British Pen Y Cog, meaning "Hill of the Cuckoo" In the Welsh - English translation. Near Penicuik is the Glencorse Parish Kirk, which formed part of the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson's Kidnapped (1886). Some of the streets nearby are named after characters in the novel and its sequel, Catriona (1893). Penicuik is home to the Royal Highland Fusiliers, 2nd Battalion The Royal Regiment of Scotland, garrisoned in Glencorse Barracks.

Rosewell is a former mining town in Midlothian, Scotland, south of Polton and north-east of Rosslynlee.