The district is bounded on the south by the final stretch of the Union Canal and on the north by the West Approach Road, built on the route of the old Caledonian Railway.

The Fountainbridge area first began to be developed at the beginning of the 18th century, when Alexander Brand bought the surrounding estate of Dalry and feued out land on the north side of the Lanark road for building.

[2] The quiet and rural nature of Fountainbridge made it appealing to wealthier citizens who wanted to escape the cramped and insanitary Old Town, and it soon came to be "dotted over with pretentious and roomy mansions".

Labour leader Harold Wilson visited the district in 1964 and expressed shock at the poor conditions in which residents were living.

[12] Redevelopment of Fountainbridge began in 1998 with the construction of the Fountain Park leisure centre on former brewery ground on the north side of Dundee Street.

This multi-purpose complex includes an adventure golf course, a laser tag arena, an amusement arcade, a multiplex cinema and ten-pin bowling, alongside multiple food outlets.

[16] The building underwent an extensive renovation and opened in 2019 as a "multi-use arts complex centred around printmaking production".