I am thinking of relocationg to Aberdeen

[debbierose28]

Hi I am a single mum with 2 boys aged 8 and 6, I am thinking of moving to Aberdeen for a really good job opportunity in education. However I have never been there and will be going up to see what it’s like does anyone have any advice on what it’s like for families? Or what you think? Unfortunately in this day and age you have to fallow the jobs.

[Sillybones]

DON'T DO IT!

[Sillybones]

Really, it's a vile place.

[shakinstevenslovechild]

I'm from around there and lived in Aberdeen for years, there is quite a lot going on, plenty of opportunities, nice places to go with the family, it is pretty cold a lot of the time, and, like anywhere it has it's rough areas.

I would absolutely move back there again though.

[Sillybones]

I think the weather's fine really - rains a bit, but the winter's aren't bad at all (we haven't had one this year). Scenery is brilliant, but there is nothing that can compensate for the people. They are miserable, negative, bigoted, money-obsessed, and insular.

(I admit that is a huge generalisation and I have met a few nice ones, but overall . . . )

[shakinstevenslovechild]

I don't know what circles you have been hanging around in Silly but the vast majority of people I know, and the hundreds of random people I have met have been lovely, warm, kind, generous and funny.

[PiggyPlumPie]

I'm in South Aberdeenshire and have met none of the type of people that Silly mentioned!

We relocated here 7 years ago from the East Midlands and it's the best thing we ever did

[Notfastmainlyfurious]

Sillybones really? Perhaps you are the problem. Nothing wrong with the Deen or its people. It's diverse like everywhere else these days there are of course good areas and bad but that is exactly the same anywhere in the UK.

[Sillybones]

Maybe I am . . .

[Notfastmainlyfurious]

And there's plenty for kids - parks, cinemas, football clubs, martial arts clubs etc etc

[trinners88]

Debbierose28, I moved to Aberdeen in 2007 when DH moved here with a job (in education too). We now have a little Aberdonian, ds who is 5. I quite like Aberdeen itself and it is quite a good place for kids with lots to do. It does get very dark (and cold) in winters and it's not unusual for it to be getting dark at 3pm. But the summers are very light filled. The people are reserved, I find but lovely all the same. There is quite a transient population due to the oil industry and I have found that people are quite anxious about how long you'll stay if they are making friends with you. Aberdeenshire is stunning. The NHS seems to be very good up here with very short waiting lists (in our experience). We are likely to move again with DH job and I will be sad to leave where we live. Housing is expensive though, again due to the Oil companies moving people in and out. You can PM me if you like.

[dramajustfollowsme]

Gee thanks Sillybones.
I am a proud Aberdonian and I don't think we are like that. There are odd people everywhere you go. I've lived in various places but am back home and very happy.
I'm also a primary teacher so pm me if the role has anything to do with that, I could maybe help you.
There is beautiful scenery around here. Property is expensive in the city but just a few miles out and things become more affordable.

[BrianTheMole]

I like Aberdeen. I found it friendly enough there and the countryside is beautiful.

[Sillybones]

I do think my experience of here would be/would have been different if I'd met the type of people I 'meet' on MN - but it hasn't happened. I also do appreciate that there is probably something about me which makes my experience what it is - but I can't work out how, to be honest. There is so much racism and bigotry, so much negativity, so much concern abut what your husband does/how much money he makes/how much your house is worth.

I've lived all over Scotland and have never experienced a place like this. However, I'm not in the city centre which might make things different for you OP if you're going to be somewhere central. It might be more diverse there, it certainly isn't where I am.

On a practical level, flights are expensive, so it's usually much cheaper to go on holiday flying from Edinburgh. I haven't seen any anti-English feeling, it's more directed at other groups (Polish, travellers, etc). I haven't found the weather a problem at all - the problems tend to be more flooding based than snow so check that before buying a house. Watch out for your postcode as many companies seem to believe this is the Highlands and Islands so will whack a substantial additional delivery charge onto lots of things.

[debbierose28]

What are rental prices like up there? and thanks for all your comments x

[trinners88]

Have a look at the aspc website which is the main property portal for Aberdeen.

Sillybones, I also find that flights are expensive.

[Notfastmainlyfurious]

Rental in the private market is shockingly high imo but I guess that depends on where you're from and what you're used to. Check out aspc website for an idea of what's available.

I will agree with you silly on traveller rage but as for the rest I personally couldn't give a flying f**k what your husband does or how much your house is worth, you must be in bieldside where the elite live who I'm sure do care about such things.

[trinners88]

debbierose if it is a University job that you are thinking of then the Universities do have properties to rent usually. They do charge pretty much the market rate but a lot of people use them just to get started.

[trinners88]

Also council tax can be quite high in Aberdeen so keep an eye on that.

[curiousuze]

I'm from there but live down south now (moved for work then married an Englishman and wasn't allowed back kidding :). The winters are verrrrry long and verrrrrry dark! That said, it is a lovely city, especially if you like having countryside and hills and the beach on your doorstep. Lots of lovely parks as well. It depends what you like doing. There isn't loads of theatre or art or that type of thing. It's pretty expensive to eat out I've found as well. But lots to do if you're sporty/outdoorsy! I am not, but I have friends and family who climb hills, mountain bike, surf, horse ride, golf etc.

Sillybones, I feel bad for you and wish I could introduce you to my friends and family! Do you live in Westhill or somewhere?

[Sillybones]

Aw, thank you curious! I'm not in Westhill or Bieldside (I don't even know where those places are ). I have made a few really good friends here and we found each other through our similarly bad experiences, but it's fine really - I don't mind it too much, I just worry about what the kids are being exposed to with the small-mindedness, the bigotry, and the lack of ambition . . . but I'm hoping to escape soon!

You're right about what there is to do - the theatre/art side is woeful, but if you're outdoorsy, it's a great place. If you're horsey at all, I think it must be perfect because there is actually no snobbery with that - where I am, it's as normal to have a horse as it is a cat, and it isn't a class thing at all.

[curiousuze]

Yes, I definitely know people who live very narrow lives in Aberdeen. Very suspicious of anything outside their experience (food, different countries, races etc) even though they have enough money to experience anything they like! It's frustrating. But sounds like you've had particularly bad luck. I went to school with people like this, but they didn't rub off on me, and my parents (both Aberdonian) wouldn't have let me away with any bigotry etc.

[LadybirdsAreFab]

I love Aberdeen, my parents moved back there 20 years ago, having lived there 6 years previously. DH, DD and I live overseas and we love our visits back to Aberdeen. We are hoping to buy there in about 3 years time.

DH and I met in Aberdeen.

[trinners88]

I also feel there is lack of choice in theatre and art. One thing my Mum noticed when she came to visit was the clean air. It's noticeably fresher here than in Dublin!

[Drquin]

I'm from the area originally, and back here now. To be blunt, some of the comments about insular people, attitudes, blah blah .... You'll get anywhere. I can't deny there are some bigoted people, or racists, but then again I'd challenge you to show me somewhere that didn't have any incidences of that. You get nice folk, and not so nice folk in any place. There's nicer parts of Aberdeen and the Shire (with accompanying property prices) and not so brilliant but you see that in any major city. So, please take those kinds of comments with the proverbial pinch of salt.

If there was a bugbear for me, it's transport - roads are busier than just rush-hour busy, as there's only a couple of main ways in and out of the city! There's a very limited train service, covering a couple of commuter areas but certainly not all. Decent enough bus service in the city and from outlying towns. So, do consider (obviously!) carefully where you'll want to live versus work and play.

What a lot of folk love about Aberdeen is that you've got a perfectly decent city, but you are literally (not in rush hour!) minutes from the most fantastic countryside, hills, coastal areas. So, a decent mix of landscape and business.

Feel free to PM with anything specific.

[debbierose28]

thanks for the help so far, could anyone tell me how much it costs to live in Aberdeen as in utilities bills ect x