Moving from London to Edinburgh

[Havekidsneedcoffee]

Hello, would be very grateful for advice as to whether to move from Putney to Edinburgh.

I'm went to university in Edinburgh and now live in Putney. Have been in London for c15 years (hubby is from Birmingham, I'm from Ayrshire). We have 2 young kids with another on the way.

The cost of everything in London is so high I keep thinking how much more space we could have to live and our quality of life in general if we moved out. We do have lots of friends here and there are lots of jobs available and always loads going on very close to where we live which is fab.

If we moved, I'd want to have all of the same opportunities for the kids, so tennis, swimming, art classes, drama, music, gymnastics, cub scouts etc. Also we'd like to have good schools (state and private) and wonder if anyone else has done the transition or have a view? I know Edinburgh has loads of activities but I can't quite imagine how it would be if we moved and if the locals would be friendly to newcomers.

Such a big deal we wouldn't want to regret it. Hubby is not that keen but he's not that desperate to get back to Solihull either.

I also wonder if anyone thought about leaving London when the kids were young and then didn't and how that has worked out? Sorry for long post - much appreciated!

[strawberryredhead]

I don’t know but I have friends in Edinburgh (who don’t have kids), it’s a lovely city with a lot of activities and places to go if you do have kids

[strawberryredhead]

Having said that, if you have lots of friends where you are and there’s loads to do, more space at home isn’t everything. Edinburgh may feel a little staid after London.

[juneau]

You might want to move this to Scotsnet OP, if want opinions on moving to Edinburgh.

We moved out of London and don't regret it one bit, but we're only just outside in a small home counties city and DH continues to work in London. Almost all my friends from my 20s in London have moved out (or gone back to their home country), and the one good friend who stayed says moped muggers are a real problem near her kids' school south of the river. Knife crime and gangs would also be a big fear for me if I was raising my kids in London, although where we live isn't immune to drugs, gangs and crime either. All the stuff you mention though is definitely available in the 'nicer' areas of pretty much British city or large town. It's hard to leave the London bubble and hard to imagine that other places might actually be better for raising a family, but I'd encourage you to take the plunge if you're tempted. It's nice to have countryside nearby and to escape from the ultra-competitiveness and rush, rush, rush of London.

[howdoyoukeepawaveuponthesand]

My sister and her husband moved from London to Edinburgh (he’s Scottish, she’s from Liverpool) and they absolutely love it.

I do believe that I lot of the state schools have bad reps but there are lots of brilliant public schools if you can afford it.

Property is expensive and the offers over system is a nightmare but there are some lovely areas and homes that are a bus ride away from the city centre.

It’s a wonderful city, moreso if you are comfortably well off.

[Havekidsneedcoffee]

Thank you for all your comments. We have also looked at Guildford and thought about places like Esher and Woking or maybe it's Wokingham, I'm not sure. Just seems such a big move when you don't know anyone in these places and Edinburgh seems easier as I know it from before. OH says he will consider Home Counties before Edinburgh so maybe I'll give it another thought. I imagine just the same as London though! And house prices pretty much the same so no benefit there.

Thanks so much for the tips I'll check out the Scottish app you mentioned, I didn't know about this, I'm new to Mumsnet too!

Much appreciated and hope you have lovely windy Saturdays!

[Havekidsneedcoffee]

Hi Juneau, I've looked at Scotsnet but it appears to be a website for Scottish transport officers! Could it be called something else? I've checked the App Store and google so would be grateful if you could help me further. Much appreciated!

[Thecazelets]

Scotsnet is on mumsnet Talk under 'other stuff'!

[Havekidsneedcoffee]

Great, thanks so much!

[planforeverything]

@Havekidsneedcoffee what did you decide on? Considering similar option - we’re in Putney and looking at moving to Richmond but wondering if Edinburgh could offer similar. I’m from Scotland also

[Apo1a]

I am miserable here and still adjusting and still want to move back to London .
You won’t mingle with locals easily to start with.
However the benefit is within 15 mins I am everywhere .
Unless your children have a promising curling career . Think again .

[Apo1a]

Everything is similar price to London . Council tax is more . rent is cheaper slightly .
Weather —— ah well . We spend much more £ on winter layers and winter shoes — at least hundreds of hundreds more than warm London .

I prefer : London —- Edinburgh/ Scotland —- England home county .
In this order .

Also I notice now : English system teaching like 10-15 subjects from age 3
While here even in best private — they teach 3 subjects? Rest you have to find private tutors yourself .

And the private tutors population is less than in London but at the same price .

So I am spending the same or more than in London . And have to beg / dig/ kiss ass for private tutors . All I get out of it is : less Driving journey time than London .
but London has tube !

[Apo1a]

Most mums and kids stay here while husband flying to London every week .
Stabbing here better than London
But I think drug wise is much worse .
and not cctv everywhere like London —- that is scaring .

Most people told me they move back for free family baby sitting as family nearby to help . Then once kids growing up —- move back to the capital or some other capitals again .

[Apo1a]

Actually the GP i met are happier here not so hectic and referral time seems shorter .
It is very windy and hilly .
Actually I think we spend thousand on winter clothes than in London ( hasnot even counted in winter tyres yet if u live in highland )


From what I see: local mingle with locals .
Europeans mingle with Europeans . Asian with Asians . You are lucky to see 2 Africans in 1 year here . Maybe even high land mingle with High landers . Low land mingle with low landers . English mingle with English . Irish mingle with Irish .

In my neighbourhood it s full of snobbish obnoxious insular people which is exactly like ( hot fuzz ) and tight knitted community for new comers .

My experience is : 30% good and 70% bad and nothing in between .
The low is so low that opens your eyes .
The nice decent people can ofcoz warm your heart to a wow also than indifferent busy Londoners .


I lived in London / Dublin / here / Nordic / AP. / Birmingham .

[Apo1a]

If u like 3pm sunset and 80mph wind and curling and black pudding . And uphill down hill .
5 layers top and bottom Oct to April .
Welcome to Scotland .

[Apo1a]

here all medics told me ... too many aids people . Thanks to drugs .
Cops told me : 3 generation of drugs family .
lots .....

[Apo1a]

There are some area here you just won’t stop and get out of the car. Even locals won’t .

But ofcoz you can Simply choose to only get out near beautiful tourist area and Waitrose/ starbuck area .

[Apo1a]

A good decent winter jacket £100
A good decent winter shoes £100
Even if u got them in sales £50
Family of 4-5 easily can add up to £1000
x 5 people = £1000
And this is just sales price .
Not even full price .

[Apo1a]

Forgot that I lived in Surrey too . Which I found worse than here somehow.

Even Glasgow and Birmingham are more cheap and cheerful than Edinburgh .


London I do wear winter clothes but not as full on as here — down jacket / vest / layers layers top / layers bottom / hat / gloves / shoes ....

for a swimming in winter here .... it s like 1 hour job just to change .
If you have 4 kids go swimming in winter . Good luck to u .

[emmathedilemma]

I can assure you that Edinburgh is nothing like the picture painted by Apo1a!! I think it’s a great place to live- big city facilities with plenty of green space, hills on one side and the sea on the other! Be realistic about housing prices though, it might not be London but it’s definitely not cheap if you want to be within the city bypass.

[Apo1a]

www.hibs.net/showthread.php?322435-Roughest-areas-in-Edinburgh

[Apo1a]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-scotland-50473604

[Apo1a]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.scotsman.com/news/politics/spending-on-scots-schools-falls-by-400m-in-a-decade-1-4779195/amp

[Apo1a]

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/4595783/edinburgh-festival-drugs-police-scotland/amp/

[Chocolatedeficitdisorder]

Also I notice now : English system teaching like 10-15 subjects from age 3
While here even in best private — they teach 3 subjects? Rest you have to find private tutors yourself .

What nonsense is this?

I work in a High School and have two kids at Uni in Scotland. A wide range of subjects are taught from P1 onwards. In secondary they have at least a dozen subjects until S3/4 then between 6-8 (we don't split English into lang and lit), 5 subjects in S5 and 3/4 in S6 for Higher/Advanced Higher.

I've never paid for a private tutor for any subject.

Or by 3 subjects, do you mean STEM, Humanities and Arts?