To want to move south?

Why don't you consider somewhere like Moray - it has a micro-climate, so the weather is drier and warmer than other areas of Scotland and it has beautiful beaches, gorgeous countryside and there are many good pubs to have a Sunday roast in! Scotland's reputation for drugs is justified, but mainly in the inner city areas. The places I saw people openly using and selling drugs in England were 'lovely twee' towns, so be careful what you wish for.

This is total rubbish I have a very English accent and the all the Scots Ive met are lovely and friendly much friendlier than any English Ive met.
OP do you know Dorset (I do)? Most English people living in Scotland that I know comment on how much quieter Scotland is compared to England, the population density is significantly less it is approx. 2/3 the size of Englands with a population on just over 5 million and nearly 4 of those live in the central belt. Life here is much quieter and more relaxed here than in England, Im writing as someone who'd never stepped a toe in to Scotland for my first 50 years. Ive lived in many parts of England and personally don't think you can beat Scottish landscape, mountains hills uplands moorlands pasture its so varied and there's water everywhere e.g. lochs, burns, river and wonderful and varied coastline. I agree the weather is a bit shit especially on the west side rain rain rain but the light, the ever changing landscape and the total peace and quiet more than compensate for this.

Major incident at Poole Harbour after 200-barrel fluid leak https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-65081094

Perhaps not Poole this week!

What's your budget like?

I would look at Wimborne, Christchurch, Dorchester , salisbury (not close to coast but a very easy and nice route) and even further east to Chichester and Eastbourne or west to Exeter

We live in bath which I like but it's expensive and it's not that close to coast either.

I like Poole and Bournemouth but do note what people on here say.

@colouringindoors I live in dundee and wouldn't recommend!

*uni fees

Hmmm Scotland has the major advantage re school fees imho and cost of living in Southern England can be very high. But yes Scotland does have a significant drug problem and is cooler than the South coast. I would think about moving to SE Scotland - much drier, sunnier, coast on your doorstep.

For example, Dundee has a growing creative industry, has record breaking sunny days and is often voted best place to live in Scotland. Don't know what your budget is but you could get a really nice 4 bed detached for less than £400k.

This new build is £340k
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131236547#/?channel=RES_NEW

Dorchester on the other hand 4 bed semi £375k less nice.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/125748020#/?channel=RES_BUY

Lots of other SE Scotland options too inc St Andrews, Edinburgh and surrounds...

If money is no issue, sure move south...

I grew up in a pretty market town, there was an enormous drugs and drink problem because there was nothing to do.

There is over 100 miles of coast in Ayrshire and you pick the worst 3 miles ! Just be honest with your family, you hate being in Scotland. What if they want to stay, what if the children don't like the south coast ?

Troon and Ayr beaches are not the best - have you deliberately picked the worst ones? There are far prettier places nearby, or if you go east.

Where down south are you thinking of? Because there is obviously a far higher population density down there; therefore overcrowding is going to be far worse. And the train service here is generally good in comparison to many places.

so what sort of property do you want and how much money do you have? Think in terms of 450k for a 3 bed semi - obviously varies on the area etc. And what sort of jobs will you all be looking for? If its in retail, carehomes, public sector or tourism you are OK.

Interesting view points.

Bournemouth has been Dorset since 1974, that's 50 years next year.

I haven't actually been in Bournemouth Town center other than to the BIC I'm about 8 years and I live in Poole. I go to castle point for shop shopping. The best parts of the beach are the less central ones.

The weather is the best you are going to get in England, we usually avoid systems that come and get everything milder.

There are several excellent schools, you can't really go wrong. There are also the 4 grammar schools.

Locals seem to think its the wild west crime wise but if you look at national crime stats it is remarkably low.

There's parts to avoid, I generally won't go near Boscombe/Springborne as that is the dumping ground.

I'm originally from a rough part of Birmingham, maybe my perceptions are skewed but if you've been to any rougher inner city area then BCP is far from run down.

Bloody pot holes everywhere though!

That’s horrific!

Genuinely not like that where I live (west coast) in my experience.

But of course, there are nasty and lovely people everywhere.

I wouldn’t move in your shoes due to education and uni fees. One of my DC is considering a Scottish uni but it’s one full of English students so she won’t feel out of place 🤣

Ha, my siblings and I were bullied relentlessly for our English accents and the first comment my dad got at a petrol station on the way up when we moved was a snide “Aren’t there any jobs in England?”

We’ve all moved back down south where we’re ‘normal’.

People from Clackmannanshire have no right to slag anyone’s accent 😂Im joking … kind of 😂

Every experience is different.
I moved from SE England to Clackmannanshire and the entire family was subject to 'fuck off back to your own country', 'why can't you get jobs in your own country?' 'Sassenach', 'English Bitch', bricks thrown at our windows, cars egged, used sanitary towels put through the letterbox, refused service in shops, my brother was stabbed, twice....
That was in the 80's though so hopefully things have changed.
I'm still traumatised to this day.

However... I went to visit a 'friend' as an adult and she mocked my accent in front of her friends to save face... so maybe things haven't.

Just saying you can't predict any scenario.

I’m from a southern county and my dad lives in Poole - whilst I love it down there it’s over priced and there’s just soooo many people everywhere!
beaches are packed, parking is expensive, everything costs.

on the other hand, moved up north (NW Lakes) and love it here, strong sense of community, cheap house prices and cheap rent, some high salaries thanks to Sellafield, loads of things to do that don’t cost anything, beaches, lakes, mountains and Scotland to explore!

I am another one struggling to work out where on earth you could be living in Scotland that doesn't have coast and/or countryside easily accessible. It makes me wonder how realistic you're being.

How long does it take you currently to reach the countryside and what do you do when you get there?

It's rather disingenuous to describe the weather as being only marginally better. It's significantly sunnier, warmer and drier in the south and south west and ten years of climate change is not going to suddenly make the south unbearable.
It's much more common to swim in the sea and participate in watersports.
There are many more days when it's nice to be out and about.

are you planning to rent or buy a house? if the latter what is your budget?

As others have said - you will be saddling any kids that go to uni with at least an extra 27k of debt each. Wages are low compared to property costs and public transport is poor (other than in large towns).

However, I wouldnt move from south coast.

Hi OP I'm in central Scotland too, I have immediate family in Liverpool and have stayed there for a bit, they bloody love the Scottish accent. Genuinely the kids will be fine, I work for a big company and used to speak on the phones to customers they loved that our call centre was in Scotland. Xx

I'm in a similar situation to you, which city are you in? (Just wondering if it's the same!)