Moving from Scotland to England

[DiamondsInTheMud]

I know its not a massive move, but aware that there might be some differences that im not aware of

Potentially moving for work promotion (interview in the next hour!) Which would involve moving to the North East.

I know things like free prescriptions are different, but not really sure what else i might currently take for granted, or would find better in England!

No kids so schooling not an issue, i know thats different!

Large shops only open for 6 hours on a Sunday (usually 10-4 or 11-5) most people who live in Scotland seem to be unaware of this.

You do have to pay for prescriptions, but many prescriptions are free because the recipient is exempt due to age, income or having a particular condition. If you do have to pay, and need more than one a month, it is usually worth taking out a season ticket, which costs about £10 a month.

Everything shuts early, pubs, shops, chippies...

You can’t order a long vodka and juice only means actual fruit juice.

There are loads of words you don’t realise are Scottish.

We also have one fewer bank holiday and school holidays and some bank holidays are at different times - as a childfree person, you'll probably want to holiday outside the school holidays, to avoid the crowds/expense, so be aware that the main summer holiday is mid July to end August in England - the change in prices when booking usually tells you when to avoid, anyway.

We usually have to pay for parking in hospitals, which I believe you don't in Scotland?

Do you have water rates in Scotland, or are they combined into your council tax - they are separate in England.

Would like to see what England does better than Scotland, because everything I can think of seems to be negative. good luck with the interview btw.

House buying is different and again, Scotland seems to do it better.

People in England don't think "outwith" is a word.

As well as prescriptions you also have to pay for eye tests unless you get a special offer.

You'll probably pay ever so slightly less tax (but not enough to cover having to pay for your prescriptions)

Bank Holidays are standard across England - you don't have official local holidays (though where I used to live there was still an unofficial 1/2 week summer shutdown for a lot of factories).

Large shops have restricted opening hours on a Sunday BUT they can sell alcohol whenever they are open.

As a PP has said you pay your water bill separately. It's a private company but you don't get to choose which one you use which obviously makes for a great experience as a consumer

If you go far enough south you'll reach the land where an oatcake is a delicious savoury pancake rather than a disappointing biscuit.

I did the opposite move a few years back and the oatcakes are my only regret.

Thought of another one. We still have special offers on alcohol, that are no longer allowed in Scotland (I believe). Eg 2 bottles of £6 wine for £10.

According to DD's boyfriend alcohol is cheaper in England.

Hope the interview went well!
We left Scotland years ago and found employment opportunities and career progression much better in England.

House buying. There are benefits to not having the Offers Over system that exists in Scotland.

The Scots are obsessed with free prescriptions but if you’re young and healthy and earning a decent amount, that really shouldn’t be something to consider.

Sweeping generalisation but we’ve found living in England less parochial than Scotland.

I do miss the Scottish sense of humour but we know so many Scots down here that that’s not really an issue either.

McSween haggis is readily available in good supermarkets too!
All the best !

Thank you everyone! Lota of food for thought...

My dp is from the NE so have discovered a lot of words/foods etc that i thought werw normal which aren't...

Yeah free prescriptions is the big one that gets talked about, but i cant remember the last time i got a prescription so shouldn't be too big a deal.

I didnt know about no free eye tests though, which as im very short sighted and use glasses/lenses is a bit annoying...

Think the interview went well... Will find out tomorrow!!

where on earth down south is an oatcake a pancake??

Housebuying - the English system favours the buyer and the Scottish the seller. Or vice versa, I can't remember which.

Staffordshire

not south, then

It is to me
I'm in Yorkshire

If you work with VDUs your employer is obliged to pay for an eye test every 2 years, which helps a lot of people, but in the great scheme of things these costs are tiny and hardly worth worrying about, as no-one needs to pay more than £10 pm for prescriptions and eye tests are £20-30 every 2 years.

You get free eye tests if you are -10 or stronger prescription.

People in England don't think "outwith" is a word
That's so true. And when you say "How?" instead of "Why?" people look at you funny.

NHS dentists are as rare as panda pubes, sausages are link not lorne, you don't see many tattie scones.