Moving to London or Edinburgh. Which would you choose?

[BetwixtandBetween2]

I'm single, childless, in my mid 30s and thinking of making a move to London or Edinburgh over the next few years or so, possibly sooner. I'm currently living in the Suburbs outside of Glasgow and work from home. I've been in and around Glasgow for all of my life and feel I need a change.

I love my street because it's quiet and I look onto a farm and green fields. I love watching the wildlife and it lifts my mood, but the local town centre while ok is very small and not very varied. I'm only 20 minutes from Glasgow city centre but I feel as though going into the city has worn off for me because I feel as though I've done it all before and it feels rundown.

I don't have an exciting life but I used to go to the theatre every week, or to a talk or event, when I worked in the city centre. I love wandering about high streets and finding bookshops, independent shops and delis to explore. I also love museums and visited them regularly but again I feel as though I've been there, done that, and I want to do all of those things in a new city.

I've been considering Edinburgh because I love it so much but the cold dissuades me a little, not to mention the hills as I have disabilities and I worry that it'd feel a little stale to me after a fewyears or so.

I love how huge and varied London is, and can't imagine running out of things to do there, but it's so expensive and I wouldn't know where to start looking but then there's no hurry, and the thought of living there excites me.

Apologies for length, but any opinions would be appreciated. TIA

I’m slightly amused that someone from Glasgow would worry about the cold in Edinburgh 😆 I’m originally an Edinburgh girl and it is indeed chilly. Glasgow is damp and chilly; Edinburgh crisp and chilly.

With that budget you could get a beautiful property in somewhere like inverleith, right next to Stockbridge. Great bus service up the hill to the centre. There would be enough culture for me in Edinburgh forever and people are find once you break the ice.

Don’t rule out York, slightly warmer and lots going on?

I don’t honestly know about london. I love visiting it and the small quiet boroughs often feel quite Edinburgh like to me, strangely enough. But I’m a country girl and couldn’t live somewhere like that. But you sound like you need more.

Liverpool is amazing. Ditto Manchester. Birmingham. Newcastle. Why London? London is huge and made up of many different villages so what do you mean by 'London'?

I'd choose Glasgow over Edinburgh any day, it's a much more vibrant city. I'd never move to London but if you are child free and have money I can see the attraction (pre-pandemic, now I'd say be glad of your suburban space).

Seeing your updates that the tube is okay for you and you have friends in London, I’d say London. The buzz is energising and the weather really is so much warmer. Although you can get to beautiful countryside very easily from Edinburgh, you can go from London to a sunny beach in a couple of hours - not that I ever did this when I lived there! Definitely rent first and get a really good feel for area.

Thank you to everyone who has posted since my last post. It's interesting and helpful to read everyone's opinions.

I don't have children or a commute as I WFH, so at present those aren't considerations. I'm not expecting to go to places daily(I wouldn't earn much money that way) but I'm hoping to go somewhere at least once a week, as I used to do every week, and still could, only the novelty has worn off so I go a little less often. It doesn't have to be the theatre, I'd be happy to go for a walk, while stopping at different shops/sights, visiting a park or a museum, a book shop or eating in a restaurant, but I want a lot of choice. I used to love looking through the lists of plays and talks or events, choosing one to go to that day, and selecting a restaurant an old favourite or something new. I still do that sometimes but I feel as though after 30 + years I've "done" Glasgow.

I appreciate that I can do that in any city, but London particularly appeals exactly because it is huge and because it is like a collection of villages and small towns. I just love the variety, the buzz, the list of never ending things I could do and the history. I long for it when I leave.The better weather also appeals and the relative proximity to so many other parts of the UK that I love or want to visit. The transport system is also a big part of the appeal, as someone who will probably never be able to drive due to disabilities.

I'll definitely look into the other cities that people have mentioned too.

Hmm I’ve lived in both - the weather gets me down in Edinburgh, this is the best spring I remember in 10 years and it’s still cooler and rainier than further south. It’s a tough one, you have to experience the population density and feeling of central London. Edinburgh has a lot going on but you’ll never beat London for cultural choice.

Actually, when I first read your post's title my thought was "I'd go for Glasgow over Edinburgh any day".

Same. Edinburgh's great, but Glasgow's more vibrant ... and less windy. 😉

I'd find a green, parksey, suburb of London. If you're going for a change, do you want to make it a change with sunbathing available in Summer or a really large Castle in the middle of town?

⛱🌳

Interesting to see a few people say that they'd choose Glasgow over Edinburgh. I can understand that actually, depending on what you're looking for. I still love a lot of things about Glasgow though, but I feel it's time for a move,

A green parksey suburb sounds perfect.

Yes but Glasgow is far more rainy! And London is too hot and filthy
Edinburgh 100%

I’m Scottish and have lived in both. London was fine for career building while I had no children but the compactness of Edinburgh, while still having access to culture is much more appealing, plus getting out of the city to open country is easier. I often go to Glasgow as the music scene is better though

And it isn’t that much colder, not unbearably so.

Now is the time for London! But save Edinburgh for another time - in 5 years or so it may be place for you. And if you have bought in London you will always have a good budget for next move.

I've lived in both, I'd move back to Edinburgh in a heartbeat- lots of reasons but mainly the people- worked there for a year and don't ever remember a day when I wasnt smiling or belly laughing over something someone said or did- perhaps I just had a good group but everyone was so nice! Great memories 🤗

Not the same in London....

Manchester has a lot going on and is much more pedestrian/cycle/public transport friendly than a few years back.

I would move to London. I say this having just moved out of London. But it’s so much fun if you are young and single you can just go out and make the most of it. Edinburgh is beautiful but London is worth doing once in your life.

....although we did get shot at walking through the Muirhouse estate, but I'm sure they didn't mean it ...

I would choose Edinburgh out of the two.

Personally I’m thinking of the current situation and that it is nice to have a garden space and access to countryside rather than be crammed in somewhere busy.

London is fun though, although I’m fine just visiting so that makes me biased I think.

Speaking as a Londoner with children I really do still do all the tourist/cultural stuff, even if that’s just ticking off the Wren churches in my lunch hour. And you can go straight to a radio recording for example from work on a weeknight because they start at 7ish and finish by 9.

Given the weather, the pre-existing friend group, the lack of hills and the public transport I’d go London in your situation, loads of little zone 2/3 villages where you could get a lovely garden flat for your budget a hop and a skip from the West End. That said, I’m not sure that now is the right time to be committing half a million to the London property market, so don’t rush into anything.

Edinburgh every single time.

Edinburgh is my favourite uk city! It’s just gorgeous. I wouldn’t move to London if you paid me.

Edinburgh! My favourite city ever! It has everything

Edinburgh, hands down. I lived there between the ages of 22 and 39, and I loved every minute. The best years of my life.

Edinburgh
Beautiful compact good public transport you can see the sea
(Plus the water in London is vile - can’t make a proper cup of tea!)

If you long for London when you leave then it sounds like your heart's made your mind up

It’s true that people are less friendly in London, no question but if you found the right area of London and a garden flat..i’m a museum and theatre person and you can’t beat the array on offer in London. Still think about nights at the globe I had years back...

As a non driver, I find myself taking a lot of taxis in Edinburgh as buses can be a lengthy wait at certain days and times, tubes at least are usually very reliable.