Edinburgh or Glasgow?

[lingo]

We're a family of 4 (2 DS under 3) living just outside London and planning to move to Scotland in the next year (i.e. before DS1 starts school under the English system).

Both DH and I are Scottish but it's been so long since we lived there we're not sure where to start. Both our jobs are relatively easily transferable but mine revolves around government so we'd want to be in the central belt.

I've lived in the east and west and struggling to choose so looking for some impartial views! We're wanting somewhere to put down roots for the next 20 odd years so getting the location right is paramount. I have in mind a 4/5 bedroom house, good size garden, easy access to transport but not city centre as we'd want to get out and about too.

I appreciate there's a whole host of factors at play such as budget, travel time etc. so I'm mainly after what areas are nice in and around Edinburgh and Glasgow and which to avoid as it's so long since we've lived there.

Thoughts welcome!

That's really hard to answer without a budget. Both cities have nice and not so nice areas. Glasgow is cheaper though so always the potential to get more for your money either in terms of size or location.

You'll get much more house for your money in Glasgow. What's your budget? Also what things do you like to do?

Glasgow cheaper. Edinburgh much drier weather.

Look at Linlithgow, South Queensferry, Balerno, Ratho

There are similar threads in Scotsnet with lots of detailed answers. HTH

I live in the east and I'd say Glasgow! No festival (oh my god that's a freaking nightmare for residents)

Glasgow for sure.

Glasgow has better state schools and cheaper property. Milngavie is reachable from both cities and is just on the edge of countryside too.

I‘ve lived in both cities and personally prefer Edinburgh. Glasgow is much cheaper though, a 4/5 bed in Edinburgh will be pricey.

FWIW my brother moved from London to Glasgow and found the rain quite hard to adjust to.

Thanks

@Wbeezer we've lived in Glasgow for a good number of years before moving south so we remember the rain well and will no doubt miss the sunshine of the SE.

Thanks everyone for thoughts so far. We're probably looking at a budget of up to c.£500,000 and there seem to be a good number of properties online, it's just trying to decide where to start the search and I'm flipping between the pros and cons of each coast.

I have to say that Glasgow has grown on me over the years, i was very fond of Edinburgh having been a student there but its so touristy these days it's lost some of its character IMO, but I'm a bit of an old fogey these days!

Unless you really want to be in a city, I’d look at Linlithgow. Decent schools, lots going on for families and transport options make commuting to both Edinburgh and Glasgow easy.

The ability to travel to both cities opens up more job options. Traditionally, government jobs are more Edinburgh centric although there has been a drive to move departments out to other parts of the country.

I've lived in both cities and they're both great places to live with lots to do. To visit I'd probably go to Edinburgh, to live it would be Glasgow, no contest. I spend a lot of time walking on the west coast and around Loch Lomond and the Trossachs so that would definitely be a decider for me.