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Original poster

New job offer - Dundee!

30 replies

iswintercoming · 03/07/2022 18:34

Help! I’ve been trying to get a new job in my industry for a good while, as I need to move from current company due to impending redundancy. Have been offered a very good job, but it’s in Dundee! I’m currently in the south-east of England and have 2 primary aged kids.. Husband is up for a change as he WFH and his family live abroad anyway. My parents are quite close to kids, but live 2h drive away so aren’t reliant on us iykwim.

Really fancy the job, but Dundee?! I have no idea what it’s like and had (naively) assumed I could work remotely when I applied.

Any practical advice on such a decision and also just generally on Dundee and Scotland in general?

Help!Confused

OP posts:
FionnulaTheCooler · 03/07/2022 18:39

A lot of people choose to live in Broughty Ferry or the small villages just over the Tay Bridge and commute into Dundee. Its a nice city, in my opinion, its had a lot of investment recently, new V&A museum and a lot done to the waterfront, had a few big name acts doing gigs at Slessor Gardens. I wish they would get a move on fixing the Olympia pool though, DC has been nipping my head about it for months.

youboozeyoulose · 03/07/2022 18:46

Hi OP. I'm from Edinburgh and now live in Dundee. It's a great wee city. It's vibrant and forward looking. Lots of places to see and do, new V & A, the Discovery, two great universities and it's near the countryside. I've seen huge improvements in the five years I have lived here alone. It's seen as having a bit of a cool factor just now. It does have it's problems with poverty in places. Occasionally I meet someone who says Dundee is as a dump or calls it "Scumdee", but it's usually people who haven't been near since the eighties. Hope that helps :)

Original poster
iswintercoming · 03/07/2022 18:49

Thanks @FionnulaTheCooler - do you know it we’ll round there then?

I’m wondering what the schooling is like in Scotland and how different it would be to what the kids have been used to. So many questions flying around my swede!

OP posts:

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QueryA · 03/07/2022 18:51

Compared to the south east of England, very very affordable I would imagine! 😁

i like Dundee. In the 80s and 90s it was pretty run down but it’s had a lot of investment. It’s well connected on the east coast rail line, so easy to get to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Close to lovely countryside. Schools are mixed, some great, some not so great so beware of catchment area.

MajorCarolDanvers · 03/07/2022 18:53

Dundee is a great city. I went to uni there.

Property prices much cheaper than south east England.

Education is different but much less so a primary age.

daretodenim · 03/07/2022 18:54

I recently visited Dundee after not having been there for over 30 years. It was only for a few days but it was brilliant. There was so much to do and within driving distance of the centre were outdoor activity centres and sports options for kids (and parents) too. Swimming pool does need to hurry up and be finished though.

There's clearly part of the city that is financially struggling, and I did find some areas when I was wandering around that could do with a bit of a..clean... But there were other parts that made me think it could offer a great lifestyle if you weren't on minimum wage or benefits (because those two basically mean you're going to be struggling) without having a crazy high income. Both my kids want to go back.

As for information about Scotland..you live SE of Edinburgh, so presumably you're in Scotland yourself?

reallydoyouthinkso · 03/07/2022 18:57

I work in Dundee but live in Perth. Pre-pandemic I commuted to Dundee every day. As PPs have said there has been a lot of investment and I find house prices now reflect that (one of the reasons I live in Perth).

we had two in primary school when we moved and I prefer the Scottish education system. People grumble but most who do haven’t experienced the English system which IMHO has bigger problems in terms of educational culture.

You might find your DC move school years e.g. my two were a couple of years apart in England but ended up being only a year apart in their Scottish school. The secondary system is probably where you’ll see the biggest difference.

Reallyreallyborednow · 03/07/2022 18:57

I bloody love dundee. Big enough to have a lot going on, near edinburgh, Glasgow, st andrews, aberdeen etc, but small enough everything’s familiar.

uni is renowned for the sciences, lots of famouses lecture.

go for it!

Original poster
iswintercoming · 03/07/2022 19:53

Oh wow, you have all got me very excited with all these great tips and personal experiences, - I can’t thank you enough🤗

One poster mentioned me being SE Edinburgh - but I am in SE England, so just a bit further away😅

I’ve actually got relatives up in NE Scotland, around Aberdeen, although I don’t see them regularly - my fathers whole paternal family hail from NE Scotland. But I’ve never been to Dundee, not spent any significant time in Scotland at all, just the odd family trip as a kid/teen and a couple of weekends in Edinburgh over the years.

OP posts:
grafittiartist · 03/07/2022 20:00

Love Dundee! Lived there for a while and was sad to leave.
Everywhere has a great view!

dementedma · 03/07/2022 20:02

It has some rough areas and a high drug problem. But, good universities, a lot of investment and good cultural vibe. Compared to SE prices you will get a good deal on a house. Just choose area carefully. Could live just over the bridge and commute in.

daretodenim · 03/07/2022 20:11

Ah sorry! SE England is a tad further! 😂

The trainline goes direct to Aberdeen so might be easier to see those relatives.

Wbeezer · 03/07/2022 20:11

There are lots of nice places to live near Dundee that have a commute that would be short by SE England standards, if you have a decent house to sell in the SE you could maybe even afford lovely St Andrews.

Wbeezer · 03/07/2022 20:12

Just remembered it's also the sunniest city in Scotland!

Randomuser9876 · 03/07/2022 20:20

We live in England so I know nothing about schools I'm afraid but have family in that neck of the woods and I really like Dundee.

Broughty Ferry and Carnoustie seem good.

There's heaps of lovely places you could live within 30mins commute. If look at Fife especially around St Andrews, depends what your budget is I guess.

Girlintheframe · 03/07/2022 20:21

Sorry but Dundee would not be a city I would choose to live in. I went to school and uni there and live close by but I wouldn't never return to Dundee.
It's true there has been a lot of investment in the city and the town centre reflects that but it has lots of areas of deprivation. Dundee came out as one of the cities that had the highest level of deprivation in Scotland. Obviously along with deprecation comes all the associated problems.

Schools tend to be big and depending on your current school I imagine you would be in for a culture shock.

Twokidsanddone · 03/07/2022 20:51

Dundee like most places has great areas and not so great areas. I second pp who suggested Broughty ferry or the towns the other end of the bridge as good places. Avoid Charlston or anything that way. There's loads of great wee villages around Dundee if you're not too against a small commute. Plenty for kids with camperdown park. It has a little wildlife center and big play park, And the cinema and stuff there.

NC12345665 · 03/07/2022 21:04

Good grief, the Dundee tourism board is out in full force on this thread.
The waterfront has been done up but the town centre is an absolute shit hole.
Broughty Ferry or the West End/Perth Road are the only liveable places in Dundee.
If you don't mind a bit of a commute, you could live in St Andrews and send your children to school in St Andrews.

Original poster
iswintercoming · 04/07/2022 09:46

NC12345665 · 03/07/2022 21:04

Good grief, the Dundee tourism board is out in full force on this thread.
The waterfront has been done up but the town centre is an absolute shit hole.
Broughty Ferry or the West End/Perth Road are the only liveable places in Dundee.
If you don't mind a bit of a commute, you could live in St Andrews and send your children to school in St Andrews.

Haha, well it’s good to get a balance of views - I was starting to think the streets were paved with gold a bit😅

I’ve heard St Andrew’s is meant to be naice, so will have a look. I don’t have to be in the office every day so being a bit further out makes sense and I love the idea of being by the sea - although I am a little wary of the weather being a tad colder than I’m used to!

OP posts:
MeMe3Spoons · 04/07/2022 09:54

Broughty Ferry is lovely and exactly where I want to live, it is easily commutable from Dundee. It has a village feel but also has lot's of amenities, restaurants & bars etc and some great properties. I am very envious OP (also currently live in England). If you do take the job in Dundee (my favourite Scottish city) get yourself down to Clarks bakery and try some Dundee cake, it's the best i've ever had. If you like the outdoors your weekends will be packed with possibilities too. The coastline around that area has some really lovely spots, Lunan Beach is my favourite. I am very excited for you Grin

lurkingfromhome · 04/07/2022 10:04

Agree that Dundee has improved a lot in the last few decades. It's great for a day out, with the V&A etc, BUT it's still not a place I would choose to live as the town centre is not attractive. However, it is surrounded by nice places - the countryside and coastlines are amazing, and you're hardly any distance from beautiful Tayside. I'd be looking at Broughty Ferry or the East Neuk and commuting when necessary.

SirChenjins · 04/07/2022 10:09

I don’t get the love for Dundee. DD has just graduated from there, I worked there for a while and my trips back and forward haven’t made me think it’s somewhere I’d like to live. Broughty is OK but I think there are nicer places to live. How far would you be willing to commute?

BluebellsareBlue · 04/07/2022 10:17

Hi OP,
Dundee born and bred here and I now live in monifieth. East of dundee but still connected via brought ferry. Whilst PP says the tourism board is out in force and it's a shithole, well that's not my experience. The regeneration that has been done and continues to be done is fantastic and there are loads of things to do in the city and beyond.

There's a beautiful new development called dykes of grey near Liff which is about 3 miles from the city centre, there are new developments being built all over the city.

As with all towns and cities there is always a down side and I'm a retired police officer so have seen most of this. If you do decide to come here I can help with picking an area to live

Chipsahoy · 04/07/2022 10:18

Can you love just out of Dundee and commute? Scotland is stunning but Dundee itself wouldn’t be my first choice. Areas around it absolutely. But then I live in the back area of nowhere in rural Aberdeenshire so depends what you like.

i moved two kids and a teen from England to Scotland. They find the schools better, less pressured and fewer ridiculous rules

Chipsahoy · 04/07/2022 10:19

move not love!