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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To up sticks to Glasgow?

160 replies

MrTay · 31/03/2016 20:38

Long term lurker, first time poster, but we are trying to make a big decision! Title says it all really, DW and I are considering moving from where we live currently in South Wales before DD is school age. We don't have an amazing support network here, and our families live a few hours away already so nothing there is going to change! I'm a remote working freelancer and DW is a SAHM so we have the flexibility to do it, but with something like this it can still feel a bit like a punt. We're pretty much set on Glasgow having been there before and loved it, so it's not so much a case of asking for opinions on places to go, more just checking that this isn't a frankly crazy idea. I'd love to hear from other people who have done the wholesale relocation thing, because I'm struggling to think of any negatives but I also want to make sure we think this through properly!

OP posts:
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Peppaismyhomegirl · 31/03/2016 20:44

I relocated as a sahp and found it initially very very Lonley. I cried
For months we had made the wrong desision and to be honest, only just starting to settle in now. I found not knowing where the local attractions to take the kids to, parks, cafes, soft play Ect so upsetting and not having anyone to ask where they are really hard. Also in these places there tends to be groups of people who already know eachother so I found making friends very hard. I know it is the right desision for our life, and now I can see a light at the end of the tunnel I feel better about it, but I was seriously depressed for a while.
I must add. I have moved many times all over the country and this was only a small move in comparison but by far the hardest as the SAHM aspect really impacts you more than you think.
I would do it all again tho, for the life it means we now live. But just be careful and make sure your strong going into it. It's tough

Agadooo · 31/03/2016 20:45

What's do you think the pros would be in Glasgow that you don't have in Wales? You know different areas well?

RubbleBubble00 · 31/03/2016 20:48

could you rent and see how it goes for a year. We moved a few times and always took me a year to settle and be happy. Our final relocation was near family. Only thing I wished was we had picked an area where kids could play outside.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/03/2016 20:54

We moved to Scotland (near Paisley, not far from Glasgow) from Essex, and we love it up here. The people are lovely, and the city, countryside and coast are gorgeous. The weather can be a bit damp and cold, though...

toolonglurking · 31/03/2016 20:55

Glasgow is a fantastic, vibrant city with brilliant galleries, museums and attractions. The people are generally very friendly, and an hour or so's drive up the coast takes you past Loch Lomond and into the wilds of the Scottish west coast and all it has to offer, like trips to the islands and some great wild life - brilliant for kids.
I can't advise on good places to live in and around Glasgow, as I don't have the knowledge, but if you are looking for a fresh start, I'd recommend it.
I'm a convert to the west coast of Scotland, having grown up elsewhere, but it's a wonderful part of the world.

LindyHemming · 31/03/2016 21:00

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

SDTGisAnEvilWolefGenius · 31/03/2016 21:01

If you want to live somewhere reasonably rural with good connections to Glasgow, friendly community, and really good schools, I can recommend Bridge of Weir and Houston.

ThisisMrsNicolaHicklin · 31/03/2016 21:14

We settled in Glasgow after living in London for years. We love it, the people are lovely, there is loads to do, millions of parks and buying and renting is as cheap as chips. Have a look at areas in the South side especially, there's a very family oriented vibe there as large houses and flats are relatively cheap.
I have never been lonely in Glasgow, I often have the opposite problem - Glaswegians are so chatty (bus stop, shops, any kind of queue, in the park, on the street, everywhere really is a venue for random chat) its sometimes hard to get peace :)

BeALert · 31/03/2016 21:16

I moved 3000 miles when my kids were all little. Never regretted it.

My main advice is find an area with good schools that you can get your kid(s) into.

ThisisMrsNicolaHicklin · 31/03/2016 21:22

That's an other thing - school places are easy in Glasgow. Everyone is guaranteed a place at the local catchment school. If you want to send your child somewhere else you apply and you are pretty likely to get in but with no angst about not having a place.

Danglyweed · 31/03/2016 21:26

YANBU at all! Im an east coaster who moved to glasgow in my teens for college and stayed 10 years. It is by far the best city ever. In saying that, once the second dc came along, we decided to move to the borders... 4 years later I'm still really not sure why, apparently for a better life for the kids. I miss glasgow Sad

inlectorecumbit · 31/03/2016 21:28

come up to Scotland we will make you very welcome and l agree Houston, Bridge of Weir, Erskine, Bishopton are lovely communities very close to Glasgow

Original poster
MrTay · 31/03/2016 21:28

Agadooo We've lived here for a long time now and feel like it is time for a change (in fact, we've felt this way for some while). Some difficult things have happened for us where we live at the moment, and it feels like the right time to make a clean start. We've been doing a lot of research and the things that appeal to us about where we live at the moment also seem to apply to Glasgow (particularly the Southside as MrsNicolaHicklin mentioned).

Happily South Wales is good wet weather training SDTG!

OP posts:
WhatamessIgotinto · 31/03/2016 21:28

Glasgow is an amazing place and I can't wait to go back when the time is right. Even if you were to move more towards the west coast, you're still only 45mins from Glasgow if you were in Troon for example.

Claireshh · 31/03/2016 21:33

I'm from Glasgow (South side!) and it is indeed a lovely place.

The weather is GRIM a lot of the time. I now live in Kent and when I go home the weather, particularly the rain, really gets to me. That's the only major downside I think

The shopping in Glasgow is amazing and I love the Kelvingrove Art Gallery oh and their is an amazing choice of restaurants. There is lots and lots to explore in the surrounding countryside.

If you want to ask about any specific areas ask away. X

Crabbitface · 31/03/2016 21:36

I was born and raised in Glasgow - it's a wonderful city. It has its problems, like most places I suppose but it also has a real vibrancy to it. I think you've got itchy feet you've got to give it a go. If you hate it then you can leave. But i don't think you will. If you do need any advice re places to live, schools, etc give me a shout. Be glad to bum up my home town.

MentalLentil · 31/03/2016 21:36

Come on up! Glasgow is great.

Bearbehind · 31/03/2016 21:42

Glasgow is a lovely city but you really do notice the change in weather from more southern parts of the UK.

Smellyrose · 31/03/2016 21:52

We moved to Glasgow for DH work when DD1 was 6 months old and absolutely loved it. We're back in London outskirts now but would love to move back up to Glasgow.

Smellyrose · 31/03/2016 21:52

And the year we lived in Glasgow, the weather was wonderful. The rest of the UK flooded but we didn't get anything like that.

ephemeralfairy · 31/03/2016 21:52

We moved to Glasgow from London in the summer. I was at uni here so still have contacts here and know the city well. We rent a lovely big flat in Mount Florida (Southside). It is £200 a month less than than we were paying for a damp shoebox in Zone 4. Our hallway here is the same size as our London bedroom.
The city looks lovely now the weather is getting better, and there's loads to do and it's dead easy to get into the country for walks and bike rides.

I am finding it very hard to get a job though, much harder than in London.

aliceinwanderland · 31/03/2016 21:56

I have nc for this - as it might out me and I know I will be in a minority on this thread. I moved up to Glasgow a few years ago and I am not really very happy here. The weather is pretty awful - it rains a LOT - and in December and January it feels dark all the time. The litter is bad - apart from in a few tourist areas - and outside the "naice" areas there are lots of parts of the city that suffer from very high levels of deprivation and which are genuinely rough. Some Glaswegians are very friendly, but quite a number aren't - and I hate that so many people seem to smoke. I walk through the city centre to get to work and feel like I am breathing in second hand smoke all the time.

Schooling is very variable - you should be able to get into your local catchment school (unless it's Hillhead Primary) but some of the schools have lots of pupils from difficult backgrounds - which shows in the results.

There are some nice things about the city, the restaurants are very good, it has good parks and people do chat to you. It is also very handy to getting to some beautiful countryside. But you do need to pick a good area.

Bearbehind · 31/03/2016 22:00

Yy to the smoking- everytime I go there I'm shocked by the number of people outside any kind of bar/ pub/ restaurant chuffing away.

It really is more noticeable than other cities.

aliceinwanderland · 31/03/2016 22:00

Yes - and there are limited opportunities for good jobs. if you are freelancing (don't know what sector) but don't assume you will pick up new work locally. there are relatively few major employers and good jobs don't come up very often as people tend to stay in them for longer.

For me, I would be better off (financially) working almost anywhere else in England, even with the higher house prices

StylishDuck · 31/03/2016 22:02

Alice I don't wish to sound overly defensive of my hometown but what you just describe could apply to any major city in the UK surely? There are unfortunately deprived areas and more affluent areas in all of them.

OP I'm Glasgow (southside) born & bred although have spent a small amount of time living in both SE England and the Midlands. All I can tell you is that nothing would make me want to move away from here again. Glasgow is the best city in the world IMHO and although I wouldn't expect everyone to feel the same about it, a lot of people on this thread clearly do Smile