To up sticks to Glasgow?

[MrTay]

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!

Hi we left Wales for Scotland. Best decision. Loved it and Glasgow fab city. Good luck!

We rented too. We didn't have the administration fees like in Wales so cheaper. Property descriptions misleading though / confusing. Things like upper cottage flat and villa. Totally diff! But you figure it out! Have you looked up towards Balloch way? Right on Loch lomond so beautiful but on train line. Fab community that way

I live in a place called Helensburgh which is 40 mins approx on train into Glasgow. It's in argyll and bute. I'm Scottish and my OH family live locally but my parents have both passed away and I have no ties here really - would love to move.

The weather really gets me down.... Why anyone would want to move from down south to up here baffles me!!

Move to Scotland you will love it, but Glasgow is grim. Edinburgh is far nicer though like any city it has it's rough places too. There is a reason that Glasgow is cheaper.

Like a previous poster mentioned, I'd consider Stirling - easy access to both Edinburgh and Glasgow and a bix mix of Nationalities because of the Uni, an English or Welsh accent is no big deal and schools are all pretty decent. You get neither the constant wet of Glasgow nor the chill of the East coast, you can be in the Highlands in a blink of an eye and you are within an hour of each coast. there is literally no activity that you can think of that isn't available for your child to try within a reasonable distance. The City itself is tiny and you have Bridge of Allan, more or less joined on and Dunblane etc nearby.

In the 90s a small amount of places was like that. Like you said all knocked down now. I don't know anybody grey skinned and on drugs at the moment either

One of the worst things about Glasgow for me was returning to it after time away. Arriving by train you go past the bleak estates and high rises of soringburn, same by car coming in on the m8, and from the airport you're passing Paisley and the high rises on the hill. Always used to get me down when I'd been somewhere exotic or lovely.

Toad I'd go so far as to say that was downright offensive to Glaswegians. Not all of us are out out face on drugs. Keep your sweeping generalisations and outdated stereotypes to yourself please.

Glaswegian born and bred here but I've lived in/around Edinburgh for many years. Moved for job reasons and now I have a career/family here, there's no question of moving back west.

I love Glasgow though: The shops, night life, humour, vibrancy. Much of the city was revamped for the Commonwealth Games and the Clydeside is now very smart and Cosmopolitan. I love the red tenements, the Victorian architecture of the City Centre/west end and the greenery of the city's many parks. Yes, the weather's grim, job prospects poorer and there's terrible deprivation but other cities have their own problems. Edinburgh has some terrible deprivation as well (Muirhouse, Wester Hailes, Niddrie) but just not to the same scale.

As for any anti-English sentiment, I can't say I'm aware but I obviously can't comment on anyone else's experience. I studied at Glasgow Uni (another fabulous building) and there were students from all over the UK and Ireland who loved it here.

Just re-read Toad's post. Orange Walks in Winter? Never seen/heard a march outside Spring/Summer.

Sounds like you stayed near Maryhill. I did too for a while but not once did I regard the area as representative of the entire city.

Believe it or not the majority of people living in Glasgow are not either "lethargic and grey" or "downright psychotic"

10 minutes from paisley I took this pic. Just a short drive

I lived in Maryhill for years (Firhill Street) and I loved it! The top part can be a bit ropey yes, but my street was lovely and quiet. I know absolutely everyone in my block and you can walk to town in 20 minutes and the same to Byres Road.

I'm pretty sure the St Georges X - top of Queen Margaret Drive will be the next area of the ever expanding "west end" to be developed. Hey the Strathmore now sells craft beers!

Dog walk along Maryhill canal

Toadinthehole - come on, are you trying to be offensive? There's no more 'grey' or 'psychotic' people here than in any other city in the UK. I'm certainly not on drugs or a suicide diet nor do I know anyone who is. The city has had a massive face lift since the 90s and there's a whole new generation of people. My grandparents are 94 and 92 I don't consider that young?
Some areas of Glasgow have problems (not as bad as the 90s however) but presumably the OP will be looking into what area is best to settle in.

Glaswegian born and bred here

I am neither on drugs nor psychotic. Every city has those issues, Glasgow's no exception, but it's a pretty good place to live. I live in the west end and walk through Kelvingrove Park to work (at the uni). I'm going swimming later at the beautiful Victorian swimming baths 5 mins walk from my house. We're looking to move in the next 18 months to somewhere bigger (will most likely go Southside) and I can't tell you how much I'll miss my walk to work and the baths.

Places I've lived as an adult and my opinion for you, OP:
Woodlands/Park: live there now and love it, definitely more flats than houses but plenty of families, easy access to west end and city centre
Hyndland: liked it but it felt a bit far out west for me, a bit of a naice bubble, lots of families and mix of flats and houses.
North Kelvinside: nice, but of a hike to get into city centre, though. Plenty of families, more flats than houses.
Strathbungo: nice area, easy to get into the city centre but would need to take a bus and subway to get to the west. A wee bit up its own arse sorry lots of families, mix of houses and flats

Apparently Pollokshields is where all the cool kids are going to settle down now

Yep my Uber trendy bro and bro in law have settled in the south side. They love the restaurant and bar scene. And the lovely walks they can take their spoilt dogs on

That's what I'm talking about, notasinglefuck! They're all buying the 1930s bungalows. I was surprised, I was like 'Maxwell Drive? That's where my grandad lives!'

There is a radio comedy just started on radio 4 (on Wednesday I think) about someone moving from London to Glasgow.

Yeah it is all cool young professionals and gay couples where they are! I do love visiting them there's always something to do or some hot new eatery to go where dd is welcome. Bungo in the Back lanes is brilliant as well when it's on.

Coffee how many years ago did you leave? I have been in the Duke Street vicinity for 10 years and have never seen a gang run in or even heard of gangs in the area! And certainly never heard of a beheading!

I find Dennistoun to be lovely area, lots of great coffee shops, bars etc and just minutes from the city centre.

There are marches all over Glasgow not just this area although I will agree on the dog poo issue!

Toad outdated sweeping generalisation much??

The 90's was up to 25 years ago, maybe you should educate yourself on the city currently before you post such offensive statements!

I like Dennistoun too, dancemom, DSis lives there and I visit a lot. Proper Italian cafes that you don't get in the west end or city centre anymore (Celino's, Zecchino's), Alexandra Park is nice and the station is really handy. It's not priced its local population out either, as is starting to happen southside.

Glasgow is jumping today with crowded streets and kids everywhere there's a green space. Good atmosphere when the weather is good.

Dancemum I left four years ago. The murder is this one:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-12347791

The gang thing was a group of grown men who were ramming cars and attacking each other with chains in the middle of Duke Street one afternoon. That was in 2011. I'd just picked my DD up from school and was pretty stunned to be greeted with that going on just yards from my home!

I was punched in the face walking along Duke Street in broad daylight by a man who I had never seen before. I said excuse me to him and his friends as they were blocking the pavement. His response was to call me a 'cheeky cunt' and hit me so hard my feet left the floor. I was with my two dc at the time.

But on the other side of the coin, most of the people I knew were lovely and kind and would do anything to help someone else. Just a small minority who really were the utter dregs of society!!