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!

Pubs like the Louden Bar don't exactly attract a friendly crowd to Duke St..

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

Oooh yes. The view along the M80 was even scarier, if I remember correctly it went past the Red Road flats, now demolished I believe. The first time I arrived in Glasgow I went along the M80, and I wondered what the hell I'd got myself in to. Some of the skyscrapers had ornamental hats on to make them look friendlier. There was also a huge banner "Glasgow's Miles Better".

Glad to hear it's even better now.

True Squoosh however The Duchess and Redmonds both attract a great crowd! Two great bars!

Coffee I remember that murder, never knew it was a beheading though!

I have been really lucky living in this area, the worst I have witnessed was a fight between 2 school girls one afternoon - hair extensions flying everywhere!

Another Glaswegian here , I live in Newton Mearns a lovely suburb with excellent schools also has a Waitrose I lived in London for a few years and was so pleased OH job relocated back home! Always felt London was very built up and it took ages to get out the city especially on a bank holiday whereas over half an hour you can be at the beach or Loch Lomond . Yes there are areas of deprivation but every big city has the same problem. I also like Bridge of weir Kilmacolm area too and the west end is a great place very hipster vibe. However I might have to hand in my Glaswegian badge as I also love Edinburgh too !

I have to say that in all the years I've lived in Glasgow the only aggro I've ever come across has been two blokes squaring up to each other on Ashton Lane. A bit half heartedly.

This ....

I do love a good analysis of Denniston on MN (where are you all in RL?)

True Squoosh however The Duchess and Redmonds both attract a great crowd!

For a second I thought you meant the pub at Louden's end... the Duke?

I briefly lived in Dennistoun as a twenty something. Most of the crowd I know have either all moved to Clarkston/Busby or suddenly remembered that their great granny spoke Gaelic after viewing the local schools.

squoosh the only fight I've ever witnessed was some pushing on Ashton Lane too 😁

ASAS Dorset. I did live in Dennistoun for 20 years though. I think I'm qualified enough to analyse the place.

I miss the guy who runs the shop in Whitehill Street, (the blue shop and the green shop as DD2 calls them) as he was such a lovely bloke and knew EVERYONE who came in. Always had time for a chat.

I often wonder if the woman still walks about throwing fucking bird seed about for the pigeons. She used to drive me mental. She'd throw it up on the window ledges of the flats.

Had a baby seagull fall off the roof once. Had no idea until a knock on the door and opened it to find a fireman there. Yes, someone had rung the fire brigade over a bloody seagull. They got ladders out and rescued it from the ledge above my living room window.

Glasgow was mad and I loved it. I remember seeing a bloke once walking down Sauchiehall Street with a wheelie bin. He had a full stereo in it and the speakers strapped on top and he was walking along with music blaring. I wondered why he didn't just get an ipod.

Yes the pigeon feeding woman is still on the go!!!

I briefly lived in Dennistoun as a twenty something. Most of the crowd I know have either all moved to Clarkston/Busby or suddenly remembered that their great granny spoke Gaelic after viewing the local schools.

. Sounds about right for most people I know. Nice big tenement flat with the DH/DP then flee to the suburbs for schools when the DC come along, unless you can get a place in the Gaelic School or the huuuuge primary in the West End!

I think (some) Glaswegians are torn between being proud of Glasgow's tough guy, No Mean City, reputation and being pissed off with people who assume it's dangerous and crime ridden.

It's not that different to other big cities. Good people, bad people, naice bits, deprived bits etc
Op, just be aware of the old saying, same shit different bucket and be sure you're doing the right thing before making such a huge decision.

One of the oddest things I ever witnessed in Glasgow was a family going to the aforementioned huuuuuuuuge West End primary.

They got on the bus in the area mentioned above and had a very m/c accent.

As the bus got closer to the West End, their accents and vocabulary totally changed into the 'haaaauuuuu big man, whit ye daein' vernacular. It was amazingly odd.

I live in cathcart in the southside - great primary schools but secondaries not so brill so lots of people move to east renfrewshire in time for s1 or get a placement request for woodfarm. Williamwood, st Ninians and mearns castle you seem to need to be living in the catchment as they are massively popular. Loads of parks and kid friendly stuff to do plus friendly people despite the weather!

Grew up in Dennistoun was such a great time and still have family/friends who live there and I'm there moat days too as staying in the east end u can't help but pass through! Only thing I hate about it is the parking 😠 from the staff at the hospital and city park it's a nightmare

Schools are generally quite good and I believe the secondary has went up on the league tables !
A great area for students for low rent, young families and loads of pensioners!

Nj if you mean Whitehill then yes it has shot up the league tables! Going from bottom 3 to 12th out of 30 I believe!

I say go for it. Out of the places you've mentioned Shawlands is my favourite: lovely flats, shops, coffee shops, Queen's Park etc. I've lived in West Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire, I now stay in south-west in a 'deprived' but upcoming area and I wouldn't live anywhere else now.

In terms of schools East Ren is much sought after I guess, I went to a high school in East Dunbartonshire and it was rubbish! Glasgow city council does have good schools too. DS goes to an excellent primary which receives loads of placing requests. Our local high school traditionally doesn't get good rep for exam results but is well thought of locally. Good high schools are generally thought to be hyndland, hillhead, jordanhill. Hope you make the right decision for you and your family OP.

pinkangel bloody shame what's happened in West Dunbartonshire. The industry and ship building plus Singers went and nothing else has really replaced any of it. My granny used to say it was like it had its heart ripped out. I chat to my customers in that area and the saddest thing I was told by an older man was, " ye don't Huv a life here ye jist fuck about tae bedtime ". The buildings and countryside in that area are some of the most beautiful in the west of Scotland.

I am originally from the east coast, hubby is English, we were both at Uni in Glasgow and moved away abroad before moving back up here about 10 years ago.

As far as schools are concerned, the council area makes a huge difference. Our local secondary school is Bearsden Academy which is hugely popular and does very well. It is possible for parents living in Glasgow City, West Dunbartonshire or Stirling Council areas to apply for places, some get in, lots don't. Primary Schools seem to have more places but you need to be aware that getting a placing request accepted for an East Dunbartonshire primary is no guarantee of a secondary place. Lots of children in my son's year applied and didn't get in.

Property is also more expensive in East Dunbartonshire or East Renfrewshire compared with large parts of Glasgow City. A 3 bedroom house to rent here would be around £1000 a month. Few miles down the road in Knightswood it's more like £650.

We are not aware of any anti-English feeling at all, there are loads of English people around. Lots of parents of kids at school have moved to the area in connection with jobs at the Uni or hospitals, there are lots of people of all nationalities and even during the height of the referendum fever we had no anti-English comments.

We are very happy here, yes I hate the dark mornings in December the same as everyone else but the long days of summer more than makes up for it. People are far more chatty than in the south of England which can take getting used to but it's not a bad thing. My kids do not have a strong accent and I think basing ideas of what a city's residents sound like on a newspaper seller in the city centre is a bit mental to say the least.

It was a JOKE about the Evening Times sellers Glasg0wmum. You really didn't realise that?

Oooh love Glasgow.