To think London commute towns are no better than Edinburgh for raising a family?

[JenXG]

So basically DH and I are having a debate on whether to leave Edinburgh and move to a commute town outside London. (we have to stick with Edinburgh / London as working in financial sector but both of us would avoid London because of traffic/pollution/crowded streets).

The main reason for DH favouring those commute towns is that they seem to have loads of good schools for DS (4mo) to choose from compared to Edinburgh where there are only a few (or hardly any if his standard). He has high hope for DS. Also the A-level system is widely recognised across different countries (so potential for studying overseas) but the same cant be said for the Scotland system.

My worry is that we are giving up preferred lifestyle for a very small difference in schooling. I grew up in a big city and always need busy streets nearby. I understand some places such as Guildford will have its own town centre but there are still fewer things going on compared to Edinburgh. For example, there are a wide range of fine restuarants, several theatres & cinemas, pubs, etc in Edinburgh but living in Guildford we'd still have to go to London for a night out? I'd assume activities for young kids are more available in Edinburgh than in Guildford? E.g. Edinburgh has a zoo, lots of museums, and a coastline where you can do kayaking. Also Guildford is one of the busier towns as I understand. Some other commute towns are even quieter. So we'd highly likely end up travelling to London a lot which is not fun (I'm far more used to walking or driving a little bit to favourite places than hours of trains/tubes).

What do people think? I haven't been to many places in the southern area. Maybe I have misunderstood what life would be like there? Would you relocate if you were us?

There is quite a fancy farmer’s market in Guildford - I’m sure it sells both Organic Jim and Artisanal Jam.

Why not stay in Edinburgh, save your money and the crazy long commute and send ds to fettes where he can do A levels (if he turns out to be academic - with that pressure he might totally rebel) 😆

Now if you were comparing living in Edinburgh with living in London then I'd say it was level pegging and would depend on budget, taste etc. But if anyone is seriously comparing Guildford to Edinburgh then they need to give their head a wobble, as they say on Mumsnet! I know both cities well.

Edinburgh is a a world city, stunningly beautiful, FULL of culture, cosmopolitan, Michelin starred food, stunning surrounding country and coast etc etc etc.

Guildford has an attractive high street, but probably many of the the shops will be closing down soon. There is one rather parochial theatre, plus some other receiving venues, and a smattering of chain restaurants. Busy traffic and expensive housing. No comparison!

By the time he’s 16 he might want to be a bricklayer or rock guitarist? 4 month old is a bit early to be deciding, or might hate school full stop.
You both sound a bit odd to me.
I’d rather live down sound , Scotland’s weather is shit .

When did pandas turn in to red pandas by the way? (Edinburgh zoo has both) Organic Jim is the only sort of homeless person you might expect in the upmarket area of morningside.

I'm strangely interested in the Chris Boardman comment

He's from Merseyside and I think his mum was killed in Wales.

Anyway op stay in Edinburgh. It's a lovely city. You also may need to rein your DH a lot.

Move to fife loads of Edinburgh people do that loads of good schools here too

Omg no brainer! Edinburgh

Oh, oh, oh...

Underground streets!!!

Bet Guildford hasn’t got those...

It's true Edinburgh is a world class city. But the sad fact is once you have a 4 month old you might as well be in Guildford for all the use you get of those world class facilities. I mean, where's the buggy ramp to those underground streets?

I've lived in Scotland and England.

Costs of living are ridiculous around Guildford, literally some of the highest in the country, it's full of chain restaurants, and is full of rich people commuting to London. Some lovely little villages round about but b expensive. I think you would miss Edinburgh to be honest apart from it's a bit warmer...commuter towns to London are still mega busy, it's hard to feel like you're getting out to nature, as it's so populated, and yes you have to go a long way for a proper night out etc.

I'd say overall Edinburgh has an excellent standard of living compared to Guildford and similar, it's a nice sized city with access to amazing countryside.

I find it a bit odd that you're considering moving country as none of the schools in the whole of Edinburgh are good enough for your 4 month old child though!

I'd definitely stay where you are.

@AdelaideK

I'm strangely interested in the Chris Boardman comment

He's from Merseyside and I think his mum was killed in Wales.

Anyway op stay in Edinburgh. It's a lovely city. You also may need to rein your DH a lot.

Funnily enough the poster that claimed that Edinburgh’s mean streets claimed Chris Boardman’s mum hasn’t actually backed that up with any, you know, facts.

Maybe their script mixed up Chris Boardman and Chris Hoy?

@mellicauli

It's true Edinburgh is a world class city. But the sad fact is once you have a 4 month old you might as well be in Guildford for all the use you get of those world class facilities. I mean, where's the buggy ramp to those underground streets?

That is a good point, actually. Guildford is bound to have many super ramps. No contest. Forget the magnificent Castle, Holyrood Palace et al. What is the point of them when you need ramps?

Re the Chris confusion. I reckon the Chris is Chris Hoy. He went to a private school - Watson’s I think. Go him!

Hi OP. Obviously, Scotland is highly likely to go independent in the near future (and who can blame them, frankly), so the key decision here surely, is what country do you want to live in? I wouldn’t be stressing to much about schools with a 4-month old.

Having said this, I would move south like a shot - solely on the basis of warmer weather / more sunshine hours. That alone brings a different quality of life. Edinburgh is very austere, I find.

Guildford is Guildford. It’s a nice town yes, But quite a suburban feel. And, schools-wise (for a boy), you would be looking at the Royal Grammar which is fine but, I fear, not aspirational enough for your DH.

If you really want to throw your hat into a tiger-parent-extraordinaire scenario, then please do join us here in SW London. But you will need to get him enrolled NOW into “the right” prep. Otherwise, how will he get into St Paul’s He will be doomed!

I’m joking, it’s not really that bad (sometimes). But if you want access to the most selective independents, why are you thinking suburbia? Could I suggest Richmond, Barnes, Putney and thereabouts? Or Ealing, Parson’s Green, Fulham etc. Everything on your doorstep. Greenery and parks and the Thames is beautiful here. Some people move to Surrey and generally, they regret it or they just get too bored and come back. Both my neighbours did this and quite a few people I know actually.

Aspirational schools for the DH include - Kings Wimbledon, St Paul’s, Latymer Upper, Westminster, Hampton (super-selectives).

There are other schools which take the 98% that don’t get into the above. But do please bear in mind that even an “average” school will make somewhere like Fettes look like a holiday camp. Be prepared to bring your DS to an entrance exam and queue with 1,400 kids for 140 places in the school. Oh, and he will probably need to sit 5 separate 11 plus exams to get a place somewhere. And maybe sit 7+ or 8+ as well as 11plus.

Still keen.. ?

No really - why Guildford particularly?

Guildford high street is a bit of a pain with a pram. Granite setts.

@Janegrey333

Re the Chris confusion. I reckon the Chris is Chris Hoy. He went to a private school - Watson’s I think. Go him!

But Chris Hoy’s mum isn’t a cyclist, and Chris Boardman’s mum was killed in a different country.

Sloppy work, especially from a poster deriding others for not doing their research

@SabrinaThwaite
But Chris Hoy’s mum isn’t a cyclist, and Chris Boardman’s mum was killed in a different country.

Sloppy work, especially from a poster deriding others for not doing their research grin

Indeed. Chris Boardman’s mother was sadly killed in Wales. Very sloppy detective work, indeed. But hey, Scotland... Wales...same difference, I imagine.

@MillieEpple

Guildford high street is a bit of a pain with a pram. Granite setts.

Oh no! Major problem!

You’d think that someone who owns a 1950s bungalow and lives in the New Town and has a lot to say about cycling in Edinburgh would at least know these things?

Oh, and I’m sceptical because this particular poster claims to live in the New Town on this thread, yet on a thread from a couple of days ago they live a mile from the nearest town 🤔

New Town...1950s bungalow...hmmmmmm

@mellicauli

It's true Edinburgh is a world class city. But the sad fact is once you have a 4 month old you might as well be in Guildford for all the use you get of those world class facilities. I mean, where's the buggy ramp to those underground streets?

Pfft... you borrow a Scottish granny and she helps you bump up and down the stairs in the close...

Also, I feel like if we’re discounting things by buggy accessibility - Guildford loses it’s dry ski slope, surely?...

Does Guildford have an Ikea?