Edinburgh or Bath?

[NotThatKindOfDoctor]

I know this probably isn’t the right place to post this, but I’m looking for as much input as possible and I know it gets traffic (plus it doesn’t really fit neatly into any of the other categories).

My family and I have been living abroad for the last 7 years, but we’re having to live back to the UK so I can open up offices for my company. As it’s my company, I can set the offices up wherever I like, but it turns out too much choice is almost as bad as not enough choice.

We’ve whittled it down to Edinburgh (and surrounding areas) or Bath ( and Bristol and surrounding areas).

The quality of the schools seem to be pretty evenly matched (we’ve 4 kids so that’s important!), and house prices are not too dissimilar. Family are closer in Edinburgh (within 2 hours) but we have a lot more friends in the South West (and my best friend lives within 2 hours which would be amazing).

Where do you think would be a better place for a family? And why?

Thanks!

Bath is lovely but so expensive to buy a home here. Parking is generally a nightmare, both for your home and travelling for shopping/ work.

Chippenham, Keynsham and Trowbridge are nearby. Nowhere near as pretty, but much more flexibility in terms of housing and parking. Chippenham has good schools without the cliquey feel of many Bath schools, and transport links are good. Bath is a surprising distance from the M4 turn off.

Edinburgh. Short distance (walking depending on your location) to museums, history, nightlife, beaches, Arthur’s seat, shopping, excellent food. I’ve never been anywhere with so much so accessible.

I live near ish Bath and personally it wouldn’t be where I’d want to open a business. Touristy and expensive and I find driving there awful (and god, the Christmas market!). If you want SW I’d opt for Bristol instead or even Exeter or Winchester.

If I could choose to live in either of those, I’d opt for Edinburgh personally. Also bigger international airport which would be good from a business perspective.

Edinburgh. Bath is rough

Depending on the ages of your children...I believe if you live in Scotland for the 3 or 4 years before then you qualify for free University....

Edinburgh!

Edinburgh is much colder and it’s harder to get direct flights to such a wide range of destinations. Schools are not great unless you are planning on private, in which case there is a good choice and the standard is excellent.
Everything is pretty accessible and the public transport is excellent. However how would you feel if Scotland gets independence? That might affect your business quite substantially. The only political party is SNP in effect which is very tiresome.
Don’t forget that prices of property might look about the same on paper as Bath but those in desirable areas and food car he mrs go for way over asking price. Most go to a closing date with sealed bids.
Edinburgh is a vibrant and culturally diverse place, but there is a lot to think about. How close are you to your family? If very close, that might be helpful . If not, better to choose to be best friends.

I love Bath, but the traffic is horrendous . Maybe somewhere just outside Bath? The tax thresholds are different in England and Scotland so that might also have a bearing on your business profits.

Good catchments not food cars!

Bath is one of the most overrated places in the UK. Very little to recommend it and the minuses far outweigh any pluses. I've not been to Edinburgh so can't say how it compares to Bath but I would cross Bath off the list, personally.

Edinburgh is very cold. That would be enough for me to choose the south west. Not really a fan of Bath though. It’s stuck up.

Yes the weather is very different.

Edinburgh.

I live a few miles outside Bath and avoid it as much as possible. It's busy, tourist prices everywhere and the traffic is dreadful.

The main shopping centre is looking very sad with lots of empty premises and the few remaining independents are dwindling fast, being priced out by a council which bleeds them white. Even the big chains are voting with their feet and leaving town.

I live in one of the South West places mentioned and it’s OK but nothing special. I’d choose Edinburgh definitely, lovely place.

Edinburgh is too cold; Bath is overrated; I’d go for Bristol.

Edinburgh. Great attractive city with lots of cultural activities all year round, museums, botanic gardens, lots of open space, easy access to countryside, easy commute to other places in uk.

Bath - attractive but no where near as much going on or as accessible.

Edinburgh really isn't as cold as everyone is making out (or maybe I've just adapted to it in the 20 years I've lived here)! The cold rarely stops us from doing stuff in the winter. You just need the right clothing.

We love living here. It has all the benefits of a capital city but you are also close to hills, beaches and the countryside so the quality of life is fantastic. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the UK.

Depending on what your company's business is, does being under Scottish Law or English Law make a difference?

I'd choose Edinburgh myself, much easier to travel around, cultural opportunities, and assuming you would wish to travel to your current country from time to time, a lot easier to fly from.

I lived in Bath for a year then gave up and moved to a town mentioned. It's busy all year, everything is listed so mouldy with shit windows, not enough supermarket capacity. I love the rest of the SW though.

Bloody hell it’s Edinburgh not the Arctic circle! It’s Britain everywhere gets cold.

For now I would choose Edinburgh as definitely access to more amenities with an international airport (that has plenty of access to routes). You can easily have city centre, countryside or seaside living and still be within easy commuting distance to the city

However from a business perspective you would need to consider the potential implications of independence. The earliest I would see that happening is the end of this decade so depending on your business that may be ok

Schools have improved a bit in Bristol now I believe, but if you are between Bristol and Bath you can access BANES (or South Glos) schools. Bristol is a lovely city. The two countries have very different government and policies (in Scotland would you benefit from free university for the dc by the time they are old enough if still in place?).

Bristol and Bath over Edinburgh. I live between the two but visit Edinburgh and the Central belt of Scotland on a regular basis to see dh family.

@TwinklyLightsForXmas

Edinburgh really isn't as cold as everyone is making out (or maybe I've just adapted to it in the 20 years I've lived here)! The cold rarely stops us from doing stuff in the winter. You just need the right clothing.

We love living here. It has all the benefits of a capital city but you are also close to hills, beaches and the countryside so the quality of life is fantastic. I wouldn't live anywhere else in the UK.

Yes it is. I moved back after quite a while away and was freezing for the first 18 months all the time. It is nearly always windy and there is no such thing as Summer. Sorry.

Edinburgh is freezing. Winters are bitter and grim. Summers are short / barely existent. The kids are back in school in the middle of August because summer is finished! Weather has a huge impact in quality of life and mental / physical health.

Bristol and Bath are milder and better summers, but the south-west is wet in general.

In other words - If you really must move to the U.K., come to London / SE Or stay where you are!

I moved to Edinburgh 15 years ago from the sw,best move ever. Have also lived/worked in the middle east,France and Spain. Love the seasons,being within easy driving distance of beautiful quiet beaches,gorgeous countryside and all the amenities a big beautiful city offers. Love it.

I live in Bristol and work in Bath and love both. I'm not recognising the same things that people are saying about Bath. I love it! I never get stuck in traffic and you can walk around fairly easily as it isn't huge. There's also a couple of train stations there too! Airport in Bristol.