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Original poster

Edinburgh or Bath?

107 replies

NotThatKindOfDoctor · 26/06/2021 15:53

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!

OP posts:
emma6776 · 27/06/2021 18:37

Edinburgh a million times over. Moved here 11 years ago after working in the Middle East (I’m English) and would never want to live anywhere else. Bristol is ok - my sil lives there, but nothing special. There’s a great mix of schools here and so easy to get to the beach. It’s certainly not cold all the time - I got burned with spf 50 on today - it’s boiling!

brushlaptop · 27/06/2021 18:40

I grew up in bath and it was lovely!

Summerplans7 · 27/06/2021 18:42

I would also choose Edinburgh or Bristol.

Edinburgh is my preferred city by far - but it’s cold!

Bristol is better than Bath.

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 27/06/2021 18:48

Bath/Bristol. Such a lovely area.

emmathedilemma · 27/06/2021 19:18

What about North Berwick or Dunbar rather than Edinburgh itself?

emetophobe123 · 27/06/2021 19:59

@Angelica789

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.
It's often fresh and sunny and rarely very cold.
notanothertakeaway · 27/06/2021 20:15

Lots of great state schools in Edinburgh. Some are oversubscribed, but if you live in the catchment area, then you should get a place, even if not immediately. And schools do keep a few places for people moving into the area

If you search for Edinburgh Council school rolls, you should find info about the no of pupils

Several good private schools too, and completely respect your choice, but would be a pity to dismiss state schools iut of hand

Might help you to know that children in Scotland generally start school later than in England, and study 8 subjects to Nat 5 aged 16, 5 subjects to Highers age 17, and 3 subjects to Advanced Highers aged 18. I like the Scottish system because pupils study a wider range of subjects for longer

And, at present, Scottish Govt pays unj fees for students from Scotland

Uni degrees are 4 years for honours in Scotland (3 years in england)

JaquelineBean · 27/06/2021 20:18

I've always said Edinburgh is my dream home location. But that's cos, I do Scottish Country Dancing, I love bridges, and I like being near the sea and mountains, as an irishwoman I have a fellow Celtic connection. Plus I could rent out the place during festival.

AngryAngel · 27/06/2021 21:18

I don't find Edinburgh as desperately cold as some flat exposed places down south on a windy icy day. And it's definitely not as wet as the north west. Damp cold is the worst cold. I love Bath, Bristol and Edinburgh. All three would be a fantastic choice and you will end up loving wherever you go. My heart goes with Edinburgh though. It's Scottish, for a start. That said, I see the pull of being near your friend after a long time away. How far away would they be? Unless you are in the same city, you will be very busy with your new business and if they are too far you may find yourselves not meeting up as much as you would if you were further anyway.

AngryAngel · 27/06/2021 21:21

Oh and have just read that your family are closer to Edinburgh. Does this include your parents/older relatives? If so, then being closer to Edinburgh will make life a great deal easier in the long run.

MsTSwift · 27/06/2021 21:28

We are very happy in Bath. Not found it stuck up and it’s beautiful. Love that you see green hills from wherever you are. It’s great for teens as safe and they have freedom to do stuff independently. Never been to Edinburgh so can’t comment but personally would struggle going that far north due to weather.

BIWI · 27/06/2021 22:37

Given what you said, I'd seriously consider areas around either Leeds or Manchester. Both are very vibrant cities, but also - which sounds important for you - places where lots of really creative businesses are based.

Neither, though, is especially close to the coast!

But what about York? Or villages around there, closer to the coast?

Original poster
NotThatKindOfDoctor · 28/06/2021 06:32

Leeds is on the shortlist, just probably at number 3 at the moment. It may move up (obviously with my investors being based there is does have a unique benefit) as a private school not too from there are talking to my husband about him perhaps helping out there (he was a professional athlete) which would make sending the kids to school cheaper. My husband isn't too sure if thats what he wants though as it would take time away from his work, and I am not sure that whatever money we would save would be sufficient reason to move there if it wasn't already our preferred choice. And there is a distinct lack of coast! We did live in Ilkley for a year and absolutely loved it though, which is why it is still on the list.

We did consider York for a while, I can't remember now why it didn't make it to top 3.

Edinburgh and Bristol both have direct flights all year round to our nearest airport here. Our kids have grown up here (in fact one was born here and another was only 6 weeks old when we moved here) and we plan to come back as often as possible throughout the year so being able to fly directly played a small part in helping us focus the search a little.

I have had a look into the weather issue as everyone has kept raising it and a lot of you might be surprised to know that according to the average highs and lows in temp, Edinburgh is typically only a 2-3 degrees cooler than Bath pretty much all year round, they actually get less rain up there and more hours of sunshine most of the year (although in the winter they get slightly less). So compared to where we live now, there is no meaningful difference between the two (i.e. both are a lot colder than here, both get a lot more rain all year round, and less sun - but neither are going to subject me to 35c+ routinely throughout the summer!).

OP posts:
OnlyTheLangOfTheTitberg · 28/06/2021 06:56

I wouldn’t live anywhere in Scotland while its government doesn’t know what a woman is, so on that basis alone it would be Bath or Yorkshire for me.

Pootle40 · 28/06/2021 07:07

How about North Berwick near Edinburgh?

LadyCurd · 28/06/2021 07:11

Having lived for 4 years in edinburgh and 11 years in bath I think I’d go edinburgh. I’d love to move back but so far from family and we are so settled here. Bath and edinburgh are probably similar price wise and both have too many tourists. I think the people are possibly friendlier in edinburgh. However it is much colder and you don’t get much of a summer and also a trek to get places in England (will you ever need to have London meetings for example- we can be in London in an hour and a half from bath soon to be shorter with high speed rail)

MaMelon · 28/06/2021 07:19

Our NDN moved from Bath to Edinburgh - they love it up here. House prices were a major factor, but they said the quality of life is better here. I must quiz them in more detail about what that means to them.

2021DNA · 28/06/2021 08:08

Bath over Edinburgh without hesitation.

Poorlykitten · 28/06/2021 08:13

What about Cheltenham area? It’s lovely round there and lots of good schools, not that far from Bath and Bristol…weather is definitely better ( and I have lived in both places). Edinburgh is beautiful though but definitely colder.

looptheloopinahulahoop · 28/06/2021 08:19

Leeds: now there's a place that really is cold! Colder than Edinburgh in my experience. Lots going for it otherwise though.

Manchester is too wet. Which probably goes for Liverpool too, although Liverpool is a great city. If I was going to live in the north-west I'd choose Liverpool over Manchester.

BirdsandBeesmakinghay · 28/06/2021 12:19

@NotThatKindOfDoctor

Leeds is on the shortlist, just probably at number 3 at the moment. It may move up (obviously with my investors being based there is does have a unique benefit) as a private school not too from there are talking to my husband about him perhaps helping out there (he was a professional athlete) which would make sending the kids to school cheaper. My husband isn't too sure if thats what he wants though as it would take time away from his work, and I am not sure that whatever money we would save would be sufficient reason to move there if it wasn't already our preferred choice. And there is a distinct lack of coast! We did live in Ilkley for a year and absolutely loved it though, which is why it is still on the list.

We did consider York for a while, I can't remember now why it didn't make it to top 3.

Edinburgh and Bristol both have direct flights all year round to our nearest airport here. Our kids have grown up here (in fact one was born here and another was only 6 weeks old when we moved here) and we plan to come back as often as possible throughout the year so being able to fly directly played a small part in helping us focus the search a little.

I have had a look into the weather issue as everyone has kept raising it and a lot of you might be surprised to know that according to the average highs and lows in temp, Edinburgh is typically only a 2-3 degrees cooler than Bath pretty much all year round, they actually get less rain up there and more hours of sunshine most of the year (although in the winter they get slightly less). So compared to where we live now, there is no meaningful difference between the two (i.e. both are a lot colder than here, both get a lot more rain all year round, and less sun - but neither are going to subject me to 35c+ routinely throughout the summer!).

I just don't understand the points you make about temperature. It is definitely much colder in Edinburgh. For example, from April to end September I never wore a coat or jumper in the South. In Edinburgh coats and jumpers are needed a lot of the time , and September always seem to be cold and rainy. There is a big difference. Part of that is the wind which makes things colder, and it is definitely a damper environment generally. Someone mentioned Cheltenham above. There are lovely vilages around Cheltenham. I am not keen on Cheltenham itself as I find it quite soulless , but the outlying areas are great. Birmingham airport and Bristol too are not too far away.
emmathedilemma · 28/06/2021 16:52

Let’s face it, no one moves to anywhere in the U.K. for reliably good weather!!

WaltzingBetty · 28/06/2021 17:42

@BirdsandBeesmakinghay

I think it's important to rely on objective data rather than your personal opinion

In reality Edinburgh has less annual rainfall than Cheltenham and the max temperature isn't much different

So regardless of your perceptions, the data doesn't support you

Edinburgh or Bath?
Edinburgh or Bath?
Womencanlift · 28/06/2021 17:49

I did smile this morning when GMB was making such a big issue of how bad the weather was for the start of Wimbledon while I was looking out the window at glorious sunshine which has been here for three weeks now (and so has my sunburn from being out in the garden!)

I will say that I am in Glasgow and not Edinburgh but I am guessing it can’t be that different there

Madcats · 28/06/2021 17:55

Not very scientific, but it might help with the "how cold is it"? question for Bath. DD walks to school along an untarmac'd path that often has puddles (yes, it rains in Bath). We reckon there were fewer than a dozen days last year during which the puddles were iced over in the morning. I think we had snow for a single 24 hours during the year.

I'd have thought the bigger difference would be that somewhere in the southwest versus Edinburgh would be getting an extra 35 -45 minutes of daylight throughout November- February (which might be an issue if you want the children to walk to/from school and clubs).