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Original poster

Going to scotland and English?

103 replies

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:49

Hi guys, I want to move back to the UK and am considering giving Scotland a try.
I just spoke to my aunt about it and she said prepare to get some serious attitude. She used to live and work near Loch Lomond! That was 20 years ago now. I have actually never been to Scotland before.

Be honest with me: is what she says true or is she being OTT/outdated? I would live in one of the big cities, probably Edinburgh (not Glasgow).

OP posts:
ElizabethSchuyler · 12/09/2022 17:50

I’m not sure what you mean by attitude?

Sceptre86 · 12/09/2022 17:52

Outdated I'd say. I was born in England but asian heritage and my accent still gets remarked on. I've lived here 8 years now and sometimes get gentle ribbing or banter but nothing offensive. I'm not sure if it would be any different if you are White English though. I live in West lothian so outside Edinburgh.

Whostoblame · 12/09/2022 17:52

Attitude? English born, have lived in Scotland almost 20 years and have never experienced "attitude". I much prefer living in Scotland to England

Ineedsleepandcoffee · 12/09/2022 17:52

You'll get attitude if you give attitude but not for simply being English

letsghostdance · 12/09/2022 17:54

Why not Glasgow?

Ludo19 · 12/09/2022 17:56

Think your Aunt has a vague memory of how she was treated. Loch Lomond is a major tourist attraction here in Scotland, I honestly can't see anyone from that area giving her a hard time unless she was a difficult character and that would have nothing to do with her being English maybe just a conflict of personalities. Also for what it's worth Glasgow is home to some of the most welcoming in Scotland, hope you're a millionaire to afford Edinburgh House prices.

Amortentia · 12/09/2022 17:57

Can I ask where you're coming from? You might get in for a bit of a culture shock. If you grew up in England, you will find Scotland to be quite different. Although, Edinburgh has a large English community and is very different from the west coast.

Original poster
thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:58

I had it in my head that Glasgow has shit loads of crime?

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 12/09/2022 17:59

It’s outdated. A very small minority of Scottish people will give you grief for being English. A heap of other Scottish people who overhear it will tell them to piss off and take their xenophobia elsewhere.

Your aunt’s experience in Lomond is as likely to be a result of tension between locals and incomes over perceived dilution of local character and the pricing out of locals from the area, as it is about her being English.

DailyMailHater · 12/09/2022 17:59

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:58

I had it in my head that Glasgow has shit loads of crime?

in terms of crime No more than any other major city.

Original poster
thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:59

Good point re Edinburgh prices, unfortunately I'm not a millionaire... I was going to rent

OP posts:
Womencanlift · 12/09/2022 18:05

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:58

I had it in my head that Glasgow has shit loads of crime?

Maybe in the 1980s but now it’s as good or bad as any other major city….including (shock) Edinburgh

MrsAvocet · 12/09/2022 18:07

Not our experience.
My English DD lives in a fairly small town in the Highlands and has been welcomed with open arms and is definitely part of the community . When we visit we always feel very welcome too. I think that in most places if you make an effort to be part of things and fit in, you'll be made welcome and if you don't, you won't.
Oh, and Glasgow is a great city.
It would probably be a good idea for you to find out a bit more about places before making any decisions. If you rely on outdated stereotypes you are potentially missing out on some excellent places and people are indeed less likely to be welcoming if you have a negative attitude to their home.

Kedece2410 · 12/09/2022 18:08

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:58

I had it in my head that Glasgow has shit loads of crime?

I think you'll find it has less than some English areas. Certainly no more than any other city

Hugasauras · 12/09/2022 18:08

My husband is English and has lived here for 10 years and no one has ever said anything. Mind you he's 6ft 4 and 20 stone with a beard so maybe that helps Grin

But in general there are lots of English people who live and work in Scotland. It's not unusual. Some communities might dislike 'incomers', but that includes Scottish people!

MistressIggi · 12/09/2022 18:09

Goodness OP, did you mean to be so rude?

Original poster
thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 18:11

@MrsAvocet
Thank you for the lecture, but this: It would probably be a good idea for you to find out a bit more about places before making any decisions is exactly what I'm doing 😉 Obviously my research won't begin and end with MN but it's as good as any place to start. Once I have a few clearer options in my head I'll plan a trip.

OP posts:
Thunderboxskin · 12/09/2022 18:11

I'm English so is my partner and we both live in Scotland and you come off as being a bit offensive.

MeghansBitch · 12/09/2022 18:14

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 17:58

I had it in my head that Glasgow has shit loads of crime?

Did ye aye?

Original poster
thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 18:14

Sorry if you are finding this offensive! I wasnt trying to be. Just wondering if there was any truth to what I have been told

OP posts:
FurAndFeathers · 12/09/2022 18:15

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 18:11

@MrsAvocet
Thank you for the lecture, but this: It would probably be a good idea for you to find out a bit more about places before making any decisions is exactly what I'm doing 😉 Obviously my research won't begin and end with MN but it's as good as any place to start. Once I have a few clearer options in my head I'll plan a trip.

It was a post not a lecture and TBH your reliance on anecdotes of the Scots hating English people and Glasgow being riddled with crime don’t really suggest you’ve done a lot of research 😂

MrsAvocet · 12/09/2022 18:16

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 18:11

@MrsAvocet
Thank you for the lecture, but this: It would probably be a good idea for you to find out a bit more about places before making any decisions is exactly what I'm doing 😉 Obviously my research won't begin and end with MN but it's as good as any place to start. Once I have a few clearer options in my head I'll plan a trip.

Apologies.
It just sounded like you had written off Glasgow despite never having been there or apparently knowing anything about the place. Obviously I misunderstood you.

ClocksGoingBackwards · 12/09/2022 18:18

IME, no one will give a shit that you’re English. English people go to and and move to Scotland successfully all the time. On the rare occasion someone does say anything, it’s highly likely to be good natured banter with no malice intended.

Amortentia · 12/09/2022 18:19

thefoggiest · 12/09/2022 18:14

Sorry if you are finding this offensive! I wasnt trying to be. Just wondering if there was any truth to what I have been told

Well, as a Glaswegian, I can tell you it's one of the friendliest cities in the world. But, I'd recommend that if you visit, Scotland don't announce you couldn't live there and is it crime-ridden. That will not go down well. 😂

Booklover3 · 12/09/2022 18:23

Amortentia · 12/09/2022 17:57

Can I ask where you're coming from? You might get in for a bit of a culture shock. If you grew up in England, you will find Scotland to be quite different. Although, Edinburgh has a large English community and is very different from the west coast.

May I ask why the culture shock?