Going to scotland and English?

[thefoggiest]

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Be honest with me: is what she says true or is she being OTT/outdated?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).

Glaswegian here, mildly offended that you think that my place of birth and home city is 'crime-riddled', but pleased that you're willing to reconsider that opinion. 😄

I was born, brought up up and currently live in Glasgow, but have lived all over the world, including London, Paris, Tokyo, Seoul, New York and Chicago (and Edinburgh!). Yes, there are parts of Glasgow that are a wee bit rough, but no more so than any other major city (of all the places I've lived, Paris is the one that really scared the shit out of me).

Obviously I am Scottish and therefore a bit biased in believing that this is God's Own Country, but I would recommend spending a bit of time here before you commit, ideally over the autumn/winter: as PPs have mentioned, it's not so much the weather that can come as a culture shock to incomers, as the darkness - come December/January, we're lucky if we get ~8 hours of 'good' daylight and that can be hard on people who have come from more temperate climes.

North of Stirling (Perth, Dundee, Aberdeen, Inverness etc) is lovely, but please also remember that Scotland is a 'big wee' country: it takes quite a LONG time to get anywhere from there, which is worth bearing in mind if you like visitors.

Anyway, you'll be very welcome (just don't forget your big coat).

Scots and particularly Glaswegians are some of the friendliest people you could meet. Glasgow is a fantastic city, in my opinion much more metropolitan than Edinburgh. (I’ve lived in both)
Any anti English or crime ridden stereotypes are just that.
I live in a village 20 mins from Glasgow city centre, outstanding high school (in top ten of Scottish schools) beach in 10 mins, Loch Lomond in 30 mins, can drive through to Edinburgh in an hour. I don’t think there’s many places in England that could offer the variety of Coast/ mountain and big city combo.
Scotland and it’s people are pure dead brilliant!
@MeghansBitch 🤣

Most Scot’s don’t give a damn where you are from aslong as you are friendly and decent and don’t try and ram any heritage down our throats

I think you’d fit in really well in Glasgow- you heard an incorrect stereotype, immediately apologised and admitted you were incorrect and took it back. You sound really lovely and I’m sure you’ll fit in wherever you end up.

there’s just certain things in Scotland that are socially acceptable and things that are not. It’s hard to list and explain them but after about 2 days here you would work out exactly what to do. It even varies from city to city.

personally I’ve always found Glasgow to be very manners focussed and it’s a very, very friendly and helpful city. The only thing with Glasgow is just don’t bring up football because of the sectarian links. But this won’t affect you unless you are secretly a diehard Celtic or rangers fan which I somehow don’t think you are😉. Most people in Glasgow can’t be bothered with it and it’s only a big thing to a tiny percentage of people. Having said that, just avoid talking about it altogether. I suppose it would be sort of like going to Berlin- you wouldn't start chatting to someone on the train about Adolf Hitler or the holocaust because it’s just not really appropriate. Just avoid Celtic + Rangers chat basically. Overall Glasgow is a really lovely city though.

With regards to moving, it really depends what you’re looking for. Edinburgh has a more traditional city feel and is a beautiful city too but is absolutely extortionate. I’m not sure if you’ve mentioned where you’re moving from but think of Edinburgh as the London of Scotland. Glasgow is a much smaller city.

there are some really nice areas in the countryside but still within commutable distance of either city too. If you’d prefer a more rural area, Ayrshire is nice. There’s
Milgavie, balloch, perth and so on- all areas which are slightly more scenic but easily commutable.

personally I wouldn’t move to Inverness but that’s just my opinion. I find it quite lonely up north- the people are still friendly but it’s much, much more rural. But if you want somewhere quieter and very scenic then it would be perfect. It gets very dark though and is absolutely freezing, much colder than southern England. Midgies (the tiny little flies) are also a problem in Scotland but I’ve never really been bothered by them and we are semi rural. Possibly because I’m so used to them and it’s just the norm, but generally I’ve never noticed them that badly, but I’ve seen it mentioned a lot on here from people holidaying in Scotland so it obviously is a problem for those not used to it.

hope that helps, if you post more about how rural/suburban/city centre you are looking for I’m sure people will be more than happy to help!

I think the sectarianism is much more of a thing in Glasgow. I just don’t get it. It’s so vile.

I’m Scottish, live in england now. You might get a tiny bit of grief from stanch independence supporters but in the main no one cares as long as you’re not a twat

If it's any consolation, 95% of Glaswegians don't get it either.

It's a ridiculously small minority who still try to make it a 'thing': annoying as it is, it's on its way out and it'll be dead and buried in the next decade at most.

No more than any other city and less than in many English cities.

But if you have this outmoded view of Scotland as populated by drunk violent people, you probably are in for attitude.

In my head I just kind of equated it with Manchester which isnt a city I like at all despite most other people seeming to love it!

Orrrr eh now ya bringin' Manchestuh into are ya ar kid? Well owt of order yoo - proper offensif you mate!

I'm Scottish. You'll have absolutely no problems at all. Infact you'll wonder what on earth she was talking about.

Did you aye?
Motherwell isnt in Ayrshire.

Reading the whole thread with interest but cannot help myself from pointing out:

Glasgow is Scotland’s largest city, not Edinburgh @Fluffysheep12345

…and Motherwell is in North Lanarkshire, not Ayrshire.
@Waitformeeeee · Today 19:38
Depends where you go. We moved to Ayrshire (Motherwell) where my step dads family are from & still live.

@AffIt
Funny you should mention Paris. I was living there not long ago in a really rough part of town and it was honestly hair raising. Pretty central too.

@Fluffysheep12345
Thank you for such a kind post. I am totally willing to go to Glasgow for a scout with a completely open mind. Actually I spent a few teenage years in Dublin as have family from there and am thinking there might be some similarities based on what I'm reading in these posts.

I play music and have a real interest in folk music, that's something I'd like to get to know about. Re the poster who asked about would you be willing to live in an independent Scotland... Yes! I actually really like NS and if I were Scottish would vote for independence personally.

Re work I can work from anywhere. Ultimately would like to change careers though. I'm looking for somewhere not far from the sea, bustling but not too rough, a big "roots" cultural scene aka open mic nights, spoken word stuff, fringe stuff. Friendly people. Somewhere where you know, if you collapsed on the street someone would help you out 😁 Thinking about it Inverness might not be a good call for me right now as I need to feel surrounded but not on edge and it could be too isolated.

After all these years travelling I want to find somewhere to settle. Will need to look at what I could afford to buy in Edinburgh and Glasgow as that would be my end goal two years after moving say. I think my budget would be around 280! That might not get me very far... But I'd be open to then moving to somewhere not far away from the city on a train line if necessary.

Oh dear - perhaps a wee bit more research before making sweeping derogatory comments - these are the kind of things that might provoke a bit of attitude

@thefoggiest You might want to look outwith the Central Belt cities and maybe place like Ayr, or the Borders, or Dumfries & Galloway?

That’s awful- I’ve lived in Glasgow my entire life and didn’t realise it was bigger than Edinburgh. You learn something new everyday don’t you! Thanks for the information.

My ds is English and lives in Edinburgh without any problem

I'm from Glasgow and I know the reputation, and it's far from the perfect city but at the same time it has a lot going on, a lot of areas that are decent to live in and it's cheaper than Edinburgh. I've never lived in Edinburgh so could compare it, likewise never lived in Inverness either. As for caring whether you are English? I really don't think you will have much of a problem with the vast majority. You will always get the odd bampot making a wisecrack though, but they are everywhere!

You should narrow down a city and come back and ask about good areas to live in whatever city you choose. I love Scotland, but equally I have always enjoyed visiting England and you have a lot to think about! Good luck!

OP A few years ago - five or six - my husband tripped on an uneven pavement - found all over Scotland, unfortunately. This was in the east end of Glasgow - a place with a great industrial tradition and fab architecure but also pockets of deprivation and maybe crime. (Though it's up and coming again now, and said to be 'cool'.) Not one but several people stopped to help. My husband's a tall athletic man and could not get up unaided. An off-duty taxi-driver also stopped and together we all lifted my husband into his cab. The driver took him to Glasgow Royal Infirmary (east-central and very, very historic). The people at the Infirmary were excellent - my husband had broken bones - and the taxi driver refused to take any payment.
I'd say that was typical of Glasgow, but perhaps I'm biased.

No bother @Fluffysheep12345 Glasgow is actually the UK’s third largest city after London and Birmingham, but I will shut up now as I’m starting to sound like a nerd 😂

I live in Edinburgh and nobody would bat an eyelid

Depends - Scotland is very different from England in many ways. I suppose one way to look at it is those Scots who really don't like the English will absolutely let you know that in a way the remainder wouldn't ever dream of. Most Scots aren't hateful, but the ones that are, like being in a wind tunnel of insult.

Invigorating, and not for the faint of heart.

Dundee actually has a higher violent crime rate per head of population than Glasgow at the moment, OP.
You should ignore any native Scots telling you that there’s no anti English feeling up here - that’s like white people telling a black guy they’ve never noticed any racism!
I’m English, and have lived up here for over 40 years. My English children suffered racist abuse in their state secondary school, particularly during World Cup years, and occasionally from the teachers, not just the pupils.
During the independence referendum campaign, one of my surgeons - who has a strong southern English accent - had an SNP supporter spit in his face and shout “Fucking English” at him. His 83 year old English father was threatened with a beating in a Perth pub and told to go back home. I campaigned for Better Together, and had people coming up to me whispering that they wouldn’t dare wear a sticker in places like Dundee, and commending my bravery.
At the recent Tory leadership hustings in Perth, a crowd of abusive SNP supporting Scots gathered outside to hurl abuse and missiles, and attacked a female pensioner trying to go in.
My English neighbours some years ago innocently put a union jack flag in their window for St George’s day. They were warned by the locals to take it down or risk getting a brick through it. The union jack is called a “butcher’s apron” by the most ardent anti English Scots.
If you mainly mix in civilised circles, you can avoid most of this toxic undercurrent of anti English xenophobia, but among the rougher and more ignorant layers of society, it is a very present problem.
I am not saying you shouldn’t move here, but you need to be aware of exactly what you are letting yourself in for.

I live in Edinburgh and was born in West London and don’t have a problem. Edinburgh is a cultural city and pockets still have a village feel. Plenty of green spaces including parks, woods and hills if you like climbing (Edinburgh was built on 7 of them). You can be at the beach within 30 minutes by bus from the city centre. It is a city though and like any other city it does have pockets of deprivation. It is safe to walk around at night though. I have never lived in Glasgow so can’t comment on it.

@Babdoc

Oh, it's you! Bless, I love your wee stories, especially the ones on Scotsnet.

Although this -

You should ignore any native Scots telling you that there’s no anti English feeling up here - that’s like white people telling a black guy they’ve never noticed any racism!

...is, quite frankly, so spectacularly offensive that I don't quite know where to begin.