East Kilbride as an area?

[Elainerob]

Does anyone know what East Kilbride is like for families? I am expecting my first baby in September, and we need to move from our one bedroom flat in the Southside. Would like to move to a nice area and get a house with a garden. Was looking at Clarkston, which is lovely, but our budget doesn't stretch very far there! Someone suggested we'd get a lot more for our money in East Kilbride - does anyone know this area? Any views, biased included, are welcome! Many Thanks :)

[ednasoraya]

The lovely house is now gone off the market! all the houses there are sold very quickly

[ednasoraya]

thank you for the information little elephant! I’m really scared about the move because is everything very new for us! And I hear always criminal things about people being stabb and from my little village we don’t hear anything about this things! I saw a big house for sale in Lindsayfield that I felt in love with just with the photos and much cheaper for what I have here in Aberdeen! But I hear people very happy and very unhappy with the area! So I get confused and I think I need to spend more time in this area to have a feeling!

[LittleElephant123]

I can get an appointment on the day for my GO using their online website now. Getting through on the phones is a nightmare.

The hospital - I tend to stay clear of. I've never been in so can't say from personal experience and any family that have been in have been fine. But not my 1st choice of hospital would rather travel to the Southern if I could!

Not sure about private hospitals. Rosshall is only 20 minutes away by car that's the nearest private one I know of. But again it's something I've never looked for.

[scotjls]

It's got great facilities for families and you get much more for your money house-wise. I find it totally soulless though and an ever expanding array of bland new housing developments linked by roundabouts, Morrison's and instant 'family' pubs/carveries. Iget lost every time I'm there. If you want easy access to shops, soft play, icerink etc then fine but give me southside any day. Schools aren't great either.

[ednasoraya]

Ladies sorry to bother you with other subject but how the GP works in EK ? And the hospital is that good? Do you have an appointment in the same day in your Gp! I’m being very lucky in Aberdeen but if I need to see a doctor I can see him in the same day ! But in some Gp it could take up to 2 weeks to have an appointment! Any private hospitals as well? Thank you very much !!!

[ednasoraya]

Ladies thank you very much for your help! I really need to make a decision but is hard when you don’t know the area! Happy New year and thank you for your help!!

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

I would agree that parts of Ek can be a bit soulless. (Identikit new developments).

For my tuppence worth I'd prefer to be in nice parts of Calderwood or St Leonards with good bus links to town. (Including the night bus if you're a social animal.) Or East Mains/West Mains to be closer to the train station. Both areas have a mix of old and new housing and a bit more in terms of public/civic spaces, local shops and businesses and accessible green spaces.

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Lindsayfield is a new district of East Kilbride. It is nice but suffers from poor transport links.

If you don't drive it would be a difficult place to live in/commute from. I think you'd be doing a lot of taxiing if you have teenagers.

[LittleElephant123]

High schools you have Duncanrig (which would be the non denominational catchment) and as I previously posted went there myself and plan to send DD when the time comes. The Catholic school would be St Andrews St Brides and as previously said they had a big issue with bullying not too long ago. Hope this helps!

[LittleElephant123]

Lindsayfield is one of the newer areas in EK. Have friends who stay there and never had any problems. Nearest schools are St Vincent (Catholic school) and Crosshouse and Castlefield (both non denominational). I went to Crosshouse growing up and plan to send DD here. Few friends have sent their dc to Castlefield and have gotten on great too.

[Trooperslane2]

I mean in EK

[Trooperslane2]

My friend lives in Stewartfield and the house is amazing...

I'm in Pollokshields - not from Scotland but a City Girl - I'd absolutely hate the fact you need to drive everywhere and there isn't really a village.

However, houses that are affordable are rare here - we love our huge flat. It's a bit soul-less (sorry people who are happy there) but I have 2 friends who's families are really happy there.

[ednasoraya]

Thank you very much for your help ! I saw a 5 bedrooms house for sale for a very reasonable
Price in Lindsayfield! How is this area?? Are good high schools?

[user1487194234]

You will get more for your money in EK as their is such a premium for houses in East Ren with people moving out of Glasgow for the schools

[LittleElephant123]

Sorry posted that without finishing it!

My nephew goes to Calderglen. He was supposed to be going to St Andrews St Brides but not that long ago there was a massive bullying issue. And SIL found it difficult to actually get to speak to head of year or head teacher. So opted for Calderglen.

Every area in EK has there 'bad' bit but it's not like it used to be. Hope this gives a bit of help!

And good luck!

[LittleElephant123]

I've lived in EK my whole life (minus a year spento in Glasgow but didn't like it sor had to come back 'home' 😁) .

I'm in Greenhills and went to ballerup then Duncanrig when they joined. The school was fine and my primary school was great too!

Crosshouse - primary school(was rebuilt a few years ago) also has the pre-school nursery attached to it and if no spaces are available then Ballerup is only 5 minute walk. I plan on sending my DD to my schools

[ednasoraya]

Thank you very much for your help!
I will have a look in the league table. As very useful have an upadate of the area a more recently one! Thank you again

[TrollTheRespawnJeremy]

Hi Edna, nothing to add that hasn't already been mentioned. All of the schools in East Kilbride are much of a muchness.

link to article about exam results [[http://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/local-news/brilliant-exam-results-delight-east-10956073]]

Assuming that you'll be looking for a 4 bedroom property. These tend to be more common in the newer areas like Lindsayfield or Stewartfield. Both are a bit remote for schools/public transport.

If you want the boys to have a bit more freedom and be within walking distance of their schools you might be better looking at the older districts.

East Mains, West Mains are generally 'naice', parts of Calderwood and St Leonards too.

If you settle for a High School that you like the sound of, they usually have 'feeder' primaries nearby.

[ednasoraya]

Hi! Im in Aberdeen with 3 boys age 12,9,2. We are planning to move to East Kilbride due to work. Any best places to live in this area with good schools?? Thank you

[SilkySilky]

Moved from Queens Park flat to Stewartfield EK to get a driveway and wee garden. Great town to raise kids with ice rink, cinema, parks and big shops. Primary schools rebuilt and seem good. Plenty 3 bed houses for sale in Stewartfied and knock 10k off asking price as a buyers market.

[Blottedcopybook]

I'm in Calderwood (near the shops, so the nice end!) - moved here with my hubby and we've been here five years now. It's just a brilliant place to raise a family to be honest, lovely neighbours and a very everyone-knows-everyone environment.

Someone mentioned schools - the schools may not perform as well as East Renfrewshire but last year's league tables had Calderglen performing on a par with Jordanhill, which was the best-performing school in Glasgow. I'm happy to take that!

[SusanneLinder]

I also live in East Kilbride, been here for 10 years and love it.DH is EK born and bred. I also live in an ex EK development house (hardly any houses in EK were ever ACTUALLY council houses :). I was also a "soo-sider," and to be honest, I love it so much here, the thought of living in Glasgow again (or even going in there) brings me out in hives. Too many people,too busy. Wide open spaces up here (mostly).

Bad Stuff about EK-there are pockets of Ek, I wouldn't live in.Parts of Calderwood,Greenhills,Westwood and The Murray.These only apply to streets though,not the whole area. I live in one of these "areas", and never had any problems. The town centre is not as it used to be,due to recession.They need to sort the Stuart Hotel at the bus station.This has been promised though.Oh and the roundabouts...lol. But means traffic flows a bit freer,unless you try the Whirlies at 8.30am. :)

Good stuff about EK-even with the new schools, they are fine.Pretty high up the league tables. 2 of my 3 DD's were at Duncanrig, my youngest is at St Andrew's St Bride's (long personal story which is irrelevant).Both good schools, and I know the Head at Duncanrig, and he runs with an iron rod.:) One of my girls is at Uni,as are there friends, and my 2nd DD is going this year.Transport is great, and easy to get everywhere.Unless you buy a new build,you get a lot of house for your money here.Lots to do, and you aren't far from countryside. Everything makes the EK news. If someone gets wing mirrors broken from cars,it makes the EK news! Very strong on Anti Social Behaviour here.

Yes East Renfrewshire schools usually perform slightly better,but they are quite oversubscribed. Someone mentioned Stamperland.I always thought it was a good area until DD went riding with some people from Clarkston/Busby area, and lets say,it isn't as good as it used to be unfortunately.

Tallulahxhunny-I am about 5-10 minutes walk from you! :)

[tallulahxhunny]

I moved from belfast to East kilbride 5 years ago, i stayed there 3 years then moved to southside. I loved east kilbride!! i have 2 children then aged 3yrs and 2 yrs I found it really easy to get around (but i drive) I would move back there in a heartbeat, i lived in sycamore place. Lovely area with great neighbours. i would recommend it to anyone!

[queenebay]

I live here and love it. Been here 15 years now. Schools are great, we are on bus route, town centre is 5 mins away, supermarkets are short ride away.
Only thing is I did find it was quite cliquey, took me ages to make friends with people as i found people had kept their friends from school.
We bought ex local authority house and its great, really big and large garden. Much bigger than the houses you get in stewartfield and Lindsayfieild for less money

[Elainerob]

Thank you everyone for your advice and comments, it's great to hear from people who know the area. Still undecided about where to live, I'm sure it'll work out :)