Birmingham v Edinburgh or Glasgow

[UrsiHun]

Hey there,
I would like to find out about the quality of family life in Scotland. I’m British but have lived in Germany for 12 years. We now have 2 boys (7 and 4) and we want to go back next year (husband is German by the way). We have friends in Birmingham but are thinking of moving somewhere quieter and greener and yet with enough to offer children and parents.
Many thanks for any advice in advance :)

I'd recommend posting on Scotsnet for more opinions.

I live in Edinburgh, always have. On the west side near the airport. It's a nice area with lots to do for family life.

Thanks a million! Will do.

Husband is worried that because of the massive difference in population there will be lesser chances on the job market in Scotland in comparison to major English cities. Is he correct?
And is the weather really noticeably worse than in the Midlands? Or is it simply less predictable? We live in hamburg now and I must say the weather here is less than nice most of the time.

Having lived in Glasgow and Birmingham I would definitely prefer Glasgow, property is cheaper comparing size and area, schools are good, commutes aren’t as painful. Glasgow weather tends to be wetter than Edinburgh, which tends to be drier but colder, or you could live somewhere like Stirling which is halfway between them. Very easy to get out to the countryside from either city.

Thanks for that!
Are Glasgow and Stirling also pretty (as in not uglier than Birmingham even if not as stunning as Edinburgh?)? I’ve never been in either.
Also, am i correct to assume that Scots will be friendly and open? I find that even Londoners are far friendlier than Germans. I’m asking because I want to make sure that my boys won’t have it more difficult than necessary to find friends..
I am completely infatuated with Scotland, it’s history, landscape and accent, and I have always found Scots incredibly friendly. I’ve lived abroad so long however that I am worried that I’m embellishing certain aspects a little...

Edinburgh is probably prettiest, then Stirling (also has a castle) and then Glasgow ( which does have some lovely architecture if you look past the ground floor). Scots are far friendlier than Londoners! And all of these cities are pretty compact so are relatively easy to walk around, plus they don’t feel like there are too many people like there does in the centre of Birmingham or London ( apart from festival time in Edinburgh)

You could easily have a look around all three cities in one on a short trip, either start in Glasgow then Stirling and Edinburgh or vice versa. I think you would be happy in or around any of them.

Cheers 
Out of curiosity: How are Perth and Dundee by comparison?

I don’t know much about either, except they are smaller than both Glasgow and Edinburgh, sorry!

There's a scotsnet section on here somewhere- pretty sure there are loads of mners in Scotland who will be happy to tell you what makes their city/town fab.
The weather will be cold though, brrrr. Midlands will be warmer, and probably drier than Hamburg (which I recall being similar to Manchester).

I love love love Edinburgh and Glasgow and have lived in both. As a very general rule you'll get more for your money home wise on the west side of the country.

West coasters tend to be a bit more gregarious and East coasters a bit more reserved but still pretty friendly by London standards.

I've visited Dundee and it has a quite a lot going for it, museums, art galleries. DS went bonkers for the swimming pool. Dundee has a bit of a reputation for deprivation, like most places there are well off areas and less well off. I don't know Perth so well, but have passed through. In Dundee and Perth you would be very much aware that you're not in main city - e.g. a lot less in the way of shops etc.

In all fairness I know nothing about Birmingham, having just spent the odd hour there between trains. Local boards would be good if you have more specific questions.