Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Parenting

For free parenting resources please check out the Early Years Alliance's Family Corner.

Original poster

Glasgow or Edinburgh

19 replies

HappymummyKZ · 04/10/2020 21:01

Hi. I'm a mum to a 3 year old and recently became a widow.
I've lived in Midlands for the last 13 years (I'm originally from Slovakia) and made some friends here over the years. However, I am now looking to have a new start as a single parent somewhere esle. I enjoyed visiting Glasgow as a tourist some years ago and I like Scottish accent (though I must admit I struggle understand it sometimes Smile) so I though to myself why not move to Scotland.? The question is whether to move to Glasgow or Edinburgh. I'm looking to buy a house in an area with good schools, urban but with green spaces nearby and with family friendly neighbourhood. I work full time and my daughter goes to a childminder full time. My budget is around £180k for 2/3 bed house. I drove so don't mind commuting for about 30 minutes to to work (yet to find a job in Scotland).
As a foreign with a biracial child a small town or village may not be the place for us, I guess....?
Any suggestions on the best location or experience with moving to Scotland would be greatly appreciated.
I posted this on netmums general group previously and was told tha this is the best group to ask about tips and locations as you guys love location searching Wink.

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
Namechangeforthis88 · 04/10/2020 21:15

I live in Edinburgh, went to university in Glasgow. They are both great cities. Housing tends to be quite expensive in Edinburgh.

Ihaveoflate · 04/10/2020 21:24

That would be a very tight budget for Edinburgh. I would live to live there but couldn’t possibly afford it.

A better place to ask this question is the Scotsnet forum on here. I would also suggest just having a search on Rightmove to get an idea of property prices, bearing in mind that Scotland has a different system for buying and selling property, so the listed price is likely to be lower than what you would pay.

Good luck!

museumum · 04/10/2020 21:26

Both great cities to live in but Glasgow has better value housing and is more ethnically diverse so that might tip the balance?

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

3 year olds Families General parenting
TooTrueToBeGood · 04/10/2020 21:26

As a foreign with a biracial child a small town or village may not be the place for us, I guess....?

I would guess you'd be pleasantly surprised.

Invisimamma · 04/10/2020 21:28

£180k won't go far in Edinburgh. But you could try the commuter towns like Livingston, Bathgate, over to Fife or out to Penicuik or Dalkeith.

Both are lovely vibrant cities.

peakotter · 04/10/2020 21:35

Agree with @TooTrueToBeGood , we’re in a small village near a medium town. Two friends are from Eastern Europe and have bi-racial kids. They’ve found it fine. There’s at least a couple of kids in each class with foreign parents, but less of different skin colour.

However you will always get a better mix of cultures in the cities. Edinburgh is drier but more expensive. You’ll get more for your money in Glasgow but the rain is much much worse.

S00LA · 04/10/2020 21:37

I agree with everyone else . They are both great cities and you will find families From other counties in all but the smallest hamlets and certainly anywhere in the central belt.

Glasgow has better state schools and cheaper housing. East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire have many of the best state schools in the country and you can commute into the city by train in 30 mins. I’d not recommend commuting by car in either city, traffic is heavy and parking very expensive.

Have you seen this Facebook group ? Slovak and Czech communities in Scotland

www.facebook.com/groups/SCCScotland/

tabulahrasa · 04/10/2020 21:44

You’ll struggle to get a house for that in Edinburgh... a town in West Lothian, possibly, but... they’re not really a 30 minute drive from most of Edinburgh - commutable yes, but not 30 minutes.

AmericanAdventure · 04/10/2020 21:45

Used to live in Glasgow and I'd always recommend it. 180k wouldn't get you a house any where near the center of the city. It would get you a flat in the south side or the east end. Both of these areas have great cafes, pubs and restaurants and great big parks - especially the South Side. If you really want a house you might have to push out into the more peripheral housing estates, Knightswood, Crookston, Pollok, Croft foot. These don't have as many of the urban draws of cafes and shops etc (although Pollok does have a massive shopping mall).

I don't know much about Edinburgh but feel free to pm me if you want any info about specific areas, schools etc. 👍

randomsabreuse · 04/10/2020 21:55

East Dunbartonshire and north Lanarkshire both close in to Glasgow and affordable for a 2/3 bed, probably more Kirkintilloch way rather than Bearsden/Milngavie.

Original poster
HappymummyKZ · 04/10/2020 22:59

Thank you @AmericanAdventure. Sorry, if this is a silly question, but when buying a flat in Scotland is it the same as in England, i.e. you are buying a lease / the right to live in a property for X years?

OP posts:
Original poster
HappymummyKZ · 05/10/2020 07:25

Thank you for taking time to search properties for me @S00LA.

Thank you all for your responses, they are very helpful.

OP posts:
GreyishDays · 05/10/2020 07:54

In Edinburgh, half the houses are on ESPC but not Rightmove. Don’t forget they also go for over the asking price if it’s “offers over”. Can be about 10 15%.
Here’s a link so you have it.

espc.com/property/2f1-8-dalgety-avenue-edinburgh-eh7-5ue/35867952?sid=208572

BrazenlyDefying · 05/10/2020 07:59

Glasgow has better state schools and cheaper housing. East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire have many of the best state schools in the country and you can commute into the city by train in 30 mins

You'll not get a 2/3 bed house in either for £180k though. Offers over £179k doesn't mean you'll get it for £180k. Agree though that in general both cities offer that the OP is looking for.

As with anyone thinking of making such a huge move i'd recommend coming up and spending at least a week and going around areas having a good look. Not just the city centres, the residential areas too. And consider renting before making the move permanent.

BrazenlyDefying · 05/10/2020 08:01

@HappymummyKZ

Thank you *@AmericanAdventure*. Sorry, if this is a silly question, but when buying a flat in Scotland is it the same as in England, i.e. you are buying a lease / the right to live in a property for X years?
No - we don't have leasehold in Scotland at all. If you buy a flat it's yours. 100% yours. No freeholder. No landlord.

There may be a factor or management company which maintains the common areas or gardens but the property is entirely yours. If you were to buy a flat in Scotland, your lawyer would explain this to you.

brushandmop · 05/10/2020 08:03

I would recommend Edinburgh over Glasgow. Softer accent and more historical picturesque IMO.

Try Midlothian (very close) for your budget

Roslin (beautiful but might be too expensive)
Loanhead (closest to Edinburgh but houses are cheaper)
Penicuik is a bit farther out

Lidlfix · 05/10/2020 08:09

There are lots of threads on Scotsnet where posters are looking for advice on relocating. You might find them helpful too.

New posts on this thread. Refresh page