Has anyone lived in both London and Glasgow

[nodogsinthebedroom]

Just that really. We're in east London at the moment, pondering a possible move to the west end of Glasgow in the medium term. Any opinions as to whether it would be a good move? We're lucky enough to live in an actual house with an actual garden in (what I consider to be!) a good area here, and moving would probably mean a tenement flat with shared garden.. but it would give us more money to live on, maybe better secondaries (primaries here are pretty good) and maybe a more relaxed pace of life (??). Still very much at the pondering stage at the moment so any thoughts appreciated. Thanks!

I have, but London was many years ago. Your quality of life would be better but please factor in the weather.

I've only worked in London but lived in Glasgow. I wouldn't go to a tenement if you currently live in a detached house. Just get a detached house in the south side / newton mearns area or go north to bishopbriggs / lenzie

Hmm, better secondary schools. I don't feel inspired by a lot of the secondaries round here.

I did a move from Glasgow to zone 2 and back. I found it a bit of a culture shock. Got back to the west end and was "there's nothing here!"

but we've a house, no commute, Cheaper childcare. probably the the right decision, maybe.......

I Have. Glasgow is like a village in comparison to London. There is less opportunities in Glasgow than London. The weather really is a lot worse in Glasgow. I grew up in a tenement with a shared garden, I certainly wouldn't chose to live in one over a house with my own garden. However to be fair you don't get the weather up there so the garden is irrelevant.

If you're going to do it, go out into the suburbs. It's still only twenty or thirty mins into the centre and you'll get a house.

I wouldn't do it no, I wouldn't go back. I now live in the south east, I spent the first thirty years of my life in Glasgow , there simply is a lot more down here and simple things like having dinner or a glass of wine in the garden make me happy.

Hmm, that's interesting, much less positive then I was expecting.

Our current garden is small and north facing and we very rarely use it, but maybe that will change with children.

Not sure I could cope with living in the suburbs, the concept just seems alien.

Forgot to say - thank you very much for the input!

I've lived and worked in both... but I'm Scottish so the weather never has bothered me.. I travel overseas to work so it's nice to come home to rain lol I'd not live in London again.. too many people in a rush

I've done both and would never go back to London now (even if I could afford it) if I hadn't had kids could have happily stayed but really would not want to bring my kids up in London. As an NHS worker I would have probably had to live in somewhere like Luton to be able to afford to live anyway.
You don't have to live in the suburbs, the West End/ Hyndland area is lively with some lovely properties and gives you more value for money than London. There are some nice parts on the south side although I rarely venture south of the river just like when I lived in London!
Personally I love Glasgow but it did take some getting used to the weather again. The only thing I really miss is eating and drinking outside on warm summer evenings, but the humour and warmth of people you meet makes up for that. I made friends really easily here and don't think I made one friend while I was in London.

Yes I have. Now in Glasgow - well, East Dunbartonshire which is Glasgow suburbs. We are very happy here. Schools are first rate, the local state secondary was voted 2016 Scottish state school of the year. Property is more expensive than in other parts of Glasgow but still great value. I can be in the city centre in 25 minutes, the West End in 20 and on the shores of Loch Lomond in 30 minutes. I think as your kids get older your priorities change and its the great schools which brought us here. West End is great but my living next door to partying students and struggling for parking space days are long gone.

I think Londoners forget how massive it is - Glasgow is wee in comparison and easy to get around. You can easily live in my street and be in Byres Road for a coffee in 20 minutes, you can still enjoy the amenities without living on top of it all.

Ok not Glasgow but not too different. I moved from East London fairly close to city to Edinburgh. Small 2 bed property with v small garden in London. Moved to rented flat in tenement with shared garden in Edinburgh. Haven't regretted it. I get more bang for my buck (even though Edinburgh is still considered fairly expensive), way better state schools than where I was, easy to get about city and countryside/beach under 30 mins away.

Have since bought own flat in victorian villa with own garden. Not sure anything could get me to move back to London now.

Do you have an idea of budget?

If you're looking for an area with a bit of a buzz, then West End (Hyndland, Dowanhill, Great Western Rd corridor) or Southside (Shawlands, Strathbungo) are the way to go.

For good schools, then it's East Renfrewshire (Giffnock, Newton Mearns, Clarkston etc) or Bearsden/Milngavie, or Jordanhill in the West End - all of these are suburban though.

Edinburgh is a lot pricier - though probably nothing in comparison to London. Schools not quite as good in state sector; a high proportion go to private schools.

Glasgow is definitely rainier, but has better shopping & is easier to get around (better transport infrastructure). Edinburgh is great for the festival, but Glasgow is better for gigs, sporting venues.

Maybe around 400k? The only area I know much at all is Hillhead (and I really like it). Are the schools around there not good?

I moved from London to Glasgow 24 years ago. Wouldn't move back. Ended up in a little village, 30 mins max drive to the city centre. Weather is awfully wet though

400K will get you something nice in the West End; it's more flats in Dowanhill & a bit more studenty. Living in a tenement block can bring challenges.

You'd definitely get a house in Jordanhill for that.

Your money would go further in the Southside, although it's not so cosmopolitan.

Have a look on Rightmove & S1 homes. And of course the property market up here is different, with closing dates, offers over, home reports etc.

only students live in hillhead. You would want to go 29 yards up the road to dowanhill.

Both hillhead primary Id guess but it's been oversubscribed. Don't know about now but a few years ago it would be the only school in Scotland you weren't guaranteed a place if you lived in catchment.

Dowanhill is nicer than hyndland (splitting hairs). I'd say hyndland secondary a better bet than hillhead high. You can check on the Glasgow council website where you are in catchment for as in some streets one half is one and across the road is the other.

Oops sorry, dowanhill will feed into hillhead high I think

(Unless you are planning on only having catholic girls...then you can send them to notre dame secondary)

bring wellies and an umbrella...

Do you have any connections/roots to Glasgow/Scotland? I didn't find it particularly friendly if you're English and it is one of the most pro SNP areas. The weather would be the main reason I wouldn't move there as I always carried an umbrella with me for the whole 2 years I lived there.

Andromeda Glasgow is very friendly. Im English, have lived here for years and never had a problem. Neither had me dp and he has a very noticeable English accent. It's very multicultural (especially the west end, there aren't many true glaswegians around really), people don't really bat an eyelid about where you're from.

one of the most pro SNP areas

Suburbs of Glasgow are some of the LEAST pro-SNP areas. Where we live there are lots of people of all nationalities, lots of people who have jobs at the Uni or hospitals live here and there are lots of English people too (DH being one of them). He's never had any anti-English sentiment expressed.

I wouldn't make such a move in the medium term, only if staying for good. You may find it hard to return to London if property prices increase more quickly there than in Glasgow. Bear in mind that Stamp duty/LBTT is much higher in Scotland (10% over £325k) and seems to be distorting the higher end of the property market.

The political climate is also uncertain with the SNP wanting another independence referendum in the near future.

Glasgow is a lovely place to live, and you will have a better quality of life so I'm not trying to put you off, just pointing out some factors you should consider!

I used to live in Glasgow, been in Zone 2 London for 10 years. I'd move back (and we are in the fortunate position of owing our house here), DH doesn't want too. I personally think it would be a much better place for the kids to grow up. Generally less competitive about everything, they could actually expect to be able to afford a house if they end up with normal jobs. Uni is free. People are much much more friendly.
But I wouldn't live in the west end (that's where I lived before) it would be to live in suburbia. Big house and garden, easy to get places in the car (countryside, shops, friends). Here I hate how long it takes to get anywhere. Nowhere takes long up there. Yes it's very rainy. That's the main downside, well alongside many career opportunities being limited.
Schools - you won't get them into Jordanhill unless they were born in catchment area. That would be the only school in west end I would consider. Much better off going for East Renfrewshire as generally schools are very good there. But then you are in suburbia.
It's such a hard choice to make.

Oh yeah and SNP are the other main drawback

Thanks everyone for the thoughts/information! I'm probably bring a bit premature as it right be for a good few years if indeed we ever did it but you have certainly given me for for thought.

*food