Leaving Edinburgh to move back down South

[VelcroCat]

Been living in Edinburgh for six years now and just can't adjust to the weather. We moved from down South and would like to go back for family reasons now. I am horrified by the moving costs as it's been a while since we sold and bought simultaneously. I am feeling I should try harder where we are but really from the minute we moved back here I have wanted to leave. I haven't made any friends in all this time, but have got a couple of hobbies/interests where the people are nice, and these would be hard to replace. In general though I just can't find my people and feel very lonely and isolated. The problem is OH has made friends, and is relatively happy.

I am tired of the horrendous traffic, pollution, bad weather , road works or lack of maintenance of roads, inability to park anywhere, and unfriendly people.
Not sure what I'm asking, but has anyone else felt like this and moved back?

I moved from Edinburgh and don’t massively regret it, I had lots of friends though, had I not I would have left sooner! It is a beautiful place but agree not the friendliest

Is there somewhere in Scotland that might suit you better, rather than coming down South?

Ffs, avoid London, it's an absolute SH here right now.

I am tired of the horrendous traffic, pollution, bad weather , road works or lack of maintenance of roads, inability to park anywhere, and unfriendly people.

I grew up in Central Scotland but have lived in London most of my adult life. Apart from the weather bit, I’d have thought you were describing London there! Is Edinburgh really that polluted?

You don’t mention your jobs. Or whether or not you have children, or intend to have any. Or if elderly parents needing care is a factor. All those are huge factors in deciding where to live.

I’m not sure that Edinburgh is likely to be the reason you haven’t my made friends. It may be that you have been at a life stage where people are less open to it, and fewer social opportunities if many around you are having kids, but you are not. That problem might well follow you back to England.

We are retired, two adult children who are living down South. Definitely not London!

Define south. I think you may find it the same here. When I lived in Edinburgh the weather was better than it has been in London for the last year.

For a non-native Scot, you have really embraced that catchall Scottish expression “down South” to mean anywhere in England.

For my whole childhood I thought my Granny was going to Dover or somewhere when she went “doon Sooth” to visit my uncle. Turns out he lived in Lancashire 😂

I just don’t want to be specific about the area. I know very well that all areas aren’t the same. I’ve spent an equal amount of time in England and Scotland over the years and lived in different areas.

I live in Edinburgh and I can relate to your thoughts about the weather and dilapidated roads and pavements. They’ve got to be about the worst of any major city in Britain although Glasgow seems no better.

Edinburgh has all the amenities and a great airport, but I find the restaurants are unreliable. Houses with gardens are always in high demand, although I live in a central flat with shared garden, I would like my own front door and private garden.

For this reason we thought about moving south, also to get better weather. We’ve been looking at Worcester, Cheltenham, Bath and Bristol areas. Worcester is better value and Malvern hills nearby for walks.

Worcestershire generally is better value than Gloucestershire. Malvern is beautiful. Know both counties well. I particularly like the Stroud area in Gloucestershire .

I so ageee about restaurants in Edinburgh. I haven’t enjoyed a meal for so long despite such a lot of choice. Overpriced, tiny portions and not all that great quality.

I particularly miss English pubs. Currently staying in a nice suburb of Birmingham and sitting outside having a drink, watching all the happy people is bliss. Pub culture isn’t the same in Scotland.

Love the Bath area too.

I live in Bath but grew up and studied in Scotland. I guess Bath is similar to Edinburgh with the crescents etc and architecture in. some ways. Smaller, easier to walk around.

But their traffic is terrible, especially between Bath and Bristol. Cost of living is high as well, and the Bath to London train route is very expensive, as is housing.

Why did you move to Edinburgh in the first place? This is useful info. It sounds like city life maybe isn't for you any more ? A lot of what attracts us to living in cities when we are younger is not what we want when we are older.

This is an issue to address too: The problem is OH has made friends, and is relatively happy Have you told him you're thinking you'd like to move?

The weather has been vile and the pothole situation very bad in some of England too, OP. Where I am in the NW we couldn’t even get our grass down last year because it rained from June until about two weeks ago - beginning of May. We had 13 storms with horrible weather in between, and the roads around us are wrecked. I know as far south as the Midlands flooded too.

Not saying don’t do it- life is too short to be unhappy - but please look before you leap.

I live in Edinburgh. I'm not sure why you "can't adjust" to weather which is largely the same as in the rest of the UK.

The roads further south seemed a lot better to me. I agree, you can grow out of a city.

Having said that, Edinburgh is the lowest funded city in Scotland per head of population, despite having the highest earnings in Scotland. This fact should be well known but isn’t.

Edinburgh money is spent elsewhere in Scotland on government pet projects and welfare. There are huge strains on infrastructure due to the buoyant economy and huge numbers of tourists. Edinburgh could be the goose that lays golden eggs, like London, if the Scottish government would invest in it properly and ensure effective management. But I guess the economy is a very low priority for them since you never hear them talking about it. Strange as I thought that was the point of government, to try to make us all better off.

The reason for your post isn't clear.

There are many Mumsnetters who have moved to a different place, not liked it, and either moved back to where they came from or moved somewhere else, I'm sure.

I did. I spent two years in Devon, couldn't wait to get back to London!

Ooh, I'm in Edinburgh too OP. I have a few friends who are very negative about the weather but I honestly don't really think it is hugely different to where I lived down south, apart from not getting so sweltering in the summer which I think is a good thing. I compare both places on weather apps frequently and there's rarely a huge difference. Edinburgh is perhaps a bit windier, but less wet. I also love the long evenings. I'm also surprised by your experiences around food as I think the food scene here is great, although agree that I really miss proper pubs.

I'm interested in how you feel about the friendliness though as I feel a bit like this too recently. I think it is the fact it is still a busy city and the population can be quite transient, but I'm constantly told how friendly it is compared to the south and the difference between expectations and reality makes me feel even worse! It maybe sounds like city life just isn't for you?

In terms of actual UK weather, the met office publish colour coded maps. Met Office maps. This is the map showing summer sunshine last year. There is every conceivable type of weather map there.

The weather is better further south on the whole.

I’m in Sussex and the weather and roads have been pretty terrible here this winter/spring! But if you’re not happy there, you’re not happy there, and need to talk to your dh about moving. Life is too short. I spent five years in London, hating it, so I know well the feeling of being in the wrong place, and it’s miserable.

City life really isn’t for me and Km from Edinburgh! Just moved around a lot in adult life . Edinburgh has always been known as unfriendly, even thirty years ago. I notice immediately on moving back that people don’t say hello on walks . Everyone has their eyes fixed elsewhere and if you greet anyone they look startled. However if you cross to Fife, it’s a different story! Or the Borders, anywhere really but a city.

lol ar you joking! I'm from Scotland and live in London. The weather down here from May- October is more akin to continental Europe than Edinburgh. You get a reliable summer. You don't need jackets. I spend years in Edinburgh and wore my summer shoes a handful of times l. It's so cold. Then the dark winders. I'd like to move back but I honestly don't know if I'd cope with the weather. It's life changing.

OP I hear you! People are not very cheery and generally are more reserved than other places. The weather is so much colder in Edinburgh and when I lived there these things depressed me too.

I know what you mean about the weather. I spent a year where I was living in London, but often had work trips up to Edinburgh and Stirling. Even though its only 4ish hours on the train, it always felt much colder and bleaker. Winter seemed to come much earlier and it was noticeably more windy. I also agree that the pubs just arent the same as English pubs.

Having said that, the Scots are great. I have some wonderful Scottish friends, and would happily live there, if not for the weather!

Ffs, avoid London, it's an absolute SH here right now.

No it's not!