Advice on move to Edinburgh or Glasgow

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DH and I currently live outside the UK in a European city. We are planning to move back to the UK very soon.

We were planning on going to Edinburgh but we are now wondering if Glasgow might be better for us.

We are in our 40s with no kids. We love walking in the hills and would like easy access to the countryside. No great interest in night life such as nightclubs etc but enjoy eating out from time to time.

We are looking to rent initially, ideally 2 beds with preferred budget of no more than GBP1000 per month.
DH will be working from home (he can move with his job) but I would like to find work in book-keeping/office management type role but of course at this stage have no idea if that is a)possible or b)where that job would be so it is probably best we stay fairly central or near to good transport links.

One final thought that may have some bearing on where we should look is that we are English, though I am not sure if this matters as much as some of the press make out.

We are going to Scotland next week to check areas out and maybe even to find a flat to rent so I would really appreciate your input on where you would recommend for us.

Byres road

There's a lovely b&b called the Alamo in the west end

I would definitely recommend Glasgow. If you want walking, culture, really nice places to eat and drink and friendly people then you can't beat it!

Area-wise, I think West End is where you want to be. You've a decent budget for a two bed tenement. And don't waste the big windows on a basement/garden level one!

Look at the area around the Botanics eg Hyndland (near Byres Road), and then also around Kelvingrove Park and the Finnieston and Park area. Some of Glasgow's best restaurants are there. You're also only one or two stops on the subway or train into the very centre.

I have loads of restaurant recommendations for your trip too!

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/48549575

Bingo!

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/57498917

Another one, bit more expensive but lovely and fab area.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/38332671

Another one!

I know you said unfurnished, but you could ask them to remove stuff.

I love looking at property, this is my dream thread.

Having lived & worked in both, and given what you say is important to you, I think Glasgow is the way to go!

Rent is significantly cheaper; access to nice walking etc. is easier; in general people are more open and relaxed and friendly IMO. There are lots of cool districts in Glasgow; fun places to eat; gigs; art etc. You can have interesting things around you in lots of different areas. Edinburgh tends to have more high brow stuff; and has a busy city centre that fades out into suberbs without much going on in them iyswim.

Edinburgh is full of English people, but I don't think you'd be likely to meet with anti-English hostility in Glasgow either tbh.

Edinburgh of course has the Festival, but actually it makes living in the city pretty tricky for the whole of August, and you could probably enjoy as much of it as you wanted just by travelling through on the train from Glasgow.

There's my 2 cents. Let us know what you decide!

If you really want access to the countryside you want Glasgow West End or for a suburb, Milngavie. The Southside is lovely and cheaper but it does take longer to get to the hills.

If you want a suburb, cross Bearsdenoff and look at Milngavie. Start of West Highland Way so 90 miles of walking to Fort William. I can go for a walk in the evening- no car needed - and be amongst bracken and heather in 10 mins. Very quick to Loch Lomond but only 30 mins on train to City Centre, 20 mins to West End. It is the sort of place people move with kids though, so unless the countryside is top priority West End might suit you better. I wouldn't bother with Bearsden, no fun compared to West End and still a drive to the countryside.

haven't read while thread but much prefer Edinburgh to Glasgow. Edinburgh is a beautiful city.
However, I would also recommend Stirling. Right between the two big cities, perfect for hill walking/countryside, ancient history, brilliant transport links and a thriving business sector with inward investment on the rise. It has a university and good facilities and shopping.

Even though I live in the South myself, I'd say West End if you don't have kids. There is more in the way of restaurants, bars, gigs, nightlife, nice wee shops. Also better for getting out to the hills quickly.

Mount Florida is fine, but very close to Hampden Park so there can be problems with litter and rivers of urine if there is a big concert or match on. Battlefield and Langside are close to the same train station without those issues.

Mount florida is nice, match/concert days aren't the best but aren't regular (national stadium so only a few big events each year). Shawlands has better shops etc and a more trendy/hipster feel but the mount is like a little village within the city with a strong community feel. loads of lovely green space and great amenities. Easy access to the city centre too. People of glasgow tend to fall into two camps, those who won't even consider anywhere other than the (lovely) west end and people who think the south side is great and wouldn't want to be anywhere else!

Glasgow is just amazing, been an English expat in the city for manu years both as a child free couple and now as a parent. Was only supposed to be a temporary move/adventure but we fell in love with the city and its fantastic people and can't see us leaving any time soon...

Thank you so much for all your comments and advice.

I will take some time to add to my comprehensive notes and try to see as much as we can while we are there.

I will definitely let you all know how we get on.

I would recommend bringing rain jackets tomorrow. The weather is crap and I'm not sure that you could use an umbrella as it is too windy

^^
This is why you shouldn't choose Glasgow! :o

Was in Glasgow on saturday night - checked forecast - no prospect of rain. Chose jacket with no hood

granted it was warm rain.

Come to pollokshields. We are so happy here.

My Dd travels to Glasgow regularly to rehearse with her music group - she used to love it there and was determined she was going to Uni there. After visiting Edinburgh more she is has definitely changed her mind and really wants to go to Edinburgh Uni instead.

She's a mixed-race 16yr old and while she waiting in a takeaway shop queue in Glasgow recently a 'local' drunk chap stopped beside her and told her to 'go home and leave Glasgow to the Glaswegians'. She came home on the next bus.

That was a random eejit drunk - not typical of the city. Ds' primary school was over 60% ethnic minorities. No-one would dare try to tell the large Asian community in Pollokshields to "leave Glasgow to the Glaswegians" - they are Glaswegians too.

The BNP tried to capitalise on a nasty racist murder that happened in Pollokshields (an Asian gang kidnapping and killing a white teenager - over 10 years ago). The boy's mother and the (mixed) community effectively ran them out of town.

Glasgow is much more ethnically diverse than Edinburgh. Ds' secondary has something like 30 nationalities (iirc). The British Council has actually said it is one of the most "international" schools in the UK.

I'm from Edinburgh but I used to live very close to Glasgow, in Renfrewshire. I don't mind Glasgow, it's not my favourite place - mainly because my sense of direction is poor and I tend to get lost regularly!

One thing that is notable about living in the Glasgow area is the Protestant/Catholic divide is more of a 'thing'. I had never seen anything remotely sectarian in my life until the first year I lived there when an orange march went past our door. I don't believe it's as huge an issue as it has been in the past, but there does seem to be a lingering feeling of division.

Looking forward to hearing how you got on today, OP.

It's pouring with rain in Edinburgh today too, if it's any consolation!

I don't think you could have picked a worse week to come, weather-wise!

All part of the fun. No such thing as bad weather, just inappropriate clothing

Update as promised. We had a great time in Scotland, even with the weather, although the flights were a bit bumpy at times

Edinburgh was beautiful and I can see why people rave about it but our hearts definitely belong to Glasgow. We LOVED it.

We loved the architecture and the city centre shopping was brilliant, I especially loved the views down Buchanan Street (I think it was Buchanan Street). The West End was great too, Waitrose Byres Road and Kelvinside Park were definite favourites. (Sorry if I have got any names wrong). And it really is true that the Weegies are so friendly, everyone talks to you .

The weather wasn't great but we were out walking nearly all day on Thursday and Friday morning and only got caught in one proper rain shower. And as DH said if the city looks good in this weather then it can only get better. The only slight disappointment was that because of the winds on Friday we didn't get to see much of the southside yet.

We spoke to some letting agents who all advised us that the rental market moves very fast. We are therefore going to take a short term/holiday rental in the city for 3 weeks and look for properties while we are there. This will give us a chance to check out the South too.

Just 3 weeks to go and we will be in Glasgow. I can't wait. I would love to join a MN meet up for a coffee sometime.

Thanks so much for your help. We would have been lost on where to start without your input.

Yay! West is best! Sounds like you had a great trip. Glasgow is a fantastic, vibrant, friendly, city - good choice!!

Please feel free to keep us updated and we can live vicariously through your flat-hunting

I definitely will Sauvignon.

There are limited numbers of short term flats available so I will return with a list and see if anyone can summon up the interest to help me find the best location.

West end of Glasgow would be my choice