Where to base young family within easy commute to East Kilbride

[cttontail]

Hi,

Possibly moving for my husband's work. We don't know anything about the local area at all. Where would you advise living near East Kilbride if you could pick anywhere ? I'm thinking within about 30 minutes commute. We have a toddler, so we'd like somewhere with a good community feel (groups, parks, cafes) for young families (i'll be a SAHM to start with). Also thinking about good primary schools. We currently live in a large market/spa town and like that. We like walking and the politics and countryside are big pulls to Scotland. I wouldn't want to be isolated though and appreciate good public transport. Any ideas for areas to target? An additional complication is if I did get a job it would likely be at Glasgow University (the other side of Glasgow, right?).

Linlithgow
Might be Commutable once the roadworks are finished.
Top schools and with tha budget you'd get a decent house.

Kilmalcolm is the other way. It has a private school and a top state school.

Hi op ! We're in Hamilton which is pretty close to ek I'm going up there later actually there's lots to do here water palace , cinema complex , plenty of shop etc the only issue is the express way it can be a nightmare depending on when you have to commute :) and you can buy something really nice with that kind of money here

Thanks for all of your advice. We are hoping to travel up again in a couple of weeks and check out some more areas and will go back to Strathaven too. Just wondering, I've seen people rave about Lenzie and it seems to be on a fast train line into Glasgow, would the commute from that area to EK be horrid (it is at least East of Glasgow)?

When all the major roadworks are completed around the M8/M74/M73, it shouldn't be too bad.

At the moment it would be a nightmare

Lenzie is lovely if not relatively small but is wrong side of the city IMHO.

I second The Hamilton suggestion or the next town of Motherwell. Both have excellent travel links and are great bases. Both are literally just separated by a dual carriageway which takes less than a minute to drive across. And motherwell has recently been voted the most affordable commuter town to live in. Also has great schools and Strathclyde country park is a great asset on the doorstep. It's a big country park that is centered around a Loch which is nice to walk around during with the kids and also is home to a theme park. Just don't go expecting a theme park of Alton Tower standards as you will be bitterly disappointed .
Good luck with the move and feel free to PM with any questions.

I'd forget Lenzie if you are working in EK. Wrong side of the city and too far out .

Thanks. Can I add in a couple of other factors and see if I get any different advice?

1. our daughter has a significant medical issue that means she regularly needs emergency care. We can't be too far from an A&E/ambulance base. Does anyone know of any maps of these?
2. We're fairly active members of the Anglican church and would be looking to attend an Episcopalian church in Scotland. I have found a map of these online!

Wishaw is a neighbouring town of Motherwell. Wishaw has a hospital with an A&E dpt and has the only paediatric ward as far as I'm aware without considering the Children's hospital that is in Glasgow.
There are also several church of Scotland parishes AFAIK.

Oh and there is an ambulance Base in Muirhouse which is in Motherwell and Muirhouse is less than 5 mins away from wishaw general hospital.

There's an ambulance base in Springburn in the north - you don't really want to live there.

A&E for children (and wards) is at the new Queen Elizabeth hospital (old Southern) on the South. Nearest "nice" area would be West End e.g. Jordanhill/Broomhill via Tunnel, or Newlands. Clarkston & Mearns a little further.

In terms of Episcopalian churches - I think there is one in Clarkston, near the Toll, on the road up to Newton Mearns - (Mearns Rd).

There's an Episcopalian church in Hamilton - St Marys.

Having to be close to a hospital for a child does mean being within easy distance of Wishaw. When my daughter broke her arm (lived in Strathaven) Hairmyres wouldn't treat her and we were sent to Yorkhill.

You could consider Clyde Valley villages although that's taking you further away from Glasgow Uni.

There's a regular train service from Hamilton into Glasgow. It does go to the West End (Partick) but I would probably go to Argyle St and get underground from St Enochs to Hillhead (cheaper and quicker).

My EK client told me the Raith interchange roadworks won't complete until 2018.... I'd be tempted to stay the EK side of the M74

Add in Pollokshields, Stranthbungo and Shawlands to that list. Lots of "nice" areas there - plus there is an Episcopalian church (at least I think it is) on Albert Drive beside the Tramway/Hidden Gardens.

10-15 minutes (Pollokshields would be closest) to the Southern (I refuse to call it the Queen Elizabeth University Hospital) Children's A&E.

For hospitals your choices are Wishaw ( which is a district general hospital ) and Glagsow children's hospital , which is a supra regional hospital.

It depends what care your child might need, Wishaw doesn't have a PICU so can't ventilate children, for example . so if you need more specialise care it's not suitable .

What didn't you mention this in your first post ? It's much more a limiting factor than walking or politics .

Thanks. We'll be up again this weekend, so will put Pollockshields etc to the top of the list. I thought it was great EK had a hospital. I didn't realise they didn't all have paeds and could turn you away, though I hope they'd give emergency care. DD has been ill this week and it's brought this issue into sharp focus.

Hairmyres hospital will not turn your child away if you present there as an emergency , don't be silly. They will stabilise your child and then transfer them to a more appropriate facility. They don't have a children's ward or paediatricians. Surely you knew that not every district general hospital specialises in everything , that's not how the NHS works ?

I live near Wishaw General, it has a paediatric ward and also can transfer to Yorkhill in the event of an emergency. There are some nice places up for sale round here.

I agree with SFJAA when she says there are lovely places around our area. And as house prices here are much less than England you can get a lot of house for your money.

What's wrong with living in East Kilbride itself? Hospital with an A&E dept, St Mark's Episcopal church, excellent primary schools and regular trains/ buses to Glasgow. You get a lot of house for your money too.