Moving to Glasgow- help with where to live

[user1476705978]

Moving to Glasgow this summer from west London, husband will be working in the royal children's hospital. However, we don't know the city at all, don't know where to start. Have a 1 yr so would like a house with garden, not too long a commute, area with some baby groups/ playground. Will be renting but happy to spend a reasonable bit for a better area- everything seems great value compared to what we are paying for our flat in London currently! Any help greatly appreciated

Look at Shawlands/Newlands/Langside/Pollokshields. Better value than the West End and still good schools. Right side of the river for the Sick Kids (my dad used to work there - paediatric radiologist - but a looooong time ago when it was still at Yorkhill).

I'm in Pollokshields and love it but it might not have the small community feel/nurseries you want if you have a small child. There is a good playground in Maxwell Park though.

Lots of big Victorian stone villas - many of which have been subdivided. We live in one such house (dh calls it a horizontal semi ) and we have a fabulous big garden (technically the back is split left and right but in practice we "share the top flat grass bit (dh mows the lawn as he is a lawn fanatic). Gardens can't be built on as it is a conservation area

Looking further ahead, make sure you're in the catchment for Glendale, Shawlands, Langside, Battlefield or Mount Florida Primaries (some people might disagree with the latter two but having talked to parents at both of them, they're extremely happy with the schools). Shawlands Academy is excellent (you'd have to put in a placing request from Glendale as we did but they've always been accepted but you never know in 10 years time)

These threads always descend into a fight between the Shawlands/Giffnock posse and the Bearsden/Milngavie posse so I will put the case for Bearsden ;-)

I know lots of doctors who work at the QEUH or Children's hospital who live near me in Bearsden. Depending on traffic it will take you 20 minutes to the hospital through the Tunnel. Schools are excellent - Bearsden Academy is the local state scondary and has been voted Scottish state school of the year for 2017. Primary schools are also first rate. Bearsden and Milngavie has lots of playgroups, nursery schools and things to get involved with and there are lots of mums in exactly the same situation as you who have moved for jobs at the hospital or Uni. You'll fit right in! Train into town takes about 30 minutes, 30 minutes the other direction by car and you're by Loch Lomond.

My advice would be to get up here for a long weekend. Spend a day wandering round Bearsden/Milngavie and also the South side areas mentioned above. Not just driving - get out of the car and go into shops, have a coffee, feed the ducks at the park, mooch about and get the feel for the place. Pick a property and test the drive from there to the QEUH to see how long it takes. Look in estate agent windows. Ask your DH's colleagues for recommendations too.

Does your DH cycle? As the parking for southern (as QUEH used to be known as) is HORRENDOUS! And the buses aren't quite good enough for the early early starts. So factor than in as well.

Lots of areas, aside from the above, there's bellahouston, cardonald, braehead(renfrew), paisley, scotstoun,

Most of the libraries do bounce and rhyme and there are book bug sessions all over glasgow.

There seem to be quite a few playgroups around me but I'm a shit mum and don't go to any so can't vouch for them. (We go play in parks or visit museum instead, I work shifts and well I'm an anti-social bugger!).

Good parks in Glasgow though. With ducks in all of them

Nothing against Bearsden and Milngavie - I was brought up there (mostly in Bearsden but latterly Milngavie) and went to Bearsden Academy which is also a very good school (My dad still lives in Bardowie and used to cycle into Yorkhill).

I agree about the parking at the Southern. Cycling makes much more sense! (And there is a cycle path through the tunnel if you live North side, which deposits you practically at the hospital).

Thanks everyone for your help, aiming to visit for a few days so looks like its a north side vs south side thing! Will def check out the areas mentioned. DH could cycle, he wouldn't mind but I'm not so keen from a safety point of view. Does sound practical though, public transport sounds a bit hit and miss

The council is creating more and more cycle routes (some of them are even quite good - proper "separated" infrastructure) and there are good routes to the Southern (sorry - refuse to call it the QEUH - it'll always be the Southern ) from the South side which are off road/through parks/very quiet roads.
From the North Side, slightly more difficult as "quiet" access to the Clyde Tunnel is more awkward. There is a very good piece of infrastructure that had been built in Milngavie/Bearsden (BTW: "Milngavie" is pronounced "Mill-guy" ) but it is marred by the fact that it stops before the dangerous bit and the council recently blocked extending it (and further investigation into options )

But probably shouldn't let this descend into the rights of cars not to be slowed by a few seconds as well as a North side v South side debate

Other areas to consider are Strathbungo (next to Shawlands) and Jordanhill.

What's your budget? Will you be buying or renting? If buying, you'll need to get to grips with our "Offers Offer"/"going to closing"/sealed bids/surveys before offer system!

...sorry, just re-read your OP and see that you say you'll be renting

Not fully sure of budget, looks like would get quite a nice 3 bed house for 1200- 1300 pcm, paying ridiculous price for a tiny flat at the moment in London so the prospect of a house would be fab. I suppose hard to say until we look at houses for sure

Can I suggest Ralston in Paisley? Large houses, beautiful gardens and tons of mother and toddler groups nearby. Barshaw Park on your doorstep also has loads going on. You'll get more for your money here and buses go every ten minutes to the hospital. Also, loads of lovely restaurants have opened up recently within walking distance.

That's a huge budget!

You can have your pick.

Don't exclude flats with big communal gardens.

I will add a vote for bearsden or milngavie

You are totally doing the right thing to rent for a while until you get to know the city, there are so many nice areas.

If you are used to London you will find Glasgow very friendly , safe and cheap but with less money spent on public services.