Relocating to East Kilbride

[Up74]

Looking for some advice about relocating to East Kilbride as a single parent with a 13yr old daughter, currently in Yorkshire. Where are good places to live in and around East Kilbride? Looking to rent initially with a budget of £800pcm. Don't need advice on good schools, more about good community and meeting new people. My work is based in central EK but could live outside within a reasonable commuting distance. Travelling up to EK next week to have a look around. Many thanks.

I love East Kilbride. I live just outside it in a place called Clarkston in Glasgow. As soon as my children finish school we are moving to EK.

I know you said you don't need to know about schools but just to say there are some schools which are quite newly built in EK which are great.

I love the village in EK but think that maybe one of the more expensive areas of EK.

i am not from East Kilbride and actually from the other side of Glasgow so someone with a much better georgraphical knowledge will come along shortly.

I love all the houses in the newish estates too. I love that it has Calder Glen park and close to Strathclyde park. Lovely parks to walk round.

I also love the shopping centre.

You are so close to Glasgow too if you ever did need to pop into the city.

I would just check what buses run where and when and how close you are to train stations. I have heard that parts of EK are better situated for access to public transport than others. If you and or your daughter don't need to think of public transport then the whole of EK is your oyster.

Thanks your positive review of East Kilbride and thanks for the tips on transport.

Have you found it easy to meet people in EK/good community?

I find the people in EK very friendly. I loved going to the shopping centre when my children were small and everyone would chat to me and them. There are a few walking groups on facebook and various different social groups on fb where you can meet people in your local community. If you fancy a walk round Calder Glen once you move up let me know and I would love to come along and meet up with you.

I will come back here with the name of some groups once I remember them.

Like anywhere, it depends on exactly where in East Kilbride you choose.

On the whole, it's ok.

Join the EK community Facebook pages just now to get a feel for it.

Sorry, I should have added that maybe look up properties on zoopla or similar in EK, filtered by your rental price range. Most of the time when you click on a property it tells you about the local area too including what is nearby.

Oh and I hope you like roundabouts.

Thanks Chubbahub, that is really helpful with the Facebook page.

You've been really helpful ImperialQueen, thank you so much. I'll be sure to reach out, when we've moved up there.

It depends what you are looking for?

If you want a village location, then Eaglesham is ideal. No train line but it does have a bus service - a long journey in to town though.

If you don't have a car, then that commute would be tricky.

The East Kilbride train line goes through Thorntonhall, Busby, Clarkston & Giffnock so these are reasonable places with good schools & an easy commute.

Newton Mearns, but again you'd need a car to get to EK. Same with Waterfoot.

Carmunnock is a pretty village but transport links are poor as is high school catchment.

Just checking you are aware that school places are allocated by catchment rather than distance? And that many of the East Renfrewshire schools are full?

All round, it's a great place to bring up kids & live.

I have heard that rental properties are hard to come by at the moment. I also think you will get more for your money in East Kilbride than East Renfrewshire, whether that be rent or buy and there are nice areas of East Kilbride.

I would think your search would be driven by education for your teen? Ideally you'll want to be somewhere they can get to school and meet friends? Is that already sorted? State schools are back this week but I think private aren't yet.

Rentals are moving fast I think and depends if you're thinking flat or house. Looking at Rightmove there are a few flats in your budget in EK itself.

There are plenty of towns round about - some cheaper, some more ££ - but I think schooling will be your deciding factor.

Happy to share more info on what I know if I can help

Thanks PoloMintPatty, so really helpful advice. Rental property is tricky at the moment, mostly after COVID I think. Schools aren't a factor but do you have any in the area you would recommend?

That's good to know about East Renfrewshire vs. EK.

I think I'm aware of someone at most of the local schools - in EK as well as East Ren and South Lanarkshire. All have good kids / points and I'm sure bad points too but none that I'd specifically avoid. So it really depends on what your priorities are. Feel free to DM me if there are any specific schools or areas in Ek / Lanarkshire you are looking at