Reasons to move to Glasgow (from England)

[Marmaladegin]

DH has been offered a job in Glasgow. We currently live in a naice area in S England but it doesn't have great schools. Bar the chilliness, I love Scotland but not familiar with Glasgow. I'm Irish, DH Scottish. Dc 11, 10, 6. We like the countryside but would be happy to embrace the greater culture available in/near a city, as long as there was easy access to green space.

I'd be really grateful for any thoughts on pros/ cons of Glasgow with a family, and recommendations for areas. Budget would be up to £800k for 4 bed detached house if that helps.

I would look in East Renfrewshire and/or Renfrewshire, depending on how close to the city you want to be. Good schools in those areas and lots of countryside.

Glasgow is a fantastic city for families. You’ll be able to buy a great house with that budget. Have a look at Southside locations, east Renfrewshire and Milgavnie/Bearsden. I honestly can’t think of any cons but pros are good schools (private and non private), great parks and open spaces, amazing culture and easy access to wonderful countryside.

I love Glasgow. It's lost it's way a big recently but is a great vibrant city with loads of museums, parks and an amazing music scene. With your budget you've loads of options. I like Giffnock for proximity to the city with a village feel and great schools, or Bearsden also has great schools but better access to the countryside.
Pollokshields has some great houses but far more of an inner city feel.

Glasgow has lots to recommend it, but coming from the south of England don’t underestimate the difference in the climate. It rains a LOT in the west of Scotland, and it really much colder, much wetter & much less sunny than what you’re used to.

For 800k you could get a castle xD

Infact, for 250k you could get a 4 bed house and use the remaining cash to never have to work again.

You can buy anywhere you like for that money. Thing is about Glasgow is that you can be in the countryside within minutes no matter where you live.

What's important to you?

Schools: state vs private?
Transport: near train station or not?
Amenities: pubs etc in walking distance or not?

I'm Irish in Glasgow and weather-wise it's the same to me as Ireland. Your English DH and kids might notice more of a difference. You've got a great budget, don't go out to the outer reaches boring suburbs.

Yup, I'd agree. With your budget I'd be in the West End proper- Dowanhill/ Hyndland. Greenery everywhere within walking distance, Loch Lomond in half an hour. It's a no-brainer from me. Bearsden/ Milgavie/ Giffnock/ Mearns etc are so clichéd, cliquey and so awfully suburban.

(Ignore this disingenuous poster who suggested you can get a 4 bedroomed house for 250k- you can't.)

You’re definitely not getting a castle near Glasgow. A nice semi in a good area with 3 bedrooms is going to cost £300-400 easily. A detached 4 bed will be around £600-800. Don’t forget houses go for offers over, so anything between 10-20% depending on the market.

I’d look at East Renfrewshire as it has most of the top performing state schools in Scotland there. Plus, it sits just outside the South side of Glasgow. If you are willing to pay school fees I would go for the West End, because it has lots to do within walking distance. It really depends on what kind of house, environment or lifestyle you want.

Are you sure you want the schools? Aren’t super entrenched with gender identity ideology?

If you are willing to pay school fees I would go for the West End

i think I worded that badly. It’s not the case you’d need to go private if you picked the West End. I was thinking that if specific state schools don't matter I’d personally pick the West End over anywhere else. Every year it gets more and more expensive to buy there and like London, it can be impossible for many outsiders to afford property there. You’ve got a decent budget and in the long term it’s a great place to live escape for teenagers and adults.

Zzzzzzzzzzzzzz...

Ok thank you, this is all very helpful. Yes I am a little concerned about the weather- we've lived in S England for a very long time.
What's important to me is: good state schools (don't think we can stretch to private x 3); reasonable garden (ie not postage stamp sized); pretty area; short walking distance to somewhere I can walk ddog and longer walk/ short bus/ car to either countryside or cultural amenities (mureums/ libraries/ a mini-high street) not fussed about pubs etc as don't fancy the night time noise.

East Dunbartonshire (Bearsden/Milgnavie) or East Renfrewshire would tick those boxes. Very close to some hills (Queen's View a couple of miles), couple of hours to Glenshee, under 3 hours to Glencoe, Aviemore etc.

Weather wise my main assessment after moving from England is that most wet days in Glasgow are properly wet rather than a bit damp. I wouldn't say there are that many more wet days but those wet days are much wetter on average...

I would leave the weather in the south and come up here if I had the choice. Grey is our default setting!

London to Glasgow is a relocation move that has happened a lot recently in the company I work for as there’s a shiny new strategic site there…wonder is it is the same?

Could your DH to ask for a couple of contacts who have relocated in last year to have a chat ?

Jordanhill has the best state school in the country, is walkable into the west end (15-30min, tonnes of amenities), great trains into town (10min) and less than 30mins from the Trossachs by car. You'd get a nice house there for 800k. (I am biased: I live in the hyndland/broomhill/scotstoun/Jordanhill area and love it). It's the best of city living but not city feel.

I'd also recommend looking at the wider edge of southside eg around Rouken Glen park.

*wouldn't

I'd vote Jordanhill. Really nice area and not as bustling and loud as the West End. Fantastic school but you'd need to check it had places. I lived in nearby Scotstounhill which is less desirable but also nice. Excellent housing and transport links and less than 20 minutes to countryside. Also within easy reach of the West End and the city centre.

Oh I see I just cross posted- well, that's two of us voting Jordanhill now!

I was there for a weekend last week and we had a great time, 4 museums in 2 days! It really is the second city. I'd book in a weekend up there asap to get a feel for it. We told our kids we wouldn't mind them going to uni in Glasgow!

Going to go against the grain here and say that I would really think about whether this is the right move.

I know Glasgow well having lived there for a number of years until fairly recently and have always thought it’s a city whose residents kid themselves on about what a great city it is so you will get post after post of people telling you to come, it’s amazing, you’ll love it.

The weather is genuinely awful. It rains constantly. Even in summer. You have absolutely no guarantee of a proper summer any given year - you’ll get a few decent days. Sometimes a week or two of sun. But also just as likely to have weeks of rain and cold. I remember the feeling of getting to September and going, well that was summer then. When you’d only had a few decent days. Do not underestimate the effect this might have on your life if you value decent weather.

The city centre is meh, though the west end is lovely and I’d definitely live there with your budget.

There are nice walks and countryside nearby but also plenty of places where the entire population seems to descend at a hint of sun.

It’s not an especially cosmopolitan city though Glaswegians will tell you it is but compared to other UK cities I’ve lived in diversity is quite low. Your children will be at school with in the main white Scottish kids.

There is a ‘Glasgow mindset’ of people who can’t see beyond Glasgow even to Edinburgh. Glasgow is the best wee city in the world and why would you want to live anywhere else. Lots of people who are born, live and die in the same corner of Glasgow without venturing beyond it.

Glasgow will always have a place in my heart so I guess what I’m saying is don’t believe the hype. It’s an OK city. Just that and no more in my view. The weather is awful. There’s some decent countryside nearby.

Good luck!!

Well, I'm one of those with the Glasgow mindset and yes it is the best city in the UK!

It’s more complicated re schools than I think others have posted.

I’d say Jordanhill is out. You need to put your kids in a wait list at birth pretty much. If you can get one in you might get the others in via sibling preference but I think this is all unlikely.

So west end you are looking at hyndland secondary (so hyndland or Broomhill primary) or if you are catholic and happy to go catholic schooling you can go wider and go to notre damn primary and secondary (they are now letting Boys in I think).

East ren schools are good but you want to get in catchment for William wood or mearns castle. Giffnock as suggested is a lovely place but puts you in catchment for wood farm which would be a no for me. Again if you are catholic you can live anywhere in east ren and go to st ninians.

me, I’d go for bearsden.

It’s not an especially cosmopolitan city though Glaswegians will tell you it is but compared to other UK cities I’ve lived in diversity is quite low. Your children will be at school with in the main white Scottish kids

In Glasgow city schools, that's not even a tiny bit true. Maybe further out in the Lanarkshires, north Ayrshire etc but Glasgow schools are very diverse.