what's it like for an English person living in Scotland?

[KookyNotOoky]

Have been pondering moving north of the border.... I was wondering what it would be like living there as an English person? I've only ever been on holidays up there - mostly just some good-humoured ribbing, however I've read from some English people that this can get very wearing after a while and can sometimes have an unpleasant edge to it.

It probably depends where you live. In one of the cities, I don’t think there would be any problem. Also in most areas in the central belt that are within easy commuting distance of Edinburgh/Glasgow.

It's exactly the same as it is for anyone living anywhere. As long as you aren't cutting about in one of those stupid 'see you jimmy' hats I'm not sure it'll be a problem.
My DH and I are English, we live in the west Highlands and we have no problems regarding our nationality.
Just don't do that thing where you compare everything to how it is in England and no one will be bothered I reckon.

I moved to Dundee to go to university in 1981 aged 18. I got on fine. I'm still in Edinburgh at nearly 60. We have neighbours who are from England, no problems. I think decent people don't care.

My husband moved here from London in 1999 to attend Glasgow Uni.
He's never wanted to go back to London other than to visit his parents and a few friends. He says it's just a better pace of life here, clearer air, cleaner water, beautiful green spaces and says that the Scottish sense of humour is better too lol.
Those are the responses he gave when I asked him (he's sitting beside me at the moment)
He's had no issue from anyone regarding his London accent and everyone's always been really welcoming to him.
He adds that he's gained a very different perspective on politics and Scottish history since moving up too.

Zero issues, and lived there the height of indy ref. Absolutely loved living in Scotland

It's mostly fine. I'd have said totally fine until Indy ref but there was some pretty unpleasant stuff, especially on social media. I learned you need to hide some people (often who are fine in real life).

Avoid looking at anything during England matches!

But other than a few idiots it's fine.

I would like to know as well. I’d love to move to the Highlands some day. I’m in Essex and hate it. It’s just so crowded. Eventually, the south east of England will be a single, giant housing estate.

I've lived in Scotland since the 90s. Glasgow, Stirling, Edinburgh

Never had any issues.

I've worked in places where there was a tendency to support whichever sporting team was playing England, but that's been about it for ribbing.

Just East of Glasgow, no issues and I have a posh SE England accent. Probably get less judged for it than I did in the Midlands in England.

I'm English, lived here 20 years (central belt small towns/villages). No problems. I've lived three places and in each there's a fair mix of English & Irish folk plus also more recent immigrants from Eastern Europe plus second-generation Asian folk plus also whatever random other backgrounds - there's not seemed to be a 'pure scottish' block anywhere I have lived.

I'm "English" but great grandparents on one side Scots-Irish. DH is "Scottish" but parents long generational English. Not noteworthy, loads of people have similar stories.

The IndyRef nutters were twattish against anyone who did not want independence, imo they did not single out the English here. (Probably because half the twitter crew were living in England anyway...)

Been here 14 years and absolutely nothing negative to report. There’s a fair mix of English, Irish and Welsh people living here, and so many nationalities during tourist season.

You might get comments but I guess it depends where you live/who you socialise with really. Where are you thinking of moving to?

I lived in the south of England and was ribbed for my Scottish-ness, so it does go both ways.

My DH has lived here for 10 years and never had an unpleasant comment.

I would say it’s fine, hardly ever had any comments about it (and the ones I’ve had tend to come from the sort of people who’d find a reason to comment on anything). Indy ref felt quite uncomfortable at times and I disconnected from a few people on social media as it felt very anti English…..and I’d definitely consider moving back south if it ever actually went through. Covid was also pretty hideous with far tighter restrictions than in England (some might say that was a good thing but I fear the economy and people’s mental health may say otherwise).

DH is English and has never encountered any issues although we live in a city. I lived in London (where I met him) and encountered quite a lot of scottish bashing while living there. I was delighted to return to Scotland!

“My husband moved here from London in 1999 to attend Glasgow Uni.
He's never wanted to go back to London other than to visit his parents and a few friends. He says it's just a better pace of life here, clearer air, cleaner water, beautiful green spaces and says that the Scottish sense of humour is better too lol”
My story is similar and in particular I agree with better pace of life cleaner are and beautiful green spaces. I have always found the Scots very welcoming and friendly, often curious about why I choose to move here but not in an unfriendly way and IMO only because like many who have little or no experience of how different life in England is they don’t appreciate how lucky they are. I travelled through lots of Scotland from Glasgow possibly the friendliest city in the world to extremely rural isolated communities and everyone has been very welcoming only in Edinburgh did I meet any degree of unfriendliness.
I do get ribbed at work (in a friendly way) about my pronunciation of some Scottish words/place names but that’s ok.
Living here is the best thing I’ve ever done when I return to England I feel sad as I cross the boarder and so relieved when I come home (I view Scotland as home) I (like many Scots I work with/know) have no fixed opinion one way or the other on Scottish independence I can see the pros and cons to both arguments if and it’s a big if we get another referendum I will stay here whatever the result because I can’t think of anywhere I would rather live.

DH and my sister have been on the receiving end of some nasty comments. Both related to the idea that they had taken jobs away from the Scottish. I haven’t had any problems, but I mostly work with people from outside Scotland/other countries.

DH is English and has lived here for 20 years plus.

He has has some horrific comments which have upset him greatly. One of which was very recently.

Others which have been more banter still get to him a bit.

On the whole though he's very happy living here and would recommend it.

As other posters say it depends where you are and sadly also what is going on with Scottish politics! I absolutely dread most elections now (since 2014) as I will get some sort of comment.

I live rurally in the North East and whilst the majority of people I meet are lovely sadly there is a small percentage who don't like 'incomers' or who tell me to 'go home'. Some of it comes from the pressures of the local area such as housing costs (not all of Scotland is cheap prices!) and jobs. Others because I say I won't vote SNP!

Thankfully they are in the minority and mostly as long as there isn't a election it's fine. Unfortunately the referendum made things quite toxic in some areas and it hasn't really gone back. We did look at moving back to England when it looked like a date was going to be set as we just couldn't face it again! I've lived here over 10 years.

Other things to be aware of if moving tax is higher including stamp duty (called land reform tax) and your legally tied into a house or pay big fines once the missives are signed. So it's usually best for a house sale to go through fully in England before commiting to buy in Scotland. Its also a bit like ebay but the home report is done upfront so you know of most issues before you even go and view it.

An English friend of mine who had lived in Scotland for a long time was spat on during Indy Ref time. There have also been some unpleasant interactions over the years over other matters. The rise in nationalism has been unhelpful.

thanks for responses.

Tbh the politics would be a big turn-off, and I'm not especially political. The SNP were authoritarian nutjobs during Covid and they deliberately stoke anti-English sentiment to win votes (despite having largely failed in office on just about any measure). There's a patronishing 'we know best' attitude about them also, which you can see on their pushing of 'woke' issues and their war on alcohol (had some spotty teenager in Tesco take a bottle of wine out of my hands because it was after 10pm - honestly wtf?). Interesting how similar attitudes are on display in Wales and Ireland, all countries with a relatviely recent history of rigid religious conformity.

Anyway, the thought of living in an independent Scotland where those types are given complete free reign does not appeal tbh.

That said the place is beautful, less crowded than England, and politicians come and go. Scots are also less snobby than English people. Housing situ also appears to be less insane.

Honestly as someone living here that's a really sweeping and largely inaccurate comment on our government. And my South Londoner husband is a big supporter of the SNP himself now too, more than I am certainly.
It sounds like your comment was purely to stir up some drama for someone who claims to not be particularly political. Hopefully if you do move here it will be with a more open mind that your comment suggests as that attitude really isn't nice.

Adults - fine. Kids still at school can be unpleasant though, even in say Glasgow.

It probably depends on where you work, live and where you kids go to school! DH works in Oil and has very few Scottish colleagues. Our dd’s school has a really big range of nationalities (well a lot with a strong slant towards other countries with an oil industry!). They’ve never had any unpleasantness at school though.

I’d agree with above that Indy ref was not a good time.

DH has received verbal abuse in the street when wearing a dinner jacket not kilt. Doesn’t happen anymore as we have kids and don’t go out as much.

so stating facts is 'stirring up drama'?? Honestly if the SNP were just conducting their dodgy corrupt deals like the Tories, or just plain incompetent like the Greens in Brighton, I wouldn't care less... however if they want to start interfering in my daily life and freedoms than I very much do care.

Exactly the same applies to all other main parties btw, though it is an objective fact that the SNP have been the most draconian and most obsessed with controlling the citizenry in the UK in recent times. Sorry if you think it's not very 'nice' to point that out.