Possible move to Glasgow, not a clue

[Year6dramallama]

Hello,

My DH and I are considering leaving London, where we've lived for over 20 years. Main drivers are cost of living and quality of life/work life balance. Ideally we'd buy somewhere cash, which would enable me to stop work or take a part time role. Our sons both have some additional needs and we're all struggling to manage at the moment with both working full time in very high pressured roles.

DH earns more than me, and his role has better benefits so would make sense for him to keep his job. He could enable a transfer to Glasgow very easily as his employer has a large office there. It could be a good move for his career, or at the least be low-risk to his job security. In terms of budget we could afford a property up to around 600k.

I know very little about Glasgow, but DH spent time there growing up as his mum grew up there until she was a teen, and there are still a few uncles and cousins around there.

Of course before making any decision we'd need to visit a few times and check it out, but I'd be interested to hear from people living in and around Glasgow, what are the pros and cons of living there, what is the lifestyle and culture like? How is it for primary and teenage kids? Especially those moving from England.

East Renfrewshire schools are very results focused. Williamwood especially, at least a few years ago when I knew kids going there. So they get great results once a year, but kids are under huge pressure and lots of mental health issues follow.

I think Giffnock / Clarkston area would be your best bet, particularly if your DH's office is Tradeston (south side). Good schools, lovely big period houses, nice cafes, parks - and you have a good budget for these areas. There are train stations at Williamwood, Giffnock, and Clarkston which you could look for properties near to. I wouldn't think accent would be an issue for your kids, particularly in more affluent areas.

@WhatdidIdoyesterday any recommendations for schools which are less results focused?

Also I'm interested in the suggestions re:private. In my part of SE London my kids wouldn't have a chance of getting in even if we could afford the 20k+ fees, as they are very academically selective. Kids are tutored extensively or go to prep school in order to get through the exams and interviews. I'd assumed all private was the same. Is that not the case in Glasgow?

For what it's worth I think all the high achieving schools can be accused of being 'results focussed' with mental health issues etc - it's just the pressure that most schools put on kids now. I've heard people say the same about Bishopbriggs and Lenzie further north in Glasgow, and the obvious St Ninians in Giffnock. But having known a few kids at both (and also Williamwood) who've been really happy, and also having known a few teachers, I think it's fairly typical and exams are just something you have to support your kids through. I can't see this being any better at a private school.

@crabette thanks, I agree. I guess I'd be looking at schools which perhaps are average-achieving rather than high achieving, and looking harder at the SEND provision and pastoral care. I'll take a look at the league tables too.

What about lifestyle and making friends? Is it a welcoming sort of place? We live in London but make no use of the London stuff we just work, cook, do laundry, ferry the kids about etc etc like most people really. So I don't think we'd miss London particularly, but I'd want us to be able to achieve a better work life balance with less commuting, more opportunities to get out into the countryside, and lower cost of living enabling us to do more with our time off. Is this achievable in a city like Glasgow or surrounding? Forgive me if it's a stupid question but I've lived in very large cities for all my adult life and I don't know if am slightly deluded about moving somewhere a bit smaller

I’ll send you a DM OP

I'd say its easy to get a good worklife balance if you make the time. You have everything within 60mins of your doorstep in Glasgow. Shops, concert halls, sports venues, hills, beaches, lakes, cinemas, parks, libraries etc are all very plentiful you just have to make the time.

If you're southside you have the Burrell Collection, House for an Art Lover, Tramway, Scottish Ballet, Pollock park, Rouken Glen, Linn Park, Silverburn shopping centre and tens of cafes and restaurants within 20-30minutes.

Would also recommend southside - Pollokshields is lovely and Shawlands also vibrant. @Prettybird usually comes on threads like this to recommend and has experience of Shawlands Academy.

Dont forget houses are priced as offers over and usually go for more than the Home Report valuation.

I lived in Glasgow for 5 years and loved it, but ended up leaving due to the weather. If that doesn't bother you though, it's a fantastic place to live.

Hmm, weather. We grew up in South Manchester so rain is not a concern for us, nor is grey sky. I have to say my most hated weather is windy, followed by too hot. Favourite weather is crisp cool with blue sky. I understand that Glasgow is cold and wet, but does the sun come out at all, even if its still cold?

Some lovely places on Rightmove in Shawlands or nearby, and look like commute would be a doddle

Lived in Glasgow all my life, from the North of the City and agree the Southside sounds ideal for you and well inside your budget.

Generally cost of living a bit cheaper than London but afraid weather is a bit changeable, to be fair 😂

Transport wise buses have been a bit hit and miss since Covid but trains still quite reliable and Tradeston only a 10 to 15 min walk from Glasgow Central Station.

Ignore any druggie comments - as safe a city as any to live in my opinion, and some lovely places not too far such as Stirling, Oban, Inverness and Edinburgh etc to visit.

Don’t have kids so can’t comment on schooling, but have worked with many English people who have moved here and don’t recall any bullying issues re accents.

I have family living there, Bishopbriggs ( very pleasant, safe child friendly but wrong location for you)
The weather is wet and often grey. It isn't cold like the East coast. But the sun does shine and it is lovely in the countryside when it does.
There is lots of outdoors to explore close to Glasgow.
If I returned to the UK I would happily live there with my dc.

@WhatdidIdoyesterday where are these lakes of which you write? There is only one lake in Scotland, all the hundreds of others are lochs.

Is it by any chance Barclays?

Of course the sun comes out, sometimes for whole weeks at a time 🌞
If you're used to Manchester, you'll be fine.

Barclays. Really handy for the train and M74.

The southside areas are mostly suitable, West end is a doddle to get to .... anywhere you like as the office is so convenient.

Good point. Depending on the area you might have to 5-20% over the asking price

Also remember to factor in higher tax rates in Scotland when calculating salaries.

Have you thought of Helensburgh?

@Trez1510 lake = loch. Your comment is the kind of thing that people worry about when moving to Scotland and not being made to feel welcome!

You could even look at somewhere in Ayrshire like Troon? Lovely Victorian houses, you’d have a good budget for there, lovely big beach and a smaller community for making friends. Good local school. The commute wouldn’t be too bad at all, straight into Central and a short walk to the office.
I’m from London, have lived in Glasgow for nearly 20 yrs, absolutely love it. I feel completely at home, it’s very friendly compared to London. Don’t worry about accents, it’s a pretty diverse city. We love the Southside, and I know that Shawlands Academy is good with pastoral care and additional needs.

We live in Glasgow south of the river. I lived in London for over a decade in my 20s/30s before kids. Have lots of pals with kids still there.

So, any commute will be easier than bloody commuting in London! Anywhere with a nearby train station into Glasgow Central will mean a 10 minute walk from there if your DH at Barclays. Also possible to cycle from where we are within less than 20 minutes on cycle paths.

With a 600k budget you could look at Dumbreck, Shawlands, Pollokshields, Cathcart. All these areas have easy access to great green spaces. If your DC like sports there are loads of opportunities. My DC do a lot of sports and because we drive nothing is more than 20 minutes away.

If your lads are at an inner city comp in London then they will be absolutely grand in Glasgow secondaries. Mine go to one which reportedly has very good pastoral care and support for kids with additional support needs. It's very much "mid-table" when it comes to the "good" schools tables! Happy to PM to tell you where. It has a very mixed socioeconomic and cultural intake of kids, which we really like. Glasgow will feel very mono-cultural after London.

I find Glasgow is a bit of a village after London - we know all our neighbours and have lots of friends made through the kids activities.

Living here is the best of both worlds, city life but hills, beaches and lochs in no-time.

You need to look into what support is available for SN kids. It’s possibly not as good as you might think at first. My friend has had great difficulty getting support for her son, now 17, with complex needs.

The Scottish index of deprivation is helpful, and so is the (unofficial) league tables.

Cold but sunny weather will suit you fine, of course the sun comes out sometimes! We've had some lovely days visiting Scotland at all times of the year.

We're moving to Scotland in a few months from London too.