Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Scotsnet

Welcome to Scotsnet - discuss all aspects of life in Scotland, including relocating, schools and local areas.

Original poster

Possible move to Glasgow, not a clue

104 replies

Year6dramallama · 01/09/2023 10:04

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.

OP posts:
Thread gallery
5
Hiddenvoice · 01/09/2023 17:07

I live in the outside of Glasgow city centre and prefer it to being in the city.

Places I’d recommend are shawlands if you need to be very close, Clarkston, Busby, Giffnock, Strathaven, Eaglesham and East Kilbride.

Eaglesham and Strathaven have a smaller town feel to them and are lovely. Jackton just outside of East Kilbride has had an influx of new houses but a brand new school has just opened too.

Original poster
Year6dramallama · 01/09/2023 17:35

Gosh thanks everyone. So much to think about and research. I think I'm going to book a weekend in Glasgow in the next few weeks just as a starting point to see how I like the feel of the city. I think I'd prefer to be a bit closer in purely because I like to walk or take public transport wherever possible, I can drive but prefer not to. So a town where everything is a drive wouldn't be my ideal. DH drives a lot and I will if I need to, but would prefer not to have to for everyday things. Again, I'm assuming that being somewhere like Shawlands, West End would be OK for day to day walking/bussing/train.

OP posts:
Iwantanapnow · 01/09/2023 17:38

West End is great for walking, trains, buses and underground. And Uberworks well in the west end
i love Dowanhill but not sure if out of your budget

Original poster
Year6dramallama · 01/09/2023 17:54

In terms of budget, it all depends on what we get for our place of course. I'd estimate 600k conservatively but we could probably flex up to 650/680 if need be, so looking on rightmove I think we'd be able to find something nice in most areas. We live in a terrace with a tiny garden and a neighbourhood whatsapp that keeps us updated on the regular street car thieves and drug dealer fights so I reckon we could make a bit of a step up

OP posts:
Sturmundcalm · 01/09/2023 18:02

😂with an upper limit of £680k i think you could definitely step up from what you currently have!

i know the north/west of the city and surrounding areas better than the southside but i live 25 miles from Glasgow and can still be in the city centre in less than an hour - 10 min walk to train station, 45 minute train ride. commuting times will be MUCH less than you are probably used to in london.

Pammela2 · 01/09/2023 18:04

I’d go west end or Bearsden/Milngavie (I do live here though!)
The south side is nice but more ‘city’ feel, but Bearsden/Milngavie is 25 mins drive to Loch Lomond and on door step of Mugdock country park. I love it here and have made quite a lot of new friends through babies/nursery and school.

I think houses are still going for a fair bit over home report, but not as crazy as before.

I work in one of the ‘results driven’ schools and we do have an excellent pastoral care team and specific health and well-being centre. Just because schools get good results, it doesn’t mean that other children aren’t catered to.

A visit to some of these places will help you get a feel for what you’re after!

JamieFrasersfurrysporran · 01/09/2023 18:04

Helensburgh is lovely

Original poster
Year6dramallama · 01/09/2023 18:48

OMG that house in Newlands is gorgeous. There are so many beautiful properties that we couldn't even dream of in London.

What is Helensburgh like in terms of commute and local amenities?

OP posts:
soupmaker · 01/09/2023 19:06

Year6dramallama · 01/09/2023 18:48

OMG that house in Newlands is gorgeous. There are so many beautiful properties that we couldn't even dream of in London.

What is Helensburgh like in terms of commute and local amenities?

Just under an hour from Helensburgh Central to Glasgow Queen Street.

I like to visit, not sure I'd want to live there. It gets a lot of day trippers. But I'm biased because I grew up in a west coast of Scotland coastal town and couldn't wait to get out!

JamieFrasersfurrysporran · 01/09/2023 19:08

You can get a cracking 5 bed water view for 450/500. Helensburgh has more of a small town/ village feel, it's an " affluent" area and had lots of outdoors pursuits on its doorstep

AmygdaIa · 01/09/2023 19:14

The rain will drive you crazy. I’m Scottish and lived in Glasgow for about 15 years from uni and the weather drove me away in the end.

Constantly pishing it down.

If go and live in Ayrshire myself, it’s less rainy

TrishTrix · 01/09/2023 19:15

You may need to budget for two cars (if you don't already) and remember the Scottish offers over system.

I'm from Edinburgh so don't know what the current ball park is for Glasgow properties. I'm are a local will be along soon to tell you.

I've got a lot of friends in Glasgow. There are plenty of pockets of niceness with no druggies! Personally I'd live in the West End but I'm an urban creature.

Malbecmoron · 01/09/2023 19:16

Newlands is a fantastic place to live. Generally Glasgow is a brilliant city, lots going on, lots of green space. I love it here.

TrishTrix · 01/09/2023 19:19

To follow up on offers over - if you were looking in Edinburgh I would tell you that the Newlands house is likely to go for the top of your budget 680K or possibly more.

The home report will tell you what the surveyor valued at but desirable stuff often goes over that. You will need to contact the agent if you want to see the home report.

Squeakbeak · 01/09/2023 19:21

What about Cambuslang/Newton farm. Massive newbuild development and they are still building. Also look at Burnside/Rutherglen.

5 minutes on the the m74 and probably around 15-20 minutes to the city centre (depending on traffic) there's also the train stations with park and ride, Newton, Cambuslang and Rutherglen.

5 minutes away from this is East kilbride, Hamilton and Bothwell.

I find the west end expensive and busy but with good transport links. The further you go out to the west coast, the more impoverished areas are more and more apparent.
South side is like a copy of the west end, busy, but descent transport links.
East end is VERY mixed with very expensive and very poor areas and I've never stayed in the North but any time I've visited, it's looked very run down and the streets have been poorly kept.

gawditswindy · 01/09/2023 19:34

Giffnock is lovely and catchment schools are good. Easy reach of Shawlands and its environs too, for a bit more diversity. You'd get a nice house in Giffnock for 600k.
No personal experience of Bearsden but it feels a bit more rural and is within easy reach of mountains and the like. I've always quite fancied it for that. Also excellent schools. Not quite so close to the centre but not bad.
Killearn is a bit further out again but is a nice village with a good catchment secondary.
I work in a (relatively) suburban Glasgow school and we see lots of English accents: it doesn't seem to be a problem.

Notgoodatpoetrybutgreatatlit · 01/09/2023 19:35

I'm so jealous. I love Glasgow and Edinburgh. I have lived in London all my adult life but my favourite holidays are always in Scotland.
Do look on the property websites. I use Retties. I'm not moving I am just day dreaming!
I'm not sure you picked up on the fact that Glasgow has an underground. It only really serves the centre. I did a total London thing and stood staring at the map for ages trying to get my head round it.
Glaswegians are so friendly and welcoming. You will enjoy your visit!
Also if there are any Edinburgh folk on here I love your city as much and I think you are equally warm and friendly!

Lifeisapeach · 01/09/2023 19:41

You can’t go wrong with Jordanhill which is very close to the city, and beardsden and Milngavie are nice but a bit further out. Any area in East Renfrewshire too. Also going in the other direction, my absolute favour is Bothwell. Such a lovely place which is worth checking out.

soupmaker · 01/09/2023 19:45

The Glasgow subway isn't too hard to navigate!

soupmaker · 01/09/2023 19:46

Here's the subway map for reference.

Possible move to Glasgow, not a clue
Swanslikeme · 01/09/2023 19:59

Most important thing to know is that when people say Glasgow- they don't mean City of Glasgow Council area. They mean greater Glasgow which consists of multiple different council areas and some of the best schools in Scotland.

Jordanhill is the best high school in Scotland but it doesn't have the same catchment criteria as all other schools - you have to live in a house on a specific map and effectively sign up at birth! There are lots of other good schools though.

Glasgow has a great suburban rail network and easy access by car to amazing scenery. It is much wetter and colder than down south though.

prettybird · 01/09/2023 20:13

If the office is in Tradeston, have a look at Shawlands, West Pollokshields, Newlands. Lovely Victorian houses which would be well within your budget. Plus close to Pollok Park and the Burrell Collection and good transport infrastructure.

Shawlands Academy is an excellent school: doesn't on the face of it have them stellar results of, say Bearsden/Milngavie (which is where I was brought up and went to school) it Giffnock, because of its very highly mixed demographic, but it turns out well-rounded young people, encouraging academic, sporting and creative prowess and has plenty of kids who go on to well-respected universities/prestigious degrees. (Ds graduated last year from Aberdeen Uni)