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

Original poster

Moving to Ayrshire

32 replies

YseultChevalier · 28/05/2025 14:46

Hello everyone, we are moving from London to Ayrshire this summer to be closer to family. We have family in Kilmarnock so ideally want to be close by, but finding it difficult to narrow down location with our budget and trying to find a “good” school for the kids, we have a 5yo and 2yo. We’ve found a great house in Irvine, near Annick primary school. We’ve stayed in Irvine many times when visiting family, but this has been mainly closer to the beach (which we love!), can anyone help with their experiences in the residential areas of Irvine? Troon and Ayr have been recommended to us over Irvine, but they’re just out of our budget at the moment, hopefully in the future though.

OP posts:
Original poster
YseultChevalier · 15/06/2025 10:29

Eppy123 · 14/06/2025 02:40

Hello, I’m from Irvine and moved back here having lived elsewhere in my 20’s, my husband has lived here his whole life.

To give a balanced view - yes, the town has deprived areas (I grew up in one) and problems with drugs and anti-social behaviour. I would never live in the town centre or in certain areas of the wider town.

However, it has a beautiful beach and harbour area which has seen lots of improvement over the last decade. We have a wonderful country park (technically in Kilwinning but very close to the area you mentioned). There are excellent transport links to Glasgow & Ayr and plenty of shopping options.

I live in the Montgomerie Park area which is close to where you mentioned. There’s a new primary school just opened last year and starting to see a real sense of community here.

You mention diversity - I wouldn’t say Irvine is an overly diverse place but then again I don’t think anywhere in Ayrshire is.

I would personally choose Irvine over any of the 3 towns area (among the most deprived areas in Scotland) or Troon. Troon is great for a visit but I just wouldn’t want to live there.

Happy to answer any questions but as I said, I’ve lived elsewhere and chose to move back home and buy a house in Irvine - no regrets!

Thank you so much for responding! I know a lot of people only have negative things to say, but I live in an area where there is zero investment in education, schools are over subscribed and it shows, so to know about the new school and the new nursery in town as well, it already seems like a better area to live than where we are now. We have just had our offer accepted on a property so hoping things move quickly! It neighbours the Montgomerie Park estate, on the Girdle Toll side, but literally across the road so I’m hoping our 5yo can get into the new school as it’s a 5 min walk 🤞 at the moment we are a 20 min walk from school so it’s one thing I’m looking forward to 😂

OP posts:
NoTouch · 16/06/2025 12:13

Aaron95 · 14/06/2025 19:05

I grew up in Ayrshire. Every town in Ayrshire seems to think most other towns are utter shitholes. The reality is most are fine. They have good and bad areas but aren't that bad. Aside from the oldoming towns like Drongan, Daily or Auchinleck. Those are isolated inbred shitholes with a huge unemployment problem and more drugs than Colombia.

Grew up in Irvine and move to Kilmarnock in the 90s. Both apparently shitholes. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Have family and friends in both towns, all good people, son educated in Kilmarnock and now at university studying masters in engineering along with most of his friends who are also at uni (from Hurlford, Bellfield, New Farm, SouthCraigs, town center, Onthank). My family have never personally experienced any anti social or criminal behaviour in either Irvine or Kilmarnock and neighbours always friendly and helpful.

Of course, like any town, even the much lauded Ayr and Troon, there will be some areas that have social issues, they don’t define whole towns.

ICouldHaveCheckedFirst · 18/06/2025 17:55

@YseultChevalier the local council will be able to confirm which school catchment the house is in. Good luck with your offer.

Fleene · 22/06/2025 11:27

Irvine has some lovely spots and we used to do most of our shopping in the retail park there when we lived in West Kilbride (a few years ago.) There are clearly rough spots in North Ayrshire but they didn't seem any worse to me than parts of the West Yorkshire area where I grew up. I found the people nice and down to earth almost everywhere. Miss it.

lovesT · 29/06/2025 19:50

We are from Kent (my family is London) and moved to Ayrshire 5 years ago. We have a 5yo and 2yo. We are in "the valley" near Kilmarnock .. Darvel to be specific! We were in West Kilbride before which we loved and would still choose to live there (family, beach etc) but work moved is to Darvel. Parts of it are very run down but they're working on it and we've never had any issues here. We know it's not where we will be forever but for our first house it fit within our budget and we have sooo much more than we could have had in Kent. We would consider areas in Kilmarnock for a bit more balance for us between work and family and easier commute to Glasgow as there isn't much this way.

Good luck! Similar aged kids so message if you move up and have any questions 😊

Sunbeam18 · 30/06/2025 18:40

I'm from Mauchline, great village and an excellent primary school

MadameTwoSwords · 01/07/2025 00:00

Irvine and Kilwinning are absolute toilets, as are most towns in the region.
Largs and Gourock are nice...

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