If you’re looking for a thriving city in the UK that is nowhere near as expensive as London, you should definitely take Glasgow into consideration. But, is Glasgow a nice place to live?
At the end of the day, you don’t want to reduce your quality of life and limit your opportunities just because a particular place or city is more affordable. So to help you make the right decision for your future, in this article, we’ll be going over our thoughts about Glasgow – starting off with what you can expect the Glasgow community to be like.
What’s the Glasgow Community Like?
When trying to figure out whether or not a city is a nice place to live, the first thing you need to learn about is the community that you’ll be living in. After all, moving to a new city means immersing yourself in a brand new community with people that you’ve never been amongst. So, before making such a big move like this, it’s important to understand what to expect to prevent any unpleasant surprises.
A Bunch of Friendly People
One of the first things you can expect from the Glasgow community is that the people are very friendly. In fact the city’s slogan is “People Make Glasgow”, which can’t be more true, and you’ll see why once you get to spend some time amongst the Scottish. And this applies to people from Scotland across all age groups, not just young and middle-aged adults.
Not As Many Tourists
There’s no denying the fact that tourists can ruin a beautiful city. And while tourism can help the city to develop economically, a lot of tourists can be a huge headache for residents. This is because tourists can usually be loud, obnoxious, and congest some of the city’s most popular areas – not to mention that tourists can also massively increase rental prices and the cost of living.
Amazing Nightlife
If you’re looking to keep yourself entertained in Glasgow, you’ll love the nightlife in the area. Whether you’re into hip hop, rock, metal, or more of a relaxed type of music – there’s something for everyone. That said, some spots you must definitely visit include the Sub Club, The Berkeley Suite, and The Cathouse.
Prestigious Education Facilities
If you have a family, living nearby prestigious primary and secondary schools is essential, and you’ll be pleased that there are a ton of them in and around Glasgow. Some of the best parts of town as far as schools are concerned include:
- West End (home to the Hillhead Primary School and the Glasgow Academy)
- South Side (home to Shawlands Primary School and the Shawlands Academy)
- Bearsden (home to Bearsden Primary School and the Bearsden Academy)
- City Centre (home to St. Mungo’s Primary School and the Glasgow Gaelic School)
A Look at Glasgow’s Work-Life Balance
Next up, we’re taking a look at the work life balance in Glasgow. If you’re a professional thinking of moving to a new city, you need to consider the work life balance in the area. You can’t spend all of your time working, which is why it’s important to choose a city that meets your needs. With that in mind, let’s look at what the work-life balance is like in Glasgow.
A Lower Cost of Living
One of the reasons people claim that Glasgow’s work-life balance is great is because of the lower cost of living. Cities like London, Manchester, and Liverpool have notoriously high costs of living. Glasgow, while offering a similar lifestyle, has a relatively low cost of living.
This is why you get to keep more of your income and spend it on your wants or save it for your future. For reference, the average rental price in London is around £1,832 while in Glasgow it’s around £850, which is more than twice as cheap.
There’s a Ton of Entertainment
Another reason Glasgow’s work-life balance is great is because there are tons of entertainment options. Aside from the music venues, Glasgow has a great arts and cultural scene. So, you won’t run out of things to do in Glasgow, which is why people there report being very happy with their work and life balance. We’d recommend that you visit the:
- Buchanan Street (one of Glasgow’s most popular shopping streets)
- Glasgow Centre of Science
- The Riverside Museum
- The Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum
Best Areas to Live in Glasgow
There are many great neighbourhoods around Glasgow that you will find super welcoming for newcomers. Whether you have a family or are a young professional, consider the following areas.
West End
The West End is one of the most popular parts of Glasgow. It’s home to many cultural attractions, Victorian architecture, and has some of the lively atmosphere you’ll find in Scotland’s biggest city.
This part of town is situated approximately 3 miles away from the city centre, meaning that it will take you around 10-15 minutes to get into the heart of Glasgow by public transport and around 10 to 20 minutes by car (depending on traffic).
Shawlands
Shawlands is a popular residential area situated approximately 3 miles south of the Glasgow city centre. It is well-connected to the city centre thanks to the excellent transport links that run past it, including train and bus services. As a result, getting into the centre will take you no more than 15 minutes. The area is home to a range of independent shops, cafes, restaurants, and local markets, which are just bonuses that you’ll get to enjoy when living in one of Glasgow’s most desirable areas.
Bearsden
Situated to the North of Glasgow, Bearsden is a thriving family-friendly part of Glasgow that’s around 6 miles away from the city centre. There are plenty of prestigious schools around, green spaces, and activities that you can do with your family. Getting into town will take you around 20 minutes via bus or train and around 20 minutes by car, which is heavily dependent on traffic.
Dennistoun
Dennistoun is one of Glasgow’s up and coming areas. It’s situated just 2 miles away from the Glasgow city centre, which is what makes this part of town particularly desirable amongst those who work in the city and want to be close but not too close to the hustle and bustle of Glasgow.
Buying a property here is a great idea as property prices are still relatively low, despite the growth Glasgow has experienced over the last few years. And remember, since it’s an up and coming area, if you buy now and sell in a few years time, you may profit quite nicely simply because you were early. There are plenty of cash house buyers in the area that can quickly buy the property from you when it’s time to move on.
Overall, Glasgow is a lovely city to live in. It’s safe, vibrant, affordable, and is suitable for everyone, regardless of whether you’re a young professional that enjoys going out or if you have a family and want some peace and quiet. It’s all about finding the right place to live and enjoying the many activities suitable to you that Glasgow has to offer.
