PrairieWriter

Yes, even we were surprised! We'd done a lot of advance homework (home reports, scoping out locations, driving distances etc) before we came over, which did help a lot. Nevertheless, we were prepared for a couple of weeks of intense viewing action and several more weeks of decision making!

I agree that anywhere in Scotland is good, really: you're never far from the Kyles, the isles, the Highlands and the beautiful Atlantic ocean, with its diverse sea life and startlingly empty and endless pale, sandy beaches. Also, whisky.

UkWinds5353

Scotland is truly beautiful and it would be worth a look imo. The music scene and friendly faces really does make for a inviting place to live. And it doesn't hurt to live in a place where money goes a bit further.

Do you think crime is any worse in Scotland than in Great Britain? I've heard various opinions but I'm not sure.

UkWinds5353

Very rare to find the idea house in quick order. Congratulations.

cyrian

Crime can happen everywhere - even in the countryside where farmers have had problems with thefts of animals and farm equipment.
London has recently asked advice from Glasgow regarding Glasgow's success in reducing gang-related violent crime.
IMHO there is not significant difference Scotland and the rest of the UK - but it does depend on where you live.

UkWinds5353

The stats bear out what you're saying. London is #4 with higher rate of crime incidents. Although it's also probably true that statistics don't tell the full story and there can be extenuating circumstances to explain certain facts. Which city do you think is safer between Glasgow versus Edinburgh and why? I lived in Manchester and saw my fair share of minor incidents but I never felt unsafe. We are going to witness crime even in the most remote areas in a country. It's human nature to sometimes resist following good behavior.

I know here in the states most crime happens in certain areas meaning they happened more often than not in areas known to suffer from lack of job opportunities, less opportunity to attain higher education. ect ect.

UkWinds5353

I'm happy to report that my friends are going to old Blighty for the holidays and will visit several cities .They just decided the other day to use the vacation break to tour places that he feels the Mrs will embrace. Both are very excited and ready to take in the sights & sounds and hopefully by the end of their holiday break they will know better, and that place where inner peace lives will speak to them. They are going to visit Bristol. Reading, Brighton, Luton, Bath, Oxford, Kent and a few more. They are also visiting Manchester because of all the wonderful things I've mentioned about the place. Fingers crossed for them. I told him to take her & kids to a fun exciting Castle for the weekend but don't tell her in advance. lol. He is going full court press on this move.

cyrian

Huge question.
What do you mean by crime?
Personal violence; drug-related crime; property crime?
Both Glasgow and Edinburgh have their wealthy areas where you can find property crime e.g. car theft or housebreaking but perhaps not so much the other 2 types.
They both have their deprived areas where crime is more endemic. If you are aware of these areas then you can avoid them.
Glasgow is much larger than Edinburgh - not only in core population but also for the adjoining towns which surround it and which are not technically Glasgow. I suspect that per head of population, there is not a great difference.
For example, in Glasgow (actually outside Glasgow) there is a wealthy area with large houses; good schools and higher house prices - because people want to live there. Only one mile away there is an area of multiple deprivation with much social housing or former social housing; a lot of unemployment and lower life expectancy.
This is no different from most big cities in the world.
I was born in a deprived area in Glasgow and have never experienced (so far) anything other than petty crime.

UkWinds5353

Thanks for your detailed reply. I agree there is no major difference in most big cities in the western world. I've lived in Manchester and felt safe, and spent most of my time in the UK in Great Britain and although it's not that far away, my stay didn't include visits to our neighbor to the north. Unfortunately it was a omission on my part that I hope one day to correct. Interestingly enough I have a handful of friends from Scotland and I see that nation through their eyes.

My question about the level of crime in Scotland was general in scope. Sounds like you're saying that Glasgow and the outer areas have safe neighborhoods one by one right next to each other with multiple upscaled communities like you would see in Great Britain. I've gone on Rightmove to look for properties for my friends and the houses are amazing with so much character. Honestly, I would give Scotland a second look if it were me, but they know what's best for their family. And I get the fact that it's quite normal to want to experience living somewhere different. Scotland's culture is so rich and fun and I'm drawn to it.

I think avoiding most violent crime(which is the most concerning type) has a lot to do with being street smart and wise about one's decisions and surroundings . Being aware of the places in question and knowing something about it's potential problematic history. There are times when the neighborhood is upscaled and problem people still come a-hunting for trouble. That has happened to me in NYC when two guys tried to jump me while I was in Herald Square doing a bit of shopping.

Thankfully my physical attributes were well toned from all that weight lifting and time in the gym. I was a bit younger then as well. Safe to say they picked the wrong guy that day and the experience did not leave me with a bad impression of NY, it just left me with a good story to tell.

Weirdly enough my brother experienced an attempted mugging in upper NYC walking down stairs after getting off the bus making his way to the subway, and waiting in the third floor stairwell was a drugged out mugger with a huge knife. He put the knife to my brother's face and demanded all his money.

Usually when you transfer from the bus and walk down stairs to the subway your main focus is hopefully making your train on time and maybe if lucky getting an actual seat to rest from the journey. Instead, my brother had to do hand to hand combat just to make it to his train. Unfortunately for the mugger my brother has been taking Karate for over 10 years. Big brother managed to disarm the aggressor took the knife from him and broke his arm in three different places. The police were impressed. It wasn't until when my brother returned to his home that the seriousness of the attack hit him. He actually got nervous once he was home and he thought about what happened. He was in a so so neighborhood and my incident took place in a good area. Things can happen anywhere.

yellowroom

Just a note. Scotland is in Great Britain, which consists of England, Scotland and Wales.

durham_lad

UkWinds5353

Is Northern Ireland considered a part of Great Britain?

durham_lad

UkWinds5353

Thanks.

GeniB

Well a BIG thumbs up for daring to mention Manchester Most British ex-pats would have been horrified at such a suggestion not many years ago. I come from the Lancashire / Cheshire border area just half an hour from Manchester and altho i found it a fabulous area to grow up in .( Lake District / Derbyshire,Southport ,Morecombe and Blackpool all within spitting distance ) Even though it now has the BBC in Manchester ( good as dammit , over the bridge in Salford ) Best shopping mall in the country at the Trafford centre Even though it has two of the worlds top football teams . Man U and Man C... It still retains the stigma of a century of disdain from London and the southern counties. It still retains a myriad of disadvantages against the south. which this couple will have to contend with for their children.
The best schools are deemed to be in the south( apart from some private schools) ie thats where the money is ,so thats where its spent. These schools have 'fast tracks ' into higher education A far higher proportion of kids from the south make it into Oxbridge, which belies the higher population in the Northern conurbations . etc
Do they want their kids 'picked up' on their northern accent all the time. ? Might seem a small thing, but it drove me mad as an Ex-pat in the Netherlands. Every single southerner I met, picked me up on it over the 30 yrs I lived there. (Something a Northerner would never.
dream of doing. as its ill mannered)
Job prospects would most likely be far higher in the south than the north.For them and for their kids. in the future. ( Altho that changed for the first time this year .More IT jobs offered in the north than the south)
Believe me i HATE to say this because having family in both the north and the south of the country I know the north is far superior in quality of life ,work / life balance. than the south .which is now grossly overcrowded ,making travel on the roads and rail a nightmare for many.
They have so many things to take into account. then. Its going to be a matter of making a list of what is really important for them( including weather )
As the guy comes from Scotland but can work from home I would seriously consider the Lake District. It's a wealthier area of the north though so housing is expensive. in which case I would rent for a year .As the Kids are young this won't matter so much. It is deemed the most beautiful area of the country by many, close to motorways and all amenities .Manchester less than an hour and a half away. road and rail links to London.
In any event I would seriously suggest renting wherever they go. It will give them a chance to settle without commitment and take a good look around the country before they decide if its for them.Good luck to them

Moses2013

They have a lot of choices, but going to a better school also doesn't mean anything these days. You end up paying more for housing/education and then there's still no guarantee you'll end up having a better quality of life. As you say, probably better to stick to an area with less people and you don't have to go to Oxbridge to get a job.