They speak English in Edinburgh; it's hard to discern what they speak in Glasgow. Even people from Edinburgh can find hard to understand what a born-and-bred Glaswegian is saying.

So that I am not misunderstood, I am not just beating up some of the Scots, it can also be hard to understand some people in Newcastle, and in parts of Yorkshire, and I am from Yorkshire!

The Results Are In: Glaswegian Accent Is Sexiest | Anglophenia | BBC America

FWIW My mother has never had a driving licence. When she still worked she used to ride a moped, having learned to drive but failed the only test she ever took. My father died ten years ago, and she has managed just fine since then with public transport and a taxi when she feels like it, say with heavy shopping, or in heavy rain.

My mother lives in Gloucester, which is a fairly small city, about 100,000 people, so a bit bigger than a "market town".

Maybe like John Cleese in A Fish Called Wanda? That he was speaking Russian was all that mattered, that what he was saying was incomprehensible was irrelevant to the impact his accent was making!

Thanks for that info Anything else that might be a bit more useful right now about these 2 cities?

I'll keep that in mind

I honestly cannot imagine not driving myself around for everything. I always have. I'm also terrible at letting others drive...it's a control issue, I'm sure.

Don't ever, and I mean EVER, move to Aberdeen.

"Fit ye de'en morn's morn?"
"Fit like, quine?"
"Fairy boots ye fae?"

I lived there for 7 years and still haven't a clue what the heck they were saying to me.

They are both wonderful cities in their own way. They're geographically pretty close to each other so any small towns in that area are going to be relatively easily accessible to either. If I had to choose one or the other to live in, I'd pick Edinburgh. It's just that little more cosmopolitan.

Bit late chiming in here but I had to reply to this. I grew up in London, left when I was 22 and just came back a year ago after 45 years in various places in Canada and the US. I live in Salisbury now, bought a car almost a year ago because I was used to driving myself everywhere for everything as you are, but I'm now about to sell it because the bus system is so great I hardly use the car. I can rent one if I need to or use the local car club. And I've re-discovered walking and am much healthier for it!

Don't disagree with that and I am from Glasgow.
It depends what you are looking for.
Edinburgh has better restaurants (Michelin *) but Glasgow has its fair share of good places to eat.
Edinburgh is a nightmare by car - I never take mine there - I use the train direct into the town centre.
Edinburgh is prettier - with the castle and Holyrood Palace and the National Portrait Gallery.
Edinburgh has the Edinburgh Festival and Military Tattoo each year.
Glasgow is the best shopping centre in Scotland by far.
Glasgow is more car friendly.
Glasgow has the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and the Transport Museum and the Burrell Gallery (currently closed for renovation - all free of charge.
Glasgow has many city parks.
Glasgow has the Celtic Connections festival.
I have to disagree with Pulaski, I have never had any problem understanding someone from Glasgow Seriously though, it depends who you talk with.
There are many nice places to stay in Edinburgh and many not-so-nice.
It is exactly the same in Glasgow.
It is not far from either city to the countryside and there is free bus travel in Scotland for retirees.
Good luck with your choice.

Er, that was my point!

Thanks for all that. I reeeeaaaallllyy want to go to the Celtic Connections festival. I've been watching it on youtube for years!

Do you have any suggestions of areas /neighborhoods to look at in each city for renting a house? It's not easy to tell on rightmove what's what.

There will be a new electric train service between Glasgow and Edinburgh this year which will cut the journey time to 45 minutes.
You can easily go to the Edinburgh Festival from Glasgow and Celtic Connections from Edinburgh. Many people do just that.
I would suggest that you look at Milngavie (Pron Millguy) and Bearsden in the North West of Glasgow and Newton Mearns; Whitecraigs and Giffnock in the South.
You can also rent in the "West End" around Byres Road which is a very active and arty area.
I am not familiar enough with the housing market in Edinburgh.

When I did my test in Florida in 2003, the examiner was perplexed why i was looking over my shoulder when i changed lanes or why i pre-turned the wheel when doing a 3 point turn. Suffice to say I got a 100% on my driving test. Driving cars in the US is like driving a go-kart. I think automatics disengage people from actually driving, hence the higher crash rate. I've personally been hit 3 times in the last yr. It's cost $18000 to fix my car in the last 12 months, luckily all on insurance, my car isn't even worth that.