Reasons to move to Scotland – and the cities you should most consider
If you are considering a move to Scotland, whether for work, study or retirement, you probably have a lot of questions.
Will the people be welcoming? Is the rain as bad as they always claim? Where is good to live? Luckily Scottish people are some of the friendliest in the United Kingdom and there are a great many joys that make up for even the rainiest days.
To find out where to live, read on.
Edinburgh
The ancient capital, unique for having a UNESCO World Heritage Site for a Central Business District, Edinburgh is one of the most beautiful cities in Britain.
While the listed status of much of the centre can make home improvements in those buildings harder and more expensive, there are many beautiful Georgian properties available for prices that will amaze those moving from much of England, especially the South.
There are also great swathes of the city beyond the World Heritage Site, from desirable bungalows on Corstorphine Hill to dynamic up-and-coming areas of Leith.
Every year, the city also holds the world’s biggest arts festival in August, with the population doubling most years as hundreds of thousands come to see the shows.
Having a house in Edinburgh can make you a popular host in summer but leaves you with a quiet, beautiful city to explore for the other eleven months of the year.
Glasgow
The wild west of Scotland and the nation’s most populous city, Glasgow is faster-paced than non-Festival Edinburgh throughout the year.
The grid-pattern city layout has seen it stand in for New York in filming recent Hollywood blockbusters, with movies such as World War Z and Fast And Furious 6 filmed there instead of in America.
Living in Glasgow gives incredible access to the beautiful scenery of the Ochils and Kintyre. Glasgow was also deemed to be the friendliest city in the UK in 2017.
Inverness
The northernmost city in Britain, Inverness became a city in 2000 to celebrate the millennium, and is the centre of life for the widely distributed towns and communities of the Highlands.
Sitting at the top of the Great Glen Way, over sixty miles of walks through natural beauty take you to down Loch Ness, Loch Oich and Loch Lochy, and there is also excellent access to the Cairngorms National Park, one of the only places in Britain you can ski outdoors during the winter months.
Aberdeen
The oil capital of Britain, Aberdeen is a small but wealthy university and industrial city featuring a cathedral, the Highlands’ bright lights, and a famous party culture.
While it is two and a half hours’ drive from Edinburgh, and can feel a long way north, the longest train in Britain goes from Aberdeen to Penzance, so you can’t say the city is cut off from the world.
That said, wherever you currently call home, and whatever Scottish destination you choose, it can be worth looking into a rental van from a site such as Compare the Man and Van to get you and your belongings up there. Just be sure to get the best price for your move, wherever you are bound.
Photo credit: Graham Soult
