Edinburgh, Glasgow or London?

[mikeiow]

Thought I'd just check the PH massive for useful random thoughts.

Young (early 20s) relative has the offer of a post-grad role with a global company that *could* be based in one of those three places....

They will clearly do their own research....but I thought I'd ask here for any random ideas on "why to go here" or "why not here" !!
Cost of living/rent, transport, entertainment, lifestyle, etc....any thoughts welcome!

I know London well, and had a bit of a jaunt around the Scottish pair earlier this year - never previously spent time in Glasgow, my 'dour' perception of it was turned around, seemed really nice....& Edinburgh also is great. Never lived in either though!

[p4cks]

Personally, I'd avoid London at this stage but I'm assuming that your wage won't be great to start with then considering the London tax you'll have even less in your pocket.

Can't speak for Edinburgh but it seems OK.

Personally, I love Glasgow. Great city, friendly people and good bars/restaurants and I've looked to move up there on a few occasions but other things have conspired against me. My GF and I have been up there about 10 times in the last year for a long weekend we love it that much

[Bussolini]

I've lived in all three.

Glasgow is a little cheaper to live than Edinburgh - both rent and going out.

Edinburgh is probably the nicer city to live in than Glasgow - its a smaller place, everything is in walking distance, greener but Glasgow has the better nightlife and friendlier locals. Both have rough bits, but Edinburgh's are more hidden away.

London is great - if you're well paid. Rent is likely to be double that of Glasgow and maybe 75% more than Edinburgh. A lot of the areas you'd choose to live in your 20s (ie cheap) can be quite grimy and very multicultural. Eating out and drinking out can be as cheap or expensive as you want it to be.

I'd choose London, provided the salary differential is significant. I wouldn't want to live in London scraping by in a five bed shared flat in a grimy part of East London. If you have the money to take advantage of all London has to offer, its a fab place to be.

Edited by Bussolini on Friday 29th November 13:15

Edited by Bussolini on Friday 29th November 13:16

[mcbook]

Unless it's a job that really needs to be done in London I struggle to see why they'd choose to go there. Cost of living is so much more expensive that the job/salary would need to make up for it. If the job isn't investment banking or similar, I'd exclude London straight away. Assuming no family ties to London.

Edinburgh is getting very pricey for decent rental accommodation and there is fierce competition as more and more landlords switch to airbnb, reducing conventional supply.

Glasgow is a decent bit cheaper but not by much if you want to stay in a nice part of town.

I've lived in both Glasgow and Edinburgh and would probably choose Glasgow for the same reasons that others have mentioned. Better bars/clubs, friendly atmosphere, fewer hordes of tourists.

Might also depend on hobbies... if they like surfing or mountain biking for example, Edinburgh will probably be closer to the good spots. If they like mountaineering, Glasgow is closer to Glencoe etc.

[vaud]

If they are chasing career progression then considering where the power/influence lies might be helpful. Often London but not always.

For quality of life, unless the pay is really good in London then Edinburgh would be nice.

[biggles330d]

Edinburgh, any day of the week. Wonderful place to be.

London - sure, good money and lots to do but the cost is crazy so unless you're on a massive salary you'll end up living like a student or in some tiny hovel well into the years when you could be enjoying a much better lifestyle and space elsewhere.

Glasgow can be fun and is a little cheaper than Edinburgh so I suppose personal preference. It's 50 minutes on the train between them though, so less than many people commute to/from London (and far less expensive).

Also, from London, everywhere seems a long way away. From Edinburgh (or Glasgow), distance perspective changes and I don't bat an eyelid at having to 'pop down to London' by plane, train or even driving occasionally.

[Bussolini]

biggles330d said:

London - sure, good money and lots to do but the cost is crazy so unless you're on a massive salary you'll end up living like a student or in some tiny hovel well into the years when you could be enjoying a much better lifestyle and space elsewhere.

Rent is crazy - everything else is much of a muchness (obviously with the option to spend extravagantly if you want).

For comparisons sake, we were paying £1000 pcm for a one bed flat in the West End of Edinburgh (this was quite expensive for Edinburgh in fairness due to the location - most one beds would be around £700-900) and now pay £1700 pcm for a two bed flat in Zone 2 (Greenwich, a big top floor flat with river views - you could get a smaller two bed for £1400-1500 nearby). You could get a one bed flat in Edinburgh for £600-800 in a decent part of town and a two bed for £1000-1200. When I lived in Glasgow we were paying £950 for a two bed in the West End. You could get a one bed flat in London for probably £1200-1400 in an okay part of town (though less nice than the decent part of Edinburgh).

Your salary wouldn't have to be THAT much higher to still be better off in London. Sure you will pay more for travel in London, but you don't need to run a car. You also can factor in the fact that holidays tend to be cheaper from London...

Edited by Bussolini on Friday 29th November 14:21

[orangesrule]

Glasgow or Edinburgh. Both great cities, decent people. You arnt too far from decent wilderness too, if you want to get out of there.

[dibblecorse]

Where has your relative lived in the past as that will have a bearing, neither Glasgow or Edinburgh are on a par with London from an experiential perspective, but if he or she has lived in the sticks / rurally all their lives then any of the three will seem really busy, if they have lived in another small / medium city then I'd say head to London.

[Algarve]

Bussolini said:

Your salary wouldn't have to be THAT much higher to still be better off in London. Sure you will pay more for travel in London, but you don't need to run a car.

Edited by Bussolini on Friday 29th November 14:21

You won't need to run a car in Edinburgh or Glasgow either.

[mikeiow]

Thanks for the thoughts, all useful stuff!
Cheers

[Leithen]

Young, early 20's, presumably few ties other than family?

London if it's affordable. Edinburgh & Glasgow great later in life.

[Arranguez]

Grew up in London, still work there 50% of the week. Love it. Some cool places to base yourself. Can be very lonely for a newbie I have heard.

Live in Edinburgh now, great place to live and superb eating and drinking but it isn’t London so expect very good large town rather than electric living.

Never been to Glasgow. Been in Edinburgh 9 years so I’m sure I’ll make it one day ...

[anonymous-user]

I would say London. Worth getting the experience as young as possible imo without ties. If money is an issue, rough it.

Edinburgh is great to study or have family but is a bit soulless. Glasgow much better for socialising and doing stuff.

[numtumfutunch]

London all day long

Speaking as a parent who moved away from London due to having kids Ive told them in no uncertain terms that its a great place to be in your 20's in terms of career progression and just having a good time

They all know that means living in a shared dive in Plaistow not a mansion in Hampstead and are happy with that

Cheers

[ninepoint2]

I hate London, went there often for work and it was awful. If you like driving avoid Edinburgh, it's a nightmare to drive in. Glasgow and Edinburgh are both nice places, I was brought up just outside Edinburgh and now live just outside Glasgow, if pushed I would say I prefer Glasgow.

[parabolica]

Sambucket said:

I would say London. Worth getting the experience as young as possible imo without ties. If money is an issue, rough it.

I agree; if they can afford it, London as a young 20 something would be an experience worth having on the social side of things. It career-chasing is there thing, there are a lot more opportunities down there to get stuck into. I've just left after 8-9 years there; enjoyed it but looking forward to having a decent disposable income again.

[anonymous-user]

The correct answer to "where should a person work and live?" is always London. Unless the other options include New York and Berlin.

Having said that, both Edinburgh and Glasgow are pretty fab.

[xx99xx]

You don't have to live in these places to work there. Plenty of commuting options.

[anonymous-user]

Commuting is Hell.