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moving_to_glasgow

Moving To Glasgow

Which Area of Glasgow?

Which area of Glasgow to move to is the most commonly asked question we receive. The answer is complex and depends on your situation, and we recommend visiting the area in person before making any big decisions if possible!

Broadly Glasgow is split into:

  • City Centre and Central
  • East End and Northeast
  • West End and Northwest
  • Southside
  • North Glasgow

Each of these areas are composed of various sub-areas, suburbs and neighbourhoods, which are listed in the tables below.

Safety

Many new people moving to the city are concerned with the reputation Glasgow has. The short answer is that all areas listed here are safe unless explicitly mentioned. Glasgow rules apply: Don't be a prick and you'll likely be safe. Outside of that normal city etiquette applies: avoid parks at night, avoid dark alleys, don't bad mouth IrnBru, the usual stuff.

A rough guide worth browsing to check out a certain area is the Scottish Index of Multiple deprivation.

Council Tax

Council tax in Glasgow includes Water rates. If comparing to England, remember to add on local water charges. Full valuations can be found here but as a guide the 2023 annual charges are:

  • Band B - £1557
  • Band C - £1779
  • Band D - £2001

By UK standards, Glasgow council tax rates are average.

As a guide, Council tax in the West End tends to be more expensive than the Southside. It's worth checking on each property before you agree. The Council Tax Band is usually declared on Rightmove / Zoopla listings.

Transport

Below each region has 3 ratings:

  • Green - Great with easy access. Under 10 mins walk to station
  • Yellow - Good but might be a bit out of the way. 10 - 20 Mins walk to station
  • Red - You'll probably want a car for convenience - 30 mins walk to station

All ratings are based on access to Bus, Subway and Train. Parking in Glasgow is generally terrible unless you head into the suburbs, so it's worth factoring this in. While a bit expensive, on the whole Glasgow has good public transport by UK standards.

Prices

All figures below are given for a 2 bedroom flat. Clicking on the price should link to Rightmove which gives 2 bed flats listed in the last 14 days, so use that as a more accurate guide, and prices will vary heavily within each area too as they overlap.

List Tables of Glasgow Areas

Broadly, Glasgow is split into:

  • City Centre and Central
  • East End and Northeast
  • West End and Northwest
  • Southside
  • North Glasgow

Each of these areas are composed of various sub-areas, suburbs and neighbourhoods, which are listed below. These summary tables highlight key features that should guide you in the right direction for further research.

City Centre and Central

The City Centre is the heart of Glasgow. It is roughly defined as being the areas south and east of the M8 motorway, west of High Street and north of the River Clyde. These areas are a mix of residential, retail and hospitality.

AreaIdeal ForProsConsPublic Transport2 Bed Flat Rent
Merchant City Professionals, Students Right in the heart of the city. Reasonably close proximity to Glasgow Green. Very busy roads during the day with traffic. Nightlife may cause disruption. Green £900
Blythswood Professionals, Students Right in the heart of the city. Excellent access to Central train station. Very busy roads during the day with traffic. Nightlife may cause disruption. No public parks immediately nearby. Green £700
Garnethill Professionals, Students Very close proximity to restaurants, pubs, clubs and retail. Notably quiet at night despite being in the city centre. Next to the M8 Green £800
Cowcaddens Families Close proximity to restaurants, pubs, clubs and retail. Affordable rentals. Typical housing estate with lots of maisonettes and high-flat tower blocks giving less aesthetic appeal. A handful of undesirable neighbours. £Mixed
Townhead Families, Students Close proximity to restaurants, pubs, clubs and retail. Affordable rentals. Quite a number of student accommodation buildings. Typical housing estate with lots of maisonettes and high-flat tower blocks giving less aesthetic appeal.

West End and Northwest

The west end of Glasgow is full of life: Museums, Gardens, Universities, bars, restaurants and sandstone tenements all combine to make it a bustling hive of activity. More expensive that most other parts of Glasgow, it's a desirable area mostly inhabited by professionals and students. Much of it is located around Byres road and Great Western Road. The Northwest of the city includes areas that are further west than the trendy “West End” and those north of Great Western Road as you cross beyond Anniesland Cross. The northwest is generally less expensive the further you head away from the hustle and bustle, but the obvious trade-off being that travel times and ease of transport become more of a consideration.

AreaIdeal ForProsConsPublic Transport2 Bed Flat Rent
Hyndland & DowanhillProfessionals, FamiliesLeafy, huge buildings and one of the most desirable areas of Glasgow. Easy to get to on the train. Bit quiet if you're looking for a lot of night life, expensive. No Subway. Yellow £1,000+
HillheadProfessionals, StudentsIn the thick of it, you're near the bustling Byres Road and Great Western Road (GWR) with easy access to the city center on the subway, or Kelvingrove Park and the Botanical Gardens Can be busy with a mix of nightlife and students. Not the cheapest areaGreen £1,050
Partick Students, Professionals, Families Slightly cheaper than other areas in the West End. Great public transport access via Kelvinhall, Lots of shops and bars on Dumbarton RoadPerhaps not quite as lively as other areasGreen £800
Kelvinside & KelvindaleStudents Close to Botanics, usually a bit cheaper than the west end generally Further from public transport and shops, but still walking distance. Yellow £900
FinniestonStudentsLoads of great food / bars. Close to the Clyde, SEC and train stations to get around Busy / Noisy Green £800
Woodlands & WoodsideStudents Cheap, plenty of bars in the area, great subway connections. Common complaints about Mice Green £800
Park CircusFootballers, Wealth families The most desirable part of Glasgow. Beautiful townhouses, amazing views and right next to the Kelvingrove Park Residential, expensive Yellow £1,400
Thornwood & BroomhillFamilies, Professionals Slightly further West and a bit more residential than the areas near Byres road, but still within walking distance for the bustle. Good pubs. Prices are creeping up, but minimal downsides. Yellow £900
Anderston ??? ??? £???
Kelvinhaugh & Yorkhill ??? ??? £???
Whiteinch & Scotstoun ??? ??? £???
Knightswood ??? ??? £???
Drumchapel ??? ??? £???
Blardardie ??? ??? £???
Jordanhill ??? ??? £???
Anniesland & Temple ??? ??? £???
Westerton ??? ??? £???
Yoker ??? ??? £???

Southside

AreaIdeal ForProsConsPublic Transport2 Bed Flat Rent
Cathcart Professionals, Families Train links to Central, desirable postcode, access to green space, quite quiet ??? Green £600
Crossmyloof / Maxwell Park Professionals, Families Three train stations within walking distance, access to green space, mostly suburb ??? Green £700
Govanhill Students Cheap, near to train stations and Queens Park, access to M74 Debates between it being absolutely fine, a war zone, and too full of students. Caveat Emptor Green £600
Langside Professionals, Families Residential area, close to Queens Park Parking Green £600
Mount Florida Professionals, Families Train station, not far from big Asda at Toryglen, Cathkin Park Busy when football or events on at Hampden, parking Green £700
Muirend Professionals, Families Decent sized Sainsbury's, train station for access to city centre, walking distance to Linn Park/Holmwood House ??? Green £700
Newlands Professionals, Families Really desirable, very green, big houses Expensive, residential only Green £700
Pollokshaws Professionals, Families Desirable, leafy area, Pollok park, Auldhouse retail park, easy access to M77 Not much going on, more residential Green £700
Polmadie Professionals, Families Easy access to M74 Mostly industrial, bit rough Yellow £700
Shawlands Professionals, Families Food and drink, transport links to city centre Parking Green £700
Pollokshields Professionals, Families ??? Parking ??? £700
StrathbungoProfessionals, Families Very desirable area, lots going on with shops and good community More expensive than other areas Green £700
Cessnock & Ibrox Professionals, Families Good access to West End / Central. Plenty of shops and takeaways Busy when football is on, not the most glamorous area Green £600
Govan ??? ??? £???
Shieldhall ??? ??? £???
Hillington ??? ??? £???
Penillee ??? ??? £???
Cardonald ??? ??? £???
Mosspark ??? ??? £???
Pollok ??? ??? £???
Thornliebank ??? ??? £???
Kings Park ??? ??? £???
Castlemilk ??? ??? £???
Fernhill ??? ??? £???
Cathkin ??? ??? £???
Cambuslang ??? ??? £???
Carmyle ??? ??? £???
Gorbals & Laurieston ??? ??? £???
Oatlands & Richmond Park ??? ??? £???

East End and the Northeast

AreaIdeal ForProsConsPublic Transport2 Bed Flat Rent
BridgetonProfessionals, Families ??? ??? £700
Easterhouse ??? ??? £???
Baillieston ??? ??? £???
Shettleston ??? ??? £???
Barlanark ??? ??? £???
Cranhill ??? ??? £???
Ruchazie ??? ??? £???
Craigend ??? ??? £???
Garthamlock ??? ??? £???
Hogganfield ??? ??? £???
Riddrie ??? ??? £???
Germiston ??? ??? £???
Mount Vernon ??? ??? £???
Carntyne ??? ??? £???
Calton ??? ??? £???
Parkhead ??? ??? £???
Tollcross ??? ??? £???
Springboig ??? ??? £???
Greenfield ??? ??? £???
Blackhill ??? ??? £???
Provanmill ??? ??? £???
Millerston ??? ??? £???
Royston ??? ??? £???
Barmulloch ??? ??? £???
Robroyston ??? ??? £???
HaghillProfessionals, Families ??? ??? £700
Dennistoun Students, Families Great transport links, pubs, cafes and parks. Cheaper than West End ??? £700

North Glasgow

North Glasgow is, very roughly speaking, the areas of the city that are north of the M8 motorway. By and large, this section of Glasgow has higher crime rates, more poverty and deprivation, rougher in appearance and features less amenities than other areas of the city. That said, there are still a handful of good places in north Glasgow to live in and you will be able to seriously stretch a budget in these areas as rental costs in the north are among the lowest the city has to offer. Some areas of the north have seen improvement and there does exist some very good residential pockets. Whenever someone is considering moving to the north of Glasgow, it is highly recommended that you do your homework, check who the neighbours are and don't make any rash decisions.

AreaIdeal ForProsConsPublic Transport2 Bed Flat Rent
Cadder Lower budgets Lower budgets Deprivation; Relatively higher crime rate; Distance from city centre £???
Ruchill Lower budgets Lower budgets Some deprivation; Relatively higher crime rate in parts; Distance from city centre £???
Gilshochill Lower budgets Lower budgets Deprivation; Relatively higher crime rate; Distance from city centre £???
Possilpark Lower budgets, locals Lower budgets, not much else, an area to avoid Deprivation; higher crime rates; Distance from city centre, quite run down - an area to avoid £???
Milton Lower budgets Lower budgets Deprivation; Relatively higher crime rate; Distance from city centre £???
Colston ??? Lower budgets Distance from city centre, Surrounded by rougher areas £???
Springburn Lower budgets Lower budgets Deprivation in parts; Relatively higher crime rate; Distance from city centre £???
Balornock Lower budgets Lower budgets Distance from city centre £???
Auchinairn Lower budgets Lower budgets Distance from city centre £???
Maryhill Lower budgets, some student areas (Firhill and Murano) Lower budgets £???
Summerston Families, professionals ??? Distance from city centre, a few streets are rough around the edges £???
Killermont Families, professionals ??? Distance from city centre £???
moving_to_glasgow.txt · Last modified: 2023/05/09 16:23 by admin