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Moving to Glasgow

Adele MacGregor

Written by Reviewed by Dave Sayce

27th Jul 2020 (Last updated on 13th Feb 2024) 8 minute read

The fifth most visited city in the UK, Glasgow is a vibrant and popular city situated on the River Clyde, boasting a wealth of history and culture.

The City of Glasgow is a thriving metropolitan city and a popular place to live in Scotland. With excellent restaurants and bars, an underground transport system and numerous growing industries, it’s clear why it is a desirable spot for many looking to relocate in the UK.

If you’re considering moving to Scotland, you might be unsure of where you should live, what jobs are on offer in Glasgow or even what there is to do when you reach the city.

That's why Compare My Move has created this ultimate guide to moving to the Scottish city, answering any pressing questions you may have about both Glasgow and moving to Scotland.

  1. Property in Glasgow
  2. Best Places to Live in Glasgow
  3. Schools and Education in Glasgow
  4. Where to Work in Glasgow
  5. Transport in Glasgow
  6. Entertainment in Glasgow
  7. Crime Rate in Glasgow
  8. Compare My Move in Glasgow

Property in Glasgow

Properties in Glasgow’s city centre naturally cost a little more than those outside, however, most properties are cheaper to buy and rent than London, and often cheaper than Edinburgh too.

The average property price in Glasgow is currently £134,162, whilst the average asking rent is £1,110 pcm. Glasgow has proved to be very popular amongst landlords and renters, with two of its postcodes coming under Scotland’s Top 5 Buy-to-Let areas in 2019.

Our data shows that the summer months are the most popular time to move house in Glasgow, with the average removal company cost in Glasgow is £593.85. An average 3-bedroom house move costing just £664.85. This is almost half the price of the UK's average removal company cost at £1,181.

For more information on purchasing a home in Scotland read our Guide to Buying a House in Scotland.

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Best Places to Live in Glasgow

Glasgow offers an array of great locations to suit all budgets and tastes, some better suited to families, others ideal for young professionals. This is great if you're moving from London to Glasgow to save money on your property purchase.

Below we've listed five of the best places to live in Glasgow, keeping in mind the average cost of property and the average rent costs.

AreaAverage House PriceAverage Rent (pcm)

Govan

£81,241

£596

Newton Mearns

£403,093

£765

Bearsden

£372,198

£1,094

Shawlands

£148,075

£633

Scotstoun

£86,569

£625

1. Govan

Just two and a half miles out of the city centre and with an average house currently costing £81,241, Govan is an ideal location for young professionals and first-time buyers. It is also a reasonable place for rent, with average rent at £596. The area offers a range of Victorian terraced houses to more modern apartments, with something to suit everyone’s tastes.

2. Newton Mearns

Newton Mearns is another great commuter area, just 22 minutes outside the city centre. Renting is higher here than Govan and house prices average currently sits at £403,093. The area contains a number of parks including Crookfur Park and Parklands Country Club. It is also adjacent to Rouken Glen Park which includes a boating pond, gardens leisure facilities. There are also numerous golf clubs, a tennis club and a swimming pool and leisure centre nearby.

3. Bearsden

This affluent and leafy neighbourhood is approximately 6 miles from Glasgow City Centre. The average house price, at £372,198 is considerably higher than the overall average for Glasgow, which sits at £134, 162. However, it is a sought after area with a lot to offer. Young families can enjoy spotting sculptures of The Gruffalo placed around Bearsden as a tribute to the author Julia Donaldson, who was from this part of town.

4. Shawlands

This area offers enviable nightlife, numerous restaurants and plenty of open spaces for family days out, including Pollock Country Park. In fact, Shawlands was named as one of the best areas to live in Scotland in 2017. The cost of homes are noticeably lower than areas such as Newton Mearns and Bearsden, with the average property price at £148,075.

5. Scotstoun

West of Glasgow City Centre is Scotstoun, boasting popular period homes with gardens. The area is also home to a new housing project of housing and flats, for those looking for a more modern home. Parts of Scotstoun lies in the Jordanhill School catchment area, which has been named the best secondary school in Scotland. The average property price is lower than the average for Glasgow, with homes costing on average £86,569 in Scotstoun.

Schools and Education in Glasgow

Glasgow has a number of high performing schools, both private and public, with Jordanhill School in Glasgow City topping the chart of best secondary schools in Scotland, out of 339 Scottish schools.

In addition to its well-regarded schools, Glasgow is home to the University of Glasgow, a world top 100 University in the Times Higher World Education Rankings 2020. With one of the widest range of courses in the UK, reportedly 95.9% of students are in employment or further study within 6 months of graduation.

For young families moving to Glasgow, or those looking to have children in the near future, Compare My Move have compiled a list of the top 5 Primary and Secondary schools in and around the city:

The Top 5 Primary Schools in Glasgow

Primary SchoolLocationAge% pupils achieving expected level in numeracy

nationally at the end of P7 (Age 11/12)

Oakgrove Primary School

Glasgow

4-12

78%

Garnetbank Primary School

Glasgow

4-12

78%

St Joseph's Primary School

Glasgow

4-12

78%

Hillhead Primary School

Glasgow

4-12

78%

St Patrick’s Primary Schooll

Glasgow

4-12

78%


The Top 5 Secondary Schools in Glasgow

Secondary SchoolLocationAgePercentage of give higher passes

Jordanhill School

Glasgow

4-18

88%

Ardsgoil Glasgow Gaelic Secondary School

Glasgow

3-18

70%

Hyndland Secondary School

Glasgow

11-18

55%

Notre Dame High School

Glasgow

11-18

53%

St Thomas Aquinas Secondary School

Glasgow

11-18

49%

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Where to Work in Glasgow

According to Invest Glasgow, the city has experienced growth in recent years with regards to the diversification of its jobs base, whilst simultaneously lowering the unemployment rate, pre Covid-19.

Currently, the average salary in Glasgow stands at £29,000. The city has identified 8 key growth sectors which are crucial to its economic growth which include:

  • Digital Technology
  • Finance and Business Service
  • Creative Economy
  • Low Carbon
  • Life Sciences
  • Engineering Design and Advanced Manufacturing
  • Tourism and Events
  • Higher and Further Education

Whether you already work in these sectors and are looking to relocate, or you are deciding on a new job role or company, these are the sectors which are booming in the city and are worth pursuing as part of your move to Glasgow.

Transport in Glasgow

The subway is the easiest way to get around the city centre and west areas of Glasgow. Running every 5 minutes at peak times, it takes a mere 24 minutes to complete a circuit of the 15 stations.

Meanwhile, First Bus Glasgow operates over 80 routes across the city and has a variety of tickets to choose from. You can also travel around Glasgow via taxi, however, this will be more expensive than the bus or subway. Cycling around the city is another option. If you don’t already have a bike, Nextbike Glasgow has 700 bikes in over 50 locations available to hire 24/7.

For trains, Glasgow Central Station links Glasgow by rail to the south, while the station at Glasgow Queen Street operates routes mostly to Edinburgh and the north.

Entertainment in Glasgow

In the heart of Glasgow in Royal Exchange Square, you’ll find the Gallery of Modern Art, Scotland’s most visited art gallery. Home to an extensive modern and contemporary art collection, entry to the gallery is free.

For fans of plant life, Glasgow Botanic Gardens is located in the heart of the West End. Featuring a variety of plant collections, riverside walks and Kibble Palace glasshouse. For families, there is a children’s play area and a tearoom in the former curator’s house.

When it comes to nightlife, Glasgow has a variety of pubs, cocktail bars and secret bars in the form of 1920s style speakeasies. The city also offers a number of clubs and club nights, ranging from chain businesses such as Revolution and Missoula to independents.

When it comes to shopping and eating out, Glasgow has something to suit all tastes and budgets. From high street brands to designer wear and vintage stores, Glasgow has it all. Many of these can be found in the city centre in Glasgow’s Style Mile. Glasgow offers a range of chain restaurants, in addition to independent eateries and several Michelin Star restaurants.

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Crime Rate in Glasgow

Glasgow has long had a bad, and sometimes perhaps unfair, reputation when it comes to crime levels and safety. However, recent data has shown that Glasgow city has the highest rate of crime among cities in Scotland.

During 2017-2018, the largest number of crimes recorded were in Glasgow, which is home to 11% of Scotland’s population but accounted for 18% of all crimes - 43,977 crimes in that time period. However, Glasgow does see an influx in population from those who are not residents, such as commuters and visitors who can contribute to the crime levels, skewing the data.

Compare My Move in Glasgow

When it comes to moving house, Compare My Move is here for you. We can help you find a surveyor and conveyancing solicitor for your house purchase, in addition to connecting you with some of the best Glasgow removal companies. We can save you both time and up to 70% off with our professional and verified partners.

Adele MacGregor

Having worked at Compare My Move for over five years, Adele specialises in covering a range of surveying topics.

Dave Sayce

Reviewed by Dave Sayce

Owner & Managing Director, Compare My Move

Dave Sayce is the owner and managing director of Compare My Move and has over 10 years of experience in the house removals industry.

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