Where to live in Scotland when moving there? What are the best cities in Scotland? Maybe you keep asking yourself these questions, but cannot find out the exact answer. Actually, there is nothing to worry about. If you’re thinking about moving this year, our 6 Best Places to Live in Scotland guide can help you find the best cities and nicest place to live in Scotland that provides the best combination of excellent value and quality of life.
Is Scotland a good place to live?
In Scotland, there are cities, beautiful towns, and villages, each of which boasts its own distinctive natural beauty, making the geographical layout walkable and accessible. If you are considering moving to Scotland, The National Health Service and free higher education must be another two advantages of it. Nonetheless, the job opportunities, connectivity to neighbourhood cities, and value for money.
Best Places to Live in Scotland & What They Are Best For?
The following are 6 areas which are considered the best places to live Scotland.
Edinburgh: Best for Culture
Edinburgh is Scotland’s lively and stunning capital city, and Time Out awarded it the Best City in the World 2022. It is the capital city of Scotland and is also one of the oldest. There are many beautiful neighbourhoods to choose from, whether you’re a young adult, an international student, or have kids to take care of.
Edinburgh also known for being easy to get around on foot, it offers an abundance of activities to engage in. For starters, the city has some great sites you can visit, like the National Museum of Scotland. It’s also known as the best festival city in the world. Along with world-class facilities, restaurants, and recreational activities, the streets there are rich in history, and numerous arts, music, and comedy festivals provide plenty of entertainment.
Glasgow: Best for Work Opportunities
Looking at the best relocating destinations in Scotland, Glasgow is another best place to live Scotland, despite the major problem of understanding the thick Glaswegian accent. A wide range of employment opportunities is available in Glasgow, with plenty of sectors to consider. The communication sector, and the science and technology sector are the fastest growing industries.
Glasgow, which is less expensive than Edinburgh, is conveniently located for people to enjoy green parks and many forms of entertainment, as well as easy access to other parts of Scotland. With top institutions that students pursue worldwide, the student accommodations in Glasgow are well-located and affordable for students living in Glasgow. Glasgow is also recognized for its friendly local residents, which is something all Scottish destinations have in common. Young professionals and young families are increasingly attracted to this place, which has many comparable community amenities and schools.
There are a lot of restaurants where people can try and enjoy various kinds of food in Glasgow. Other than regional specialties, many eateries and coffee shops here serve cuisines from all over the world. With all of these characteristics, Glasgow is among the nice places to live in Scotland.
Stirling: Best for Affordability
Stirling, located to the north of Glasgow and Edinburgh, offers every convenience necessary for living comfortably in Scotland. It is recently ranked as one of the most affordable and happiest cities in the UK, and it will provide you with a high quality of living without exceeding your budget.
There are numerous things to do in Stirling, ranging from historical sites to live music, and the nearby Loch Lomond will meet all of your outdoor needs. Commuting to neighbouring cities or travelling throughout the country is simple since Stirling has its own huge train station. Whether you go by train or car, this famous commuter town is not far away from both Glasgow and Edinburgh. The trips take only 30 minutes to an hour. This means that people who live in Stirling can enjoy the much lower cost of living while also being able to get to other big towns.
Inverness: Best for Accessing Nature
Inverness, often called ‘the capital of the Scottish Highlands’, makes a great base for people who want to experience nature without feeling alone in more rural locations. People who love nature will love this city for some reasons.
First, some of Scotland’s most beautiful sceneries are close to Inverness. These include the Cairngorms, Loch Ness, and Ben Nevis, which is the highest mountain in the UK. You can also get to both mountains and beaches easily because it’s also close to the Moray Firth. Next, Inverness also offers direct trains to Edinburgh and Aberdeen and is well-connected to other Highland regions including Fort William and Newronmore.
Dundee: Best for Families
Dundee has the longest hours of sunshine compared to all Scottish cities, with the exception of Edinburgh. For some reason, Dundee is a popular place for new families to live. It is considered one of the best places to live in Scotland for families. In terms of facilities for ordinary life, coastal Dundee offers everything a family could need, as well as the transportation links necessary to access some other places if the facilities they need are not provided in Dundee. Another convenient mode of transportation is the city’s well-organized bus system, which cuts through congested areas.
Anyone in the city who wants to enjoy the sun can go to beaches and hills, and the Ancrum Outdoor Centre, where you can do outdoor activities, is only a short distance away. Furthermore, property prices in this northern town are exceptionally low.
North Berwick: Best for Retirement
North Berwick, which is located to the east of Edinburgh, is a small coastal town. It can be considered as the nicest place to live in Scotland. Despite its modest size, it has the benefit of being only 30 minutes by train from the big city. It is also renowned for having a tranquil, countryside atmosphere with stunning beaches. It has a busy main street with both big stores and small, locally owned shops that people can look around. North Berwick is home to some beautiful beaches, plenty of golf courses, and the Scottish Seabird Centre, all of which are worth a visit.
This small town is also recognized for its friendly community, which makes it an ideal destination for retirees. There are many groups for different interests, like walking, gardening, and even photography. It also has a community centre where many events and activities happen all year long. Numerous retirement apartments are available. However, due to North Berwick’s increasing popularity, housing prices have gone up slightly. But you can always find a perfect place to stay at uhomes.com.
Comparison Chart of Best Towns in Scotland
Here’s a comparison of the best towns to live in Scotland. Hope that we can provide you a solution when you are trying to figure out what are some beautiful towns in Scotland.
| No. | Location | Natural-Beauty | Wellbeing | Employment, Connectivity | Value | Price Change |
Average Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | Edinburgh | 24 | 115 | 50 | 30 | 3.6% | £344,000 |
| 2. | Glasgow | 14 | 156 | 29 | 149 | 4.5% | £184,000 |
| 3. | Stirling | 16 | 90 | 107 | 40 | 3.2% | £257,000 |
| 4. | Inverness | 32 | 80 | 61 | 32 | 1.5% | £208,000 |
| 5. | Dundee | 45 | 144 | 1 | 150 | 0.7% | £154,000 |
| 6. | North Berwick | 140 | 4 | 151 | 94 | 15.2% | £348,000 |
How to Choose The Best Places to Live in Scotland
If you’re thinking about moving to Scotland, the rich culture, beautiful scenery, and friendly people are all great draws. However, the best place in Scotland to live for you is determined by a variety of factors, including:
- Moving purpose
- Budget
- Natural beauty
- Well-being
- Employment
- Connectivity
- Value for money
So, if you’re planning to move this year, you can put those factors into your consideration in order to get the best place to live in Scotland.
Summary
Choosing the right place to live in Scotland can be both easy and difficult. Different places will have different things to adapt to. You cannot just move to a certain city randomly and then live there. There are things to consider. Not only the natural beauty and the well-being but also the job opportunities you can get in the new place, along with the accommodation and value for money.
With Scotland’s magnificent natural beauty, rich history, places to visit, restaurants where you can enjoy great food, and many more, choosing the best place to live in Scotland is a wise decision. By considering those things mentioned above, hopefully, you get the answer to the question about where to live in Scotland, and you can find one of the best places to live in Scotland for yourself.
FAQs About The Best Places to Live in Scotland
Why Should You Consider Moving to Scotland?
Scotland is an amazing place to live. It has stunning scenery, a rich history, and consistently scores first in quality of life among the UK nations. Scotland also boasts excellent cuisine, homemade whisky, varied music, distinctive arts and culture, and friendly locals.
Where are the cheapest places to live in Scotland?
Among all the best cities mentioned in this article, there are certain cheapest places to live in Scotland to ease your burden on housing and other living expenses. To help you find the cheapest and nicest place to live in Scotland compared to other regions, we gathered the top 5 most affordable places in Scotland to live:
Aberdeen
Leicester
Stirling
Saltcoats
Port Glasgow
Which Part of Scotland Has the Best Weather?
The east coast of Scotland often receives much less rainfall than the west coast, making it a more favourable destination for tourists.
What Activities Can You Do in Scotland?
There are so many activities that you can do in Scotland, among others: strolling at the beach, hiking, horse riding, cycling, admiring the scenery, and admiring the magnificent castles that offer you the greatest story behind the walls.
On the other hand, you can also do some activities in the neighbourhoods, like visiting the museum, sampling specials at local restaurants, joining a community, and many more.
