Glasgow and the West

What it is like

Glasgow is Scotland's largest city and the centre of its largest city region. It has a strong music, arts and food scene, three universities, and large employers in health, education, engineering, financial services and the public sector.

The city has big parks, from Kelvingrove to Pollok Country Park, and Loch Lomond is under an hour away.

Where people live

In the city: the West End (Hyndland, Partick, Dowanhill) for tenement flats near the university and Byres Road. The Southside (Shawlands, Strathbungo, Pollokshields) for a neighbourhood feel and slightly lower prices. The Merchant City and Finnieston for flats close to the centre.

Suburbs: Bearsden, Milngavie and Lenzie in East Dunbartonshire. Giffnock, Clarkston and Newton Mearns in East Renfrewshire. Both are popular with families for their schools.

Further out: Helensburgh, Gourock and Largs on the Clyde coast, and the Ayrshire towns to the south west.

Getting about

Glasgow has the largest suburban rail network in Scotland, and many suburbs have a train into Central or Queen Street in under half an hour. The Subway runs in a loop around the centre and the West End. Glasgow Airport is near Paisley, and Prestwick Airport is in Ayrshire.

Homes

You get noticeably more space for your money than in Edinburgh. Much of the city housing is sandstone tenement flats, which share a close, stair and roof costs; ask about the factor and common repairs. Family houses in the popular suburbs can go to a closing date and sell over the offers over price.

Read the Home Report before you view twice. For renting, see our guide to renting.

Schools

Places follow catchment by address, and catchments in East Dunbartonshire and East Renfrewshire are in high demand, which shows in house prices. Glasgow City Council runs Gaelic-medium primary and secondary schools.