Best places to live in Scotland (or Canada)?
June 24, 2016 6:02 AM Subscribe
The UK voting for Brexit has turned my 'I'd like to live in Scotland someday' to 'if there's even a whiff of independence I'm am definitely moving up there - back up plan = Canada'. So where are recommended places to move to?
I'd prefer somewhere with (relatively) cheap housing, decent public transport links (I don't drive), none-terrible internet (I'm starting an a new business venture that'll be internet based). Bonus would be some culture like galleries and museums and some countryside to enjoy. I've visited Scotland a lot - but mainly central belt and the highlands and I don't really know much about anywhere outside of that.
I'd prefer somewhere with (relatively) cheap housing, decent public transport links (I don't drive), none-terrible internet (I'm starting an a new business venture that'll be internet based). Bonus would be some culture like galleries and museums and some countryside to enjoy. I've visited Scotland a lot - but mainly central belt and the highlands and I don't really know much about anywhere outside of that.
Toronto is a business centre and has good transit, but housing is very expensive. Ottawa might be a good choice. No subways but a dedicated bus transitway, and housing costs aren't bad. But it has terrible winters :-)
posted by JoannaC at 7:25 AM on June 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by JoannaC at 7:25 AM on June 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Truthfully, your best bet is to get a rec from someone in Scotland. You can check out scrittore's immigration criteria and see if you apply for a Canadian visa (you might!), but be prepared for a lengthy and expensive process. Best of luck!
posted by Kitteh at 7:54 AM on June 24, 2016
posted by Kitteh at 7:54 AM on June 24, 2016
As far as Canada is concerned I'd think either Montreal or Halifax would be good bets for you, although I'm not sure what the transit situation is like in Halifax.
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:53 AM on June 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
posted by any portmanteau in a storm at 9:53 AM on June 24, 2016 [1 favorite]
Also our bus system was delayed 40 minutes this morning because a single delivery truck was parked illegally. There will be major improvements when the first stage of light rail is finished in 2018, however the current system is far from world-class.
Wasn't that a trip? Nothing like rolling into work super late because of one truck.
As for Ottawa as a whole, I still love it and would always recommend it. Other great Canadian cities I know personally include Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Halifax and Victoria. Truth is no where in Canada has public transit like Europe, not even Toronto so if that's your standard, you're going to be disappointed. If you're willing to deal with something a little less good, we can do that. The winters are rougher in Ottawa than any of the other cities I listed; Victoria is downright mild for large stretches of the winter compared to the rest of the country.
posted by GilvearSt at 10:22 AM on June 24, 2016
Wasn't that a trip? Nothing like rolling into work super late because of one truck.
As for Ottawa as a whole, I still love it and would always recommend it. Other great Canadian cities I know personally include Kitchener-Waterloo, Guelph, Halifax and Victoria. Truth is no where in Canada has public transit like Europe, not even Toronto so if that's your standard, you're going to be disappointed. If you're willing to deal with something a little less good, we can do that. The winters are rougher in Ottawa than any of the other cities I listed; Victoria is downright mild for large stretches of the winter compared to the rest of the country.
posted by GilvearSt at 10:22 AM on June 24, 2016
I would encourage you to first find out if your even eligible to establish residence in the countries you are considering. It is much more difficult than many persons assume. Once you find out if you are eligible you can narrow your search. I think it can be assumed that if you want affordable/cheap housing be default it will be a smaller city. Before I settled in Ireland I did discover that Canadian Provinces have some discretion over their criteria. I wish you well but doing your homework will be helpful.
posted by rmhsinc at 1:10 PM on June 24, 2016
posted by rmhsinc at 1:10 PM on June 24, 2016
If you need decent public transport and internet in Scotland that probably limits you to the central belt, Dundee or Aberdeen. If you're working from home then maybe one of the commuter towns in between Edinburgh and Glasgow would be good as the cost of housing will be cheaper. This is offset for most people by the cost of commuting but if you don't do it....
Linlithgow is nice. There's nice countryside nearby and you can be in the highlands in a few hours on public transport or in Edinburgh/Glasgow in 20 minutes for culture.
posted by neilb449 at 11:51 PM on June 24, 2016
Linlithgow is nice. There's nice countryside nearby and you can be in the highlands in a few hours on public transport or in Edinburgh/Glasgow in 20 minutes for culture.
posted by neilb449 at 11:51 PM on June 24, 2016
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posted by kariebookish at 6:17 AM on June 24, 2016