Are there many differences between England and Scotland?

Hi,

My family are moving to the Edinburgh area in a month or 2 after spending 4 years in Colchester, Essex. I'm wondering if there are many differences between the 2 countries. I know that many things will probably be the same and I won't have to re-learn a whole new way of life like when I came to England 4 years ago but I would still like to hear any insight or observations about what little things I can expect.

Thanks!

Lots of hills in Edinburgh. And lots of stairs. Like, LOTS. 

Edinburgh would be more of a touristy city than Essex, of course, so expect more tourists, a bit of bagpiping here and there, and more souvenir shops around. More haggis on pub menus.

Edinburgh is by far the best city I have ever been to, so I am sure you will enjoy it!

Thanks Jewelz. I am getting pretty excited about moving there, even though I'll have a 3-4 week old!

Haggis, maybe I'll give it a try? I've never been there but the more I read and learn I think I'm going to love it. I'm also getting a bit excited about my kids having Scottish accents because now my todder sounds exactly like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, the direct of having 2 American parents and Cbeeebies 

Thanks Jewelz. I am getting pretty excited about moving there, even though I'll have a 3-4 week old!

Haggis, maybe I'll give it a try? I've never been there but the more I read and learn I think I'm going to love it. I'm also getting a bit excited about my kids having Scottish accents because now my todder sounds exactly like Dick Van Dyke in Mary Poppins, the direct of having 2 American parents and Cbeeebies 

LOL. Your description of your kid's accent cracks me up... 

I tried haggis for the first time a few months ago when we went to Edinburgh. I had a haggis and whiskey cream pie in a pub. I thought I had died and gone to heaven, it was THAT good. And I never expected to like it, it sounded pretty gross to me when people described it. But you definitely gotta try it! 

I really like Haggis and I love Scotland.  Although I am a Glasgow girl.   

I suppose there are probably many differences, but I've never lived in an English city, so I can't really comment.
But I will give the same advice I always do, be open minded, you never know what you will learn and find out 

And Haggis = yum!!!!!!!!!

I moved  to England 4 years ago from Southern California after only 1 visit with only 3 suitcases of stuff to my name  and lived in a 1 room, 13th floor student accomodation flat with my new husband who after marrying and coming to England we realized that we didn't actually know each other at all. Nothing could have prepared me for the complete and utter hell that first year was, but we've made it this far and each year gets better and better.

Moving to Edinburgh is going to be great. It will be hard of course but I can't tell you how calm I am about the whole daunting process ahead. I fel as if it took me a good 3 years before I felt like I finally "got the hang of it" (living in England) if you know what I mean.

I still expect that I'll have to learn some new words, greetings and ways of doing things, but I can't imagine that the shock and differences will be remotely comparable to coming to England from the US! 

I think the biggest shock for me was that people (not everyone, of course) actually wear tartan trousers! 

Best of luck with the move! I'm jealous that you're moving to such a fabulous city!

I still expect that I'll have to learn some new words, greetings and ways of doing things, but I can't imagine that the shock and differences will be remotely comparable to coming to England from the US! 

No, it certainly wouldn't be that different. One thing you will also find is that Edinburgh is a pretty culturally diverse place (I don't know what Essex is like, though...) so you might find you have more luck at making new friends, since there will most likely be a lot of other people there who are from other countries and looking to make new friends, too. I envy you that!!! That also means a bigger variety of cuisines/restaurants, there's a great place to shop for Mexican ingredients and American stuff called Lupe Pinto's, and all sorts of other interesting things to do there - museums, shopping, etc. Just outside of Edinburgh, there is beautiful countryside and amazing chapels (Roslyn Chapel is so beautiful) and castles.  You will love it! I'm sure the accents in Scotland might be a bit hard to get used to at first if you aren't used to them already, but you will get the hang of it soon enough.

Edinburgh is pretty English in flavour and has a large percentage of English people living in it.  

There's all the same shops, plenty of the same restaurants, etc.

I had a boss from Greenock, although she was brought up in Aberdeen mostly who used to say, 'Edinburgh is an English city in Scotland'.

In many ways she was correct in this.

Yeah, Edinburgh - while a very nice city - felt like it could be a city anywhere, including one in England.  I didn't feel like I was 'really in Scotland' until I visited Glasgow. 

Seemed like there were more non-Scottish people in Edinburgh than there were Scots.

Yeah, Edinburgh - while a very nice city - felt like it could be a city anywhere, including one in England.  I didn't feel like I was 'really in Scotland' until I visited Glasgow. 

Seemed like there were more non-Scottish people in Edinburgh than there were Scots.

There are several universities there, too, so a healthy-sized student population and plenty of Americans there to study and work or visit.

Lotsa tourists, too.

During the Festival, it really does feel like there are more Londoners there than in London! 

There are some minor differences in day-to-day practicalities, such as the different banknotes, water bills generally being included in council-tax bills, etc.

Water bills generally being included in council tax bills? I'd be doing a happy dance if I wasn't 9 months pregnant and could actually move!!!

Water bills generally being included in council tax bills? I'd be doing a happy dance if I wasn't 9 months pregnant and could actually move!!!

You won't when the council sends you the council tax book and you see how much they charge for it.