Glasgow's Shawlands named one of the best places to live in Scotland

Shawlands, in the city’s Southside, bagged the title as the fifth most attractive location to make your home in the annual Sunday Times Best Places to Live guide.

The guide, which includes 70 areas, from islands to city centres and villages, was released today by the newspaper.

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The Sunday Times’s expert judges assessed a wide range of factors, like schools, transport and broadband to culture, green spaces and the health of the high street.

They look to celebrate improving areas, attractive, well-designed homes, and locations bursting with community spirit – and Shawlands ticked all the boxes.

Blairhall Avenue, Shawlands, with its characteristic colourful houses. Photo: Sara Paciaroni

The judges were impressed by the Southside’s premium coffee and cake quarter as a both “practical and cool” district.

The area counts dozens of hip cafes and eateries catering to the multigenerational and multi-ethnic community, as well as a thriving nightlife, with trendy bars and pubs and the famous The Shed club.

It is served by three train stations, just a short ride away from Glasgow Central, and it is within walking distance of Queen’s Park.

It is also perfectly placed to take advantage of Pollok Country Park and the recently reopened Burrell Collection.

According to Halifax figures, the area has seen a growth of 15% since 2020, with the average price of a home in Shawlands reaching £245,000.

Glasgow's tenements are one of Shawlands's features. Photo: Sara Paciaroni

Helen Davies, The Times and Sunday Times property editor said: “The Sunday Times Best Places to Live list is necessarily subjective. Leave it just to statistics and you will never capture the spirit of a place.

“For that, you need to visit to take into account that ‘you have to be here’ feeling. Is the pub dog-friendly, for example? Can you live car-free? What are the schools and houses like? Is it multicultural and multigenerational, and can it offer a good way of life to lots of different sorts of people?

“This year we have discovered new best places to live, from resurgent city centres in the North, rejuvenated suburbs across the country, hidden villages in the Southwest, and a commutable Scottish island.

“We hope there is something to suit everyone.”

In the Sunday Times Best Places to Live 2022: Scotland, Shawlands came after the Isle of Bute, Braemar, Culross and Dunblane. Melrose and North Berwick followed in the ranking.