Quick answer: Anniesland sits in the north-west West End of Glasgow, built around Anniesland Cross where Great Western Road meets Crow Road. It’s well connected, with a train station running three lines and quick links to town. Flats are mostly tenements, and rents tend to come in cheaper than the central West End. Expect roughly £925 a month for a one-bed and around £1,100 to £1,200 for a two-bed, though figures move with the market. It’s a practical, settled part of the city rather than a flashy one.
Where is Anniesland?
Anniesland is a West End area about three to four miles north-west of Glasgow city centre. The heart of it is Anniesland Cross, the big junction where Great Western Road (the A82) crosses Crow Road and Bearsden Road (the A739). It borders Jordanhill, Kelvindale, Knightswood and Temple, so you’re never far from green space or the bigger West End names like Hyndland and Partick.
It’s the sort of place people move to when they want the West End without the West End price tag. You get the tenements, the tree-lined streets and the transport, but it feels a bit more residential and a bit less student-heavy than Hillhead or Partick. If you’re weighing up the wider city first, our best areas to live in Glasgow guide puts Anniesland in context next to the alternatives.
What’s renting like in Anniesland?
Anniesland is one of the better-value West End options. You’re paying for the postcode and the transport, but you’re not paying the premium that Hyndland or Dowanhill command. Most of the stock is traditional sandstone tenement flats, with some newer builds and ex-local-authority housing around the edges towards Knightswood.
Here’s a rough guide to what you’ll see advertised. These are asking prices and they shift, so always check the live listings before you budget.
| Property type | Typical monthly rent | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| One-bed flat | £850 to £975 | Often tenement, close to the Cross |
| Two-bed flat | £1,000 to £1,300 | The most common let in the area |
| Three-bed flat or house | £1,300 to £1,700 | Bigger tenement or terraced family homes |
| Room in a shared flat | £450 to £600 | Less common than in Partick or Hillhead |
For comparison, the Glasgow average for a one-bed sits around £925 a month, and Anniesland tends to track at or slightly below the central West End. Before you sign anything, it’s worth reading our renting in Glasgow guide for deposit rules, the tenancy deposit scheme and what landlords can and can’t do. The wider cost of living in Glasgow piece will help you sanity-check the full monthly budget.
Council tax and bills
Anniesland falls under Glasgow City Council, so your council tax band and rates are set the same way as the rest of the city. Bands and charges change every April, so check the current figure for your exact address. Our Glasgow council tax explained guide breaks down the bands, and the official rates live on glasgow.gov.uk. Bin days are set by the council too, covered in our Glasgow bin collection guide.
Transport: the big selling point
Transport is where Anniesland earns its keep. Anniesland station is one of the more useful in the city because it sits on three lines: the Argyle Line, the North Clyde Line and the Maryhill Line. That gives you direct trains to Glasgow Central Low Level, Glasgow Queen Street Low Level, and out towards Edinburgh and the suburbs without changing.
- To the city centre: around 18 minutes to Glasgow Central, with frequent trains through the day.
- Frequency: services run from early morning through to around midnight on the busiest stretches.
- Step-free access: new lifts opened in October 2024, so the station is now accessible.
- Buses: Great Western Road is a major bus corridor, with regular First Bus services into town and out west.
Times and fares change, so check live timetables on scotrail.co.uk before you travel. Our Glasgow train guide explains the low-level lines and how the network fits together, and the Glasgow bus guide covers tickets and routes. If you drive, note that Anniesland is outside the city centre Low Emission Zone, but you’ll hit it on the way into town, so it’s worth knowing the rules.
Schools
Anniesland and the streets around it are well served for schools, which is a big part of why families settle here. Catchments matter for state schools, so confirm yours with the council before you commit to an address.
- Knightswood Primary and Knightswood Secondary are the main non-denominational options nearby. Knightswood Secondary is also home to The Dance School of Scotland, a national centre of excellence.
- St Thomas Aquinas Secondary in neighbouring Jordanhill is the Catholic secondary serving the area.
- For private education, the High School of Glasgow senior campus has been in Anniesland since 1977, and Glasgow Academy has its New Anniesland sports ground close by.
Catchment boundaries and admission rules are on glasgow.gov.uk, and for Scotland-wide school info there’s mygov.scot.
Shops, food and amenities
You won’t be short of the basics. The retail park set back from Great Western Road has a large Morrisons, a Costa and The Gym Group, and there’s a Lidl on Crow Road at the Cross in the old Mothercare unit. Add the smaller shops, takeaways and a couple of pharmacies around Anniesland Cross and the day-to-day stuff is genuinely on your doorstep.
Landmark spotters should look up at Anniesland Court, the tower block by the retail park, which is Scotland’s tallest Category A listed building. Love it or hate it, it’s a proper bit of Glasgow.
Pubs and eating out
It’s not a nightlife area, but there are solid locals.
- The Esquire House on Great Western Road is the area’s Wetherspoon, handy for a cheap pint and a feed. See jdwetherspoon.com for hours.
- Lock 27 sits canal-side near the Forth and Clyde, a relaxed spot for food and a drink with outdoor seating in summer. Details at lock27glasgow.co.uk.
For a proper night out you’re a short train or bus ride from the busier West End strips. Our roundups of the best pubs in Glasgow and best curry in Glasgow point you to the places worth the trip.
What’s it actually like to live in Anniesland?
Honest take: Anniesland is quiet, practical and well connected, not glamorous. It suits commuters, families and anyone who wants West End access without paying Hyndland money. The trains are the headline feature, the shops cover the essentials, and the tenements give you that classic Glasgow flat without the central-West-End premium.
The downsides? Anniesland Cross itself is a busy traffic junction rather than a charming high street, and the nightlife and indie cafe scene is thinner than Partick or Finnieston. If you want buzz on your doorstep, look elsewhere. If you want a sensible base with brilliant transport and decent value, it’s hard to beat.
If you’re still comparing, our guides to Partick and Finnieston show the livelier end of the West End, and the moving to Glasgow guide covers the practical steps of getting set up.
FAQ
Is Anniesland a good area to live in Glasgow?
Yes, for commuters and families. It’s well connected, reasonably priced for the West End, and has shops and schools nearby. It’s quieter and less lively than Partick or Finnieston, which suits some people and not others.
How far is Anniesland from Glasgow city centre?
About three to four miles. By train it’s roughly 18 minutes to Glasgow Central, with frequent services. Buses along Great Western Road also run regularly into town.
How much is rent in Anniesland?
Roughly £850 to £975 a month for a one-bed and around £1,000 to £1,300 for a two-bed, based on recent asking prices. Figures change with the market, so check live listings before budgeting.
Which train lines run through Anniesland?
Anniesland station sits on three lines: the Argyle Line, the North Clyde Line and the Maryhill Line. That gives direct trains to both Glasgow Central Low Level and Queen Street Low Level, plus links out east towards Edinburgh. Check scotrail.co.uk for times.
Is Anniesland in the Low Emission Zone?
No. The LEZ covers the city centre only. You’ll cross into it if you drive into town, so check our Glasgow LEZ guide for the rules and which vehicles are affected.
Is Anniesland part of the West End?
Yes. It’s in the north-west of the West End, bordering Jordanhill, Kelvindale and Knightswood, and it shares the West End’s tenement housing and Great Western Road spine.
Last updated June 2026. Rents, fares, council tax and timetables change, so always confirm current figures with the official sources linked above before you commit.
