Plymouth

[Brunotheborderterrier]

Hi, we are wanting to relocate to Devon and dh’s company have approved him moving to the Plymouth or Torbay office (but they are pushing him slightly more towards the Plymouth option). I’ve been to Plymouth once before and I know that it’s not everyone’s cup of tea but i quite liked it. We are hoping to have children in the next few years and I was just wondering what sort of place it is to bring up children, what the schools are like etc. We are quite keen to buy a house quite central because the prices are very low compared to other areas. I was just wondering if anyone had any experience? Thank you

Also, forgot to put, we also have a border terrier so was wondering if there are many parks/ nice places to walk within walking distance of the city

Plymouth is great, we brought up two boys here and they have both said how lucky they are. Its a quiet city really with low crime rates, surrounded by places to go for beaches, moorland and close to Cornwall. It has a national trust property at Saltram with house and gardens and lovely walks by the plym estuary. Central park is close to the city centre and is very nice for dog walking, the hoe is also lovely for walks and scenery. In fact there are lots of walks all over the city.
In summer there are ferries to mount edgecombe which is lovely especially for walking, and to Cawsand which is a lovely little village just over the water. Actually just realised that we have quite a lot of parks. Do you know where you will live?

Schools are pretty good too.

Plymouth can have a bad reputation for being a bit ugly in the town centre due to being bombed so badly but it has so much going for it! Mannamead, Hartley and Lower Compton all have lovely houses and near to schools, bus to town etc. Or Peverell is very near to Central Park which is great for dog walks. Stoke is becoming more and more popular for families too.

@StepAwayFromTheEcclesCakes Thank you for your reply. Great to hear that your boys enjoyed growing up in Plymouth. We were looking at being quite central in the hope that we could do with just one car. From what I've seen property tends to be cheaper nearer the city centre (wasn't sure if there was a reason for that though?).

Born and bred in Plymouth. We loved it, easy access to both the sea and the moors. Decent public transport. Lots to do for all ages. Cinema, shopping, National Marine Aquarium, lovely coastal walks, plenty of chippys On the Hoe/the Barbican they have so many different events during the summer. Navy day is great too. Also just over the river from Cornwall. If you drive the other way you're on the moors and have so many places there to explore.

Only moved to be closer to DH family as my family are a bit toxic. I really (REALLY) miss being able to go and sit with a coffee and just watch the sea.

If I went back I'd like to live in Peverell, it's walking distance to the city centre. There's Central Park and the Life Centre (a leisure centre) around the corner too which is perfect for picnics or walking. We rented a house in this area once and the only time it was mad busy was match days because the football ground is right near the centre.

I wouldn't live in Torbay. Not at all similar other then they both have sea.

I live in Plymouth and, although the scenery is nice, it's really bad economically. There are few jobs that aren't in hospitality and the city centre is dead. Just like any other city there are good areas and bad, but if I had the choice I wouldn't live here because it's boring! I've always felt cut off from the rest of the country here.

Sorry to sound so negative. I hope it works out for you.

It depends on where you are looking, as pp says Peverell and Stoke are popular. Mutley is a bit run down and has a lot of student houses. St judes is close to the city centre and has a mix of housing, i live in Mount gould overlooking the estuary, its lovely but has a poor reputation for some reason but its been great for us, lived here over 30 years now and not had any bother, neighbours rarely move out so its clearly keeping us all happy 😁 its walking distance to shops, parks, schools, and city centre, no pubs though as per some old covenant but the barbican is walking distance for pubs and restaurants ( pre covid)

I have lived and worked in Plymouth as a teacher but now live across the border in Cornwall. There is a very large student population which is changing the city centre and making it more vibrant and multi cultural.
If you want to be close to the city centre look at Peverell, Mannamead, Hartley, Lower Compton, Stoke and further out but easy transport wise Eggbuckland and area around Looseleigh Lane/Derriford/Tamerton.

I lived in Plymouth for 24 years and moved back to the SE 7 years ago due to DH's work location changing. We don't miss it at all but we're SE born and bred so never intended to stay in the SW for ever. I noticed a massive change during the time we were there. The whole city seemed to just get more and more run down. Having said that, I'd still pick it over Torbay.

Everyone raves about the moors and the coast but I don't think either are that amazing, sorry. I'm not a massive outdoorsy person though.

Good things:
Close to Dartmoor if you like hiking and camping
TRP and The Barbican Theatre are both great regional theatres. There's a pretty good arts scene in general.
Grammar school system if you're interested in that route for your children
Some lovely city centre(ish) houses in Mannamead and Peverell. There are also some lovely houses in Stoke (the village end, not the dockyard end!)
House prices!
Some signs of investment with new eating/entertainment areas replacing the old bus station and the dodgy areas by Millbay,
Quite a lot of green space/parks.
The Hoe and Barbican (although both need a massive spruce up!)
Handy for the ferry to France and Spain.

Bad things:
Really run down city centre (not helped by the dreadful Drake's Circus shopping mall).
Takes ages to get anywhere. At least 45 mins to Exeter, 3+ hours to London. The roads into Cornwall are often really busy in the summer.
Lack of investment/poor economy (the dockyard and Navy presence have really reduced which hasn't helped!).

I live just over the Tamar Bridge in one of the towns here in Cornwall. Commuting into Plymouth is a doddle, with plenty of public transport options depending on where the office is.

It's much nicer than Plymouth tbh, I don't like the city much and find that since no longer commuting to thing city centre, I have little need to go there much. I've been over the bridge about 8 times in the last year, as I can get most things this side. Apart from clothes, which requires a trip in normal times. I don't think that will change much when things reopen either.

Have a look at Liskeard, Saltash, Callington and all the lovely villages in between (although the villages have poor public transport options if you're getting rid of a car) as alternatives. Lots of schools around.

Oh the great times I had down Union Street and on the Barbican in the pubs and clubs! Showing my age there! It's about the only thing I liked about Plymouth centre though (we lived further out) but I'm not a city girl. There's also very little decent work in Plymouth compared to the SE but the moors are wonderful and there is lots of coastline - although for a decent beach I'd go up to Bantham or Bigbury.

If I was moving to Plymouth the centre is not where I'd choose to live, if I had money, I'd live out Noss Mayo way on the coast otherwise maybe Ivybridge or Ermington. The reason a lot of places in the centre are cheap is because they are rough - or they were when I was growing up. The nice bits I would expect to be much more expensive.
Torbay always seems to have a reputation as having a big problem with drugs I believe so I'd definitely take Plymouth over that.

This might help to give you an idea of where you might want to avoid, it's copied from someone else and i agree with them:
West Plymouth is generally seen as the toughest. Stonehouse, Devonport, Morice Town, Keyham, Barne Barton, St Budeaux East, Ford, Ham, Honicknowle and North Prospect all have their fair share of run-down roads along with Efford, Laira and Leigham in the east. I’m personally not a huge fan of Mutley Plain, North Hill, Embankment Road and Lipson Vale either.
I would stay away from anything that seems like a bargain if you don't know the area xxx

Tal45 - Epic nights out: The Street, Two Trees, PR, Beer Keller, The Tube, Jesters, Boobs . Waiting for a taxi on The Octagon eating take away from Favourite Pizza. The 90s in Union Steet were fab!

I agree with everything you've written. Ivybridge, Buckfastleigh etc. are rather nice. Bigbury and Wembury have lovely beaches.

I lived in Keyham, Stoke, Crownhill and St Judes. They were all Ok but Crownhill was a bit dull. St Judes was great as it was walkable from the centre. I'm feeling a bit nostalgic now!

I am moving there this month actually and have a place in Mannamead. There seems to be lots to do lockdown dependent and am pretty excited to live there. Central Park looks lovely, as does the Hoe. Nor far from Dartmoor too.

Try Saltash. It's just over the border but is lovely

Last I saw the schools weren't great - www.plymouthherald.co.uk/news/plymouth-news/plymouth-schools-ofsted-performance-worst-2003284

But I know that there was a real push after that so maybe it's better now.

I have a family member who lives there - it's really cheap and close to some nice places especially if you like the outdoors.

Raising 3 DC here and personally would look at South Hams villages. Our DC go to school in a naice village primary with 25 children per year and ratios of 1:8 as 2 TAs in every class at all times...... 10 mins to beach or 15 to moors..... NT property with walks locally..... great pool when Life Centre reopens with other sports facilities.... lots of little tucked away playgrounds and green spaces.

My children can see rolling hills and big skies from their bedrooms. It's quiet and safe.

People are friendly and gentle.

Our house 3bed with flat drive, utility room, garden, cost under 200k.

I love it here.

My home city for 35 years. Love it. So easy to get to gorgeous places and loads of local parks. Slightly outside, Plympton and ivybridge are nice areas to bring up children if you don't want to be right in the city.

If I were moving to the area I'd be looking at Plympton or Plymstock. Both have good public transport links into the city centre and excellent schools.