Where is good to live near Exeter ?

[NCTDN]

Relocating but don’t know the area. We’re a mid 30s couple happy to drive into the city so don’t really want to live in the city centre. Some work will take me towards taunton area.

Check out Lympstone.

That’s probably a bit further south than we’re thinking.

Are you thinking villagey/rural? Stay north or east imho to make the Taunton connection a bit easier.

Yes happy to be more rural, but without knowing the area it’s difficult to filter out places. Obviously we’ll go and look but would like to find some properties online to arrange viewing once there for a few days.

Basically, are there places to avoid ?

Topsham, one of my favourite places.

Think we need to be north of Exeter tbh.

Personally I'd look at the area covering Silverton, Bradninch, as far east as Ottery. Cullompton is choked with traffic and pretty run down, although lots of new builds popping up and a relief road is just starting to be built. It has loads of potential but it's not realised yet. The villages to the east of Tiverton are nicer and more accessible than the more central areas but you might not want to be that far away from Exeter. None of the villages have much in the way of amenities but the towns are fairly unlovely in the main!

If you can afford it (and can cope with traffic), anything around Topsham is lovely.

Kentisbeare area is lovely but big new development planned between it and Cully which will be another traffic nightmare.

Honiton has lost so many shops but is still really nice imo. Really depends on the size of village/town you fancy and how much driving you're ok with. Feel free to message me!

That’s really helpful thank you. Looking on the map we wondered about Tiverton.

I know it's east rather than north but I lived in Ottery St Mary when I worked in Exeter and I adored it. Small town that felt rural but had easy access to the city (my offices were on the east of the city just off the M4 so very easy to get to).

Like anywhere it has it's nicer bits, lots of drugs around in the less nice bits.

If you go 10 mins out the other side of the motorway, Wellington is fine (lots of nice houses), but zero places for GP surgery atm, so until they sort that out if you go into Somerset, plan for private GP!

Train stations alleged for both Cullompton and Wellington but not sure if/when they'll happen. Tiverton Parkway station is really useful for Exeter and Taunton trains.

ETA buses in my experience are crap and unreliable across the board but perhaps I've been unlucky...

Ooh Tiverton could be a good call if the trains are good. How do we know which are the nice and the less nice bits?!

Tiverton has a reputation with locals for not being very nice. There are some lovely rural places nearby though.

Bampton is lovely, as are Bolham and Cove, which are villages on the way there from Tiverton.

Personally I'd avoid the very centre - parking issues and drugs - although by the river there are some lovely places. Pinnex Moor isn't too good, Moorhayes is a bit better but quite a bit of anti social behaviour sometimes (probably the same as anywhere). The villages just outside Tiverton - ideally south and east if you want to make Exeter and Taunton easier - would be my bet.

Given the endless issues/accidents on A30 (and the M5, come to that) I'd avoid Okehampton way and look seriously at how you'd get to places when the big roads are jammed, happens all the time. I don't know Crediton as a town but there are lots of nice villages close by. Mid Devon proper is lovely but a pain in the bum, loads of squiggly roads to get anywhere!

You'll probably find if an area appears super cheap for the house you're looking at, there's a reason! As ever, depends what's a deal breaker and what you can compromise on. Best of luck :)

Lots to look at. Thank you

Buses are a no-go everywhere: you'll need to rely on trains.

Do you like rural living or town living? Any children or plans for them?

I live in Wellington - we lost a GP surgery last year, it was combined into the other one but they are still taking on new patients.
Also the train station is being built but not projected to be open until 2028.
Wellington is a really lovely town.

I’ve lived in Tiverton - the station isn’t near the town at all, but is very useful. Tiverton itself is a bit rough & run down. Some nicer bits.

Are you planning on having any children? As that should inform where you live as there are some very good schools with tight catchments & some very poor schools.