AIBU to move to Plymouth lock stock and barrel

[Gummydrops]

as part of a house swap, considering I have never been there and don't know what its like? Or is this a very bad idea?

Plymouth is lovely (mostly). Which part? Beaches in easy distance, moors in easy distance, good schools, the night life isnt as great as other citys but its ok. A night out on barbican or royal William yard is nice.

If you go you'd better like walking up and down hills.

Where are you coming from?

Where are you moving from? Thinking of the proverbial frying pan?

Depends which part...best to avoid north prospect (or the swilly as it's known locally), Stonehouse, Devonport.

There are some lovely parts of Plymouth but some really rough areas too.

at hills. I never knew what flat was until I left!

Depends where abouts

If its out of town you want, try just over the border in Saltash. All the amenities of plymouth but a nicer area

Swilly is being redeveloped - old houses knocked down and new built in their spaces, 3 houses in the space of the former 2 type thing.

What area? If they're offering Sherford, it hasn't even been built yet!

I've lived in plymouth, and other cities including bristol. I lived in plymouth for several years and yes it is hilly but my gosh bristol is worse! Some lovely areas in Plymouth but I preferred living there as a student than the years I spent working there. What area are you looking at?

I lived there from age 2 until 18, my parents are still there. It has much to recommend it, lovely coastline, near the moors, decent shops in town. Having lived in London for the last 30 years, I can't be doing with the lack of job opportunities, pace of life, infrequent public transport and lack of choice (I can catch a train, tube or bus within ten minutes walk from home here) and the lack of cultural diversity. I now feel much more at home here and wouldn't dream of going back to Plymouth. It's also a bloody long way from everywhere else in the country except south Devon and east Cornwall.

Am in a nice part of Plymouth. It is a lovely city. Pm me if you want any advice.

It's got beautiful areas and some really, really rough areas. Do your research carefully!

Southwest is lovely place to live. I like Bristol (born there), but prefer Exeter, Plymouth and being near Cornwall. All towns and cities have areas to avoid!

In London a 10 min walk gets you transport and noise, in Exeter and Plymouth 10 min you can find peace (but may be me as I like peace away from kids and to be on a hill looking at a view). I'm thinking that North Devon would be a lovely place to retire and have years to go yet so shouldn't plan yet

I have lived and worked in Plymouth area for last 28 years although we live in South East Cornwall. Parts are nice and others not so nice. Where are you moving from and which areas are you looking at? I think it is a lovely city

Hello all, thanks for all the replys, planning to move from South London, its not a definite just in early stages of researching. The house is lovely not sure about the area, pace of life etc.

What is the area gummy ? That would help people give an opinion.

I have lived in Plymouth, and currently live in S London. I know people who live in Plymouth and love it, equally I know people who loathe it. Personally, it is quite nice to visit, but I could never live there. It is too far away, and I don't think there is much going on. However, Dartmoor, the sea, Cornwall, Devon etc - if you like the outdoors and nice country pubs - you might love it.

I moved from South London to Saltash just over the bridge from Plymouth. I work in Plymouth City Centre. I found the pace of life down in Plymouth to be less frantic than London. I like being within easy distance of the beach and the moors and it is definitely more rural than South London. Public transport may not be as regular as London but if you are considering a central plymouth area it may be better. Crime rates are lower and I think the people are friendlier down here. If you want modern village areas look at Plympton, Plymstock, Saltash or at a pinch Ivybridge which is slightly further out. The North Prospect area used to have a really bad name but they are redeveloping it as they did Devonport. Personally if I was going for Central Plymouth I would go for Higher Compton or Stoke and it does depend on whether you have children but the schools tend to be better further away from the City Centre. Job availability is not bad - I have never been unemployed in the 28 years we have lived down here.

As you are talking about swap, I am assuming council house? If so the area is very very relevant! And some of these nicer areas that are being suggested will be irrelevant as they don't have a huge amount of council housing. And some of the council areas it depends where exactly in that area, there can be a huge difference.

Is there anyway you can get down to Plymouth to have a look around for a day or two and see if you like the feel of the place?

BeYourself - it could be housing association swap or council housing. You are right in that there is not a great deal of council housing but there is quite a lot of social housing via housing association properties in some of the surrounding areas of Plymouth like Saltash, Tamerton Foliot etc as there were conditions when new housing estates built that a certain percentage be allocated to social housing. Also a council estate in Plymouth is a totally different kettle of fish to council estate in South London unless they have vastly improved from when I lived up that way. You are right though in that areas differ widely. Difficult to comment without detail

I am a Janner, and miss it. I lived there before we moved out to SE Cornwall, and worked there for a decade.

The pace of life might not be as fast as London (or Brussels, where we are currently), but I cannot wait to move back to my part of Cornwall, and have the odd trip into Plymouth when I need the brightish lights. Had ds missed his offer and had to go to Plymouth as his insurance offer for uni, I would have been happy, as it would have meant I got to go home more!

It does make a difference what area of Plymouth. Wouldn't touch N Prospect even now. Crownhill is OK, and there might be social housing on the estate that used to be RNEC Manadon.