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Original poster

Relocating to Tiverton?

39 replies

JM376 · 21/03/2023 12:08

Hi,

We currently live in Kent and are looking to move down to the southwest. My partner is from Bristol and has a lot of work around there and Exeter.

We have potentially found a house in Tiverton, but wondered if anybody had any advice with regards to nice areas, or areas of the town to avoid? There are a few threads already but they are all quite old, so thought the town might have changed a bit since.

We have a two year old and a newborn, and I wouldn’t know anybody in the area, so would be nice to make some mum friends. Can anybody tell me what the area is like for kids? Are there any toddler groups around?

thanks 😊

OP posts:
devongal1975 · 30/03/2023 16:23

Tiverton is a massive dump! Really deprived and one of the most dangerous places in Devon. Used to be statistically the most violent place in the whole SW outside Plymouth. Dreadful schools in the area, especially secondary (don't send them to Uffculme or Tiverton high) Has a bad reputation, and has always been extremely inbred, so it has the nickname 'Divvy Tivvy.' Most people in Tiverton are aggressive and have never stepped foot outside Tiverton in their entire life, with their whole family all living in Tiverton. The outskirts are ok, but the centre is awful, dangerous at night with poor selection of shops. Many people have drug or drink problems. Rubbish for kids too, nothing to do and lots of parents are vile people. Lots of teen parents. Please stay away.

HollyHocks13 · 30/03/2023 16:36

I agree with the previous poster, Tiverton has a bit of a bad reputation. How about Exeter? It's a great place to live and easy to get to Bristol either by train or car..

Suetcrust · 30/03/2023 16:39

Tiverton probably isn’t the best choice but it’s horses for courses.
Take a look at Honiton or Ottery St Mary. Torquay is cheaper and commutable, likewise Dawlish and Teignmouth.

Lots of new building estates outskirts of Exeter. If you like new builds think about Cranbrook (big “new town” and might be a bit repetitive with architecture or a bit ghetto-ish? ) or maybe the more established Pinhoe on Exeter’s eastern edge.

Think about the Alphington area of Exeter or Heavitree area (near the hospital) which is very popular.

Chudleigh is a lovely little busy market town too and an easy commute.

Exeter is hugely expensive but Kent prices probably trump it!

Happy landings wherever you end up.,

Trollsinmyeggbox · 30/03/2023 19:00

I live about half an hour away and would never live in Tiverton. It's horrid. Like PP said, lots on outskirts of Exeter in ok places, depends on your budget really.

Tivvydiva · 30/03/2023 19:52

I live in Tiverton, there are lots of nicer places to live but it is fine. I think the PPs have been quite harsh.

As with anywhere, there are people who have barely set foot outside the town and some of them can be a bit dodgy but most people are lovely.

There are a lot of toddler groups, some nice parks, dance classes, beavers/rainbows and a good leisure centre. There are some very active Facebook community pages which are really helpful.

There are quite a few primary schools and it is worth looking around to see what best suits you as they're all quite close.

maggierose1967 · 30/03/2023 21:52

Tiverton is horrible. Mostly charity shops, rude people and lots of fighting and anti social behavior. There's no nice parts of Tiverton, the surrounding villages can be nice however. Tiverton feels rough, with plenty of teen parents, as someone mentioned, secondary schools are terrible and primaries are okay. I am originally from central Birmingham, so am no stranger to rough places. Tiverton almost felt like an inner Birmingham suburb. Lots of homeless people, no Devon accents, seemed the majority of people here were from London and Birmingham. I once witnessed a robber with a knife in play daylight when I was in town shopping! Often I was forced to go to Exeter to go shopping, there's not much in Tiverton and plenty of boarded up shops. I was shocked by what the parents were like. The majority of them were covered in tattoos and talked about getting drunk at the weekend in the playground! I only lived here as it was cheap. Tiverton is more Somerset than Devon in fairness, it's near the border. Got out last year, it was great news. I now live in Dartmouth which is quite affluent and nice. Tiverton is the place to go if you are a rude drunkard teen parent who likes charity shops and fights.

Original poster
JM376 · 31/03/2023 07:45

Thanks for all the advice guys. I feel quite relieved that we didn’t get the house in Tiverton now!

We have a family member going to look at another house for us in Ilminster this morning… any info on there?

we’ll only be renting at first, so will only have to stay for 6 months while we get the lay of the land and can then move somewhere more permanent that we know we like.

I would love to live somewhere south of Exeter but my partner would like to be within roughly an hour of both Clevedon and Exeter for work, so we have been looking at places in the middle there, around Taunton, Cullompton etc. but I think I would really like Exeter as I imagine there’ll be loads for me to do with the kids.

Renting is really slim pickings at the moment so we’re just jumping on anything that pops up 😂

OP posts:
ladyfromslough · 07/05/2023 18:41

A month late, sorry. As others said, Tiverton feels like a northern industrial town, it is like a smaller version of Scunthorpe or Burnley. Graffiti covered, poor snd overall just vile. Ilminster always seems to be full of congestion and traffic, so don't know if that is a great option. Exeter is fairly nice but schools there aren't great and the city centre has a lot of homeless and violence. Definitely dodge burnthouse lane and a couple of suburbs like beacon heath, Exwick.

APurpleSquirrel · 07/05/2023 19:11

I've lived in Tiverton (about 15-20yrs ago) & it wasn't as bad then, but does seem to have gone downhill since.
Look at Wellington, Taunton, or the smaller villages if you're not reliant on public transport.

GinBlossom94 · 07/05/2023 19:51

This post has made me laugh, I lived in Tiverton 20 years ago and still have family there. I would never move back.

Gusabbey · 07/05/2023 20:08

So surprised by this thread. When I lived in that area we used to go into Tiverton whenever we got the chance. It was a nice little town. Quite pretty, nice river and old stone houses, castle and so on. Some nice shops, the inside market. Best of all, there were several very good restaurants. Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese. Never saw any antisocial behaviour. Lovely countryside. This was less than 10 years ago. I didn't like Exeter though. Exeter seems to be a marmite place.

ladyfromslough · 07/05/2023 21:51

I suppose places always seem better when you visit there than when you live there I visited Tiverton a couple of times thought it was nice then went to live there. I have lived everywhere, Birmingham, London, Slough, Burnley, Coventry... I still look at living in Tiverton as a low point from my life. It was shocking and didn't feel like Devon at all. Nice countryside, nice canal, the rest of the town sadly is an eyesore with closed up vandalized units everywhere. Plus it always seemed to smell bad.... Easily the most horrible anti social town i've ever been to of it's size. And i'm well travelled. Each to their own, but I fail to see how anyone could like Tivvy.

bestmotherever · 07/05/2023 21:57

Agreed. Tiverton is revolting. I grew up there and couldn't wait to escape. That was 30 years ago I left so it's not a new thing Tivvy being a dump. Was full of rude alcoholics and had the most awful schools!

Gusabbey · 07/05/2023 21:58

Well now you mention Birmingham - lived there and loathed it.

ladyfromslough · 07/05/2023 22:01

So did I. I would not say Tiverton was worse than Birmingham obviously, but it did not feel it was a huge step up. I lived in Kings Heath which was quite rough but I witnessed almost just as much anti social behavior in Tiverton

Gusabbey · 07/05/2023 22:04

I think I must have been won over by the great restaurants. Those lovely meals obviously turned the whole town a rosy pink for me... The Chinese all you can eat Sunday lunch, massive choice all freshly cooked for you. Haven't found that anywhere else, sadly.

elliejjtiny · 07/05/2023 22:05

I'm surprised at the negative comments about uffcolme school. I love about 20 minutes drive from tiverton. When my eldest was starting secondary there were lots of parents trying to get their dc into uffcolme.

bestmotherever · 07/05/2023 22:10

Uffculme was atrocious when I was there. Bullying was through the roof. Just as bad now I think, I believe there is a petition online that is attempting to shut it down?

Floribundaflummery · 07/05/2023 22:12

Exeter is a lovely university city with lots of character and lots going on.Wellington has fantastic countryside and walks and seems like a great community. Torquay has lovely old Victorian houses and the sea but town centre run down and lots of social problems. Totnes amazing town, independent shops, near Dartmoor, characterful and great community, has station.

prampushingdownthehighst · 07/05/2023 22:29

Gosh Uffculme had a fantastic reputation when our girls were at school, but that's 10 years ago now
Please don't lump Tiverton into Somerset, It is Devon and Somerset has enough of our own problem towns as it is!

Surrounding Exeter areas are.probably your best bet

prampushingdownthehighst · 07/05/2023 22:30

Ilminster not a bad place at all, but can't help with schools

Izzy24 · 07/05/2023 22:34

Did you like Ilminster? I think it’s a great little town but like PP I don’t know about schools…

ladyfromslough · 07/05/2023 22:43

Ilminster has no secondary so they go to secondary school in Chard at Holyropd Academy. It is part of the Uffculme Academy Trust, which always had a reputation for running poorly run schools with bullying issues when I lived in Tiverton. Don't know if it's improved. My daughter went to Uffculme School when we lived in Tiverton and she was bullied a lot and not a lot was done about it. Uffculme had a poor reputation then and lots of people advised me against sending their children there.

APurpleSquirrel · 07/05/2023 23:18

Surprised at the comments about Uffculme - it's rated Outstanding, is usually heavily oversubscribed & most people locally want to get there kids in there.
No idea about bullying though. & not seen or heard anything about a petition to have it closed - that's laughable.

Wheredoallthehairbandsgo · 07/05/2023 23:31

Had a teenager visit tivvy and got started on big time….
it’s a no go for us ….I’m fairly local and was stunned

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