London - Devon relocation advice!

[SaveFerris2016]

Hi!
I'd be so grateful if anyone could offer by thoughts/advice. We are currently set to move from London to Devon with our three kids (baby and primary age)....however we don't know where to go!

We've sold our house but, slightly terrifyingly, have nowhere else to move to. It was taking so long to sell, we didn't want to deter our current buyer by making them wait in chain.

I'm very keen to be near a grammar school but also a normal state secondary if that doesn't work out. Ideally somewhere with train links as well and enough going on in terms of a local pool, toddler groups, library etc. I'm not expecting London v2 but would need more than a local post office and pub!

I'm from Devon originally but just drawing a blank of where might be best as obviously things have changed a lot in the last 20 odd years! Any advice HUGELY appreciated and I will buy you a drink if I end up in your area 😃

Newton Abbot

Exeter seems like the obvious choice

Aren't the primary schools all incredibly oversubscribed in Exeter?

Totnes. My local town 15 mins from me. Has everything. Querky shops. Pubs. Schools and about 40 coffee shops

How is Totnes safety wise? I really like it there but also hear people saying it's quite "woo" and alternative. I don't have a problem with that in itself but worried about it being full of anti vaxxers etc?!

Totnes if you can afford it. Ivybridge gets you close enough to Plymouth for grammars and state secondary if not.
Topsham.

Plymouth, plympton or plymstock? Some really good primaries depending on area. Secondaries are less great, best ones are in plympton and plymstock. 2 boys and one girls grammar in Plymouth, plus a couple smaller single sex catholic secondaries.

Tavistock, gorgeous town, has a secondary school, and you can get the bus to Plymouth to a grammar school. Has a nice sports centre and a lovely park. 5/10 minute drive and your on Dartmoor. A lovely pannier market Tuesday to Saturday. 3 decent sized supermarkets.

Very safe. Yes a bit alternative but no serious issues at all.

Safer than Tavistock.