Relocating to Totnes Vs Falmouth Vs Stroud - Help me decide!

[flutterbye88]

Relocating from Lewes with a young family

Hi everyone!
We are a social family of five (kids aged 2, 4, and 6) currently living in Lewes, East Sussex. We love the creative vibe here, but we’re looking to relocate to find a bit more "house and garden" for our budget (700-950k) while staying somewhere beautiful with deep community roots.

We’ve narrowed our search down to three main areas (including their surrounding villages):

Totnes
Stroud
Falmouth

We've read lots of posts on various sites and done a few recces to these areas now, but it's so hard to get a feel for an area in a short amount of time - with 3 kiddies in tow!

We’d love to hear from people with actual lived experience of moving to these areas with young children. And how you've found it? Amazing, awesome, a move of regret?

Specifically:
The "Vibe": We’re looking for a social (and bit of a creative) atmosphere, somewhere it’s easy to get involved and meet people.

The Transition: If you moved from a place like Lewes, how did it compare? Was it a good move for you?

Long-term Roots: Is it easy to "break in" to the community as an outsider if you're proactive?

Kids' Perspective: What are the best bits about growing up in these spots? Are they good areas for when the kids are teens?

We are already well aware of the wider issues in Cornwall/Devon regarding NHS waiting lists, distance from major hospitals, 2nd homes etc, so no need to focus on those! We also work from home so don't need to worry about employment.

We’re more interested in the day-to-day social fabric and family life.

Looking forward to hearing your stories! X

Stroud in Gloucestershire? That seems a slightly strange choice alongside two seaside towns.

For teens, I'd look at things like public transport - buses, trains.

I dunno, I would far rather be by the sea than not - it's the main thing I miss about where I live now compared with where I grew up (near the Dorset coast.) I don't know the specifics of Totnes or Falmouth.

I moved from East Sussex to just outside Stroud and had 2 DC here, now late teens. Loads to do for them and also there are a number of local grammar schools if that factors in. It’s great for transport links & proximity to a number of large towns/cities. Birmingham, Bath, Bristol, Cardiff, Oxford all within an hours drive. Trains to london in 1hr 30 mins. 3 airports within an hour is helpful for holidays too and not too much further to Heathrow.

The only thing which is a bit tricky for teens is transport but they all seem to get by with buses and as most from their school have to travel in they are all in the same boat so plan getting together well.

Stroud gets some negative press but I really like it - lots of nice restaurants and things going on at the Sub rooms, Brewery etc. Lots in Cheltenham too.

Ive been here over 20 years and no plans to move! DC also say they feel very lucky to have been brought up here which is lovely.

I dont personally live in Falmouth. Only ever visited. I dont live too far away though.

My eldest (19) is currently going to the uni there and its brilliant. Hes loving it there 🥰

Cant beat a good beach day 🥰 plenty of stunning beaches in Cornwall. Depends what your children are into really. Theres Gardens nearby. Adventure places (BF adventures just outside Falmouth) that do zip lining (my 12 year old boy went last week and loved it) Pretty sure theres a donkey sanctuary nearby too. Cinema. The maritime museum. Raze the roof that does soft play, lazer tag and vr stuff. Cant forget proper pasty shops too 👌😂 Im bias because I was born and raised here. Personally couldn't see myself raising my babies anywhere else. Mine are 19 (m), 16 (f), 12 (m), 8 (m) and 8 weeks (f).

Public transport isnt too great here. Depends on the area you use it. Where we are the buses arent too regular. Falmouth is better as my eldest catches the bus to uni. Buses between the campus sites are regular. Uni has sites in Falmouth and another in Penryn. Theres a train station but stations are scattered about. Theres a line Falmouth to Truro. Then the main line is Penzance to plymouth.