Teignmouth help please

[bippyhippy]

Hi, not sure where to post this. DH has taken a job in Exeter and we live in North Devon. We have decided to move to south Devon so that we are in a more accessible location for the rest of the world. We want to be about 30 mins from Exeter, on a trainline to London, near to the sea and close to a good school. Teignmouth seems to meet our criteria, but we have only spent a week there and it's hard to actually get a feel for what it's like to live there.

Can anyone tell me what it's like to actually live in Teignmouth? Is the school any good? Is it a nice and safe place to raise kids?

Thanks!

Can't help on the Teignmouth front, but I see you've got 2 unanswered messages about this same subject (I assume the same?) Maybe post in chat where theres more traffic and bump it a few times? Bumping this for you anyway.

Like any town TM has its nice bits and it's not so nice bits. like many sea side towns its a bit shabby in winter. There is not all that much to "do" in TM, buts it onlya short train ride from Exeter. The beach is OK. Shops not that great except the sweet shop which is worth travelling for.

What age school are you looking at? secondary? Only one choice AFAIK, if you don't like it you have to travel to Newton Abbot or Dawlish or Exeter. And plenty of kids do.

IMHO your as accessible to the rest of the world in North Devon as you are in South. The motorway stops at Exeter remember. So TM is another 30 mins drive after the end of the M-way. And Junc 30 is a good 20 mins from Tiverton. East Devon is probably more transport friendly with better connections to M-way and train network.

OK, I don't live in TM so maybe my opinion isn't what you are looking for BUT I wouldn't consider South Devon more accessible to the rest of the world than North Devon either.

I love South Devon though, and would live there if I could (currently have a static caravan in the area so spend weekends and all school holidays there for now). TM is a lovely town & I would give a limb to live in Shaldon or a TM property overlooking the estuary there .

The key to accessibility in Devon seems to be living an easy distance from Exeter - have you considered Exmouth as a location? Another lovely town (again, one big secondary school so no choice as such) and 20 mins from Exeter and the M5.

thanks for the advice. I suppose it's just that there is a train station there that makes it feel accessible. Where we live we have to drive an hour before we hit Tiverton Parkway...

kids are only primary age now but i am still thinking ahead to secondary as don't want to hit another problem in a few years :)

It's very hard to know what is best really... :(

I'm not sure there is a "best".

IS your DH OK about his new commute or does he want to reduce the commute? IF the later, have a look at places in X commuting time from new job. where about in Exeter he has to go will skew that circle one side or other of the city.

My DH works close to Junc 29. so for us being a 20 miles west on the A30 is OK, his commute time is about 30 mins door to door. If he was in the city centre it would not be so good, 25 mins to edge of city and then another 20 mins through city traffic... BUT he might commute by bus if he were city centre(45 mins), the bus option doesn't work very well from here to Junc 29....

In Exeter you get a a choice of state secondary school, but they all only go up to age 16, then all 16 plus education involves going to college of FE. East Devon secondary schools are scattered and some go to age 18, some only to age 16. West Devon, scattered but all offer up to age 18... Torbay, I'm not sure about.

My mum lives in Teignmouth (I'm in Tiverton), it's certainly got nicer over the years. They often get the train into Exeter and it's not that far to drive into Exeter at all (about 20 mins or so in the car).

The play park by the beach is brilliant, we love the beach and the arcade but i'm afraid I don't know anything about schools.

Aahhh - so excited! I'm an ex Teignmouth girl and I loved my childhood there. I loved the freedom of living in a seaside town - spent my afternoons on the beach and had great friends. Can't say how good the school is now but I do know friends whose children are there and they seem happy enough. Also worth checking out Teign school. Previous poster is right - Shaldon is lovely but, for children, I think Teignmouth is more "happening". I still love going back and would love to make it my home again one day. Lucky you.

Thanks everyone for the feedback and advice. PetitRat, Teign school looks good, thanks for that!

Hi. I'm curious where you decided to move to and how it compares to North Devon. Did you end up in Teignmouth and what was it like? We are trying to figure out where to move to in Devon. I work remotely and have a 7 year old daughter. We love the beach. What has been your experience? Thanks.