Will Falmouth be the right place?

[Sabbycoco]

I'd appreciate any input on this - we're currently in West Sussex (after moving out of London 5 years ago) but want to move somewhere for a different kind of lifestyle. We have two small boys, 5 and 2, and knew we wouldn't be here forever, and we feel it's time to go before they get too settled in school, etc. We're Irish and Scottish but don't feel any massive pull to either home. We have been trying to find where to live for years (Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Norwich) but just haven't found anywhere that made us think yes, this is it!

I had a sort of midlife crisis recently and talked my husband into moving to Australia. We did all the necessary steps and got invited on a 189 pr visa a couple of weeks ago but I've had a change of heart... That is mainly because I think Cornwall might offer a lot of what we're looking for, particularly Falmouth. We'd looked at Cornwall years ago and spent a summer camping around Cornwall and Devon but decided Cornwall was too remote - now I think at least it's a lot closer than Australia!

We've never been to Falmouth but we're visiting soon. I feel it's a good compromise. Beautiful, wild coastline. A town you can actually live in (versus being pushed out of great cities into the suburbs due to house prices!). My worry is the rain.. Australia offered the 'childhood spent outdoors'. What's it really like living in Cornwall with all the rain? Do you just embrace it? Are there enough good weather days to feel like you're getting the most out of the place? I'm not afraid of some bad weather, and actually quite like the coast on a wild, windy day. But I'd love some local input about real experience. I fear the kids being stuck in for large parts of the year and me looking out the window wondering if I've made a mistake!

We're mostly looking for a sense of community and some great nature that makes us feel we're living life to the fullest.

Thanks for reading!

I live in Falmouth and brought up my DC here. Happy to answer any questions.

I’m slightly gobsmacked that you have spent so much time thinking about Falmouth without actually visiting!

The rain is fine,Falmouth is lovely.

Falmouth only recently came on my radar actually, so we've booked to come and visit soon. I was just hoping for some idea of how people find living there in terms of spending time outdoors outside of summer and whether winters feel very long x

Winters don't feel long it's lovely,and actually often nicer than the summers that get very busy.and in winter the kids can visit edens rainforest without the busyness,that's lovely.whole of Cornwall is lovely for kids,heligan,Eden,all the national trusts etc and the beachs.falmouth is great for sailing if you like that.hope you enjoy your visit!

Falmouth is not as romantic as you may think it is. It’s full of students and tourists. It rains. A lot. It’s also lovely when the sun shines. It’s a great place to live if you have a very good income.

I’m in north Cornwall so can’t comment specifically on Falmouth but just bear in mind the obvious....West Sussex is very much better connected than Cornwall. Mine are now teens/preteens and although life here has been great for us in many ways I am now considering a move perhaps Exeter/Bristol way in the near future to give them better opportunities.

And yes it is very, very wet here. Last winter/spring was a case in point, it rained for 42 days consecutively at one point 😳

Wild coastline? Falmouth isn’t all that. The town is way past its best, the winters are pretty shit and it does rain a lot. House prices are over the top too.

indeed, Falmouth is a harbour.

I know.

I’m fascinated at all these people who are negging Falmouth.

”Past its best” - what was “best”? The town is doing pretty well given the overall state of the economy. The secondary school has improved massively. There’s a new rail link to Newquay on its way. The skate park finally opened, Kimberley Park as been improved, as has the pump track. The football, rugby, netball and surf life saving clubs are all good. My DGS also does jujitsu, taekwondo, parkour, surfing and climbing locally.

The universities bring vibrancy, diversity and prosperity to the town.

Sadly we still don’t have a decent swimming pool.

My friend who was a teenager in Falmouth in the 80s remembers the centre as a no-go area on a weekend night. Now it’s generally lovely.

Yes Cornwall is badly connected but given OP was also considering Australia I think we can safely say that’s not top of her agenda.

Teenagers will need mum and dad to taxi them but only for a few years until they get their own driving licences.

The town was not a no go area at the weekends in the 80s.

A few years of taxi-ing? I have been doing it for years, this weekend alone I had to take eldest to Exeter and middle to Plymouth for events as no other means of getting there that didn’t take half a day. It is a huge factor for me living here but I guess others may not be so bothered,

Gently @Sabbycoco perhaps try a lottle holiday there and take a short term six month rental if you like it.

I have visited, prefer Truro, but the proximoty to a big town would drive me nuts. Check out schools and qualoty of healthcare - I'm not sure the quality of the latter is great.

Go on holiday a few times before moving there and stay in the area you’d live in

The rain, it rains ...

Bring a brolly. Or five.

I wouldn’t describe Falmouth as wild, in any sense of the word

So wild, you’d need to ask Bear Grylls what he’d do.

We stopped in Falmouth recently after visiting the Exeter university campus in Penryn. When we parked the first person we saw stumbled into us as they were on drugs. Falmouth wasn’t too bad compared to Penryn but it isn’t what you seem to be picturing. I never understand people thinking they’ll move somewhere they haven’t visited. It’s not that far you can’t do for a weekend if you’re serious.