Where to live in Torquay

[Hannahthepink]

We're moving to Torquay, and we're starting to look at houses, but although we know the town a bit, we're not very clued up on what residential areas are best.

We have small children so are interested in having a lovely primary school nearby.
It's also essential to be in easy walking distance to a nice beach.
We're moving from a market town with lovely independent shops, lots of community events and green spaces, and whilst we recognise that Torquay is a very different place, we would love to find a similar community minded feel somewhere.

Our budget is around £500,000, so seems to cover houses that we like in most areas of the town.

We really liked St Marychurch, and others have told us to look at Chelston, but we weren't quite as sure on that area.
If you have any tips on (dare I say it...) 'naice' spots that we can home in on I'd be really grateful!

@Kerry213472 May I say welcome to Torquay (in advance). Torbay still operates the 11+ system, so if that's applicable the Grammars have an excellent rep. Of the rest Torquay Acamedy (can't spell that one) has been turned round by an excellent Head and is now excellent. Paignton Community school less so but the students love going there as it is quite dynamic. The is also a Catholic school (Cuthbert Mayne) but I don't know anything about that. Good luck!

@Hannahthepink Hi again. We live near Livermead. There is an excellent junior school near by and we are only a stone's throw from a lovely quiet sandy beach at Hollicombe. There's a small row of shops inc a co-op and it's away from the main road so it's quiet. We have lovely views over the harbour and the sea so it's always changing. Good luck. PM me if you want any more info

As I was posting on another similar thread last night, I thought i would update this one in case anyone finds this and wonders if we made it...
Yes, we made it to beautiful Torquay! We found a fabulous house in St Marychurch, on a lovely quiet street. Oddicombe beach is a short walk from here, and it honestly feels like paradise down there on a sunny day. We spent the whole summer building sandcastles and eating ice cream, and honestly, I feel like we've won the lottery. We have a lovely, tiny, primary school that we walk to (about 3 minutes) through the churchyard and down the lane.
The high street in St Marychurch is better stocked than Frome was, and everyone thought that was something special. We have a butcher, baker, fishmonger, grocer, hardware store, post office... Anything else you need, there are the usual chains in the town centre or in the retail parks.
I travel into the town centre regularly for work. There are definite issues in a specific area, although I shop, sit in coffee shops and go out to bars at night with no worries for my safety that I wouldn't feel anywhere else in the country. There are obviously areas of Torquay that are rough as hell, but it's easy to avoid them.
I sat down this morning and read this whole thread back. It's really strange to read some of the responses now that I know what it's like here. I feel really lucky to be here and so, so glad that we took the opportunity to do this move.

Lovely to hear an update and hope you continue to enjoy living there :)

My mum is in the area so I keep thinking about moving to Teignmouth!