Could you tell me about Ilminster please?

[Twoshoesnewshoes]

Looking for a small town around here ish, as want to cut our travel time to Bristol (we have family there).
what kinds of shops, cafes, general vibe, any good pubs or live music? Any good areas to live fairly rurally but easy cycle/ drive?
thanks!

Anyone? Someone on MN must live there??

I have family near there. DM me if you like. I’m just headed out but will reply on return.

I live nearby. I don't know it well; I go to an animal feed shop there. I have not heard anything bad about it. There is a Tesco store on your doorstep. The high street looks quaint, but I am not sure what the shops are like - no major shop chains or anything. Yeovil is on your doorstep with Morrisons, Asda and Tesco's and quite a few handy shops. Yeovil is a bit run down, but nine springs park is a lovely place to visit.

Ilminster is semi-rural, and I live in a village about 6 miles away. I love the area and moved from the South East 6 years ago, and I do not regret it one bit.

Just to add, there are lots of lovely villages around that area.

If you like walking, lots of nice walks.
There are quite a few farm shops. Frogmary Green farm cafe is well worth a visit.
Ham Hill is a lovely place to go for a walk and has a nice pub.
I don't go to pubs that often anymore, so I cannot comment on pubs that host bands - however, there are lots of nice country pubs.
If you like National Trust places, there is one in Barrington and Montacute - lovely villages to visit and has good pubs too.
Westlands in Yeovil hosts events and, I think, has bands, comedy acts etc.
There is a theatre in Yeovil which I have been to a few times, and it puts on some good shows if you like that kind of thing.

PM me if you want to ask any further questions.

I don't know Ilminster, but I have friends who live in Crewkerne and that is lovely. It seems to have a good community spirit and has the advantage of having a railway station, which I don't think Ilminster does.

I agree with a previous poster about Montacute House and Barrington Court.

Ilminster is lovely. Thriving high street with good bakers, butchers, greengrocers. Good shops for homewear, gifts. Friendly. Good re reation fields, football and cricket clubs. Pubs and Good places to eat. It can be quiet though. Beautiful countryside nearby.

Ilminster is nice. It's relatively small but has enough shops and stuff (mid sized Tesco). Live music used to be quite good when I lived in the area but I'm out of touch.
Whilst equidistant to Yeovil and Taunton, Taunton is much nicer.
You'll need a car.
The nearest train is Crewkerne. Crewkerne is also nice. Chard is very near and isn't as nice, for some reason it's more aggressive.

All these places are relatively cheap due to local employment prospects. Some areas are quite deprived, and modern estates are a bit too cookie cutter and cramped in my view. Lots of villages around give additional housing options, you need a car!

Is secondary schooling still a bit rubbish? Check the options.

Beautiful part of the world. Good luck!

Thank you so much! Really helpful, and I will pm those who offered at the weekend.
we will be moving from Devon which I love soooooo much, but family need is priority at this time.
it’s great to hear about the walks etc because we have that here and it’s really important to me.

Also, very used to driving for everything, all DCs are grown now so schools not a worry x

Hello! Another Ilminster local here. I’m from Yorkshire originally but my husband is from Ilminster. We met and married up in Manchester where we were both working, but moved to be closer to family in 2018. Husband was reluctant to “move back home” as he spent his youth trying to get away. But now that we’re both in our 40s with two young children, it seems the perfect place to live. A lovely, friendly small town. Jurassic coast only 30-40 mins drive away. Walk 5 minutes in any direction from town and you are in the countryside - lots of paths for walking and a fantastic cycle route which goes all the way to the coast. I absolutely love it here - it’s the most I’ve ever felt at home anywhere. Someone else made a comment about the new estates being cookie cutter. Some of them are but we live on one of the nicer ones. Let me know if you’d like more info!