North Devon - Ilfracombe, what's it like to live there?

[ayecurumbaaah]

We're thinking of moving to ilfracombe, what's it like to live there?

I have 3 kids in secondary school, particularly interested in what the kid of ilfracombe are like, is there much anti social behaviour.

My eldest has got in a bit of trouble where we live, getting in with a bad crowd, partly why we're moving....mostly because if we do we can be mortgage free.

Also...where do you guys park your cars?! it looks like a nightmare.

I live in Barnstaple but lived in Ilfracombe prior - It all depends what area in Ilfracombe you want to move to and your budget?

Parking is ok if you are away from the town centre. Anti-social behaviour more so happens near the High Street and the Harbour.

Ilfracombe Academy is the only secondary school in Ilf - never went there myself. You have Braunton Academy which many from Combe go to - or Pilton or Park School in Barnstaple.

Would you not consider Barnstaple? It’s about 25-30 mins drive from Ilf and property relatively cheaper? What I will say about Ilfracombe though is, as much as it is thriving in the summer, in the winter it is like a ghost town (many attractions/seasonal businesses/restaurants) closed.
Barnstaple has more going on…

Also to add. I moved down here from Birmingham back in 2019 so know what it’s like moving into the area.

We're i. Bideford moved from the midlands 12 years ago. Wouldn't have considered Ilfracombe as it's very isolated. Disclaimer- I love the place but couldn't live there.

Personally I would go for somewhere a bit more year round... Bideford is pretty much the same all the time and is fairly easy to get to Barnstaple via bus plus the sea is walking distance away. That was important to us. We would have been happy in either Barnstaple or Bideford tbh.

Never regretted moving here btw 👍

Not in Ilfracombe but local - I couldn't live there.

@HouseofHolbein More in Bideford I agree there than Ilfracombe but I’d say Bideford is more rough than Ilfracombe - especially Jubilee Square 😂😂
East the Water, Northam and the Clovelly Road are prob the best parts of EX39, other parts are no go.

Westward HO! is nice but it’s more of a holiday village.

There isnt much there. High street scruffy and not much of interest. Harbour a nightmare with tourists walking into you when you are driving. I wouldnt live there. They are lots of really nice places not far.

I live near the football ground absolutely no issues here and I have 4 teens... wouldn't dream of living east the water or clovelly road and tbh northam is very quiet.

Been here 13 years now and know our local area pretty well. Depends what you want I suppose.

@HouseofHolbein Ah yes, forgot about that stretch by Morrisons!

@DevonshireDumpling1 Can I ask which areas of Barnstaple are nice residential areas? Im looking to move there.

I live Bickington but I’d say Bickington/ Fremington/ Sticklepath or even Roundswell are the nicer parts to live.

I wouldn’t bother with Newport or Forches - I’ve heard Whiddon Valley is ok to live - virtually next to the A361 North Devon Link.

There are some nice areas in Newport, mainly up near the school.
Pilton is nice, and has both primary and secondary school options.
Roundswell has some nice parts, but the traffic put me off.
There are also some nice areas near the crematorium.

Thanks @DevonshireDumpling1 @WFHbore2023 . There seems to be a lot of building going on, although I don't really want a new build.

@mrsfennel - Roundswell there are a load of properties that have been built in the last 15 years. Bickington has got a number of new builds going up at the moment - but still plenty that aren’t. Not sure how much you know of Barnstaple but it can be congested very quick during rush hour, but that’s like most places.

Forgot about Pilton - that’s somewhere else I would recommend. Other side of town.

Ilfracombe is a shitehole, I wouldn't even go on holiday there again let alone live there.

There are some really nice bits of Newport and Pilton. Those are the only bits of Barnstaple I would live in. I live in a village nearby.

@ayecurumbaaah we considered moving to Ilfracombe but a) couldn’t find a house to rent and b) didn’t like the secondary school much. However I know several people who are very happy in Ilfracombe, there are quite a few arty/creative people who are there for the location, big cheap period houses (if you move from upcountry) etc. There are also a lot of issues in the town, historic poverty etc…. If your eldest is given to seeking out troublemakers they will be able to find them anywhere though?

@northdevonnewbie What part of Barnstaple do you live? I live in Bickington currently.

I live in Bishops Tawton.

I had to check what I’ve posted under this username before I would confess to that!

I never think of Bickington, Sticklepath, Roundswell, Fremington as Barnstaple tbh. I think they are a separate settlement in my head!