South Westers - Somerset, Bristol or Exeter

[SomExBrizzolll]

We are South Westers moving back to the South West from South East with teens.
Our priorities are cycle networks, schools and rail / road connections to local buzzy cities.

We need to be near the main line to Paddington.

I get weird feel vibes in Bristol though - does anyone else feel this way? Possibly the silliest sentence I've ever typed.

Ive disliked Yeovil since 1997 and I've double checked and I still dislike it but will consider anywhere else.

We're more mountainy, moores and forest people rather than beachy people.

Any ideas would be most welcome

I'd say Taunton as you can get to Exeter in less than an hour anyway!

We moved out of Taunton last year. We need to apply for secondary schools in September and the schools around Taunton are not good unless you can afford private. We’ve moved just over into Devon. Tiverton Parkway station is on the line to Paddington, and Exeter is only 20 mins away. Beautiful countryside, lovely walks, fresh air and no light pollution so the stars are incredible at night.

Castle school in Taunton is the best state school in Somerset!

Which sums up the shocking state of secondary education in Somerset

Are you white? I always find it odd when white people say this, completely overlooking the fact they’re adding to whiteness themselves wherever they go 🤷🏼‍♀️

OP, depends on budget (apologies only saw your first post, so don’t know if you’ve addressed budget since then). 400-500k, Bath.
300k-400k, Salisbury (near New Forest). Less than that and you won’t find much outside of the crap towns 😬

Have you considered Monmouthshire? Chepstow could tick a lot of boxes and is still close to Bristol. Or the countryside towards Cardiff?

No I’m not

Some of the villages outside of Taunton are beautiful and you'd find a lovely house for £350k with really nice walks on your doorstep.

As pp said Castle school is the best state school in Somerset, people move into the catchment for it!

Since you added budget I think Bristol is out, it’s crazy expensive these days

Another vote for Salisbury/surrounding area.

Also with education, Richard Huish FE college is very good for A Levels. Bridgwater & Taunton College links to Plymouth Uni for degree courses and friends' children go to Exeter College to study, just 25 mins on the train.

I live in the catchment for Backwell school as well as Nailsea, again a high regarded school. However I'm not sure if you'd ge a house for your budget. We have a tatty 4-5 bed house in Nailsea and the price it should go for is a shade under £500k

Curveball but look at Evesham and surrounding area? Much cheaper housing or at least more for the money. The train from there also goes to Paddington and is under 2 hours. It is more up and coming, but has some decent schools and is near Malvern/other places people have mentioned.

Our house in the SE will sell for much more than our budgeted 350k. We just wanted to put money aside for pensions as we started contributing late.

And also, COL means we want to be careful with money and not put ourselves under pressure if we don't have to.

I'm now worried about schooling in Exeter and Taunton (and I really don't like Bristol so it's ruled out completely! No offence to Bristol fans. It just isn't for me)

What worries you about schooling in Exeter? I'm so impressed by how good schools are here compared to where we were before (and how there is consequently so much less drama and fervour over applications and spaces!)

I can't help with schools around Taunton as we loved there pre school age children but I can help with Exeter.

There are lots of school choices in and around Exeter. I'm aware of the ones in east Devon and exeter, even a few of the privates. But probably outdated but if you notice a particular area you like my friends have their children in a few around south west area I can ask for you for insider views. My school friends are dotted around south west. Know a couple in Taunton too :)

www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/find.html?locationIdentifier=REGION%5E19849&minBedrooms=3&maxPrice=350000&propertyTypes=&mustHave=&dontShow=&furnishTypes=&keywords=

As an example, there's some really good options here, within walking distance of a station, bus routes, 3 primaries and 2 secondaries that are all well regarded.

@StellaKinsella Wow thank you, that's unbelievably helpful!

I live in the sticks in Devon but although I’m closer to Exeter I take my kids to the museum in Taunton for the Young Archaeologists Club! There isn’t one in Exeter. Just mentioning as you mentioned the Exeter museum.

Compared with Exeter, Taunton is v v boring. Pretty much closes down at 6pm. Exeter has the buzz of an excellent university. If you want something a bit closer to London, what about Cheltenham? Although that's not really the south west.

Or there's always Plymouth <grin>

Or there's always Plymouth <grin>

Cheeky!! 😂 thats a no from me

I'll have a look at Cheltenham :)

Bristol is a really exciting place to live. But if you don't want exciting, I think Exeter has a lot going for it in terms of location. Taunton is quite a nice a place too, and is close to Bristol.

I lived in Taunton as a teen/young adult and it was extremely boring.

I live in Keynsham. Its midway between Bristol and Bath and has a railway station with trains to both in 10 minutes and Paddington about an hour and a half. Also direct buses to both city's bus stations.
There's several good primary schools and 3 senior schools (Wells way does years7-13, IKB does 10-13 and Broadlands does years 7-11. Broadlands Academy's Ofsted result is really quite out of date and reflects a time when there was a previous headteacher. The current one is a lot better and the school seems to be on the up again.

I have it on good authority that the arty creative types not bankrolled by mum & dad are priced out & leaving Bristol for Plymouth.