Hastings or Weston Super Mare

[Relocating2023]

Hello there, we are relocating in coming year and are looking at either Hastings/ St Leonards area or Weston Super Mare. We have a daughter who will need to attend secondary school and I read some mixed reviews as to Hastings. We like both locations but don't know either. Would be very grateful for any pros/cons from a resident's perspective!

how did you land on Weston as a likely destination?

Not Weston. Though the area around Hutton Moor seems to have nice facilities, I'd definitely visit before committing to anything!

I lived in the area near ish to WSM many moons ago…. There are some lovely towns and villages around there but if I’m honest I don’t love WSM itself. Would recommend a look round Portishead and Clevedon as both are nice areas.

My elderly parents have lived in WSM for years and have always liked it. However,it does seem on be on a decline (strange for a place so near expensive Bristol) and last week, saw many people unconcious on the street which I don't see in my far cheaper to live in Northern town! Lovely places nearby, wonderful on the prom but many shops have closed you have to queue like it is Christmas Eve at the local Tesco! We were thinking about moving there last year but glad we decided not to. If you stay out of centre, it is a lot nicer.

My parents are now moving!

I live in Worle, just outside Weston. Like most other places there will always be areas that are less desirable, but there are some nicer areas.

The schools, and gps have always been good to us. Although busy we have easy access to the M5 and rail links.

I love Hastings . Yes it has some rough areas but so do most towns . It's very family friendly and the old town is just lovely . Housing is very cheap aswell although it's on the up.

We moved here last year from Dorset as closer to “home’ for me but we didn’t want to go into Bristol. We have temporary accommodation and originally thought we would do one of the surrounding villages but are enjoying it in Weston so are buying here. There definitely some areas I wouldn’t live but where we are there’s a park and the beach is around the corner plus local shops and GP and it’s great to have the open spaces and shops around the corner. Our local WhatsApp group is great and people are good at letting people know what’s going on and there is a lot.

We wanted easy access to a station plus Bristol, Bath, Exeter, Wells and Wedmore and it works well. People are generally friendly and there have been quite a few people moving in from Bristol, Bath, London etc. My neighbour has lived in quite a few places including Sydney and she said Weston is rough about the edges but she likes it, I feel much the same.

It takes me about 10 mins in the car and I am at my friend’s farm so easy to access surrounding countryside. It’s been a very positive move for us. Never thought we would live here but very glad we do and I’m excited about the house we are buying. I don’t think I generally sell Weston well and a couple of friends who came up were quite surprised I think but I am selective as to where I go and don’t do High Street shopping as not my thing.

Thanks to everyone. Very useful. We'll need to spend a bit more time in those area before making a decision!

WSM, good lord no. I visited there last summer for a wedding. It was truly awful, lots of addicts wandering round, dirty and run down town centre
Shame as was nice years ago

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20230416-a-new-life-for-britains-seaside-towns?ocid=fbtvl

Bit on Hastings on the BBC this morning.

May I ask what the schools are like, primary and secondary? I am a secondary school teacher and my daughter is 4 in reception. I like the look of Hastings (I was born and bred in Hackney), but am concerned that I will be condemning my child to a second rate educational experience! This is one of the reasons why I'm not so hot on the idea of a move to Southampton - the schools look pretty awful and I can't afford private fees....

Thanks for your help!