Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Property/DIY

Join our Property forum for renovation, DIY, and house selling advice.

Original poster

What is it like living in Yeovil?

43 replies

sickandtiredoflooking · 22/04/2023 10:40

I've created a new user name for privacy.
I'm moving out of London after a very bitter divorce. I'm wanting to start again somewhere that is friendly and has potential for me to build a new life for myself. I have a small budget of about £190,000. I would like a house with good transport links and a garden and hopefully parking. At the moment I work from home so I could move anywhere but I'm in a low paying job and would like to move somewhere that I could find another role that pays more.

I've spent months looking all around the south east and I can't find anything in my budget. I know nothing of 'the north'. I've looked at houses as far north as the villages around Birmingham. I know nothing of Norfolk or Suffolk. I've been to Cornwall a few times over the years and it's beautiful but it seems to lack job potential and good road networks. I've been to various places in Wales and again it was beautiful but few jobs or transport links.

This week I viewed houses in Wiltshire, Dorset, Somerset and just into Devon. I found a house in Yeovil that could work but I know nothing of the area.
Being able to look anywhere feels overwhelming and I also feel severely restricted by my small budget. I'm so sick of looking and just want to find something now so I can move on but I'm worried about making a bad choice out of desperation. Is Yeovil ok? I don't want to get stuck somewhere or have to commute hours to a new job.

Any advice?

OP posts:
SquashPenguin · 22/04/2023 10:56

I don’t live in Yeovil but I’ve done a few stints working at the hospital over the years. The town is fairly decent looking and there are some nice houses (you’ll get a lot more for your money than London!), but the traffic in and out in rush hour is pretty bad. The M5 is quite a drive away and in the summertime Somerset just grinds to a halt with caravans. If I was looking at Somerset/ Wiltshire I’d go closer to the M5/ M4 personally. I’m from Bristol originally and I’ve lived in London, but I relocated to South Wales and found life a lot cheaper and easier to get around!

UniversalTruth · 22/04/2023 11:00

If you're coming from London and looking for 'good transport links' it depends what you mean by that? Transport in Somerset is nothing like London, but I doubt it is as good anywhere outside a city to be honest. The trainlines go to London or Bristol but it's not quick.

Can you share the link to the house so you can get opinions on the area? Yeovil has nice bits and not so nice bits like anywhere. I haven't lived there in a long time so can't comment on friendliness, although everywhere seems friendly compared with London (not bashing London, I live there and love it but can't be described as friendly!).

Original poster
sickandtiredoflooking · 22/04/2023 11:43

Thank you for your messages! Both very helpful!
I hadn't thought about summer time traffic. The journey down on the A303 was horrendous. I certainly wouldn't want to do that journey daily or even weekly.
In terms of good transport I guess it depends on where I get a job assuming I will need to commute into an office.
If you could chose anywhere in the UK to live where would you chose? It feels very overwhelming to have that choice. I have no family in the UK, my entire support network is in London but that is somewhat breaking apart with the divorce. I am looking to start all over again with virtually nothing so I will need an area that is friendly, things to do where I can meet people and find a job and grow into a new life.
The longer I spend looking the more upset I feel about it all but I'm also terrified of making the wrong choice and getting stuck somewhere.

OP posts:
UniversalTruth · 22/04/2023 12:33

Do you have any friends elsewhere in the country? Or a hobby that you could find a group? I wouldn't want to have to drive the A303 a lot, it's not a great road, but I do love the West Country.

Why don't you go any stay in Yeovil for a weekend and see how it feels to you?

Hannahthepink · 22/04/2023 13:48

I've lived in Dorset, the Somerset/Wiltshire border and Devon, and have family spread over the area too, so know the area fairly well. Yeovil wouldn't be my dream destination, although there are some ok bits. It's a difficult sized town I think, too big to be very friendly, and too small to have a great deal going on.
What sort of place would be your dream if price wasn't an issue? A village in the countryside? A seaside town?

Original poster
sickandtiredoflooking · 22/04/2023 15:19

Staying in Yeovil for a day or two is a good idea. I don't know anyone outside of London.
What is my dream place to live? I guess somewhere that has a coast within a 1-2 hour drive, somewhere that is maybe on the outskirts of a larger city so you get a rural or village feel with all the benefits of a city like groups to join, selection of shops, basic essentials places, good transport links if I need to start commuting to a job. At the moment I work online so excellent internet coverage is essential. Somewhere that stays consistent throughout the year rather than empty all winter and then heaving in summers with every other house being an Airbnb. Somewhere that I could fit in, make friends, and build a new life for myself.
I'm actually finding it difficult to think about what my ideal place would be. It's a good question.

OP posts:
dreamersdown · 22/04/2023 15:51

Darling you should consider Kent. There are some dodgy parts but it has some fantastic seaside towns, great transport links into London, huge amounts of investment into arts and culture in places like Margate and Broadstairs, seaside - and houses with gardens and parking for £190k.

Cotonsugar · 22/04/2023 16:01

I’ve made a fresh start after divorce in Derbyshire, I’m originally from the south and have lived in London and Sussex. My relatives live in Dorset and after having spent a couple of months there between properties, I find where I am now much friendlier. I wasn’t too impressed with Yeovil after visiting - there are lots of nice places in Somerset and Dorset but transport links are not as great as in large cities. I’m 10 minutes from the M1, 40 minutes from Nottingham and Sheffield if I want a shopping fix but my tastes have changed and I like a more peaceful life here. It’s overwhelming but you won’t regret making a change. Life gets better 😊

Pekkala · 22/04/2023 16:06

Don't do it! Villages around Yeovil are fine but there's nothing good about the town (having lived there for 10+ years) unless you have to be in that area for work.

DobbyTheHouseElk · 22/04/2023 16:08

I live in Somerset and don’t ever go to Yeovil on purpose.

2reefsin30knots · 22/04/2023 16:14

I work in Yeovil. It's OK- some bits are better than others and it's hard to tell from the outside which is which. The town centre is currently very run down and unappealing, although they are trying to do something about that. There is a bus station in town but both of the train stations are some distance out from the town centre. The leisure centre is small and a bit outdated. Ninesprings is nice for a walk though.

I think Taunton might work better in terms of access to work and it has a bit more about it than Yeovil. Plenty of houses for 190k.

ForestDad · 22/04/2023 16:15

Yeovil is good for supermarkets, shops like B&Q, Screwfix etc. Housing is affordable. People are generally friendly.

There aren't many nice places to go out in the evening and basically no bars except 'spoons.

I definitely wouldn't live there and plan on commuting to London(!)

Villages nearby tend to be expensive housing wise. Although yes about an hour's drive to various other places which are nice.

Dyslexicwonder · 22/04/2023 16:18

dreamersdown · 22/04/2023 15:51

Darling you should consider Kent. There are some dodgy parts but it has some fantastic seaside towns, great transport links into London, huge amounts of investment into arts and culture in places like Margate and Broadstairs, seaside - and houses with gardens and parking for £190k.

This
don't discount Hastings and St Leonards either.

Yellowdays · 22/04/2023 16:22

I'd choose Taunton too, over Yeovil.

sanityisamyth · 22/04/2023 16:22

It's not called Yo-vile for nothing. Taunton would be better if you wanted a nice town and decent hospital.

Ovoconfused · 22/04/2023 16:25

I’m not sure if Yeovil would fit your description of what you are looking for, Gillingham Dorset is a smaller town with train station, Stalbridge is very community orientated and close to Templecombe train station. Clarks shopping outlet not to far, beaches and lots of countryside walks an hour drive

IbizaToTheNorfolkBroads · 22/04/2023 16:25

DM used to live outside Yeovil. Unless it's upped its game massively in the last couple of years it's pretty run down.

Come to south/West Yorkshire!

2 hours to London from Wakefield Westgate (20 mins in light traffic)
Local trains and buses.
Access to Leeds, Sheffield and Manchester
2 hours to Whitby from my village, other beaches 20/30 mins closer. Similar distance to west coast at Lytham, Blackpool, Crosby.

You'd easily get 2 beds, small garden and probably parking for £190k for example
Have a search around "HD8" and "Penistone".

Oh, and I'm a Londoner by birth and upbringing...

2reefsin30knots · 22/04/2023 16:30

DM used to live outside Yeovil. Unless it's upped its game massively in the last couple of years it's pretty run down.

It hasn't. The town centre was hit pretty badly by Covid. Beales went which left the top of town looking a bit derelict. Many, many shops are empty. They are trying though, work going on constantly although not without problems. The Quedam actually looked quite cheerful in the sun today with a street market going on.

IveNCToo · 22/04/2023 16:38

Go up north! Loads more for your money, north Yorkshire would be my choice

gogohmm · 22/04/2023 16:46

We have to go there regularly, apart from a couple of excellent pubs for Sunday lunch it's just a town, nothing remarkable, an ordinary town. No it wouldn't be my choice as it's too remote from the city for me, I'm near Bristol, but Somerset could be a good option on your budget more generally, though you won't get picture postcard on your budget. Think about your priorities, then we might be able to direct you better - where I am is probably out of budget but if you could find something it would tick all your other boxes including very friendly, quite a few divorcées rebuilding lives too, me included.

gogohmm · 22/04/2023 16:52

How about weston super mare, there's two bed houses in budget that are a short cycle ride to the beach. The council is pumping money in for improvements there (my council tax money Confused we don't see any money spent here!) Have friends there who love it

ConstitutionHill · 22/04/2023 16:57

I second Broadstairs, Kent.

2reefsin30knots · 22/04/2023 16:58

You couldn't possibly get a house with a garden and parking for 190k in Sherborne. It has its own house price bubble because it is pretty.