What is it like living in Yeovil?

[sickandtiredoflooking]

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?

Can I suggest two other places that don’t entirely fit your near the coast criteria but would work for your budget and transport etc. Wellington in Shropshire. Beautiful countryside near by, 45 minutes on the train into Birmingham for work, all the shops you need in Telford, plus hospitals etc. Belper, great community, could get a small house for the money you have, accessible for Derby on bus or train.

Me three.

From everything you have said, I do think you need to be closer to a big city than Yeovil is. I would back the earlier suggestions of parts of Essex and Kent or possibly somewhere like Weston-super-Mare.
Good luck with your search!

Yeovil is nowhere near as bad as people would have you believe. We moved from a V prosperous town on the Hertfordshire/Bedfordshire border to Yeovil 5 years ago and went mortgage free. The town centre is very rundown however I don't tend to spend hours every week shopping. It's an hour or so to Bristol and Exeter if you want Ikea or John Lewis type shopping. If you want independent type shops 15 minutes and your in Sherborne or 45 and it's Wells or Frome.
The crime level isn't massive especially compared to the Home Counties and when we had an issue we saw the police the same day popping round.
The pace of life is slower and it's not multicultural at all, however it's friendly and beautiful countryside and an hour from some lovely seaside.
A lot of the houses are older style so larger with larger gardens to boot.
If you do come for a weekend to see what it's like avoid Glastonbury weekend as the 303 traffic is awful then do pop to Sherborne to see the shops

Some good suggestions here like parts of Kent and Weston super mare.
I think the Wirral would also fit your wish list and will have houses within your budget. Good for job options as there are frequent trains to Liverpool and Chester from the local Wirral stations, both cities average 30 minute journey depending on where you are. You are also always within a less than 30 minute journey to the coast!
A couple of places on right move:
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/131069225#/?channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/129900875#/?channel=RES_BUY

What kind of job do you do and what sort of industry are you hoping to progress in?

When you say good transport links, where do you need to travel to? Do you mean between work and home eg a good bus network or do you need to get the train/good road links to family/work somewhere for example?

Could help you narrow down your options.

On Rightmove you can put in a location you need to be close to and it will tell you where you can afford to live.

If you want Somerset agree with other PPs look at Taunton.
There is another thread about Taunton here:

What's Taunton like to live? www.mumsnet.com/Talk/property/4789091-whats-taunton-like-to-live

I live in Somerset and don't go to Yeovil unless I have to. Taunton is nice - Monkton Heathfield might give you the outskirts feel you're looking for? Taunton has the benefits of being right on the M5, decent train links to London and North.

Ilchester is near to Yeovil. It is a really pretty town and a friend of mine who lives there finds it very friendly with lots going on.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/85274163#/?channel=RES_BUY

this thread might be of interest

Thank you so much for all of your very helpful comments and insights! I had today off and spent it in Kent looking at houses. I've also been looking at the other suggestions via Rightmove mostly in Taunton and the surrounding areas. I'm hoping to get to Derbyshire and Yorkshire next weekend as a few people suggested those and they're somewhere I've never been.
These comments make me realise there are so many nice places around the country and moving away from London will be ok!😊

You're probably feeling overwhelmed with choice right noe, but could I also throw another into the mix? Have you considered Worcestershire at all? Specifically Worcester itself - small cathedral city with the river severn running through it, 45minutes by train to Birmingham for work opportunities, surrounded by beautiful countryside. it has all the amenities and liveliness but without the big city problems .Malvern and pershore are also both pretty outlying towns if you wanted something more semi rural but both have good train connections. They have a bit of an artsy, shabby chic feel and people are super friendly . Lots of Londoners/southerners are moving there .For your budget you'd get a 2/3 bed terraced house near the train station / city centre. Or a little further afield is bewdley, another river hugging historical market town. None of these places are near the sea though unfortunately !

A reality check. Hastings area is a non-starter on a budget of £190k. I have lived in Sussex for 65 years and have a similar budget at my disposal for a place, nothing apart from a total dive or a lodge, Chalet or Mobile home will be achieved with that budget in Sussex, Hampshire or Surrey.

Hi try Corby Northampton great place to get to know two hospitals near by and great travel links anywhere houses from 180.000

Hi
Where did you move to?
I moved to London a few years ago but now they're are no jobs and employers are ageist and racist.
Planning on moving back to the west country

I have some friends of friends who moved to Hastings from London a few years ago and I think they really like it. They are looking to buy a bigger place - currently live in a flat - so that is a good sign. I could check with them if you private message me.

I’d go north, where you’ll get more for your money. I am leaving Surrey after 25yrs and heading to the Wirral - between Liverpool and Chester - to a town called Port Sunlight. Such a beautiful town, with a lot of history. My new house will be near to the River, and transport links are great. I’d definitely recommend that area of the world. I was also considering Liverpool coastline - Waterloo, Formby, Crosby, Birkdale, Southport. There’s some lovely places around, and the country is your oyster really. But go somewhere where you’ll get more value for your money.

We live in Glastonbury (very friendly) no train station, lots of buses all over. Yeovil is at the moment a dump. Weston super Mare is not that great, Wells and Cheddar are nice. Cheddar has very little public transport as has Shepton Mallet. Depends what area and connections you want. Somerset, in general, has lots of hidden stuff going on and is very friendly. We have lived here just over 4 years and can always find social stuff going on. Millfield school is near Street and has free concerts during term time. You do have to put yourself out and have a good look in Somerset but the social life is definitely here.

This is the best and friendliest place we have lived over Hampshire, Surrey, Lincolnshire and Dorset, so far.