Moving to Swansea

[giddyauntie123]

Hi everyone,
My partner has just been offered a much-wanted job starting in Swansea, with rotations to Cardiff and Pembrokeshire over the next four years. I’m feeling a bit nervous as I work from home and worry I might feel a little isolated. I’m originally from London and had thought we might live in Cardiff, but I realise that would be quite a lot to commute to Swansea daily.
I’m into running and swimming, so I’m hoping to meet people through that. If anyone could recommend some nice areas to live in Swansea, or nearby with an easy commute, I’d really appreciate it. Thanks so much

bump

Mumbles is lovely but very touristy and expensive.

Killay and Dunvant are very nice little villages, very easily commutable.

If you were looking for a town rather than a village that is commutable there are nice parts of Llanelli - easy commute, multiple ways in, very comparatively cheap.

Actually in Swansea - Sketty and uplands are nice. Personally I'd avoid mayhill and townhill. There are lots of places on the outside of Swansea which are a bit quieter but nice - killay, dunvant, three crosses.

Thanks for the tips.
Mumbles does look lovely!!
Would you say Sketty, Uplands and Mumbles are walkable to a supermarket, coffee shop. Ideally I'd like to find a co-working space, but imagine that would be more in the Cardiff direction.

Derwen Fawr is lovely. It's close to Mumbles and walking distance to Singleton Park and Swansea Bay.

Yes Derwen Fawr.

Avoid Townhill, Mayhill and Blaen-Y-Maes

Thanks for that. We'd be looking to rent, and need to move in the middle of July. There is hardly anything for rent!
I'm thinking we need to get cracking before high season.

Mumbles mumbles mumbles!

Mumbles is only a few miles drive from Swansea, so large supermarkets are 3 or 4 miles drive down seafront towards Swansea It does have its own M&S food and quite a decent sized Co-Op. There are LOADs of small independent coffee shops and bars.

Running route down the seafront (Swansea Bay Park run is amazing). Or the coastal path if you need something more challenging. And lots of groups of ladies swimming in the sea even in winter! Just the most beautiful beaches around the Gower. Mumbles is expensive but if you're from London the house prices will be a dream.

There is an Olympic size swimming pool next to the University, you can cycle there from Mumbles in about 10 to 15 minutes.

I'd avoid Uplands as it is really studenty. Sketty and Killay are nice areas as well.

Mumbles is touristy but for a reason as it so lovely.

My mother was born in Sketty! (1924)

I once went for a drink in the Missions to Seamen in Swansea, its the only pub I have ever been in where they send a minibus to pick you up and take you home again - but I suspect thats only if you are on a ship sadly.

I had been press-ganged as a stoker but thats another story

So was I John - but not in the same year!

Mumbles is indeed lovely but getting to it and out of it can be a nightmare. There's basically one main road into and out of it so in rush hour it can be very busy.

Parts of Uplands are ok but pp is right in that a lot of it is studenty.

@Mapletreelane thanks very much for this invaluable info!
Partner is going to be working in Morriston hospital, hopefully the commute won't be too bad from Mumbles?

@JohnofWessex sounds ace!

The commute from Mumbies won't be great - see my post above. But if your partner does shift work maybe they'll be able to avoid rush hour.

The other thing, and please forgive me if I'm teaching my grandmother to suck eggs (never quite understood that saying - sounds vaguely rude!), is that, depending on your partner's role, there may be restrictions on how far away from the hospital they can live.

Running v popular in south Wales and swimming. We moved to south Wales from SE England 15 years ago. Love living here.

Sketty and (especially) Uplands can be a bit mixed. There are some beautiful areas of both. However, Uplands also has a lot of student accommodation. Sketty has Sketty Park (council estate/ex council estate). That said, Sketty is great for access to Singleton Park and the arts centre on the University campus. I used to visit the glass houses in the botanic gardens in winter just to enjoy the warmth and greenery.

As you go uphill in Uplands, more towards Cwmdonkin Park, the studenty side falls away, and you get lots of owner-occupied Victorian villas. Plus, because of the students, Uplands Crescent (the shopping area) has a bit of a buzz to it. I miss Brewstone, a nice casual restaurant and bar that was always tempting me to drop in after work. And towards the bottom of the hill is Brynmor Road, ultra-studenty, but also fun.

You might also think of Brynmill, which has some pretty terraces, plus easy access to the town centre without being too close. I enjoyed just ambling through the streets there sometimes.

Ynysforgan is quite upmarket from what I recall, and is much closer to Morriston (though maybe a bit boring, but within easy reach of the countryside to the north. There's a gorgeous walk you can do from Clydach into the hills).

A senior manager at my former workplace lived over the river from Morriston in Llansamlet, which has a bit more going on than Ynysforgan. I assume he has the resources to live somewhere nice.

I am a previous Londoner who moved to Swansea 20 years ago. So I know it pretty well!
It sounds like it is just the two of you?

We chose Uplands, which is urban, diverse and lively, studenty but areas vary. Lots of beautiful streets, many with gorgeous sea views. Beautiful Victorian parks and an easy walk to beach and the town (which is rubbish!). A small centre, with some nice bars and eateries and a small tescos and Sainsburys, plus a post office and lots of coffee shops. Plus a monthly market. It has a lovely community vibe. Students are a downside for some - we like the energy they bring, but don’t live in a particularly studenty road. And yes, they definitely do impact on rubbish, plus lots of HMOs which are not attractive. So pros and cons but we have lived here for 14 years and love it.

Sketty is more upmarket and also has a small shopping area. It is more middle class really, and quieter. It’s a bit more expensive - we really like it. Derwen fawr, albeit part of Sketty, is more surburban. It is very popular, but we found it lacking in diversity and, well, it wasn’t for us. I like the area on the hill around Sketty primary, and also Tycoch too. Sketty park is largely a council estate and I don’t know it well.

Commute to Morriston is fine.

Further West you have Killay and Dunvant, which are decent, quiet and safe but less facilities. Killay has a nice shopping area but older demographic. And then down on the front, you have Mumbles, with Mayals and West Cross on route to Mumbles.

Mumbles is very pretty, glorious beaches and access to Gower, lovely gift shops, surfy shops, deli, M and S food etc. plus lots of coffee shops, restaurants and bars. So popular for good reasons. We rejected it due to travel, particularly in the summer when the one road in and out is often congested and less for your money. I do like it though.

Running and fitness is very popular. We have park run on the front and various running groups. Swansea has a 10k, half marathon and various trail running events. (Google Darth Mannion Gower if you are hardcore)! There are lots of year round sea swimming groups and some great gyms - you will be amazed at the price if you are used to London gyms.

I have made loads of friends and I love it here. The only thing I don’t like is the crap shopping - we have some shopping parks etc, but we always go to Cardiff for proper shopping.

it is a small price to play for the parks, beaches, people and lifestyle. You will have to learn to love the weather! Good luck!

Mumbles is lovely but will make it a long commute home from Cardiff. Getting out in the morning can be a little slow as well. Derwen Fawr, Sketty, Killay, some bits of Uplands and the marina are also worth considering. Close to lots of cafes, restaurants and supermarkets.
Park run, running groups, beaches, cycleroutes all available.

Mumbles is lovely but an absolute pain in the ass to get in and out of. On a non sunny day, I'm a 12 minute drive away. If the sun is out it's a solid 40 mins. You do not need that on the end of a commute.

Re the comments about Sketty - Sketty park is less "stylish" but you get bigger houses and you're close to Clyne woods for lovely walks. Sketty Cross has a Tesco, coop, a dubious pub and a bar. It's more expensive though.

The Viv isn't that dubious! 🙃 Ok, not a gastropub, but it runs quiz nights is popular with locals. Pretty friendly overall.

I would opt for the Swansea valley some really nice villages there. Ystradgynlais and Pontardawe have a lot going on. Fantastic running trails all through the valley . Clydach is a beautiful village at the start of the valley only 5 mins from M4 and really very close to the hospital. Plus from the valley you can commute to Cardiff via the A465 and A470 instead of the M4.

The marina! If just the two of you maybe you don't need a house, some lovely flats in the marina, with restaurants, coffee shops, walking distance from town and train station.

Swansea is a really fab little city. If you're just renting to start the Marina is a good call as very central..to get your barings.... mumbles is really lovely but can be tricky to get in and out clyne gardens are lovely so around them could be good.. and the beach/promenade is great..
People are really friendly and there's lots going on and accessible...fab Thai in the indoor market amongst other things! Outstanding fish/meat and quite a range of restaurants..
If u miss London its not a crazy train back... Just book well in advance as the price seems to rocket... Cardiff is quite accessible by train

A commute from Mumbles to Morriston hospital would be bloody awful.

Try Penllegaer/Pontlliw/Hendy/Forest areas

There’s a David Lloyd in Swansea so you could work from there and also workout

@averythinline @MrsTwinklywoo @kissmyfatass @pambeesleyhalpert @Springadorable @CatherineCawoodsbestie

Invaluable advice thankyou!

I moved to Swansea from another country nearly 20 years ago. I live in Mumbles and I absolutely love it. There’s a real community feel and lots going on. There is so much to do activity wise. I stick on my trainers and go for runs round the cliffs, take my paddle board down to the beach, play tennis at Langland, cycle along the front etc.
Getting in and out can be a bit of a pain in the summer but we tend to take the back roads and avoid peak times. Commuting to Morriston isn’t ideal, DH does this but tends to cycle instead quite a bit but depends on the time of day.
Swansea itself is a bit of a shithole and there really isn’t that much going on culture wise, that’s the one thing I miss from big city life but the stunning scenery makes up for it.