Moving to Weston Super Mare - thoughts?

[CelestialCandyfloss]

Hello all!
Anyone here live in Weston Super Mare? I'm from Bristol, have lived in my flat in the suburbs in South Bristol for nearly 20 years. I work from home 3 days a week, 2 days in Bristol city centre. I'm a single parent to a 15 year old daughter and indoor cat.

I'm bored of living in the boring sticks outside Bristol!! After 20 years I need a change. I really like it in Weston, and after my daughter has finished her GCSEs I want to move. I would prefer to commute by train to work, so near to a station would be good. I would like 3 bedrooms ideally, a garden, and I'd love 2 bathrooms. Would be good for my daughter to be able to travel to college or VI Form - which are good?

If you live in Weston or surrounding area, what are your thoughts? Where is nice? What's the community like? I will probably have a budget of around £325k. Thanks!

Totally outing, but I live in Worle. Love it. Have lived here since the 60s and it is no worse than many other places. Easy access to the motorway, good local shops and cafes, railway station with direct trains to Bristol and London, bus hub for buses to all over. Rarely go into ‘town’ but lots of good out of town shops. There is an issue with traffic at the moment after the bridge was demolished but other than that it’s ok.

Weston-Super-Mare has a great helicopter museum: https://helimuseum.com/ HTH.

Plus here's a fun exhibit in the local museum: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ifaw/36519401944/in/photolist-YFdnQ9-yGYBrm-XGBnFP-XD6tT7-y3xVhf-yZz9CH-y3xUwY-yH4DTX-y3y1Dh-y3GsmT-y3GzGe-yGYa67-yXgUTq-yYzaKf-yZze5t-yZziHX-yZzjc2-yZzjNT-z1o9tg-y3y81W-y3GC6n-yGYiTN-yXgPVE-yYzdA5-z1oe8r-y3xYXb-yH4MiX-yXgHey-yYyY51-y3ydfU-y3GG6g-y3GGYD-y3GHjD-y3GJ3x-yGYhw9-yGYjhy-yH4TaB-yGYMyW-yH4Set-XD6FUb-XD6Gts-XD6GKE-XD6H4L-XD6Hmj-XD6HEA-XD6JFd-YkixB1-YkizRb-YkiAef-YkiAvY

My daughter lives in WSM and loves it. I am moving from North Bristol to WSM in the next couple of months, lots of fantastic properties on the market at reasonable prices in decent areas which I would say are Worle, Worlebury, Ashcombe, Milton, Hutton, Bleadon, St Georges (prob some more) and the new estates if you want a new/ish build - avoid the bournville and coronation estate. I've found estate agents a little odd when booking viewings, they are very slow.

When planning the move I worked in the area for a year to work out where I would want to consider which was great and helped me decide - I'm lucky in that I have a job that has me out visiting places so I got a good overview. Train station - WSM - Bristol TM is very regular and trains also run quite late - I think up to 11.30 ish and buses run much later, an Uber Central Bristol to Worle is around £35.

I thought about Clevedon and Burnham but I wanted to be close to a main station with a direct route to London and Midlands and they have neither.

A freind of mine mved there about 7 years ago and absloutely loves it - lots to do and lots going on all year round. The seafront is a bit rundown but in reality how much tme would you be spending there oct - march?

I say research the areas you would want to live and maybe go view some properties and get feel for the areas, then make a choice.

I can't comment personally on education there but professionally I havent heard anyhting bad.

Every seaside town in the UK is "bleak" during the winter months, personally I wouldn"t go near places like Bournemouth etc. unless it was December or early part of the year, just a handful of locals walking dogs on the beach is my idea of bliss, addicts are everywhere now, the most annoying type for me are addicted to their phones.

Thank you so much this is so helpful! Good luck with your move!

Yes I love walking on the beach, and along the coastal paths in the autumn and winter.

I wouldn’t live in Weston personally but if you want to live nearby all within a 45 min drive of WSM, you have Glastonbury, Wells, Bridgwater, Highbridge and Taunton to the South….

All within reasonable price range of what you’ve said.

Why not move out to Keynsham while your DC is still at school? They could go to St Brendan's for 6th form. There's a direct bus.
It's not the coast but its easy enough to get into open countryside for a walk.

We live a 15 minute drive from Keynsham, we were there today 😂 it's nice but there won't be anything in my price range. If we stay here I expect she will go to St Brendans although I read the other day it's not scoring that great

Wells is nice but I would prefer to live somewhere with a train station. Love Glastonbury but too rural. Don't know Highbridge, Taunton a little far away for work and to see family

And I will do. I also wanted to ask locals which areas they live in and if they like it.

You need to visit at different times of the year and different days of the week. Friends/colleagues who already live (or have lived) somewhere will give a good insight. All towns centres suffer the same sort of problems, some are rather better than others at managing to keep them out of the view of casual visitors.

WSM is an absolute dump. The town centre and sea front are both run down. Lots of drug addicts about, which always makes me feel on edge when we used to visit.
We only go to Kew to walk the dogs on the beack occasionally and avoid weston.
I wouldn't move there in a million years.

I have lived here for years, and now raising a family here. It has its problems, but where doesn’t and I enjoy the seafront all year round. I don’t go into town very often but use the seafront all year round. I like being in walking distance of the seafront so would look on the hillside or the end of seafront by golf club heading towards uphill. Bristol is close and I probably go there once or twice a week. 🎡

I live in Weston and have very mixed feelings about it. I live up on the hillside in a Victorian period property, in a quiet green area with beautiful views in all directions (channel to the south, woods to the north and the Mendip ridge to the east). It's a far, far nicer place than I'd be able to afford anywhere else. But the town centre is a dump and I feel depressed every time I walk through it. It's also been very hard going socially: 40% of the town live below the poverty line and levels of higher education are low, so if you're an educated professional, you may find it difficult to find like minded people or social events that cater to your demographic/interests. I suspect there are plenty like me but we go into Bristol for culture/socializing! Every nice cafe/coffee place/shop seems to close down as they can't get enough customers. That said, I love the feeling of space and freedom, the fresh air and easy access to the rest of Somerset. There's a Waitrose and a big Sainsburys at Worle but avoid the town centre Tesco which is rough af :-s

my best friend used to live in worle and they now live in upper something or other.

you’ll need a bigger budget for. 3bed two bath and frankly, she’ll admit herself- Weston is over all, run down, full of undesirables and not the seaside living you’re hoping for.

I’d go Gloucestershire too.

I’m quite local…

In terms of p16, Weston College is huge and very well funded/regarded, offers basically everything (also degree level qualifications later on). Winterstoke Hundred has a small, friendly, newish p16 provision, Churchill Academy p16 has historically great results and would only be a short bus ride away.

Areas: Uphill divides opinion. It’s very much in Weston but likes to think it’s not 🤣 can get some awkward neighbours with too much time on their hands (elderly and middle class). Very much an ‘our village’ mentality which I’ve heard can feel exclusionary. But beautiful with a marina, nice pubs, pretty cottage style houses without huge price tags. Hillside, i.e. Cecil Rd worth a look if you like Victorian splendour, like most seaside towns a fair few HMOs mixed in so be sure to check the exact location. Wonderful far sea views - my friend has a gorgeous flat here with polite older neighbours. South Ward - Elmsleigh Rd has some lovely houses.

In terms of out of town estates I find West Wick quite depressing. I went to a class there years back and no-one ever smiled or said hello back as I walked through…classic problem of lots of new housing and not much to do. Haywood is bright and new but also ‘stuck’ in terms of few facilities. Ditto Locking Parklands. Would not recommend any of these if you’re currently bored in Bristol suburbs (and need a train link). Also it’s all well and good people suggesting Clevedon, Portishead etc but for your budget you’d be stuck in the depressing suburban sprawl parts - as a local I say Weston will get you a much better lifestyle. Burnham I find more run down than Weston with an especially ugly sea wall - it does have a snooty golf course if that’s your thing 🤣

Socially - I’d say a previous commenter has hit the nail on the head - there’s a fair bit of money around in the nicer parts - from research when considering buying myself a couple of years back, it tends to be garage owners, small business owners etc rather than professions. This wouldn’t bother me but good to know if trying to move near like-minded people.

Finally, the centre and bringing up small kids nearby - I’ve had many a happy day out with them to the point they’re spoilt if we go to another seaside resort (even abroad!) and the pier/attractions aren’t up to scratch 🤣 Tesco is rough, druggies, yes, have seen on numerous occasions but how often does anyone wander around small town centres for fun now. Plenty of pretty walks/cafes/things to do in a slightly different direction. And I’ve never felt unsafe in Weston, whereas I definitely have on multiple occasions in Bristol.

I live between Weston and Bridgwater. Weston College and Bridgwater College both have a lot to offer. The local area is getting a lot of investment. Both Weston and Bridgwater have their problem areas, but that's every town. They both also have really interesting art and culture movements, community groups working for change, lovely countryside all around and lots of positives. Train travel is easier than driving out of either town but look at Worle, Winscombe, Banwell, Burnham, other local towns and villages (be warned, no buses to speak of for some).

Absolute dump, I can't imagine choosing Weston over Bristol.

Another Worle resident here. Relocated 4 years ago. I love it and have made local friends.
WsM town centre is run down but i occasionally will pop in for a couple of verrain shops. Sea front ok. I tend to stay in Worle because it has everything I need with a vibrant high street, nice pubs and cafes, regular good buses to Bristol. Direct regular/frequent train to Bath, Bristol and Clifton.
When I do go into Weston I tend to socialise more at Birnbeck/marine lake end but sometimes head down to Revo, Bistro Pierre and Loungers end. If you stick to the seafront you'll avoid the druggies.

I tend to use the beach at Sand Bay/Kewstoke than the main WSM one. Its lovely.
You have pretty much everything you need on your doorstep.
As a woman in my 50s relocating here I looked at property in Uphill and Worlbury too. Worlbury is beautiful but not do much amenity wise walkable on the doorstep. Uphill was pricier, less choice and further from a train station which was a major factor for me. I wasnt keen on Weston Village or West Wick - both felt a bit soul less. Im still a 30 minute walk from the station but am on a hillside with amazing views, so its worth the trade off imo. 5 minute walk down hill (10 minutes back up) im on the high street which has pretty much everything you need.
Ive found the local community very welcoming and friendly.
Another perk is the bus to the airport making holidays away really easy.

Chippenham secondaries are excellent for sixth form
Corsham is very nice - clean, good amenities and nice community.
no beach (or mud) though

Oh agree - didn’t mention due to train but not far to Chippenham - fantastic butchers and bookshop and gastro pub too

Hi OP, i moved to Weston (North Worle) about 18 months ago from Clevedon (needed a bigger house and Clevedon is ££££). If im brutally honest, i really miss Clevedon but we are happy here. We got a lot of house for our money and are just around the corner from Sand Bay beach which is lovely. Great having loads on your doorstep , and retail parks with the Range, Dunelm etc. My daughter adores her primary school and ive made a good group of friends. We hardly ever go to the town centre. I dont think Ive ever really stopped & appreciated what we do actually have here in Weston, purely because i still miss where we used to live (if that makes sense!) but there is loads here! I don't think its as bad as people make it out to be and I would recommend living here 🙂