Moving to West Country with 4 children aged 16,13,9 & 6

[Darkrainbowsquid]

DH has has been offered a job in Taunton and wants us all to move there from north London.
I would love to move but need to find a place where all the family will fit in and be happy with good primary and secondary and sixth form schools. Any suggestions? We could live in radius of around 40 min driving commute.

Really appreciate any help thanks

The Chew Valley is a great place - outstanding secondary school, very easy access to both Bristol and Bath (as well as Taunton).

Alwaysinjods- thanks for your reply - will check out the area.

Hi Darkrainbowsquid

Hope your househunt is going well. I am actually in the process of selling my 4 bed house in Devon and thought you might be interested. It's 25 minutes from Taunton in Broadhembury, a beautiful village in the Blackdown Hills. Broadhembury is famous for two main things, it's fantastic pub and the fact that Kirsty Allsop lives there. So you know what they say... location, location, location.

We've loved the house, the village, and Devon but like you are moving due to jobs back towards London. Do take a look on RightMove and feel free to get in touch for more info.

www.rightmove.co.uk/s6p/66125107

Hi OP, we lived in Exeter a couple of years ago and my DH commuted to Taunton - 30
mins by car and excellent train links. Exeter is absolutely fab and has a great range of housing plus wonderful access to the countryside and seaside. Lots of people move from London to Exeter for the great quality of life - we still miss it (had to move due to mobile nature of our profession). We would definitely consider returning there once we have ended our roaming lifestyle.

I worked and lived in Taunton 15 years ago and hated it! Difficult to put my finger on why but I would never go back there to live but would work there again so long as I didn't have to have a house there too!

As someone who was in your children's position I would urge you to think very carefully about this move. It will be a huge culture shock and depending on where you end up you will be a taxi service to all 4 children. If your children are used to the freedom that living somewhere like London allows them then they will likely feel very isolated and infantilised being stuck somewhere rural relying on you for lifts, especially your eldest. I would try and find somewhere in a city such as Exeter. Sorry to be doom and gloom but as a child moving somewhere rural whilst it sounds idyllic was pretty restrictive and boring.

Completely agree, Headsdown! Exeter offers the best of all worlds and I know that my DC have really struggled when our jobs has led to us living somewhere very rural.

I was brought up in very rural Herefordshire and my parents ended up as constant taxi drivers when I hit my teens. I loved Herefordshire - still my favourite part of England - but headed off to Uni in London at 18 for just those reasons!

zammitdominic, thanks for the reply, your house is gorgeous, good luck with the sale.
Heads down, you talk wise words and tbh I think somewhere like Exeter would suit the whole family as too rural may do my head in. Will just have to wait and see what the universe throws our way as house is not selling (hoping that picks up now School hols almost over) and husband’s job needs some finalising. I am a nurse and should (I hope) be able to get Work anywhere.

The Royal Devon & Exeter hospital is a lovely place to work. I have friends who work there, nurses and midwives, who describe it in glowing terms.

Best of luck with the house sale - keep us updated!

Op, Chew Magna or Bishops Sutton would suit for your OP having a Taunton job. My dcs go to Chew Valley school and we live in Bristol. It’s a tiny distance away. Great little village primary’s, great secondary, lovely pubs and village life.....plus a short journey into Bristol.