Where to live in Somerset?

[Reanne2409]

Hi everyone! my boyfriend and I are saving up to buy our first home. Somerset is one of our options but we don’t have a clue where to live. My boyfriends family lives around Wells area, I’ve only gone around the city centre once and it was nice but not amazing, not sure if I liked the constant reminder of hot fuzz like 15 years later. We are two young adults and moving from London so it’s quite a difference. We are looking for somewhere with:

• train station
• decent house prices. we are looking for a nice 2/3 bed for around 200-250k
• lively and have quite a bit of entertainment (cinema, leisure centre, bars, restaurants)
• many job opportunities (accounting and interior design but wouldn’t mind commuting to different towns for work)
• good transport links
• good schools (although don’t have kids now I would like to consider it)
• nice people
• not too small. Min population of around 12,000
• not a beach town

I am so sorry if I am asking for a bit much but obviously if you are buying your house you want it to be perfect. Hopefully you guys can help x

I just want somewhere that is decent for young adults. I don’t want to live somewhere known to be boring. I would love to live somewhere where there is something no matter the weather or season.

Bath.

As much as I like Somerset, imo there aren't many places that fit your criteria. Would you consider moving closer to Bath kind of way? Excellent transport links (motorway and train), close to Wells etc if still have family there, lots to do, 13 minutes or so on the train to Bristol which has loads of job opportunities and stuff to do. It might take a bit of searching, but a house within your budget would be doable, schools are also good.

The only thing I would say is that traffic can be a nightmare through the centre, but depending where you live might not be an issue.

Taunton ,Bristol, yes. Bridgewater, Chard, Yeovil, Crewkerne, nope

Bath also, yes

Frome if you are alternative and eco minded? Would you stretch out of area to Portishead for easy access to Bristol?

I live in Somerset and like it, but I wouldn't say anywhere has everything you're asking for really. Bath maybe, although housing might be more there. Somewhere that side of Somerset to be closer to Bristol?

Otherwise I'd probably look for somewhere around Exeter, but then you're further from your partner's family.

By the way, I do realise Exeter isn't it Somerset 😁
It's just not much further and has more of what you want.

I can't think of anywhere except Bath but thay would probably not fit yoir second criteria. You could try towns near Bath with a train station, for example Keynsham and Trowbridge. Keynsham is between Bath and Bristol. Both have easy access to lovely countryside and are 10 minutes ish to Bath on the train.

If I was pre-kids I would not move as far into Somerset as Wells or Frome, personally.

I'd say Keynsham. It has trains to Bristol and Bath and is just over the hour from Paddington. Buses run regularly to both cities and there's also a bus that runs from the town direct to the airport.

It has a good mix of housing styles and prices. New developments are centred around Somerdale (former chocolate factory site) and Bilbie Green.
Plenty of pubs and restaurants and although we don't have a cinema the nearest multiplex is only 20 minutes away along the ring road.

We have a music festival week in the summer with local pubs etc putting on live music in the build up to the weekend when the park becomes the festival site.

Population about 21000 and growing.
We are nice people!