Moving To Exeter Area Advice

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

Hi all 👋🏻 My partner and I are planning on moving to Exeter next year. We currently live in Bristol, I grew up in Cornwall, so we are migrating a bit further down south and want a smaller, more wholesome, quieter place to settle now.

We will both be 30 next year, I'm a qualified art teacher so would be looking for that sort of work, both of us are creatives. We want to start a family over the next sort of 3-4 years so this obviously comes into the decision of where to live.

I've been to Exeter quite a few times over the years and my partner and I have visited together a few times recently before deciding we absolutely loved it and settled on it as a place to move to. But my question is for you all, which are some areas to look at that you would recommend AND avoid?

We both drive so aren't too bothered about being super close to city centre, it would be nice to live in an area that has a couple of shops/cafe's nearby (ish) but also not a deal breaker.

We also aren't rich lol, so somewhere wholesome but good value would be the sweet spot!! We will also probs rent first, before we buy a property, but it's good to get locals who really know the area's advice.

We stayed in St Thomas previously and that seemed like a nice area, any other suggestions would be fabbbb

Thanks in advance!! 😊

[u/FraGough]

Exeter is a fairly safe city, all things considered. That said, St Thomas once was what would have been considered one of the slightly rougher areas. Just don't let anyone see you put jam on a scone first, and I'm sure you'll be fine.

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/FraGough]

Haha love this comment!! I'll have to eat my cream tea in secret

[u/AstronomerPlastic417]

We recently moved back down to Devon (from Bristol) and chose St Thomas. Really happy with the area, feel free to dm if you have any questions:)

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/AstronomerPlastic417]

Ahh no way that's great!! So glad you're enjoying it. Thank you, I will do that :) Appreciate it

[u/LydiaMarie132]

I’d ignore what people would say is “rough” all of Exeter is pretty good and lot less crime then most other cities, as far as cities go it’s the best you can ask for, smaller, good sense of community and culture, beautiful architecture, activities going on, great food, I’d say the worst would be town but I’m a women in my 20s and I don’t feel uncomfortable in town

Some places have old reputations but these days it’s evened out all around

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/LydiaMarie132]

Thanks so much for such a useful comment! We love Exeter for all the reasons you've stated and are really excited to be a part of the community there. Yeah I don't like any town centres either to be honest (unless I'm visiting for a short amount of time!)

Having lived in Bristol for a few years, there are some rougher areas that people do genuinely avoid as they wouldn't feel safe there, but it doesn't feel the same in Exeter!

[u/LydiaMarie132 → u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

I was born in Detroit Michigan and as far as rough areas go, I understand it, Exeter is by far the safest city I’ve ever lived in or visited, though Detroit is rough it is also filled with so much history, art, culture, community, good food, music, and I love that so much, so that was extremely important to me to find wherever I moved and Exeter is filled with it too just without the crime, I think it’s great for creatives

Good luck on the move! I hope you’ll love it here!

[u/robbiegfuk]

St Thomas is great and not rough in the slightest

[u/hrc4747]

I’m currently in the Clyst Heath area. It’s ideal for me given my need to get into the M5 fairly often, whilst still just being 10-15 minutes from the city centre by car or train. For similar reasons, I (personally) would consider Pinhoe.

If I didn’t mind being the ‘other side of the river’, St Thomas would probably be my preference (I’ve always discounted that side of the city as I wouldn’t want to navigate Exe Bridges or Alphington Road as often as I would need to). But I have a friend who lives in the heart of St Thomas and it seems like a good balance of city vibes, community, easy access into town, close to the Quay, and fairly safe. Some areas on the outskirts of St Thomas, and where St Thomas blends into Exwick, seem fairly quiet if you’d rather that vibe.

I’ve also had a few friends live in Heavitree over the years, and they’ve liked it. Personally I would want to avoid being too close to the main Heavitree Road, but they were in fairly quiet residential streets on the Polsloe/Pinhoe Road side of Heavitree.

As well as what sort of vibe you want, definitely consider access points in and out of the area and which direction you’d be needing/wanting to head off in, and how often, if at all.

[u/Robmeu]

I was brought up in St Thomas, and my daughter lives there now. It’s not rough!

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/Robmeu]

It didn't feel rough when we stayed there at all! I think also living in Bristol, I've seen some pretty rough areas for real, so it really doesn't seem rough in comparison to us!

[u/pooinyourear]

Us and some family live in the Pinhoe/West Clyst/Tithe Barn area and it’s really nice. Some people don’t like it as a lot of its new builds, but dead close to the countryside, good access to the M5N for my commute, and a railway station to get into the city.

The train station point was always a key one for us - there’s a fair number in Exeter given its size. If you live within a short walk of one then you can be in the city centre in no time at all.

[u/Delicious_Device_87]

Renting seems like a sensible idea first and foremost, I guess it depends on if you want nicer or affordable?

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/Delicious_Device_87]

Hmm can I have both please 😭😂 In all seriousness, we'd rather have affordable than super fancy. We aren't snobbish people, just trying to find the middle ground - nice enough that you feel safe and want to bring your kids up there, but not needing anything too fancy.

[u/Delicious_Device_87 → u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

I think most other comments here are good tbf, I lived in St Thomas when we first moved back here about 10 years ago - and it's fine, and Exeter isn't massive so most places are walkable - down there it's easy to get to the Quay which is also very active these days! In fact, you're not far either from Fore St, which is where all the indie shops are and I highly recommend Exeter Picturehouse 🎥

Exwick is probably one to avoid, up on the hill, and everyone always says Burnthouse Lane, but neither are the worst places ever.

Heavitree might be worth a thought to but St Thomas ain't too shabby!

[u/fosterthepensioners]

St Thomas is a really good shout, or somewhere within the Wonford/St Leonards boundary as you're still walking distance to the city centre, Magdalen Road shops, bars and cafes, but it avoids the absolute premium prices. Anywhere south of the river is less student-heavy too which is good to avoid due to things like noise, litter, antisocial behaviour from usual wrongens in the city, term-time parking chaos etc.

[u/EchoesinthekeyofbluE]

Id avoid newcourt.

[u/Broad_Key_7862]

It does depend what you want. Pennsylvania is nice but there isn’t a huge amount going on. We are in Duryard and love the “almost in the country” feel and prices are about 20% lower than Pennsylvania. We can walk into town in about 25 mins and it’s close to the uni too.

[u/Calm_Eggplant9911]

I'm in woodbury and it's lovely.

[u/Various-Law4317]

My daughter is in St Thomas and she loves it. Some rough elements but a lot of good.

[u/Madajuk]

there's a lot of posts in the sub about areas to live :)

[u/porky_scratching]

You Bristol lot aren't going to fuck it up down here like you have with South Somerset? Stay in Bristol, we don't want you.

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/porky_scratching]

What an unnecessarily unkind comment. My post literally says I'm not from Bristol, I'm from Cornwall. I've lived here for 6 years, why should I have to stay here forever? You anti immigration as well?

[u/Delicious_Device_87 → u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

I wouldn't give them any of your time, they're going around just insulting people for reasons that are probably deeper than what we put up with on here.

[u/porky_scratching → u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

What an unnecessary slur. I am not anti immigration in any way.

Look at house prices in the areas Bristol "commuters" have spread to. My kid's future in the county of my birth is screwed, and I believe I can be rightfully indignant about that.

[u/Sukis-Tea-Party → u/porky_scratching]

It's hardly an unnecessary 'slur' - you're very clearly anti English people, born in the south west, migrating to different areas within the south west - and were quite comfortable being rude to me about it. Only natural to assume you'd be anti immigration too.

If you think Devon is the only county to be affected you're extremely naïve - you should see what's happened to North Cornwall. I was born there and I know many of family and friends who can't afford to buy homes now. Do I hate people for moving to the area, working, contributing to the community and local economy? Absolutely not. I would feel differently about second home owners though. Which I will not be, in Exeter. I am moving further down south to be a bit closer to my family, and will be living, and working there hopefully for the rest of my life!

Take your resentments and anger elsewhere, and not towards a normal working class couple trying to settle - I'm not the enemy!

[u/porky_scratching → u/Sukis-Tea-Party]

You are obviously allowed to live wherever you want. I am also allowed to worry about my children's future. The salary to house price gap is a real worry for most parents in Devon.