Moving with partner and 2 kids

Dogsarethebest2025

Hey, 

So my partner got a really good job in Somerset, and it doesn't make sense to live apart and only see each other on a Saturday and a little bit on Friday before he has to travel back down. 

(I should mention we currently live in Cambridge). 

the area he is looking at is Weston super mare/bridgewater/Yatton? 

has anyone lived there before? properties all seem really run down and the areas dont look too clever but until I see it in person, its hard to judge from a google search. 

we have 2 small kids, is there much to do there? any advice would be good, even if you've only been there for a day out

MyRealNameToo

According to North Somerset council, parts of Weston-Super-Mare are in the categorised as the most deprived places in the country and a large part of it is in the bottom 10%.

Never lived there but have visited many times. Most would live out of town in places like Uphill or Worlebury

onomatopoeia99

Well, I lived in Portishead for 15 years, Clevedon is just down the coast and Yatton only a few miles on from there.  Bridgewater is quite a way further down.  I moved north of the Avon as my job is in North Bristol and crossing the bridge twice a day with the attendant traffic congestion became too much.

Clevedon is nice in places, Weston is a bit of a mix, some of it certainly a dive as I recall, and there are lots of smaller towns around, just depends where exactly you're looking - if you're going as far south as Bridgewater, why not Glastonbury, Cheddar or Wells?

strawb_shortcake

Weston-super-Mare I think is a bit marmite, it's a seaside resort but not really as it's not sea. It's very rundown in part, traffic in and out often seems quite bad and if there's an incident on the motorway then it's pretty much standstill. I'd probably not pick to live in Weston-super-Mare, its a bit chavvy in my opinion, but there are some nicer areas on the outskirts - Uphill as I remember is nice.

Portishead and I think Clevedon can be the same in terms of traffic, but I'd say both of these are more desirable than Weston-super-Mare, but you'll see that in the prices.

On the other hand it's convenient for the Airport.

tacpot12

A friend of mine moved from up north to Taunton with his wife and children about 10 years ago, and has settled very well there. The children coped with the move and settled into their schools well. The older one is now working and doing well, so it seems to have been a good move for them. 

Savvy_Sue

Weston has a train service, so that might broaden your options. Quite a few would commute to Bristol, but pick your area to avoid regular snarl ups - I still remember the day the M5 bridge was closed, but that WAS exceptional!

Anywhere will have grotty areas, but always look and ask around yourselves because the reputation may be undeserved. I think too the council is working hard on regeneration.

And just a warning: the tide goes out for miles, leaving a large expanse of mud. At times it's quite dangerous, so don't think you're moving to the seaside. Spent one childhood holiday there: never again.

Museum is free and interesting, good temporary exhibitions. And there's a wool shop, so I'll be back for that.

Savvy_Sue

Nearby helicopter museum. Annual sand sculptures (although I don't know where they find the sand). Maybe still donkey rides. 

gwynlas

Dependent on where your partner is working there are a number of other smaller towns along the coast such as Burnham on Sea, Weston itself is a bit run down.
If you were to go inland there are any number of places such as Bridgewater and Wells.
If you are thinking of moving then as well as schools for the children you need to consider shopping as supermarkets and chains tend to be much further apart than city areas. 
Public transport can also be an issue so unless you want to provide a taxi service for your children be wary of pretty villages

Savvy_Sue

gwynlas said:

Public transport can also be an issue so unless you want to provide a taxi service for your children be wary of pretty villages

I refrained from saying anything about that, but agree wholeheartedly. Hopefully the OP 'knows', as I knew, what kind of life they want. When we moved, so many people told me about the 'lovely little villages' around the big city we were heading for. My immediate reaction was horror - why would anyone want to move three lads to a 'lovely little village', just as they were going to become capable of independent travel? Was 'Mum's Taxi' tattooed on my forehead? 

I have every respect for those who can embrace country living. A sibling had children while living in the middle of nowhere - so remote a taxi was provided to get them to school. But they did move to one of the larger villages / small towns nearby before it was time for secondary school. 

Whalie

Frome is a great trendy Somerset town.  It depends where in Somerset the job is.

BungalowBel

Savvy_Sue said:

Weston has a train service, so that might broaden your options. Quite a few would commute to Bristol, but pick your area to avoid regular snarl ups - I still remember the day the M5 bridge was closed, but that WAS exceptional!

Anywhere will have grotty areas, but always look and ask around yourselves because the reputation may be undeserved. I think too the council is working hard on regeneration.

And just a warning: the tide goes out for miles, leaving a large expanse of mud. At times it's quite dangerous, so don't think you're moving to the seaside. Spent one childhood holiday there: never again.

Museum is free and interesting, good temporary exhibitions. And there's a wool shop, so I'll be back for that.

I have been to Weston Super Mare several times in the past and never managed to see the sea!