Exeter anyone?

I grew up in East Devon and went to school in Exeter. It's a great place to live, and I'd jump at the chance if there were opportunities for us down there (other than the fact we'd be a leeetle bit too close to my Mum & Dad ?).

If I was looking to live in the city itself, I'd look at St Leonards, but I believe it's the most desirable part, and would probably be too expensive for me. Other than that, there are some fantastic villages surrounding Exeter, depending on how much of a commute would be acceptable - we lived 15 miles outside Exeter, but as I said, I schooled there, and my Dad worked there. I went to the Maynard School (girls only, private), which I believe was the making of me, so would strongly recommend. Embarrasingly, I know nothing about the state schools, other than Colyton Grammar is often the best school in the country in school league tables.

Devon's a wonderful place to bring up a family, how exciting. If I can help with any more specifics, let me know.

C x

Wow Carrie - that's such a positive post. Thank you for that xx

I'm feeling a bit eeeek at the moment to be honest. I've never moved anywhere other than a couple of miles away from Mum and Dad - even both of my kids are attending the same schools I did when I was a kid.

Of course it's not guarenteed that we'll be moving at the moment, but it is a possibilty.... in fact I've been in this position before where someone has told H to apply for a job, he gets an interview but doesn't get it. All the same, am going to fret until I know for sure!

Thanks for the info - will definitely be calling on you the more I fret xx

I lived in Exeter for the first 29 years of my life but I think my review might be slightly less positive as I couldn't wait to leave.

OK the good stuff. Exeter is a provincial, smallish, easy to find your way around city and I understand that the city centre has recently had a major overhaul with a fabulous new shopping centre. The quayside always used to be a good place for a walk, there's the river separating the two sides (interestingly most people never moved from one side to the other!) and there are good schools. It's easy to get to the beaches and up to Dartmoor too.

I grew up in Pennsylvania which always used to be an expensive area. It's near the University so the place is very studenty at the bottom end and more leafy at the top end as you head out of the city and into the countryside.

The cheaper areas always used to be St Thomas and Exwick on the west of the river with a good stock of terraced houses and newer builds in Exwick. On the east side you'll find similar in Pinhoe or Heavitree. Get yourself on Rightmove and I'm sure you'll get a feel for prices and areas fairly quickly. There really aren't any "bad" areas in Exeter other than on what were the two notorious council estates - Rifford Road and Burnthouse Lane but even these have probably been improved by now.

Downsides for me were the lack of any real culture - rubbish for theatres/the arts. It's a middle class white city to be honest with you and people tend to grow up there and never leave which is why I loved the buzz and city living in Newcastle and now Birmingham where I moved to after I left.

If I can offer any more advice, let me know. I'm heading back down to Devon next month to celebrate my birthday with my in-laws who live on Dartmoor but since we were married in Exeter we're going back for all time's sake.

HTH.

Wow - again lots of information there. Thank you so much.

I've been on rightmove just now and am wondering how we'll afford it at the moment. We currently live ooop north so it's going to be quite a shocker moving down south in terms of house prices. Hmmm will definitely check out renting first but then that's money into a big black hole isn't it...... sigh.

Thanks for all of the info on places to live, I feel lots better knowing there's only 2 badish places - it's really hard relocating isn't it.

Thanks again for the info - will be calling out and becoming more needy no doubt. xxx

Hey, no probs Jords. Feel free to PM me if you want to. I know how scary I found it when I first moved from Exeter to Newcastle!

Thank you - that's very kind of you and I'll definitely take you up on that offer as soon as I find out more from H xx

I've lived in Exeter since I was 11, I'm 34 now.

I love the place, can't imagine ever moving although I never say never!

I live on one of the "notorious" council estates, Burnthouse Lane, purely because property prices here are so astronomical, it was all we could afford... a council estate in exeter isn't lovely but its a far far cry from one in a big city. Areas I wouldn't live in if you paid me are Exwich and St Thomas. Both have terrible reputations, far exceeding the reputations of the council estates in notoriety. Desirable areas are Alphington, St Leonards and Pennysylvania... although personally I don't get the appeal of St Leonards at all.

Schools. Loads of the HIgh Schools have bad reputations here (state ones) but the primary schools are in general excellent I gather.

Pretty good shopping, and loads of places to eat out. Many many places to visit in the surrounding areas. You're close the coast, Dartmoor, an hour away from Bristol, or there's torquay or plymouth for a change of scenery when shopping if you fancy it and countless beautiful day trips nearby.

Exeter has a booming live music scene and more recently Burlesque has become quite the thing with regular burlesque nights held frequently in town.

Anything I can do at all to help, drop me a line through my profile.

Thing is though, Buggins, on a scale of Exeter, even Burnthouse Lane is absolutely nothing compared with some of the inner city areas in Birmingham where there are murders ... Nechells, Aston anyone? Exeter is a really safe city when you compare it to other bigger cities around the UK.

I completely understand what you mean about living there and not wanting to leave. Very few of my school friends have ever left the area - well, moving as far as Exmouth!! ?

Alphington was just up and coming as I was leaving and they were doing loads of new builds around that time (1998) - so interesting that it's now desirable. Exwick and St Thomas were just good "working class" areas. I rented in Exwick for a time and it was fine although further out than I wanted to be. The bus network was always really good for getting into the city centre.

I'm looking forward to seeing the new Princesshay shopping area when I come down next month. Is there anything else I should head for in the city centre that might have changed in recent years? Is Gandy Street still as cool as it always used to be?

Thats exactly what I was trying to say about Burnthouse Lane CBH! We have some noise in the summer and in my 6 years of living here we've had about two fights outside the house... its not exactly a warzone!

I moved to Alphington when I moved here, so its where I "grew up" very nice place. Very village-y feel, but still within the city. Exwick really started to have problems wtih all the new builds... over the years... the combination of the old exwick working classes and middle classes have caused problems. I don't really know why St Thomas went so downhill.

Gandy Street is still the same as ever, some new boutiques there, but still a nice little street... the main development and change has been Princesshay, I can't think of much else that has changed off the top of my head, I suppose there are lots of new eateries here these days which gives a lot more choice than there used to be. You may well arrive and think it's all changed... i think lot of it I've probably forgotten as I'm just so used to it all now!

I'll let you know what I find when I get back. We're planning on lunch in central Exeter and a stroll around. We had our wedding reception at what was the Royal Clarence on the Cathedral Green which is now Abode so we'll have a look at that too. We're staying one night at the in-laws and then one night at Gidleigh Park nearby - can't wait! We met at the Uni and bought our first house in Exeter too so it's got a lot of memories for us. Be weird/strange/nice going back after 11 years away. Let's hope it's good weather so we can make the most of our long weekend.

2 years ago I moved back to my old village where I grew up - it's the place where we wanted our kids to grow up - you know the type, where you can leave you kids out to play in the park and not worry they are going to get beaten up. Where I used to live, it was ok, but there were some rough kids there that chased him occassionally.... I don't want to be in that kind of environment again.

I think what we'll do is if it's looking likely, go down for a recky and then post on here where you can tell me yay or nay!

Thanks for all of the info everyone xx