FAO: People who live in Somerset

Whatever you do don't go to Bridgewater (I'm guessing this points been almost rammed in enough).

Internet connectivity is a bit hit and miss, most of the bigger towns have decent ADSL provision, some limited cable and places like Taunton, etc. have FTTC, most of the bigger towns will have FTTC by the end of the year tho a fair few places have recently been knocked back from Aug/Sept to Dec.

I would also avoid chard :P but theres quite a few places around North somerset where employment isn't too bad if you have good qualifications/experience and/or are within reach of Bristol.


I'm also the opinion that the North Somerset coastal areas are a bit bleak in many ways, while kinda nice in the sleepy/relaxed kinda way a lot of the infrastructure is run down, job prospects hit and miss, not a huge amount to do other than the touristy things, etc.

Haha, Bridgwater has definitely been pointed out as a NO GO :p

They would like to be more costal, but I think it's more efficient if we would move to somewhere with more job opportunities, at the current moment my Dad works for Wisemans Dairys (but is looking to change jobs) and my Mum is a carer, and I've been told there is a Wisemans in Bridgwater, so if my Dad was to transfer it would be beneficial to be close to there, but not live there :p

I live in Weston myself and although I am completely bored of it, its not actually that bad. I work just below Taunton at Wellington, and I used to work in Bristol too. I use J21 almost every day and in the mornings it can sometimes take about 30-40mins to get to the junction itself, catch it just right and it will take just a few minutes.

Clevedon is very nice but there is nothing there at all, its just very well kept. Taunton is ok from what I have seen and I have many friends who live there, they say its ok but again nothing amazing. If your parents like walks etc then anything around the Quantocks area would be great but its a little far from any real jobs. Taunton, Yeovill and Bristol I would say are your main job sites. Exeter can be if you go to the south of somerset.

Just my 2 cents.

e: avoid Bridgewater! :P
e2: Areas of weston have Fibre Optic which is very nice. Taunton I believe have it in some areas too.

It would be nice to live in Weston, but does it no annoy you with all the tourists (I know there's not huge amounts)

Yeah, we liked Clevedon, was a nice tidy place when we visited, at the minute the Parents are usually working all the time so they don't have much time to do anything else, but I think if we move they would definitely be out and about.

I think Taunton, Yeovil, Bristol are the main spots to be looking at, although I don't think they want to live in Bristol, so I think Taunton or Yeovil are good calls.
 
To be honest, Weston seafront feels touristy but on the outskirts such as Worle, Uphill and Hutton it just feels like any other town. I cant actually remember the last time I saw the seafront let alone went on it.
 
Yeovil is nice enough but a about as far from the coast as you get in Somerset - tho does put you in decent enough range of either South or North coast but not really near either. Jobs wise its not great although Westlands is apparently taking on a shed load of new jobs over the next few years, in a wide variety of areas, for some big upcoming contracts. Can get into Bristol fairly quickly or to the South coast on the train but its a good 40 minutes to Bridgewater.
 
Check out Frome, my girlfriend works there. It's got a cool name, but is also quite artisan and posh, but not stuck up either. Has some excellent sunday markets and foodage going on as well. It would get my vote!
 
To be honest, Weston seafront feels touristy but on the outskirts such as Worle, Uphill and Hutton it just feels like any other town. I cant actually remember the last time I saw the seafront let alone went on it.

Cheers, Weston is a nice place, haven't really ventured to any of the housing locations, only be there as a tourist :p But I wouldn't mind living there.

Yeovil is nice enough but a about as far from the coast as you get in Somerset - tho does put you in decent enough range of either South or North coast but not really near either. Jobs wise its not great although Westlands is apparently taking on a shed load of new jobs over the next few years, in a wide variety of areas, for some big upcoming contracts. Can get into Bristol fairly quickly or to the South coast on the train but its a good 40 minutes to Bridgewater.

I would like to live in Taunton, but it just depends on where the Parents would like to live, its not a essential to be really close to the coast, but it would be nice, now they're getting older. Westlands is quite a cool name haha, that's quite a good opportunity if they're making new jobs over the next few years, could sway them a bit more to look into Yeovil more.

Check out Frome, my girlfriend works there. It's got a cool name, but is also quite artisan and posh, but not stuck up either. Has some excellent sunday markets and foodage going on as well. It would get my vote!

I didn't think Frome was that good? Unless I've been mislead. But as you've been there I can take upon your words :p
 
Does everyone in Somerset have the same "generic farmer" accent?

Actually not that many do, possibly 15-20% tops its become quite diluted. (Random bit of info about 50 years ago there was a pretty big influx from the London area when a lot of civil service jobs moved down this way).
 
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Taunton

Friend of my Wife owns the pub in Taunton. Have spent a weekend there and can thoroughly recommend it in terms of community & general "niceness". Though anyone under the age of 50 will be bored stiff.
 
Friend of my Wife owns the pub in Taunton. Have spent a weekend there and can thoroughly recommend it in terms of community & general "niceness". Though anyone under the age of 50 will be bored stiff.

Taunton is looking more appealing, I'm not 50, but parents are getting there :p but I'm at Uni during term time so I wouldn't be there much anyway so it wouldn't bother me too much.
 
Somerset is boring, Devon is miles better and on the coast too.

Devon is nice, but I think it's too far down to go, but then again I'll have to speak to the Parents and see what they say.

Edit: Although my Dad did say he liked the look of Okehampton.
 
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Devon is nice, but I think it's too far down to go, but then again I'll have to speak to the Parents and see what they say.

Edit: Although my Dad did say he liked the look of Okehampton.
Okehampton isn't doing too great, a couple of major employers in the are went bust; they even have a food bank now it's that bad. :(
 
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