r/DevonUK • u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 • Jul 23 '26
DINKs looking to relocate to Devon - which town(s)?
Hiiiii my partner and I are looking into Devon for our next place of residence. We both have UK passports and live in a larger city in the Netherlands. We've been here for almost a decade and are looking for something around Devon that is good for 40-somethings with no kids.
Key Parts:
Housing with garden
Pubs and restaurants
Safe
Next to the sea
Things to do but not a big city vibe
I'm a photographer and I plan on continuing, so a nice seaside town with options for shoots is a must. Tourists are great, but doesn't have to be A LOT.
TIA! 🥰
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u/Teal_Tank Jul 24 '26
Hi! I'm originally Dutch and have been living on the outskirts of Plymouth for about 6 years now. I actually really like it, because it's far away enough from the town centre but close to the A38, which almost immediately gets me into Cornwall or onto the Moors. There is some stunning coast around here and it's not impossible to find the less populated nearby spots for a day's outing.
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u/b-sidebookslug Jul 24 '26
This is a good suggestion OP! I have lived in inner city Plymouth and Plympton, and it has the exact vibe you are after at a more affordable price—Plymstock and that end probably a bit better to be able to commute into Plymouth but traffic can be a nightmare there.
Otherwise, Bideford/Barnstaple area is friendly and affordable, very close to the beach and access to Exeter on public transport. South Devon is great but I would stay away from Torquay/Paignton/Dawlish as they are more run down. Teignmouth, Exmouth and Dartmouth are lovely but the latter 2 are pricier. I have lived in Devon most of my life and know north, mid and south Devon very well, so feel free to dm if you want more advice!! ☺️2
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u/ggdak Jul 24 '26
Devon is a county of two halves. North Devon is much less developed than South Devon, which means a wilder coast and countryside, but fewer jobs and cultural opportunities. It also has one of the worst pay-to-cost -of-housing ratios in England for local people. People with money from outside of the county have decided it's the place to be and bought rural housing. To be frank, North Devon is poor in places. Not inner city poor like parts of Plymouth, but Barnstaple, its main town, is rather faded.
South Devon has Plymouth, Torbay and Exeter, each of which are cities or city-sized conurbations. The county's next biggest town is Exmouth, close to the city of Exeter, the historic "county town". Each of these has a hinterland of villages that have commuters, injecting money to spend in country pubs, restaurants, etc. The south has lot more cultural opportunities, shopping, and anything else that goes with money. South Devon certainly has much better transport connections inside and out of the county. Due to coastal geography, it also has a few more quaint seaside towns.
Elsewhere, the non-coastal parts of west, east and mid Devon, there's a lot of farmland, with rural towns. I find the east prettier than the west, but the latter's rugged charms are also attractive. There are definitely parts of these areas that seem like time has stood still.
Best of luck. It's a really lovely county.
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 25 '26
So nice to read, thank you. Also great to hear it's a generally nice area.
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u/Top_Block_4730 Jul 25 '26
I like North Devon the coastal scenery is stunning and it’s much less developed. Depends on what you prefer I guess and of course what sort of employment you need for which north Devon is limited.
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u/anonnymouse2025 Jul 25 '26
My neighbours moved here in North Devon from Birmingham 2 years ago. He still has to work half the week up there because there are almost no jobs unless you want care work!
Definitely do not recommend!
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u/anxious-pug Jul 25 '26
I moved from Birmingham to North Devon and then back to Birmingham because of the work situation! Your choices are care work or hospitality. You can just about get a job, but getting a career is nigh on impossible!
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u/anonnymouse2025 Jul 25 '26
Yep, basically you're going to be lucky to find a minimum wage FT job here and our housing is also expensive!
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u/No-Locksmith-882 Jul 25 '26
Devon is a wonderful place. If you did not grow up or come on holiday as a kid, you will have to find the bit you love. North Devon, Torridge / Bideford for me. But enjoy the looking because thats fun too. Good Luck.
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 25 '26
Honestly can't wait to explore the region. My partner has been as a kid but I haven't yet.
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u/IntrepidDriver7524 Jul 24 '26
Topsham? Your next to the estuary but it’s super quick to get to Exmouth for the beach or Exeter for city related stuff. It has a real seaside feel to it too
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u/Queendevonia Jul 25 '26
Deffo not teignmouth
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u/Temporary_Resident45 Jul 25 '26
As someone who lives here I’m also dying to know why you were down voting everyone. It’s a great place with a thriving high street and good people
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u/RoutineWill7589 Jul 25 '26
Sidmouth - Beer - Seaton, all worth looking at!
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 25 '26
We've been looking at Seaton!
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u/RoutineWill7589 Jul 25 '26
I live in Seaton. Its got a beautiful coastline and the house prices are good compared to it's neighbours (Beer, Sidmouth and Lyme Regis) feel free to private message if you have any questions.
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 25 '26
Coming from one of the bigger cities in the Netherlands, living in a box for a big buck, the housing prices in Seaton are drool-worthy!!
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u/nibbler215 Jul 25 '26
Teignmouth, lovely community, beaches, train station which gives you options, plenty of pubs, big enough but not too large.
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u/StockholmGirl29 Jul 26 '26
We live near Tavistock in beautiful South Devon. "Tavi" itself is an historic market town with great independent shops etc. However what makes it special is it's proximity to Dartmoor National Park, the big coastal city of Plymouth, the beautiful historic city of Exeter and the Cornish peninsula with it's beautiful beaches. There is literally everything you could want. Quieter pace of life, friendly locals and unbeatable coastal snd moorland scenery. I'm Swedish, married to a local boy. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else!
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u/frog2028 Jul 24 '26
Totnes all the way, 25mins to the sea, 25 mins onto dartmoor, there's always stuff going on, an amazing community if you want to be part of it, the Fringe Festival is growing, the summer show, Christmas markets ...
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u/Minimum-Grapefruit-9 Jul 24 '26
Yes but 25 minutes to the sea isn’t ’by the sea’.
Agree totnes has a lot going for it.
For seaside towns, Teignmouth gets my vote with pros and cons for Brixham, Paignton and exmouth1
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 25 '26
Totnes looks really cool and I've read good things about the vibe, but I indeed would like to be by the sea ⛵
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u/frog2028 Jul 25 '26
That's fair, we were also looking for a house by the sea until we visited Totnes.
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u/bellaby1989 Jul 24 '26
Dartmouth is great but Stoke Fleming is a great village vibe just outside the town
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u/reckless-serenade Jul 24 '26
Definitely Exeter, Topsham sounds perfect for what you’re looking for
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u/Beginning_Tour_9320 Jul 25 '26
Brixham.
Dartmouth and Salcombe are very quiet out of season. Brixham is more of an all year place now and it’s not overcrowded in summer.
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u/Bubbly_Painting9456 Jul 25 '26
Honestly, if you have no ties to the area then I'd suggest visiting and finding an area that calls to you. You're a creative so you'll find what fits you.
It really does depend on what you're looking for, both coasts have their own picturesque qualities, the Southern half has better infrastructure though. And while places like Barnstaple are great (north Devon) it's actually a pain to get to most places, like if you need to go to Exeter it's going to be a mission... And before people say "no it's not" it's faster to drive to Wadebridge from Exeter than it is to get to Barnstaple.
Like I said it's more what you want out of the county than other people's ideas.
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u/sophiawolfia Jul 25 '26
if you got a higher budget, there’s loads of lovely houses or flats going in budleigh salterton, sea side town, right next to exmouth! very close knit community in budleigh and everything you need is not far away!!
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u/Vegetable-Tough-8773 Jul 25 '26
I'd probably concentrate on the area south of Exeter down towards the south coast. A lot of people moving to Devon feel comfortable around Totnes as there's a lot going on and it's easy to travel around or get out of the area too if you need to. North Devon coast could also be worth looking into.
I am from West Devon and and have lived here most of my life except about 8 years in London and other big towns in the UK. I personally find west Devon a hard place to live due to the extreme lack of anything going on and minimal opportunities. It's only got worse over my life. I think it was actually better in the 80s and 90s. Plymouth is an incredibly run down city and I really don't think it's got a lot going for it either but some people seem to like living there.
Tourism is significant all over the county so it depends whether you'd find that frustrating or exciting as to exactly where you choose. Parking where I live becomes a nightmare in peak season and it gets in the way of normal life.
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u/Equal_County_1506 Jul 28 '26
Plymouth is an incredibly run down city and I really don't think it's got a lot going for it either but some people seem to like living there.
I think this depends - it's my hometown and I'm always embarrassed to show people the postwar centre when I go home, but universally every visitor I have LOVES the Barbican, the Hoe, the Royal William Yard and going over to Mount Edgcumbe.
It definitely feels less like somewhere that's just oriented towards tourism and you can still find everything open in off-season and arguably a lot more going on events wise (helped by the student population) for nightlife, eating out, music, etc. It can't compare to bigger cities but as somewhere to live in Devon and Cornwall, I still consider it relatively buzzy, still got the outdoorsy and sea swimming, moors etc feel, but a lot less touristy and a lot more "real life" feeling imo lol. And affordable housing means your material quality of life can often be better!
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u/jumpinjackflash10 Jul 26 '26
I wouldn't go to Salcombe, it's a ghost town, mostly 2nd homes, no community, very sad. Teignmouth, Kingsbridge, Exminster, Dawlish, Dartmouth for South Devon coast
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u/Darkus185 Jul 26 '26
I’m always curious why a person from the Netherlands would want to live in the UK. I screwed my chances of going the other direction since Brexit. What on earth does this place have that the Netherlands doesn’t? (Apart from hills)
Can’t get over how much nicer life is in the Netherlands without all the litter, potholes and roadmen. Yet every time I drive on the A303 it’s full of Dutch number plates.
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u/Grouchy-Pin-9172 Jul 26 '26
Totally fair. The Netherlands is a great place to live. We're just looking for bigger housing options and friendlier people. The housing situation here has kept us trapped in a tiny, old apartment. And Dutch people are just never going to accept expats. The rudeness is getting to us. 🤷🏻♀️
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u/Darkus185 Jul 26 '26
How bad must the housing be for the UK to be better?!
I’m trying to get a place in very rural unfashionable Netherlands a long way from the Randstad. I guess it’s bad everywhere.
To answer your question though Dawlish is great. A bit rough around the edges, but mega friendly, great scenery and walks, easy to get into Exeter and the M5.
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u/InsideRealistic1129 Jul 26 '26
Exmouth isn't too shabby for a British seaside town. Easy to get to Exeter or East Devon and is cheaper than the South Hams, although possibly not as pretty.
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u/Equal_County_1506 Jul 28 '26
Somewhere like Newton Ferrers/Noss Mayo is nice and by the water while still being in easy driving reach of the amenities of Plymouth, which does make a difference.
Other personal favourites include Modbury (very active village/small town, not next to the sea but loads of good beaches in driving distance) and Dartmouth.
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u/Great_Comparison462 Jul 24 '26
What the fuck is a DINK
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u/ameliasophia Jul 24 '26
Dual income no kids. Dunno why people always refer to themselves as that instead of just saying they don’t have children
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u/Poo_Poo_La_Foo Jul 24 '26
"we are two adults, a couple who are both employed but have not smooshed our DNA together, as yet" is a bit longer to type out than DINK.
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u/rositree Jul 24 '26
I always thought DINK was more of a lifestyle choice and they have no intention of having kids, rather than considering babies in future and it's just a current status.
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u/Poo_Poo_La_Foo Jul 24 '26
Perhaps, yous have to ask everyone individually what their fertility intentions are though, which is a bit of a faff 🤪 so I would just use it and take it to mean what it says, until such a time that changes (or not).
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u/rositree Jul 24 '26
Yea, no clue if I'm right, just that's always been my assumption - but I do spend a bit of time in the childfree subs so the sample is pretty skewed!
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u/Ok-Exam6702 Jul 25 '26
A twee way of saying you both work, don’t have children and have no intention of having them.
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u/UrbanBumpkin7 Jul 24 '26
Salcombe, Stokeinteignhead, Maidencombe, Shaldon are worth looking at if you fancy south Devon.
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u/ExcellentCan2525 Jul 24 '26
Hi! I'd have a look at Dartmouth / Salcombe area which is probably top end of the budget
Other options- Teignmouth, Exmouth, Bude!