South West life
How would your perfect day off play out? Maybe you’d hit the surf, go sailing or spend the day sunbathing on a stunning golden beach with friends. Perhaps you’d hike across gloriously rolling hills, stop off in a country pub for lunch and maybe try your luck with a spot of fishing.
If you’re an urbanite at heart you might prefer superb city centre shopping, a gallery, a top restaurant and a lively waterside bar.
You’ll find all of this, plus great places to live and a selection of good schools and colleges and much more in the South West. It’s why it’s such a desirable place to live and work.

With the wild natural backdrop of Dartmoor to the north of the city, the sea and deep harbour of Plymouth Sound to the south, and the rivers Plym and Tamar to the east and west, there really is no other city like Plymouth.
The city is on the South West Coast Path, and offers five miles of beaches within 25 miles. It is also home to Plymouth Hoe and one of the finest art deco lidos in England. The world famous Smeaton’s Tower which once stood on the Eddystone Reef 10 miles out to sea now dominates the skyline. The Hoe is a natural auditorium and has hosted many events including the British Firework Championships, the America’s Cup, the Olympic Torch procession, Plymouth Half Marathon, the FastNet and MTV Crashes Plymouth.
Superb Shopping
Plymouth has a modern and largely pedestrianised shopping centre that includes national brands and independent retailers. Several street markets are held throughout the year including continental and Christmas markets.
A rich heritage
In contrast, the historic harbour area boasts the largest concentration of cobbled streets in England with over 100 listed buildings and a good mix of specialist shops, art galleries, cafés and restaurants. This historic area of the city has the Mayflower Steps, departure point of the Pilgrims to America. The Mayflower 400 celebrations are being held throughout 2020 and expected to attract global attention.
Great sporting facilities
Plymouth Life Centre’s aquatic facilities are the largest of their kind in southern England outside of the Olympic Village and were used by a number of international swimming and diving teams in preparation for London 2012.
Keep up with football at Plymouth Argyle’s stadium Home Park or follow professional basketball team Plymouth Raiders at Plymouth Pavilions. If you’re a fan of Rugby then Plymouth Albion play their home games at the local Brickfields Stadium or you can take a short drive to Exeter’s Sandy Park to watch Exeter Chiefs.
Affordable housing
House prices are around a third lower than the national average, with a wide choice from city centre apartments to waterside homes and rural retreats, as well as options for families and first-time buyers.
Unbeatable quality of life
Plymouth is surrounded by rolling hills, winding country lanes, picturesque villages and beaches. Perfect for a gentle walk or a serious hike. The idyllic landscape is also home to a selection of outstanding golf courses.
Useful links

There’s so much to see and do in this beautiful part of the country.
Experience the appeal of stunning Cathedral city Exeter and the magnificent scenery of Dartmoor and Exmouth in Devon.
Explore the hidden corners of wild Cornwall as well as some hugely popular visitor destinations. Experience the charm of Truro, the excitement of one of the world’s top surfing locations at Fistral beach or the unique cultural appeal of the world famous Minack Theatre, perched on the very edge of the Atlantic.
It’s well connected too. Newquay Airport offers flights to London and across Europe.
Attractions such as Paignton Zoo, Boardmasters, Ocean City Music festival and various other family attractions delight visitors from all over the world.
Useful links
TripAdvisor
Atlantic Highway
South West Coastpath
Boardmasters Festival
Paignton Zoo
South West Tourism
Roads development in the South West
If you, or your family are considering childcare or further education the latest Ofsted report offers an in-depth overview of Early Years, Primary, Secondary and Further Education, with above national average scores in each of these areas.
Early Years
The early year’s sector remains strong, with 95% of providers judged good or outstanding compared with 74% six years ago.
Primary
The proportion of pupils who attend a good or outstanding primary school is 87%.
Secondary
In the South West, 75% of pupils attend a good or outstanding school, in their most recent inspection.
Further Education and Skills
The proportion of good or outstanding providers of post-16 education continues to rise, with 96% of colleges good or outstanding, compared with 77% nationally. This is reflected in the performance of both sixth form colleges (100% good or outstanding compared to 89% nationally) and general FE colleges (95% good or outstanding compared to 71% nationally).
Useful links
Ofsted Annual Report 2017-18
Plymouth City Council
Plymouth public-sector schools
Plymouth private-sector schools
Cornwall County Council
Petroc College
Falmouth College
Exeter University
Plymouth University
Bath University
Bristol University