South West England

South West England is the largest of the country’s nine official regions. It stretches from the Isles of Scilly at the south-westerly tip of the UK up through Cornwall and Devon to Gloucestershire and Wilshire at its easterly border. The largest cities in the region include Bristol, Bournemouth and Exeter. The National Parks of Exmoor and Dartmoor sit within South West England, with other key visitor attractions being Cornwall, with its beautiful beaches and fishing villages, Stonehenge, and the historic city of Bath.

4.51
Average Location Score

Excellent

64%

Very Good

27%

Average

8%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

1%

Best places to live in South West England

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

A harbour with colourful boats in Cornwall, South West England

Where is South West England?

South West England constitutes the region from the south-westerly tip of England (the Scilly Isles and Cornwall) up to Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset and Bournemouth in the east. It has the longest coastline of any English region (700+ miles), which overlooks the Bristol Channel, English Channel and Celtic Sea.

Population of South West England

The population of South West England was estimated at 5.6 million in 2019. Despite being the largest of England’s nine regions at 9,200 square miles, its population is one of the smallest.

South West England regions

South West England is made up of seven counties: Bristol, Cornwall (and the Isles of Scilly), Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire. We take a look at these below.

Clifton Suspension bridge in Bristol, South West England

Bristol

Bristol is the largest city in South West England and is also one of the seven counties that make up the region. Bristol University and the University of the South West of England bring many students to the city, while media, electronics and aerospace industries are the main economic drivers in the city and surrounding areas.

Cornwall (incl. Isles of Scilly)

With its rich history of mining and fishing, Cornwall attracts thousands of visitors each year. It’s a favourite destination for many Brits holidaying in the UK, thanks to its mild climate and outstanding beaches and countryside. The only city in Cornwall is Truro and the region boasts its own language, which has seen a major revival since interest grew during the early 20th century.

Devon

Neighbour to Cornwall and great rival when it comes to cream teas (scones with jam and clotted cream), Devon is also a tourism hotspot. It boasts a similar landscape of moorlands, rugged coastlines and pretty fishing villages, with Exeter as its principal city. The collection of resort towns along its south coast have become known as the ‘English Riviera’.

Dorset

The ceremonial county of Dorset includes Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, and Dorset. Dorchester is the county town but much of the region has a low population density, with more than half of its area designated an Area of outstanding Natural Beauty.

Bath in South West England

Gloucestershire

Named after its historic principal town Gloucester, Gloucestershire also includes the popular towns of Cheltenham, Cirencester and Stroud. It boasts large areas of outstanding natural beauty, including a large area of The Cotswolds, the Forest of Dean and the Severn Vale.

Somerset

A largely rural county, Somerset includes a wealth of beautiful landscapes, including those of the Mendip Hills, Quantocks and the Exmoor National Park. Somerset’s two cities are Wells and Bath – both of which boast historic cathedrals and the latter of which was granted UNESCO World Heritage Site status.

Wiltshire

Wiltshire is a landlocked county bordered by Berkshire, Oxfordshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Somerset and Dorset. Trowbridge is the county town but the region is probably best-known for the ancient stone circles at Stonehenge and Avebury, which form a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

South West England Cities

Bristol is the largest city in South West England, with a population of around 430,000 people. Other principal cities include Exeter, Bath, Gloucester, Bournemouth, Wells and Plymouth.

Reviews in South West England

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Close to city centre and at a very convenient location

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Braid House is close to city centre and at a very convenient location, with good public transportation network (train, bus and coach). It is also great that it has secured parking facility. One bad thing is there will be a high-rise building built next to Braid House and block the air flow, sunlight and view.

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The apartment is spacious and should comprise a store room for the convenience of tenants (e.g. for putting vacuum cleaner, iron board and other stuff).
The address of the apartment is Redcliff Street. However, if someone try to enter from Redcliff Street, the inter-communication system at the entrance cannot link to some apartments. They have to enter from Thomas Street entrance. The property management may at least display a clear poster or map to guide the visitors or delivery people how to go the correct entrance to the building.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Not much to share. I got all the information about the apartment and building before I moved in.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The building management promptly responded the issues raised by me (e.g. the entrance door could not properly closed).

3
Facilities
2
Design
5
Location
3
Value
4
Management
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Ideal location and pleasant place to live with great facilities however now becoming outdated with some security issues

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

Perfect location near Bath center and the park all on foot distance. Main issue: gate to the garden broken and always open.

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The design is pleasant and I can see how when it was built the appearance was very nice. It is now however becoming outdated and dilapidated. Furthermore the garden is not well kept and looks increasingly in disrepair. There is a general sense that the materials to build were cheap and that the interior of the flat is falling apart.

The gym and common room are very nice and an exceptional perk.
The underground car park is also very appreciated and another asset however the price for parking is very high.

Scott the property manager is extremely helpful and another asset to the living experience. Any problem we have he solves immediately.

One slight area of concern recently is security. The communal doors are not always closed and locked and we have had a valuable package stolen from the corridor in the past. Furthermore a drug dealer lives on our floor and the police have been inside our flat to question us in the past.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

There are no specific things we wish we had known.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The resident manager promptly answers to any problems or issues experienced

3
Facilities
3
Design
5
Location
3
Value
5
Management
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Very happy!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

We have a university and a college, which contribute greatly to the buzz of the city. Everything is organised, but the prices are high.

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I love the crisp whiteness of the property, with a fantastic faux-granite kitchen area. My bed, which I use as part of the furniture pack, is extremely comfortable. Our concierge is also brilliant: always on the ball and cares well for every building.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

All the different places you can get discounts with a Platform card!

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Fairly well. Sometimes the wait is a little long, but that’s understandable.

4
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
3
Value
4
Management
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A newly-built apartment with all the amenities, offering a comfortable place to live!

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2024

The location is convenient, being close to a supermarket, a library, and a bus stop. However, if you live near the supermarket, you might hear some noise from trucks moving goods at night.

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The reception staff are friendly and responsive, making it easy to pick up parcels and communicate with them. The co-living kitchen is a unique feature, providing a convenient space for residents to welcome friends. Overall, it’s been an enjoyable experience, and I plan to extend my stay once this contract ends.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

The reception will give some flower seed to decorate your room.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

The management servise is quick reponsive. When you forget take the key, the staff will open door for you in a short time even at night.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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