Family-friendly and located alongside one of England’s best stretches of coastline, it’s no surprise that Weston-super-Mare is a hugely popular spot for property hunters.
In this Weston-super-Mare guide, we’ll tell you everything you need to know about the town, where to live and how much it costs to buy a property.
We’ll also highlight Weston-super-Mare’s best schools, pubs, and restaurants, and showcase the area’s superb transport links.
Where is Weston-super-Mare?
The coastal town of Weston-super-Mare is 18 miles south west of Bristol, close to the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and just across the Bristol Channel from Welsh capital, Cardiff.
Is Weston-super-Mare a nice place to live?
Weston-super-Mare was recently named among the best seaside towns to buy a property and has also been placed in the list of the UK’s 10 most welcoming towns.
Weston-super-Mare’s coastal location makes it a great town for families to put down roots, while it’s also well connected to the vibrant cities of Bristol and Bath.
The best places to live in Weston-super-Mare
Weston-super-Mare is surrounded by stunning Somerset villages and the town itself offers buyers and renters great options, too. Here are some of the best places to live in and around Weston-super-Mare…
Uphill
South of the town centre, but right on the coast, Uphill is popular with families thanks to its location close to the beach and the Mendip Hills. The village is packed with amenities, too, including a number of good pubs and restaurants.
Ashcombe
Close to Weston Milton station, Ashcombe is the home of Ashcombe Park, as stunning area of green space that includes two tennis courts, two play areas, a bowling club and a café. Ashcombe is also close to the A370 for easy access into the town centre.
Worle
West of the town centre, the village of Worle has its own train station and a pretty, scenic high street packed with shops, pubs and restaurants.
Worlebury & Milton
Located between Ashcombe & Worle, the areas of Worlebury & Milton boast stunning elevated views and offer several popular local primary schools along with Worlebury Golf Course to the northern edge of Worlebury, close to Kewstoke.
Kewstoke
Situated to the north of the town centre, Kewstoke sits just inland from Sand Bay, one of the best strips of coastline in Somerset. Smaller than some of the other villages around Weston-super-Mare, Kewstoke is another popular area for families.
Bleadon
On the edge of the Mendip Hills, Bleadon is around four miles south west of Weston-super-Mare. A quaint Somerset village, Bleadon sits close to the A370 for great access to Weston-super-Mare, and Burnham-on-Sea to the south.
Hutton
Separated from Bleadon by the western edge of the Mendip Hills, Hutton is another hugely popular village. Hutton is also superbly located for access to both the A370 and the M5 motorway.
Property for sale in Weston-super-Mare: What you’ll find
Close to the seafront in Weston-super-Mare, you’ll find rows of stunning Victorian villas.
The best of the town’s period houses can be found on hilltop roads like Atlantic Road South and Paragon Road, which offer views out towards the Bristol Channel.
Beach-side bungalows and chalets, meanwhile, can be found in Kewstoke, with further good quality bungalows in Worle.
The roads around Ashcombe Park and the Uphill area have good sized detached and semi-detached post-war family houses.
Modern and newly built properties with easy access to the M5 can be found in Locking Parklands, and both Haywood and Weston Villages.
Property prices in Weston-super-Mare
The average price of a property in Weston-super-Mare in the year to August 2021 was £252,574 according to Dataloft Inform – a huge rise of 14% on August 2020.
Average costs by property type in Weston-super-Mare
Detached house: £377,160
Semi-detached house: £243,975
Terraced house: £206,489
Flat / apartment: £133,623
How much you’ll pay in council tax
A Band ‘A’ property in Weston-super-Mare will cost you just over £1,160* a year in council tax.
Common Band ‘C’ and ‘D’ properties, meanwhile, cost between £1,500* and £1,750* per year, while the most expensive Band ‘H’ homes cost just under £3,500*.
Council tax for properties in the villages and parishes surrounding Weston-super-Mare, such as Bleadon, Kewstoke and Hutton, however, may vary slightly.
*For year April 2021 to March 2022. Prices from n-somerset.gov.uk
Property to rent in Weston-super-Mare
Rental properties available in Weston-super-Mare range from house shares, flats and family homes, as well as student properties for those studying at University Centre Weston (UCW).
Rental prices in Weston-super-Mare
The average monthly rent for a property in Weston-super-Mare was £706* in August 2021.
Buy-to-let investors, meanwhile, can expect yields of up to 5% from rental properties in Weston-super-Mare.
*Prices from Dataloft Inform August 2021
Weston-super-Mare’s best schools
Popular with families for its seaside location and quality of life, Weston-super-Mare also delivers with its schools.
Boasting two ‘Outstanding’-rated primary schools in Bournville Primary and Haywood Village Academy, Weston-super-Mare is also home to 23 ‘Good’ primary schools, including:
- Walliscote Primary
- Christ Church CofE Primary
- Ashcombe Primary
- Windwhistle Primary
- Milton Park Primary
- Worlebury St Paul’s CofE Primary
- Westhaven School
- Uphill Primary
- Kewstoke Primary
- Worle Village Primary
- Hutton CofE Primary
For secondary schools, Priory Community School is rated ‘Outstanding’, while Hans Price Academy is rated ‘Good’.
University Centre Weston (UCW), meanwhile, offers a host of undergraduate degrees and other vocational courses.
Weston-super-Mare transport links
Weston-super-Mare is ideally located for Somerset’s larger towns and cities, as well as Bristol and Cardiff, by road and rail.
Weston-super-Mare rail links
Direct trains to Bristol Temple Meads run regularly from Weston-super-Mare, taking 30 mins to reach the city.
Services to Bath Spa, via Temple Meads, meanwhile, take around 90 minutes, while direct trains to Taunton take 30 minutes.
London is also accessible from Weston-super-Mare, with direct trains to Paddington taking just over two hours.
Weston-super-Mare road links
Weston-super-Mare is only five miles from the M5 motorway, providing drivers with access to Bristol, Gloucester, Cheltenham, Worcester and the West Midlands, as well as Taunton and Exeter to the south.
The A368, meanwhile, links Weston-super-Mare with Bath, with the M5 and M4 connecting the town to Cardiff in Wales.
Weston-super-Mare airport links
Bristol Airport is only 15 miles from Weston-super-Mare and offers flights domestically, across Europe and to Africa, Mexico and North America.
Weston-super-Mare’s best restaurants and pubs
Five of the best pubs
From real ale and fine wine to traditional Somerset cider, Weston-super-Mare’s seaside pubs are among the best in Somerset. Here is our top-five…
1. The Criterion
The Criterion is widely cited as Weston-super-Mare’s oldest pub, and it remains one of the most popular. Located just off the beach, the bar menu features a range of rotating guest ales.
2. The Regency
A friendly and quiet town centre pub, The Regency is the perfect venue for a peaceful pint or two. The pub also serves superb home-cooked food and its curry night on a Wednesday remains popular.
3. The Queen’s Arms
The Queen’s Arms is in Bleadon and is very much the focal point of the village community.
As well as a range of beers and ciders and home-cooked food, the venue also hosts live music.
4. Old Manor Inn
Now owned by the Sizzling brand, Kewstoke’s Old Manor Inn offers live sport, a hearty food menu and a wide range of beers. The venue’s beer garden is also a real sun trap in the summer months.
5. The Nut Tree
Family-run and with a warming wood fireplace, The Nut Tree’s extensive food and drink menu is loved by locals and visitors. It’s also dog-friendly and has a large, open beer garden.
Five of the best restaurants in Weston-super-Mare
Whether you’re keen on traditional seaside fish and chips, world cuisines or classic British fare, Weston-super-Mare is home to a host of great restaurants. Here is our top-five…
1. Demetris Taverna
This authentic Greek restaurant has been part of Weston-super-Mare’s food scene since 1979. As well as a traditional Greek menu, the venue also has an extensive wine list from the country and plenty of Ouzo, of course.
2. Hussains Indian Cuisine
One of the most popular Indian restaurants in Weston-super-Mare, Hussains serves traditional dishes from India and Bangladesh and is well known for its superb customer service.
3. Il Michelangelo
Although Il Michelangelo is best known for its traditional Italian dishes, its menu stretches wider across the Mediterranean region. Expect to find seafood specials like calamari, moussaka, and mussels in amongst the classic Italian pasta dishes.
4. Bare Grills
If hearty food is your thing, then Bare Grills is well worth a visit. The restaurant also serves dishes like ribs and beef brisket, as well as a host of meat and vegetarian burgers. And if you’re in a rush, the venue also offers a click and collect service.
5. Papa’s
Fish and chips and the seaside are a match made in heaven and Papa’s is one of Weston-super-Mare’s most popular ‘chippies’. As well as takeaway, which can be eaten on the nearby beach, Papa’s also has seating if you’d rather eat inside.
Things to do in Weston-super-Mare
Of course, one of the best things about Weston-super-Mare is the town’s beach and seaside attractions.
The town beach is very safe for children, while the Grand Pier is packed with amusements, rides, a go-kart track, and a soft play area.
Pirate Adventure Land, meanwhile, is another great attraction for the children, with an 18-hole mini-golf course and high ropes course.
And if the sea water isn’t enough, Water Adventure Park close to the beach is another great option to entertain the children during the warmer months.
Away from the seaside, Weston-super-Mare’s history can be explored at the Weston Museum, which showcases the town’s heritage from prehistoric times right up to the present day.
And if you’re looking for some retail therapy as well as all that sea air, the Sovereign Shopping Centre is home to more than 30 high street brands, alongside many other retail stores and independent shops in the town centre.
Weston-super-Mare is also well known for its array of annual events that take place throughout the year, including the Weston Air Festival & Armed Forces Day Celebrations, one of the UK’s biggest motorsport events – the Weston Beach Race, endless live music and comedy at the Tropicana, and one of the county’s best loved events – the Illuminated Weston-super-Mare Carnival.
Finally, after all that shopping and excitement, why not take a stroll through the Italian Gardens and explore the Weston Local Producers Market?
