Did you know that England is made of nine official regions? One being the largest region in England, the South West, with a total population of over 5 million people! As well as this, it also has the longest coastline out of all nine regions and is home to some incredible World Heritage sites and picturesque sandy beaches.

If you haven’t already considered it, there are plenty of reasons why you should consider relocating to the South West of England for work. With their average salaries being higher than the national average, convenient transport links to the capital city London and having been rated the third safest region in England, it’s no surprise 23.6% of people relocated to the South West between 2021 and 2022.

Consisting of six counties: Cornwall, Dorset, Devon, Gloucestershire, Somerset and Wiltshire, below, we’ve delved into each county to learn more about their wonders and attractions that appeal to thousands relocating each year.

Cornwall

Cornwall is the only county in England to have one bordering county, connecting to Devon, and is one of the UK’s leading holiday destinations in the UK. With a population of over 568,000 and over 5 million tourists visiting its popular sights every year, Cornwall is a very appealing location for many Brits to relocate to.

Useful facts about Cornwall

  • Cornwall is best known for its sandy beaches, stunning coastlines and iconic Cornish pasties.
  • There are great train services and an excellent bus service connecting the rural areas of Cornwall.
  • September is rated the best time of year to visit Cornwall due to the sea being at its warmest.

Dorset

Dorset has a population of over 381,300 and is a largely rural county filled with quaint villages and towns. Famous for its Jurassic Coast (which was the first UNESCO World Heritage Site ever to make the list), limestone arch, Durdle Door and 5 scenic country parks, this area is a lovely combination of coastal locations and rural countryside.

Useful facts about Dorset

  • The weather is typically less windy than other counties in the South West and experiences higher average winter temperatures than the rest of the UK and higher summer temperatures than Devon and Cornwall.
  • There are no motorways in Dorset, however London is accessible via train with two main lines running through the county.
  • You can find incredible views from the Golden Cap which is the highest point on the South Coast of Great Britain.

Devon

Devon is a common destination for many, with popular attractions such as their sandy beaches, medieval towns and national parks. Home to over 814,400 people, Devon is also renowned for being the only county in England with two National Parks (Dartmoor and Exmoor) and being the only county in the UK that has a non-continuous coastline on both the north and south.

Useful facts about Devon

  • Exeter has its own airport, with regular flights arriving from Newquay, Manchester, Cardiff, Glasgow, Edinburgh and Dublin and many more.
  • If you’re interested in exploring the outdoors, you can find a wide range of wildlife in Devon, from Dartmoor ponies to bottlenose dolphins, there are many majestic animals to discover.
  • The South East coast of Devon is one of the sunniest places in the UK.

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire is a historic county in South West England, home to the very popular Cheltenham Festival which sees around 241,600+ people attend over the four days of horse racing every year. To put this in perspective, this is 35% more than the entire population of Gloucestershire which is around 169,400.

Useful facts about Gloucestershire 

  • When travelling via bus, National Express and Megabus Services link Gloucestershire’s main towns, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cirencester with destinations such as Heathrow and Gatwick airports.
  • Gloucestershire only has one city, but 32 towns to explore.
  • This county has warm summers which is typically higher than the UK’s average, and receives around 61.62mm of rain annually.

Somerset

Somerset lies in the heart of this region and is best known for its stunning hills and coastal seaside resorts. Having the largest population in this region with 965,400 residents, it’s no surprise thousands of tourists visit each year.

Useful facts about Somerset

  • Somerset is linked by a motorway, multiple train lines and Bristol Airport, making it easily accessible to other key cities.
  • Are you a cheese lover? Once home to Moo-zic Fest, there’s plenty of other opportunities to experience the famous Somerset Cheese, paired with their fruity ciders.
  • The most populated areas to live in, with over 25% of the population living here, are Bridgwater, Taunton and Yeovil.

Wiltshire

Wiltshire is an appealing county with landmarks such as the World Heritage Site, Stonehenge, and the TV-famous Longleat Safari Park. They have a population of around 513,400 people who tend to love the traditional foods of: Devizes Pie, Marlborough Cake, Wiltshire Buttermilk Cake, along with other tempting puddings.

Useful facts about Wiltshire

  • The north area of Wiltshire is conveniently approachable from both London or Heathrow Airport.
  • Wiltshire is among the top 10 safest counties in the entire UK.
  • The average house prices in Wiltshire have dropped by 6.4% over the last 12 months.

Are you interested in relocating to the South West? Have an informal chat by getting in touch with our teams to speak about potential job opportunities in this region.

E: info@athona.com

T: 01277 217 777