Devon's 'worst' places to live revealed as locals complain of 'weirdos' and 'pickpockets'

There’s a reason thousands of Brits travel from all over the country to Devon – it is full of some of the most beautiful towns and cities in the UK.

However, residents of some of its locales see things a little differently. Anonymous reviewers on ILiveHere have expressed some brutal thoughts about places in the county, listing them up into its “worst” parts.

From complaints about the IQ level of locals, to complaints about sanitation, reviewers were unrelenting in their outrage at the towns, reports DevonLive. Here, according to ILiveHere users, are the worst places to live in Devon.

The coastal city – known as Britain’s Ocean City – has plenty of character and history. However, it is also home to less than satisfied residents, with one complaining about the abundance of “weirdos” in the pretty city.

The city has plenty to offer visitors. It can give some of the best sea views in the country, as well as idyllic spots to stay.

Its heritage as a maritime city takes centre-stage in its appeal, with its seafront lido, busy international port, and waterfront Barbican district. It’s plethora of art galleries and museums has also earned it the title of Devon’s cultural capital.

However, one reviewer claimed the city’s residents fail to live up to its image to the wider public. They wrote: “Plymouth, when people hear this name they instantly think of green and a lighthouse, Unfortunately this is not the case, the city is full of uneducated ingrates who struggle to spell their own name”.

They did not mince their words as they elaborated, saying: “Meeting someone who was born Plymouth or Cornwall who has an IQ score of more than 60 is a rare pleasure, one I have experienced probably twice in the last 27 years.”

The beautiful market town of Axminster is set on the River Axe within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. It is just a few miles from the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, and sits among wonderful Devon countryside – with close travel links to London and Exeter making it a brilliant getaway spot.

However, one reviewer was not so struck by its beauty. They wrote: “I’ve been to places where I witnessed seagulls eating fresh sick, places where the desolation rivals that seen in war torn Aleppo. Places where you’re lucky to get out alive after 7pm. Yet none of them compares to Axminster, by far the worst town I have ever spent time in!”

The idyllic seaside town of Dawlish was next on the chopping block for the brutal reviewers. Located right on the seafront next to sandy beaches and crystal clear water, it’s known as a great getaway spot. The activities available make it a great family holiday destination, with swimming, exploring rock pools or sand castle building all options. The stunning Dawlish Warren Beach and Dawlish Warren Nature Reserve are also just under two miles away.

However, once again it was the local residents who received the ire of reviewers. One wrote: “The locals are generally horrible and keep to their limited gene pool so they hate anyone who has dared to move in from civilisation, and they particularly loathe anyone with a University degree or a job that pays more than minimum wage. 

“Frankly no-one sane would live here unless they have business interests in the area, and then employing these people becomes a whole new layer of pantomime.”

They added that the town “represents everything that is wrong with UK seaside resorts, all rolled into one.”

Known as one of the best parts of the “English Rivieria”, Paington is one of the most popular spots in Torbay. It boasts a beautiful and easily accessible beachfront and promenade, as well as a traditional pier, colourful beach huts and green. 

One of its biggest selling points is how close everything is, with both the seafront and town centre nearby no matter where you are.

However, one unhappy local recommended dodging the locals at all costs, and warned of “pickpockets”.

They wrote: “A stint on Strictly would help when strolling through the town, I find a quickstep will ease you past the usual ner’do’wells who twitch at the word work, then gleefully line up at the post office on benefit day.

“The paso will assist in avoiding the dog s**t on the paths and samba when queuing in shops to stop pickpockets helping themselves.. Please save your cash and soul by avoiding this town.”

Like many other of Devon’s beautiful cities, Ilfracombe boasts beautiful beaches to relax on. What separates it, however, is its history. It offers a picturesque historic harbour of quaint pastel coloured houses, and a 14th Century chapel perched on Lantern Hill with Damien Hirst’s statue Verity standing guard at the entrance. 

All this is surrounded by dramatic clifftops, providing coves including the famous Tunnels Beaches. 

However, a local claimed the town is overrun with “trendy” young people. They said: “It’s about time we stopped knocking the working class and poor *****. The biggest problem I believe Ilfracombe has, is its whole generation of 16-24 year olds raised by middle class parents.

“They fill Ilfracombe’s restaurants and cafés, announcing every self diagnosed intolerance. Gluten intolerance or lactose, if it’s trendy to have… They have it. They post on all forms of social media about their wonderful life with photos of them basically naked, or selfies by the ocean or parents backyard. Then tweet about how they suffer from anxiety and depression the next.”

A quirky little village, Braunton boasts plenty of charm. Near the coastal Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, wildlife thrives in the surrounding areas. 

Farming, fishing and shipping have all played a part in Braunton’s rich history – with farming still playing a major part today. It’s known as a great example of Devon’s slower pace of life. 

One reviewer did concede some positives to the village, saying: “Braunton is a village that at first appearances, seems rather hip and cool. It has some nice pubs that cater to the middle class and also the working class.” However, they added: “That’s about all.”

They then let loose on local residents, saying: “You will find Braunton to be full and I mean full of 40-60 year old Karens and dodgy Daves from all social stratus. On the poorer side you get Karen’s walking around the estate, nosing in people’s recycling bins. 

“Just so they can report on how much someone drinks and what they drink (usually due to envy, as these karens can only afford Lidl own £2 wine). They also eavesdrop on neighbours going out in the morning. The dodgy Daves here will offer you free Sky TV, drugs and stolen skateboards/Surfboards.”

Set within the peaceful Culm Valley, Cullomtpon is home to one of the UK’s most impressive churches. It represents the centre of Devon rural life and is a historic market town.

It’s location within arms reach of Exeter and Tiverton also makes it an ideal spot for a quick trip.

But one anonymous reviewer wrote: “On the surface it’s a quaint, quiet Devon town but the harsh reality is that it’s overrun with ch**s. You will lose track of the amount of hoodies that you’ll see, Cullompton (or Cully as the locals call it) has to hold the record for the highest percentage of them out of all the towns in the UK, let alone Devon. They speak, act and think like London gangstas, but in reality they’re from Cullompton, not East London.

“As for the facilities, well, the town has a huge Tesco that the whole place seems to revolve around, but unless you like waiting in a 3 hour queue then don’t bother going to the actual town centre. Yes, the town suffers with an immense amount of traffic, probably because everyone is trying to desperately escape from Cullompton as soon as possible. You can’t blame them, who wouldn’t want to escape Cullompton?”