Sitting on the River Teign between Dartmoor and the South Devon coast, Newton Abbot is a historic market town with a strong sense of community and home to one of our four offices.
Whether you’re thinking of moving to Newton Abbot or already live here, this guide covers life in the town, from the independent high street to schools, transport links and the local property market.
Why families are moving to Newton Abbot
We’ve seen more and more families move to Newton Abbot recently. Life here moves at a gentler pace, with countryside, coast and moorland all nearby, but you’re far from cut off.
Direct Great Western Railway trains run from Newton Abbot to London Paddington, with the quickest taking around two and a half hours. So whether you commute a few days a week or just like the odd trip to the city, it’s very doable.
Haley from Yellow Umbrella Gifts put it simply: “We’ve got the dual carriageway, the moors, the sea. Everything is just on our doorstep.”
Newton Abbot’s independent high street
Newton Abbot has a busy independent high street, and every business owner we spoke to said the same thing: it’s the people that make it.
Austins
You can’t talk about Newton Abbot without mentioning Austins. The family-run department store has been trading for over a hundred years, with its shops gathered around the town’s Clock Tower.
Mary told us you’ll find furniture, toys, sports, homewares, ladies’ fashion, cosmetics and fragrances, plus a large new menswear store with its own coffee bar, Quarter Coffee. Asked what she loves about the town, her answer was short and sweet: “More to see.”
Social Bar & Kitchen
Social Bar & Kitchen is a small, family-run business in the middle of town, run by Kane. Three years in, he says the community has supported them from the start. “It’s always lovely to see familiar faces coming in and out,” he told us.
The Italian Deli
Abbas and the team bring a taste of Italy to the high street, with most of their products imported directly from Italy and fresh goods from local Italian suppliers. Expect cheeses from different regions, salamis and hams, and a counter full of artichokes, olives and stuffed peppers. With Christmas coming, there’s a big range of panettone in too.
Abbas loves how close the community is. “You come in, you meet everybody, and everyone will just start talking,” he said.
Yellow Umbrella Gifts
Yellow Umbrella Gifts stocks work from more than 60 local independent businesses and makers, so it’s a good place for presents with a local story behind them. For Haley, it comes back to the people: “The people are just lovely.”
Parks, green space and things to do
For a market town, Newton Abbot has a lot of green space. Decoy Country Park, Courtenay Park and Bakers Park are all within walking distance of the centre. Decoy, a former clay quarry, now has a lake, play areas and trails, and is popular with families and dog walkers.
A short drive away, Stover Country Park covers 114 acres of woodland, heathland and lake, and is home to the Ted Hughes Poetry Trail. The traffic-free Stover Trail links Newton Abbot with Bovey Tracey for family bike rides.
Newton Abbot Racecourse holds meetings through the summer, and with Dartmoor, Teignmouth’s beaches and the English Riviera all close by, there’s plenty to fill a weekend.
Schools and transport links
Families have plenty of choice. Department for Education data lists 28 primary schools and four secondary schools in and around the town, and the University of Exeter is within easy reach for later on.
Getting around:
- Rail: direct trains to London Paddington, Exeter and Plymouth, with the fastest London services taking around two and a half hours.
- Road: the A380 dual carriageway connects the town to Exeter and the M5, as well as Torquay and Paignton.
- Bus: Stagecoach services link Newton Abbot with the surrounding towns and villages.
The Newton Abbot property market
There’s a good mix of homes coming onto the market locally, from town centre flats and period terraces to family homes and country properties in the surrounding villages.
Rightmove’s sold price data shows homes in Newton Abbot sold for an overall average of £273,766 over the last year:
| Property type | Average sold price (last 12 months) |
| Terraced | £222,350 |
| Semi-detached | £281,415 |
| Detached | £389,848 |
If you’re thinking of selling, there are motivated buyers looking in the area right now. Getting your home on the market before Christmas puts you in front of them ahead of the new year rush.
Thinking of moving to Newton Abbot?
Whether you’re buying, selling or just curious about what your home is worth, our Newton Abbot team would be happy to help. Book a viewing, arrange a free valuation here or pop in for a chat.
Complete, 79 Queen Street, Newton Abbot TQ12 2AU
Call 01626 362 246 or email newton@completeproperty.co.uk
Frequently asked questions
Is Newton Abbot a good place to live?
Newton Abbot has a friendly community, an independent high street, a good choice of schools and easy access to Dartmoor and the South Devon coast, which makes it popular with families and commuters.
How long does it take to get from Newton Abbot to London?
Direct Great Western Railway trains run to London Paddington, with the fastest journeys taking around two and a half hours.
What is the average house price in Newton Abbot?
Rightmove reports an overall average sold price of £273,766 over the last year, with terraced homes averaging £222,350 and detached homes £389,848.
Is now a good time to sell in Newton Abbot?
There are plenty of motivated buyers in the area, and listing before the new year rush can help your home stand out. Our local team can give you a free valuation.