6 Best Places to Live in Pembrokeshire

Wales has been a popular place for people to move in the UK for many decades and it’s only become more popular in recent years thanks to its reasonable property prices, beautiful surroundings and great culture to explore.

Pembrokeshire is one of the larger counties in Wales and is home to many beautiful towns and villages as well as a number of great beaches. The slower pace of life in Pembrokeshire combined with the natural beauty of the surroundings makes it a great place to raise a family and get away from the hectic life found in many of the UK’s larger cities.

Before looking at some of the best areas to live in Pembrokeshire, let’s first look at some of the main reasons to consider moving there.

What does Pembrokeshire have to offer?

Pembrokeshire has plenty of things going for it that make it a very attractive place to move to. Below are some of the main ones.

Affordable property – A big part of what makes Pembrokeshire (and Wales as a whole) appealing is the affordable cost of property. When compared to a lot of other areas in the UK, the property in areas throughout Pembrokeshire is considerably cheaper. This is especially true when compared to the most expensive areas in England, such as London.

Friendly people – Just like Scotland, Wales is known for its friendly and welcoming people. This makes it that much easier to settle in there, whether you’re moving with a family or on your own.

Beautiful sites – There are plenty of beautiful sites to be found across Pembrokeshire, from its stunning coastal views to its unique, picturesque seaside towns.

Great culture – This ties in with the last point. In addition to the beautiful natural spaces across Pembrokeshire, it also has some fantastic culture. There are historic buildings, such as Pembroke Castle and St Davids Cathedral.

Free NHS healthcare – Another advantage to living in Wales is that being part of the UK, you can continue to benefit from NHS healthcare.

What are the best places to live in Pembrokeshire?

Being one of the larger counties in Wales, Pembrokeshire has many towns and villages to choose from.

Tenby

lifeboat station at Tenby

A popular summer tourist destination, Tenby is also an incredibly popular place for people to move to permanently because of its beautiful natural surroundings, reasonable house prices and quality of life it offers.

Because it’s a highly desirable area combined with the fact that there are a limited number of properties available in Tenby, the prices for both flats and houses are quite high when compared to Pembrokeshire averages.

Newport

For beautiful scenery and a variety of great walks, it’s hard to do better than Newport. As well as the beach, Newport also has many great restaurants and cafes in the centre, making it an ideal spot to move to if you’re looking to get away from it all.

The property prices in Newport are slightly higher than the average for Pembrokeshire but still affordable.

St Davids

St Davids Cathedral

Named one of the best places to live in the UK, St Davids is the UK’s smallest city and is home to some beautiful architecture and an abundance of wildlife. It offers a relaxing pace of life and although the property prices are higher than average, it’s easy to see why when you’re there. It also has a large cathedral that is absolutely stunning.

Haverfordwest

Another area in Pembrokeshire with fantastic views and beautiful natural surroundings is Haverfordwest. It’s the most populous area in Pembrokeshire, so if you’re looking to live somewhere more upbeat and vibrant, it’d make a great choice.

The property prices in the area are very affordable for both houses and flats, with many investments and rental properties available.

Fishguard

Fishguard is a coastal town set on a clifftop, providing you with a great view of the sea. It’s particularly popular with visitors during the summer months but it’s also a great place to live.

The majority of the properties in Fishguard are houses and although they’re a bit higher than the average for Pembrokeshire, it’s still an affordable place to live. It’d be better suited to families rather than young professionals.

Narberth

Narberth is one of the more unique towns in Pembrokeshire and provides residents with a great mix of things to see and do, including several boutique shops as well as fantastic cafes and restaurants.

The property prices are fairly high in Narberth but it’s easy to see why when you consider how much it has to offer.

Pembrokeshire FAQs

Below are some of the most frequently asked questions people have about Pembrokeshire.

What are the schools like?

Pembrokeshire has a number of different primary and secondary schools. A colour-coded rating system is used to judge things like teacher performance, attendance levels and wellbeing of the pupils. Green, yellow, amber and red are the colours used to rate schools, with green being the best and red, the worst.

Of the 61 primary schools in Pembrokeshire, there are 12 that are rated green. Of the 11 secondary schools, there is 1 rated green – Ysgol y Preseli.

What about living costs?

Pembrokeshire is generally a very affordable place to live, both in terms of property prices and everyday living costs. It’s true that salaries are slightly lower than those in many other parts of the UK but this is comfortably offset by the cheaper property and living costs.

How is the weather?

The weather in Pembrokeshire is fairly typical of that for the rest of Wales and can be slightly wetter than many other parts of the UK. The summers can be very pleasant though, especially in the many coastal areas throughout the county, where temperatures tend to be higher. It’s also possible that you could experience snow during the winter months.

Are there any legal requirements to move to Wales?

Since Wales is a separate country, you might be wondering if there are any legal requirements to move to Pembrokeshire if you’re coming from elsewhere in the UK. Luckily, this isn’t the case and you can move there like any other part of the country.

How does Wales compare to England?

Wales has a much smaller population than England and tends to have much smaller towns and villages compared to the many cities in England. This might suit you better depending on what type of lifestyle you’re looking for.

One of the biggest appeals of living in Wales is the slower pace of life and the beautiful natural surroundings. This is especially true of Pembrokeshire, with much of it being situated on the coast and being home to many great parks and walks.

How many people live there?

Approximately 125,000 people live in Pembrokeshire, making it one of the more populous counties in Wales. That being said, it’s still not nearly as populated as the main counties in the UK, so if you’re looking for somewhere more quiet and secluded, it’s an ideal place to move.

How close is it to Cardiff?

It depends on exactly where in the county you’re travelling from but Pembrokeshire is quite a distance from Cardiff, so if your reason for moving was to commute to Cardiff for work, it wouldn’t be ideal. It’s around 100 miles from Wales’ capital or a 2 hour drive.