Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Moving to Bristol

45 replies

rubin2018 · 08/03/2019 07:45

Hello everyone. Hubby has just got a job in Bristol so we need to relocate. I don’t know the area at all but want to live outside The main city so he commutes in as I prefer a more rural/village feel. I have 2 boys aged 5 and 7 so any advice on primary schools would be good too.
I’ve heard good things about Thornbury and the Cotswolds but feeling a little lost.
Hoping some of you can help me.
Thank you so much
Katie xx

OP posts:
ShatnersWig · 08/03/2019 08:52

Cotswolds is potentially a large area, some of it very far away and very expensive.

Need to have an idea of a) budget and b) how far a commute is acceptable

Hollowvictory · 08/03/2019 08:55

Cotswolds may be too far but it depends, I do know a couple of people that Commute from there but they have very flexible work arrangements and are happy to do the longer commute.

Original poster
rubin2018 · 08/03/2019 10:02

Thank you both
I had wondered about distance of Cotswolds. Was looking at wotton under edge or Dursley?
Commute to bs37 about 30mins max driving.
House budget between £500-700k
Thanks so much.

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

5 year olds
Hollowvictory · 08/03/2019 10:08

Sounds good to me!

Rustyigloo · 08/03/2019 10:50

Thornbury is nice, loads of primary schools, plenty for the kids to do. There are loads of small villages just off the A38 so an easy shortish commute into Bristol.
Recommended areas are Tockington, Old Down, Olveston, Alveston. All of these are close to a primary school.
I love living around here. It's the perfect balance between rural living with all the benefits of a city nearby.

ShatnersWig · 08/03/2019 11:42

Places like Dursley or Wotton are around 40 minutes drive when the roads are fine. However, getting in and out of Bristol around rush hour can be absolutely hideous and you could easily find that over an hour.

Threewheeler1 · 08/03/2019 11:56

Hello,
I'd recommend somewhere with a rail link so you can avoid the M5. Like Shatners says, can be chaos.
Chew Magna or somewhere round the lakes, maybe one of the Dando's, have a lovely rural vibe but no station.
I'm in Bath a few miles from the centre, little village in a valley. The train takes 15 mins to Bristol from Bath Spa or a 40 min drive as we're right next to the A46 connections. Quite a nice set of back roads though to bs37 for a scenic journey in!
Sorry, not sure if that was actually any help Grin

heartshapedknob · 08/03/2019 13:40

The traffic can be heavy so it would be worth doing a trial run during rush hour when you go to look at houses.
I’d be looking out towards Keynsham as you’d then have Bath nearby as well as Bristol, or up to Wotton. There are lots of nice villages around so you'll have plenty of choice!

ColeHawlins · 08/03/2019 13:41

Weston Super Mare is going to gentrify like a rocket soon if you fancy the seaside.

ColeHawlins · 08/03/2019 13:42

Sorry, that was terribly mangled. What I meant was; WSM is worth a look if you fancy living by the sea, and it's on the brink of major gentrification, so would be a good investment.

Greenkit · 08/03/2019 13:44

Hanham, bitton, keynsham, warmley, longwell green

Hollowvictory · 08/03/2019 14:49

Weston isn't a nice place and people have been saying fir years it will improve, it has to be fair but I still wouldn't want to live there. But definitely cheaper than other areas, you would get a lot for your money in weston. But may find it run down and a bit depressing

StateofIndependance · 08/03/2019 15:02

I really don't think the OP is going to be interested in Weston. Her starting point was a £700k house in the Cotswolds!

ColeHawlins · 08/03/2019 15:06

I'm not sure I follow. Are you familiar with the £500k+ market in Weston @StateofIndependance ?

Tdm1987 · 08/03/2019 15:24

I’ve lived in Bristol for 10 years and commuting into work is a massive no in my opinion. If work is flexible and you can avoid rush hour, then it’s fine, but the M4, M5, M32 and main A roads are packed between the hours of 8.15 to around 10am and worse in the evening rush hour. When it rains, it’s worse (not a joke). If there’s an accident on the roads, then the whole city comes to a stand still. You’d be best of looking for somewhere that has a train station so you can avoid the drive and commute in on the train, such as keynsham, Bath, Yate. Bristol is a fabulous place to live, there’s always something going on, but the traffic is something people ALWAYS complain about!! There’s some fabulous areas to live in the city centre and a mile or two around, yes you don’t get that country feel, but you won’t use your car half as much and you won’t need to find a parking space when you get to the centre!

Tdm1987 · 08/03/2019 15:26

Meant to say, commuting by car

Confusedfornow · 08/03/2019 15:33

Why not try Wales?

There aren't any tolls on the bridge anymore. Chepstow is half hour away, lovely countryside. The outskirts of Newport are great too. And property is so much cheaper in Wales.

MrsMoastyToasty · 08/03/2019 15:37

Where in Bristol is your DH going to be working? The Cotswolds is a massive area covering from Bath towards Cheltenham and Oxford.

yellowsun · 08/03/2019 17:33

I agree we need to know where your husband is going to be working. It can take longer to get across town than to get to Wales!

Peachbubble · 08/03/2019 17:34

If commuting to BS37 (Yate, Chipping Sodbury are), you want South Gloucestershire really. Thornbury and Wotton are good, the former is a town rather than a village.

Not sure about Primaries, but Katharine Lady Berkeley always had a good rep as a Secondary (not sure currently, as don't live in the area anymore).

Cotswolds is probably too far out, unless you look at Tetbury (30 mins drive to Yate) or Stroud (40 mins).

Wandastartup · 08/03/2019 17:38

Villages between Bath & Chippenham are an easy commute along theA420. They’re the most southerly part of the Cotswolds. Great village schools & quality of life eg Yatton Keynell, Acton Turville, Marshfield, Biddestone etc.

yellowsun · 08/03/2019 17:52

I also wouldn’t class Dursley or Thornbury as the Cotswolds.

Original poster
rubin2018 · 08/03/2019 19:19

Wow! Thank you everyone. I think it’s going to be hard to choose. Husband is going to be working near woodlands golf and country club on the industrial estate.
I agree, Cotswold might be too far.
Also starting price is £500k. Top end is £650k probably. I’d love my starting price to be £700k
This will hopefully our last move until kids grow up and move out and we downsize so needs to be somewhere that grows with us (so boys don’t get bored with lack of activities when teenagers, young adults etc). Plus I hate moving! So this has to be it.

Thank you for all suggestions so far. I think north or east of Bristol would suit us best as it’s closer to family who are still back in Surrey rather than moving west towards WSM or Wales. But they’ll be great for day trips/holidays Smile

OP posts:
Bookridden · 08/03/2019 19:47

Try looking at some houses on Rightmove in the following areas (all easy commutes to the centre of Bristol) :

Keynsham
Saltford
Pensford
Marksbury
High Littleton
Farmborough

All have good primaries and are in the catchment area of a good secondary. They range from small towns to rural villages. Can provide further info if needed.

selfishcrab · 08/03/2019 19:58

I've moved just over the bridge and from 6:30 am onward a 25 min journey takes over an hour at best, so not a good idea for OP.
I lived just outside Almondsbury before we moved, this area is close to M5/M4 etc to BS37 it is a great place to commute from.