Villages/towns around Bristol and Bath

[Maltesermad]

Hi, I just wondered if anyone had any ideas. I'm currently living in the south east but recently divorced and need to move to a cheaper area next summer. I'm thinking potentially somewhere within an hour of Bristol or Bath, but I don't know if I'm being realistic given my budget.

I will have £300k and I need 3 bedrooms (I have dc). Does anyone know of any good areas (nice town or rural area with cheap house prices - or is this the holy grail?!)

My dc are teens and one would need to go to a 6th form college but the other one is at university.

I would also consider other areas of Somerset but I like Bristol and Bath for the actual cities themselves and also they would be fairly central for us to visit family and friends from there.

Any ideas would be grateful received!

forget bath, well out of budget. As far as Bristol it would be a very rough neighbourhood on that budget. Pill is close to Bristol but technically n Somerset, have friends there, they like it, Yate is south Gloucestershire definitely a possibility or down towards Radstock maybe but £300k is tight wherever you look. Money would go further in Weston super mare, or in south Somerset as transport isn’t as quick.

in your favour those is that houses are not selling fast

As far as 6th form, most stay at school here, the technical collages are at Filton (n Bristol) or Weston super mare. Pill i mentioned, train line has been approved, budget and everything, 3 years time

If you can find a house in budget in Portishead I can recommend but it’s usually more here

We are in Wiltshire about 45 mins from both Bristol and Bath, lots of nice old small towns & countryside. Numerous coastlines drivable. Our 15yo 3 bed semi in quiet area was £265K 3/4 years ago so I think you’d still get something for your budget.

How about Warminster? An hour from Bristol by train. Lovely market town.

Taunton is within an hour of Bristol lots of pretty villages to choose from. Easy access to motorway, good 6th college (Richard Huish), very close to beautiful countryside etc.

Thank you all, I'm going to look into all the places recommended.

If anyone has any other ideas that would be great to hear them too!

@Girliefriendlikespuppies I've just looked up Richard Huish college, it looks good!

Trowbridge? You would easily find something within budget there. 30 mins on the train to Bristol, and Costwolds right above you. Nice surrounding village areas.

Look at Keynsham. There's a 6th form at Wellsway School and also short bus ride to St Brendans College. Likely to find something to suit most budgets.

I second @mamagogo1's recommendation of Portishead.
Very close to Bristol with good road and transport links and a trainline just approved. A five minute drive and you're on the M5. Bath is about 45 minutes away by car. It has the feel of a small town, bustling high street, good community a lovely marina, sea front, lido and the countryside on the doorstep. Here's a house that would meet your spec. https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/163684646#/?channel=RES_BUY

Clevedon and Nailsea are also worth a look.

I’d recommend somewhere in the Swindon area, though not necessarily Swindon itself.
Swindon has two 16+ colleges but several of the nearby schools have sixth forms too.

Keynsham is hideously expensive.

Chippenham has great travel links to Bath and Bristol via train or motorway and there are three secondary schools that offer sixth form

Hardly

I moved from the south east to Glastonbury 5 years ago. I've never regretted it. There are some gorgeous villages round here and people are so friendly.

Cross the bridge into South Wales. 40 mins to Bristol by car, 30 mins by train. We often go out to eat in Bath and housing well within budget.

Bristol and Bath are expensive and it does have a ripple effect on the satellite towns.
I live in Keynsham. Its 20 mins to either city by bus and 10 minutes by train. There's also a bus to Bristol Airport (it's in the middle of nowhere).
Broadlands doesn't have a 6th form but Wellsway does. However DS went to St Brendan's where he did BTECs.
You could also have a look at Yate in South Gloucestershire and Nailsea in North Somerset. I have family in Yate and I have worked in Nailsea. They've also got rail links .

Stroud; 45 mins to Bristol, 1 hour to Bath. Not such a good social life for older teenagers though; most can’t wait to leave. Bristol is better for that.

Trowbridge has affordable house prices, is in a lovely general area and is on a quick train line to colleges/stuff to do in Bath. Lots of other teens. Keynsham also great for teen logistics - less affordable but worth a look as it’s between the two cities.

Trowbridge, Chippenham possibly Corsham ( but not a brilliant house ) Devizes , Street, Wells - some of these may work but you are pushing it - we live in Bath - £300k is a really small budget here for a 3 bedder! We love living round here but hence why we rent

@JamesMacGill and not particularly nice in my opinion - lousy high st- but if you ignore that it’s convenient for Bath and Bristol and I use their Waitroseas prefer to the one in Bath- great farm shop too !!!!

Bath is lovely but pretty dull for young’uns (one of my DCs went to uni there). Bristol has much younger, more lively vibe (another DC did uni there and one now lives there, they both love it).

Agree and yes Clevedon’s lovely

Clevedon has shocking public transport, I would opt for Weston Super Mare, good 6th form, good rail links and right by the motorway.