To ask you about Bristol

[HungrySleepyGrumpy]

Sorry for posting here for traffic but I'm struggling to find answers through my own research.

My DH has a new job and we're looking to move to Bristol area as a result of this. Any advice on best areas to aim for or areas to avoid? Any primary schools to avoid??

Doesn't necessarily have to be in Bristol city itself, surrounding areas would be okay too. I'm just finding it so hard to figure it all out. House move with so many unknowns plus school move for multiple kids is making my brain explode!

Please help 🙏🙏🙏

You won't get much for that budget in the area of South Bristol that poster is referring to (the area just off North Street).

Just seen your update. I’d recommend Knowle (not Knowle West). Full of families, there are good parks and lovely Victorian houses on the roads off the Wells Road which come in bang on your budget.

How did you guess?! 😉

I agree that £600-650k won’t get much in that area - it will probably get an average 4-bedroom Victorian terrace with a small garden. I couldn’t afford to buy the house I live in if I was looking now.

4 bedrooms for that budget in Southville is pushing it, more like a 3 bedroom terrace with minimal garden.

This is my friends house just on the market

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/141953921#/?channel=RES_BUY

but plenty of 4 bedroom houses in Backwell come in under budget as do houses in a Nailsea - very much community vibe places.

as is Clevedon and you have the beach close by and the marina lake.

It’s just crazy now. So ridiculously expensive. I love living here, but I’m sad that the next generation of homeowners are completely priced out. It will lose its vibrancy and energy.

We were renting there previously, and 600k got us a 4/5 bedroom detached house with 3 reception rooms, garage and large garden in Downend right next to Oldbury Court. Don't regret moving out at all even if we miss Yafo and the farm shop - there's loads going on round here.

Avoid Barton Hill, Newtown, Southmead (old estate).

"Naice" areas are mainly Westbury on Trym, Henleaze, Sneyd Park, Redland, Clifton.

Consider the satellite towns of Keynsham, Yate and Nailsea as all have a railway station.

Bristol is a county in its own right and is quite small geographically, so check whether the school is in Bristol, South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset (known as BANES ) or North Somerset.

There's a Clean Air Zone covering Central Bristol which is £9 for pre 2015 diesel cars and a couple of Residents Parking Zones. No underground or trams and you have to travel well outside the city for the airport.

We lived in Bristol - bought in brislington/st Anne’s and loved living there. Only moved last year.

Schools wise though bristol is renowned for having pretty poor secondary schools. I think primaries are generally ok.

As far as I know redland green school is the one to get into but house prices are mad because of it. Bristol Cathedral Choir school in the centre I think is pretty good and as it’s central the catchment is the whole of Bristol - so bit of a lottery.

If you want to be a bit further out then keynsham/Saltford is a family place. Wellsway school is very good there but I think you have to buy a house the right side of the river to get in which is reflected in house prices.

Other option is Bath all the secondary schools in bath are good I think. Primary schools are good apart from twerton infants and roundhill. It’s a smaller city and a different vibe to Bristol but I wouldn’t rule it out.

Also heard good things from colleagues who live in Backwell and the school is good

Looking at your budget I'm afraid you won't afford what you want in the 'nice' areas. Just please be careful with houses you can afford in other areas - particularly schools. I say this as someone who lived in St Paul's and loved living there. But Bristol is a very divided city between true Bristolians who hate the London incomers, then there are the entitled students (some obviously fine but a lot of boarding school types experimenting with raves and white boy dreadlocks) and then areas seen as 'rough' just people of colour live there (which obviously isn't true). It's a melting pot but to say people rub along well just isn't the case. Most incomers who have lived in Bristol for 10 years won't be friends with a single Bristolian.
I've lived in many places in the UK and Bristol is really unique in good ways and bad. It definitely sparks feelings that lead to some people loving it and others desperate to leave. Definitely go to the different areas and see for yourself what works for you.

We only moved here four years ago and have loads of "native" Bristolian friends.

Good for you. But I don't think that's typical of many people newish to Bristol and living in Bishopston, Cotham, Montpellier areas.

Well that's fairly inevitable given that many Bristolians view ex-Londoners with open suspicion, neglecting to realise that many Londoners are themselves priced out of London and the surrounds, and they might want to look to the government if they want someone to blame the housing crisis on.

Knowle and Knowle West are different (although nearby) areas and Knowle is lovely! Agree avoid Knowle West though.

Yep, I agree. I think it's worth highlighting these issues to the OP that it's not a liberal paradise that it seems to somehow have a reputation for.

Most incomers who have lived in Bristol for 10 years won't be friends with a single Bristolian.

Only those that insist on calling Bemmie Bedmo.

Depending on which part of Bristol he’s working in…. If it’s north, like filton or Bradley stoke you could look up into Gloucestershire. Lovely small towns and villages within a 45 min commute, wotton under edge, Hilsley, chipping sodbury, Tetbury etc all have good schools and own nice communities.

If you have secondary age children, be aware that there are extremely limited school spaces in Bristol at the moment so you may be allocated one a long way away from where you want. It’s a real issue for the LA who have had to put on hundreds of temporary places and are still very short

Wales:
Chepstow, Portskewett or Undy will get you much more for your money and if he's only commuting a couple of days a week should be fine.
They're all semi rural, not far from shopping type civilisation and primary and secondary schools are good.
If Chepstow, Wyedean school is English curriculum if that's important.

If you must be in England maybe Bradley Stoke but beware catchment area (I have friends who were hoping for BSCS but have had to accept Patchway 😩)

It's a stretch calling it Bristol airport tbh 🤣

Worth looking at Backwell, Congresbury, Yatton. Good train links into Bristol if it's only a couple of days a week.

There's not much in house pricing now between Bristol and London, I wouldn't move unless he's on a 'london' salary

We looked at moving there as would be easier for my role from a transport perspective but to get the ideal home situation your looking for it's not affordable. I commute in two days a week from Devon and save an absolute fortune on mortgage versus travel fees.

@everygreensock - I think that’s an unusual perspective tbh. We’ve been here 3 years and have loads of friends who are born and bred Bristol, why wouldn’t we? It’s a city that a lot of people do move to but we haven’t had any trouble integrating.