Probably moving to Bristol! so many questions

[alocalnickname]

Hello,

I know this has been done SO many times on Mumsnet but we are probably moving to Bristol from Cornwall due to my husband being offered a fantastical job. We have one 7 month boy.

Being from Cornwall we naturally love the water and are both very keen kayakers. We also enjoy sailing! Is there anywhere in Bristol that is suitable for these hobbies?

So my husbands job is likely to be at either Clifton or near Temple Meads. Is it safe to cycle to work?

Where would you recommend we live? I have seen a house to rent in Knowle. We would like to live somewhere quiet and residential that only takes 30 mins or less to cycle into town. Or would other areas be more suitable to us?

Sorry for all the questions! I don't really know where to start.

Thanks

You can kayak and sail on the docks and it's a good way to get to know people. Knowle is up and coming improving area and easy to cycle to your dh's work.

So tick in the box for all 3!

Thank you Heels!

Just one really silly question...

What is wrong with Bradley Stoke other than being pretty far out (or does it look further out on a map than it actually is?)? I'm just curious

Cheers!

(I ask because rent is super cheap!)

Nothing wrong with Bradley stoke at all. It is a very big housing development on outskirts bristol and the amount of housing stock and downturn in property market has pushed prices down and meant that some potential sellers are renting out their properties instead. Need to consider commuting times and method to bristol centre, whether you like being on a housing estate and whether you prefer new or old properties. If you don't mind being out of town centre, look at clevedon, a Victorian seaside town with pier, some lovely houses and a sailing club. I love clevedon, community run bookshop and cinema , outstanding schools etc. Or portishead, mix of new and old properties, marina and sailing club. Both of these mean commuting into bristol most likely by car, could cycle but be long trip. Knowle is good choice for bristol centre but do consider primary and secondary schools in bristol are not great in some areas, including Knowle for secondary, don't know what primaries are like. Bristol good choice for vibrant city life.

The nicer areas of Bristol tend to be North of the river. The areas south of the river less so. I wouldn't live in Knowle myself.

Bristol is a cycling city and there are a number of cycling routes. Try googling sustrans for maps and perhaps you can work out from the cycle routes which is the best area to cycle from.

Loads of people cycle in Bristol, many of them very unsafely I must add. Bedminster/Southville are really nice areas although quite expensive. Close to the centre with good transport links, lots of bars, restaurants and shops. And there is a small station there that has links to Bristol Temple Meads if you want to travel there that way. You can also get the bus most of the way to Temple Meads or walk there in under 30 mins.

Thank you for your honesty! I really appreciate it.
We are now looking north of the river to rent. Loads more expensive but worth it IMO.

Regarding the cycling - is the cycle network cycle lanes on main roads or designated off road cycle paths?
We used to live in London and the cycle lanes werent very safe at all.

Have you visited Bristol and looked round any of the areas you are interested in OP?
It was on the local news the other day that rental properties in many areas of Bristol are being snapped up the day they come on the market at the moment, so you may not find your ideal area initially.
Cycling in Bristol is possible - but there are a few problems:

1. Bristol is very hilly. This doesn't show up on the maps.
2. The traffic - Bristol is very congested and many designated cycle paths are either divided pathways shared with pedestrians or sometimes use bus lanes (fine until a bus comes up behind you).
3. Cycle Lanes - there are some cycle lanes to Temple Meads but some of them disappear or are only there for a short time.

Cycle lanes marked on the road do exist but cars and delivery lorries tend to park on them.

For off road cycling your best bet may be living close to the Bristol-Bath railway cycle path which finishes close to Temple Meads.

Don't rule out East/West/South Bristol!! There are some lovely places to live all over Bristol. I live in the Redfield/St George area and it is very pleasant. Very similar lifestyle to St Andrews/Gloucester Rd area (basically up and coming - all the people who can't afford to live in St Andrews!)

Keynsham (Bath and North East Somerset) is not far from Bristol and has its own train station. It has a marina and a cycle path to Bath. Lovely houses and a bustling high street.

Bedminster/Totterdown/Southville are all also nice although Bedminster has some dodgy parts.

North Bristol is lovely, there's no denying it but I like the fact that I can spend time there but come home to my much more affordable house!!

Thank you for the info regarding cycling! I have stayed in Bristol a few times with a family member who lives there. One time we stayed for 12 weeks we loved it so much.
But I just cannot remember it at all and it was only about 3 years ago! Typical. All I remember was that the buses were rubbish.

The cycling worries me as we witnessed a bus crash into a cyclist when we lived in London. He was on a shared bus / cycle lane. The cyclist died. (He was weaving in and out of bus traffic though)

Affordability is key at the moment with regards to renting. Sadly for about 6 months we'll be on one income in the mid £30's. My husband has been contacted by another company who is interested in hiring him but this time it is south of the river (but still Central).

Thanks alocalnickname I do live South of the river and am a cyclist so if there's anything you want to know pls pm me.
Plenty of good / outstanding schools South of the river too - but as your dc is still so young there's plenty of time to think about that.