St Paul's or Easton??

[lillamyy1]

I know neither of them are particularly salubrious areas to live in but we've just found out we're expecting DC1 and can't afford to carry on pretending we're posh and rich enough to live in Redland! However, DP works in a bar on stokes croft and needs to be able to walk or cycle home safely and quickly in the middle of the night.
I thought that Easton was more suitable for families and the area around st mark's road seems nice but DP reckons Easton is the most dangerous place to live in the city and doesn't want to cycle under the underpass at night ( this coming from a man who's well over 6 foot )
Any advice would be really appreciated

Ok Redland is too expensive for lots of people but that doesn't mean you need to live in St. Paul's or Easton, there are lots of I between places that are cheaper than Redland but safer than Easton and St. Paul's. How about Ashley down or somewhere round there? Seriously go and spend some time at night and during the day in St. Paul's and Easton prior to making a decision.

Even six footers should avoid these areas at night.

Lots of places to live more cheaply than Redland within easy cycling distance of Stokes Croft.
If you travel up the Gloucester Road there's Horfield/Ashley Down. If you go the other way past Temple Meads there's Barton Hill/St. Annes/Brislington.
All of these can be accessed without climbing major hills or using an underpass.

I avoid the underpass at night, but there's a couple of bridges over the motorway which have cycle ramps - you can see around them so they feel a lot safer to me than somewhere enclosed? Alternatively as others have said, if you can't decide between the two then going up the Gloucester Rd is also a good option.

I would avoid underpasses in Easton after dark, and I also don't use the cycle path (that goes from Bristol city centre all the way to Bath) after dark.

Maybe try Redfield? Full of young families, good high street but easy to get into town. I live a bit further up the road in St George which is more quiet 'burb.

I also avoid the underpass- husband was mugged there at 8 in the morning, male friend mugged at night. The bridges are fine. I know lots of people who live in Easton and it is fine- getting rather gentrified if you ask me. I live in St Werburghs which has lots of young families, a fantastic nursery etc but rents are getting more expensive these days.

I'm a new mum and did my NCT course in Easton. Consequently I've met quite a few Easton mums through this and also through the toddler group at Easton Community Centre, which is based near the Bristol to Bath cycle path. In my opinion it seems like a nice, up-and-coming area. I've also been to a baby group at St Werburghs in their Nursery, which is lovely too, but I don't know much about the surrounding area.
I used to live in Horfield - more expensive to buy but probably comparable to rent. When my husband first moved to Horfield he was mugged on his way home, and I know people that have been mugged in Redland. I believe these places are more likely to get burglaries as well, as people see them as being more well-to-do and therefore better pickings. I think the best thing is to visit at different times of the day and get a feeling to see if you feel safe.

The Eastville side of Easton is fine. I live on the Eastville/Stapleton border, but have always lived in Easton, or within walking distance. As for avoiding underpasses at night...yeah wise decision, but let's be honest I think most people would do this in any area. People can be incredibly snobby when it comes to certain areas. I was brought up in St Pauls and then in Easton, and have never had any trouble, and have reached the ripe old age of 30 as a well adjusted woman. I know a lot of this area like the back of my hand, so can recommend the following places to live:

Easton (most parts, but happy to advise on where to avoid)
Greenbank
Eastville
St George
Whitehall
Redfield (some parts, again can advise)
Fishponds
Stapleton

Please take this on board as I have been a local all my life here. And I would also agree with Felixina, walk around the areas and get a feel for them.

Hope it helps :)