Moving to Bath/Bristol area

[DME133]

Calling all Bristol or Bath dwellers! I currently live in Surrey and am considering moving as we want to buy a bigger house and can't afford to in this area. We have family in Wales and Hereford which we'd like to be nearer but I will need to commute to London once a fortnight, occasionally more often, and don't want the commute to be too hellish! We have a few specific requirements but I don't know anyone in the area and have no knowledge either of where is nice..so if anyone has any ideas I would be grateful. I was thinking the area South of Bristol e.g., Nailsea/Yatton or over on the East of Bath, such as Chippenham or surrounding villages, as they are on the train routes to London. I'd also consider living in Bristol or Bath if we could find the right place.

Our preferences are: we like rural or town areas as long as there is access to countryside for walks or bike rides;
a direct train to London nearby;
I have a little boy at primary age so would need a good primary and secondary schools;

Any thoughts are greatly appreciated! Thanks!

Have you thought about Keynsham?It's midway between Bristol and Bath.
There are 2 secondary schools (Wellsway and Broadlands) and several primary schools, including 2 newly opened ones.
The town has a railway station with direct trains to London and Cardiff. It takes about 10 minutes to Temple Meads in Bristol and about the same to Bath Spa station. Buses take about 20 minutes and go into the main bus stations. We're also close-ish to the Bristol to Bath cycle track.
Housing is everything from new builds at Bilbie Green and Somerdale (former Cadbury chocolate factory site) to older homes.
High street has post office, banks and building societies, chemists, charity shops, hairdressers, Tesco, Iceland and Sainsbury's (with Waitrose towards Saltford (nearest village) as well as other chains and independents.
We also have a newly refurbished leisure centre, library and both town and county council offices.

That sounds like a great place! I will absolutely check it out. Thanks!

If you like rural there is a stunning village on the hill over looking Box Valley called Colerne. It’s a 20 minute drive to Bath or Bradford on Avon to get the train. Lovely village school. Well positioned houses have incredible views. Bradford on Avon is nice too.

thanks but I think this is a bit far from a train station for me, shame because it really does sound like my perfect location.x

We are moving from Bristol to Nailsea. Bristol traffic was starting to get me down a bit and we were right in the centre. I've chosen Nailsea as it has good transport links, shops, good schools and close enough to Bristol. I can't comment on what it is like there yet though. We did look at so many places but ruled them out as I need to commute to Bristol still.

thanks, I will have a look at Nailsea. Did you look at Keynsham at all?

I didnt look at Keynsham because my partner works in North Somerset and I work the other side of Bristol so it would be a pain to commute. I used to live near Keynsham though and I thought it was a nice place. Great for Bristol and bath. There is a bus that goes to both very easily and it also has a train station. Close to countryside too

South of bristol. You have Nailsea Portishead & long Ashton
North of Bristol you have Thornbury Yate

But also have a look at property just over the Severn Bridge toward Wales

You can get a lot for your money
And their is no charge for the bridge anymore 😂

@DME133

thanks, I will have a look at Nailsea. Did you look at Keynsham at all?

Hello! DH and I are currently browsing places to move to from London, Bristol being one of them! Have you found your fave neighbourhood in the end @DME133?

Where did you find more info about neighbourhoods in Bristol?
Thanks!