Moving to Bristol with 2 young kids. Where?

[LegoFam]

Hi, we're looking at moving to Bristol. We have two kids age 2 and 4. We've missed the cut off now for the main round of primary school applications so we have to hope to find schools that are not oversubscribed...
Where would you recommend with decent primary schools and a community vibe? We don't want anything too suburban (no mass estates).
Will need to commute to Swindon a couple times a week so either accessible to Bristol Parkway or Temple Meads.
Budget is £2200 rent for a 3 bedroom.

With school places there's still hope if you can move before the Allocations Day. Although you will be a late application so will only get what is left-over after the on-time allocations in round1, you will not be treated any less favourably in the 2nd and subsequent rounds and there is always some movement so if there's place you can afford near a school you like the go for it.

However, honestly the golden combination of good schools in an area with a great community vibe within easy reach of the big stations isn't ever going to be easy on a budget.

Here's a few properties showing available for rent on Rightmove in your budget range in a great area for community feel, which is an easy flat cycle ride, or a 20-40 minute walk to Tenple Meads (m2 Bus or 24 buses would reduce but not eliminate the walking if you don't cycle). The blue dots are the approximate locations of the 5 schools in the area (there are 6 dots - the 2 lighter-blie ones are a single school that is split across 2 sites). All these schools are going to have a mixture of issues and but also many happy children. I don't think any of them are universally agreed to be brilliant but anecdotally even at schools with real challenges, there are kids who really thrive. Having supportive parents who value education and do lots of reading both with their kids and solo for pleasure has a way bigger influence on peimary school outcomes than the ofsted rating of the school.

Thank you! Southville sounds nice. I'll have a look. I wouldn't cycle but a bus and walk is fine together. I think 25m to the station is doable as that keeps the whole commute 1hr15.
Any areas north that are accessible to Parkway instead that you recommend?

Parkway is definitely in suburb land, that said don’t dismiss completely as you are likely to get more families and potentially school places available than more urban parts. Look along the Gloucester Road going north for urban living though if you need car parking it’s challenging often. I live west of the city on the coast which we prefer, a lot less gritty than Bristol centre but everything in walking distance, 25 mins drive to parkway but train station is coming in 2028. Also look at places with train stations in the city, might be easier

If this flat wouldn't be too small for you, consider this or other places within an easy walk of Ashley Down Station? I think larger places would be out of your budget but the area is lovely especially with the City Farm, and excellent shops on the Gloucester Road, and you can easily get a local train to connect with a Swindon train. I don't know anything about the schools around there though. www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/165246560#/ - though I note that the advert suggests it's suitable for "professional sharers" so I wonder if they don't like families?

Other local train stations within Bristol that provide easy commutes are some of them in areas that are definitely unaffordable for your budget and others of them possibly worth looking at but maybe in areas that feel a bit rough around the edges in some cases. One that I don't know anything about the area or schools is Sea Mills which has it's little station that I drive past sometimes but have never used so it might be worth more research on that but I can't really help.

Hi, can I ask for your thoughts on St Werburghs? I'm going to view a property there.

My SIL lives there and it is a wonderful area, arts and crafts and lots of young families.
Close to the city centre but also has a great sense of community.
We've just moved from North Bristol Almondsbury/Tockington area and that had a lovely village feeling and not far from Parkway, don't know if there is a lot to rent in the villages though.

Thornbury might suit you. There’s a couple of rentals well below your maximum budget. This one looks the nicest.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/171641462?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=lettings&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_LET

St Werburghs are really lovely. A bit hippy-vibe, slightly gritty in places, the City Farm is amazing and there's a good greengrocer and a couple of nice pubs around there. I'd be a little wary if the property you are viewing is very close to the motorway to the south or right up against the back of ikea to the east, because I wouldn't put it past estate agents to describe a place as St Werburgh's when it's actually more like Lawrence Hill or Easton, but if that's not a danger then I'd think that would be a great place to settle.

Well it is very close to the motorway but just north of it. Horley Road. Is that ok?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172867742#/?channel=RES_LET

Just bear in mind that the motorway is pretty busy 7am-9pm approx and check out parking if you have cars, street parking can be very tricky. Very convenient for ikea!

A friend of mine lives on Horley Road and it’s a nice street. Parking can be tricky especially if you have a big car as spaces are limited. You can hear the motorway from the garden but it’s not that loud. Lovely cafe Napolita nearby and a park and a few useful shops.

I'm not sure what sort of 'vibe' you're after but I'd research St Werbugh's very carefully before moving there. I'm sure there are many happy young families there but I personally would consider it too inner city to be long term option. Around Gloucester Road, Ashley Down much better if you can.

Gloucester Road sounds great but I can't find anything in budget.
What specifically about St W being inner city puts you off? Crime? Space?

Hmm. I have to say that's not the lovely bit. I'm thinking of the bits a few streets north of there near the nature reserve. It's a difficult hunt. I love the vibrancy, cultural richness and connectedness of living near to the city centre myself and don't get the urge to flee to newbuild estates on the outskirts or satellite towns and villages but I wouldn't go for that street myself, and there doesn't seem to be anything appropriate currently advertised in the bits that I would recommend. The closest physically is www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/172337681#/ but it's a flat (half of what would have been build as a large quite posh family home) rather than a house

There's a lot of transient population there, badly kept houses, litter etc. in the specific area you have posted the house. I personally don't think it's a family area (closer to farm is different).

Bishopston or St Andrew’s. Horfield at a push. Some lovely primaries around - Sefton park, bishop road, Ashley down, Brunel field. Close to Gloucester Road and the new Ashley down station.

That’s not my experience at all & I’ve lived on Horley Road for over a decade (and I’m a relative newby!) Rentals rarely come up & the houses are relatively small so not attractive to sharers on the whole. Dare I say the ‘transient population’ in areas such as Bishopston & St Andrews is much higher due to students.

The family centred community we have here is so special & a complete rarity. The demographic is a very high percentage of young families… our children are all the best of friends, our front doors are always open & the kids play in the street together all summer, it’s wholesome & lovely!
The surrounding streets are very much the same (although they’re all a bit jealous of Horley 😆) The proximity to the school means you have a self built welcoming community which is invaluable.

We live in the city centre so of course there are some social issues, but it’s not from residents. We have a super supportive Whatsapp group & we all look out for each other.

Parking is a pain, but that will be the same anywhere in Bristol unless you move to the suburbs or have budget for a drive.

It’s an 8 min walk to Stapleton rd station so easy commuting, direct regular trains to Parkway & TM.

I honestly think St Werbs ticks all the OP’s boxes & they’d be very happy here. There’s always a balance with city living but I’ve lived all over Bristol - the social issues are the same everywhere but the sense of community is what sets St Werbs apart.

Thank you for this! Absolutely sounds just what we are looking for. I'm coming from London zone 2 so I'm used to the "inner city" issues the other person mentioned. Anyway we are viewing the property this week.

How do you find the walk to Stapleton Rd station at night? Specifically safety going under the motorway?