Bristol - does anyone know it? Advice on where to live appreciated

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We are thinking of moving back to Bristol from the country. I have lived there before but not for a long time (12 years) and it was before children. Can anyone give me any help with which areas we might consider? We will be renting to start with but I have no idea where we could look in terms of OK houses, schools (state schools!) etc. I have lived in various parts of Bristol but have no idea what different areas are like now. Can anyone help or point me in the direction of somewhere that can? Is Southville/Bedminster still cheap-ish in renting terms? Any idea what we'd have to pay to rent a 3/4 bed house? We will probably visit in the next couple of weeks to look around some more but I thought I'd ask here first in case there are any Bristol mumsnetters! Also, does anyone fancy volunteering to send me the property section of the Evening Post so I can get an idea of prices and letting agents? If so, please email me at [email protected] Thanks in advance to anyone who can help, all and any advice welcome.

Have a look here for latest houses for sale and rent. To get a rough idea.

Can't help you with the areas I'm afraid - only know The Mall and Ikea!

I'm not sure but I know someone who lives in Clifton and has a son your age, www. I will try and find out more. They have always rented/bought in the Redland/Clifton areas I think. On the vexed subject of education () she reports that the primaries are all pretty good (in a wide area round Clifton) but that there are some problems with secondaries across the city - like any urban area I guess. Specifically where she is, almost all the primaries are C of E but as ardent atheists they had no problem finding a place for him.
Visiting Bristol for the first time last year, finally, I thought what a really nice city it seemed, with lots to do for small people and an interesting city centre. Good luck with your search. I'll mail her tonight and ask what she recommends.

I love Bristol. Only know it in student-y terms though. I had lots of friends that lived in Montpellier and St. Pauls and I'm sure they wouldn't be appropriate. I know people that refuse to even walk through St. Pauls, which is just silly.

There is a conversation board with lots of posts about places to live in Bristol on UpMyStreet

You could also just type Bristol or particular postcodes into the search engine on the hompage of the same site.

That site also has details of the best performing local schools, crime stats, house prices, council tax etc. Very useful I think.

Marina, thanks, that's really kind of you. I used to live in Clifton and Redland areas but I'm sure we couldn't afford it now. Although I am intending to work full time so at some point you never know! I'm looking for an area that might be up and coming really, where the state () schools are OK and housing is OK and there is life and shops and cafes and stuff. The next Southville I suppose (lived there but probably can't afford that either now) It is a lovely city and I have a lot of affection for it. Plenty of time to worry about secondary schools but my dad, who taught in Bristol until 2001, was very worried about the standards there so I know it won't be easy when the time comes. Furball, thanks for the link, off to have a look now.

Well heres another one as well, just to keep you from doing any housework!!

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I'd echo what Podmog says. Also lots of families living in St. Andrews, which has good primaries (though watch exactly how close you live to the schools - a couple of metres outside the school areas of primary responsiblity and it becomes impossible to get in). Secondary education is a real problem, though (and I have serious doubts that the school in Redland will be built this century) and you will be faced with the issue sooner than you think (you know how fast kids grow up these days!). I know lots of people moving to the 'country' (Backwell, Thornbury) to catch halfway decent secondaries. Other than that, I love living in Bristol!

www - what age are your kids? As Sid points out, Thornbury, Backwell etc are particularly appealing for secondary schools. The Winterbourne/Frampton Cottrell area is also good, as the Ridings secondary school is excellent. the primary schools in this area are also very good (this area is classified as S. Gloucestershire if you want to check out Ofsted reports, tho' still within Bristol)
My friend lives in St Andrews, and her little one has just been refused their first choice school which is just on the doorstep, as it has been inundated with siblings this year - siblings from further afield too. So, despite living there, it has proven difficult to get into a school of choice.
Yeah, Clifton etc lovely, but way too pricey. Bedminster/Southvill up and coming in the property stakes (particularly Southville), so fairly pricey - not sure about schools in this area - its very diverse. I'll e-mail you, as I could go on forever!

I lived in Windmill Hill (edge of Bedminster) for a while and liked it, but I'm not sure about the schools in the area. Clifton and Redland are very expensive, Bishopston is cheaper and has family shops and schools. Montpelier is more hippy.

For letting agents covering Bishopston/St Andrews/Horfield, you could try www.AndrewsOnline.co.uk, or for south of the river try www.the-lettingshop.co.uk or www.cjhole.co.uk

Southville primary is excellent as is Hotwells primary. Hotwells area is quite groovy I'm told -lots of Aardman types. We live northwest and are plagued by the schools issue. Both primary and secondary. Good primary round us are Ashley Down Bishop Road, Sefton Park and Colstons. I think all were over subscribed this year though I've heard mixed reviews of St Barnabas but Montpelier and St Werburghs are 'gentrifying' (godawful phrase) and so schools may change again. The only secondary near us is due to shut just when we will ened it and no concrete plans on which we can plan have been determined as yet.

As for living some talk that the new Broadmead development will put pressure on council to sort out drug probs in St PAuls. Had a friend who lived in Stokes Croft and found it terrifying.
Kingsdown is ever popular but very pricey now I think. Rental in NW Bristol for a 3/ 4 bed house can be as much as £900pcm A 2 bed flat in Cotham was on the market for £750pcm and we calculate (mydh loves all property stuff) that a 2 bed house in Horfield or the like would go for about £6-600pcm you can add a couple of hundred for each extra room. It's no Picnic. I dont envy you. Otherwise I can only agree wiht what has been out forward by everyone else and the contacts are ones I would have offered.
Good Luck and let us know how you get on.

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podmog I guess we must, see how to spot a mumsnetter in the park thread....I'll be wearing my smiley by the splashpool if I can drag myself away from the computer!

I can retrieve Friday's Property section from recycling box for you if you still want it. Lettings are in a different night's paper I think - I'll check. Best primaries are in Henleaze & Westbury Park - property there (Henleaze/W.Park/Redland) cheaper than Clifton but not much. Good place to live, though - right on the edge of the Downs. Southville (I have heard it called Lower Clifton!)is affordable and friends who live there like it - certainly it's close to City Centre. St Andrews and Bishopston also get good reviews from residents and are cheaper than Redland etc.

I knew someone would have to crack the tired old joke about Bradley Stoke, and even though it is one massive housing estate, I don't know why people are so down on it. I have lived here for 6 years and it is great.

Bristolian friend confirms what others have said, www - definitely look out for St Andrews, Henleaze, Southville, Bishopston and Westbury Park. She has friends with small children in Bishopston and Southville and they are very happy with the areas and with their schools. She pointed out that Bishop Rd school (Cary Grant's former school!) has a very sharply defined catchment area if you are considering moving there, so watch out.
Let us know how you get on and good luck!

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If you're specifically looking at schools, it would be a good idea to check out the Bristol City Council website, and they will give you some guidelines to the catchment areas. Bristol has a USELESS admissions system, and you can think you're nicely into an area and suddenly be told your child has to go miles to a rubbish school. So it's worth finding out previous admission criteria before choosing your area.

Thanks everyone. I have another silly question. Am I going to have a problem getting ds into a school for this Sept? It's only 12 weeks til the summer holidays and I want to move before then (we're renting, so no sale/purchase to go through). What do I do? Call them all and see if they've got any Sept places? Since I don't even know where we're going to live I don't really know where to start. Any relocation veterans? Advice appreciated! Thanks.

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Hi Podmog. Well we decided to put the plans on hold until after the baby (due Nov 21) and then 2 weeks ago I got fed up with the lack of support for homebirth down here and that, combined with the fact that the house we rent has no heating, means that we're now trying to move and be in Bristol by the end Sept/beg Oct. Dp's resigned from his job, we're looking at schools this Friday (and houses to rent we hope) eeek! So I just need to sort out a midwife, GP, etc etc. Scary! Why do I always leave these things til the last minute? I'm hoping I can 'will' the baby to hold on until we're settled (am 30+2 today!)

Oh and we decided on Windmill Hill/Bedminster since we will rent and then want to buy at some point. We should be able to buy in these areas on one salary (dp is going to be a SAHD) so we want to live there while we're looking. If anyone knows of a 2/3 bed house to rent do let me know!