Anyone know Bristol? Advice needed

[BurntFingers]

Planning to move to Bristol within the next two years but barely know the place as far as day to day living goes - going to visit a few times and look around but have no idea where to start. Am not bothered about living in the city centre, an area/town within 10-20 mins drive of the centre would be good, preferably to the west/south of Bristol rather than the north/east.

Am going to be looking for a 3-bed (or large 2-bed) house/flat for about £110k somewhere reasonably busy (nothing specific, just not miles from anywhere without even a nearby shop ) in a nice area (again, not thinking Boden standards, just somewhere relatively safe), and must be near a good secondary school for dd, and preferably within walking distance of a train station.

Can anyone suggest places/areas of towns that would be a good bet? Thanks

You'll be lucky to get a 3 bed house for £110k in Bristol - maybe in east Bristol somewhere round Easton/Redfield/St. George.

Withywood, Hartcliffe, Knowle in the south of the city probably have houses for about that but they're not particularly nice areas. Maybe Bedminster? That's a bit nicer.

Yes I'm sorry, but £110k is not going to get you anything in Bristol. Knowle West and Hartcliffe might be around that sort of budget but they're really horrible places. Terrible schools, loads of crime, honestly, vile.

Ah, had seen quite a few online in Withywood, Knowle and Hartcliffe already while looking for prices but suspected at the number available for the price I might be looking in the wrong area, thanks for letting me know. Is Bedminster liveable then, have seen a couple there. What about Shirehampton?

I live in St George and like it, but 3-beds seem to be on for about £150k at the mo. Good secondary schools in Bristol also a bit of a sore point, things are improving but you will definitely pay a premium for houses near the current 'good schools'.

Thanks RC, might have to go for a longer work commute then and look at somewhere further out of Bristol.

Yes, I think Bedminster's fine - don't know much about schools there though.

What about Portishead? Decent schools, safe and with the new Village Quarter going up, the old town prices have come down. No railway station, but it has everything else and you don't have to drive anywhere to go for a nice walk near the coast. It also has a Lido.

Also, with Bedminster I think it depends. It's not an area I know well, south of the river and all that...

Bedminster is good, quite bohemian and studenty.

I am shocked you can get a 3 bed there for £150k though! Times have changed.

Windmill hill is nice-ish too, quite family orientated.

I would also look at St Georges- quite up and coming.

Give Easton, Hartcliffe, St Pauls a wide berth.

Will go and have a look round Bedminster next time I'm near there, but will have to look at Portishead too, sounds good - the station would have been nice but not essential, a safe area and decent school would do me fine.

ongakgak, think I saw one in St Georges, will keep that in mind too - very glad I know where to avoid now though!

Yes Bedminster would be ok if you can find something there. Shirehampton, whilst not the worst place is also not particularly brilliant either. I'd probably favour Bedminster over Shirehampton.

Portishead would be great if you can get something within budget.

You wouldn't get anything for £110k in St. Pauls anyway, but don't see why it should be avoided. I also like Easton/Eastville though you'd probably be looking at 2 beds for that budget.

I think the schools in those areas are not the best and although I had good mates who lived in Easton, on a nice road which was close to shops, you were literally a spit away from some very dodgy bits, also that whole area is plagued with pedestrian underpasses. Those underpasses were always a hang out for the local youth, and they were probably for the most part benign, just never felt particularly safe. Also, friends house was burgled twice in one year and there was a shooting on her street.

St Pauls from IME did not feel safe to walk around.

Montpellier is nice, but probably expensive, same with Totterdown.

Clevedon is out of Bristol, but quite nice.
Westbury-on-Trym is really pretty and has a villagey feel, again out of the city.

You wouldn't get a shoebox in Westbury on Trym for 110K! I am amazed you can get something in Bedminster. That would be an excellent location in a lot of ways - you could walk to the city centre.

IME, the east of Bristol is nice and well priced. St. George, Eastville, Fishponds, Staple Hill are all good, solid areas. I live here and like it and have met lots of like minded friends.

Secondary schools in Bristol are probably not as bad as they are made out to be, but are certainly not the best. Portishead might be a better bet if this is very important to you. On the other hand, Bristol is a great city with lots and lots for teenagers to do. I think I will probably choose this over an excellent school when the time comes. But each to their own!

captain you are right W-on-Trym is pricey, but I am amazed that you can get a 3 bed in Bedminster for £150k, so maybe prices have fallen?

I lived there 4 years ago, miss it, great city, but really annoying to drive around!

Big difference between W-O-T and Bedminster - doubt you'd get a house for under £200k in W-O-T.

Yes, OP, ongakgak makes a good point about the traffic - it is DIRE. So you might want to factor that in. Commuting into Bristol is no fun at all, unless you can leave very early to beat the rush.

Some parts of Bedminster are nice, Southville better, Ashton Vale OK too. All near to shops, relatively close to Temple Meads or Parson Street Station to connect. Wouldn't be able to tell you house prices though! Southvile would be the most expensive.

I live there myself, don't drive and find most things walkable.

Secondary schools, St Mary Redcliffe and Temple, Bedminster Down School and Ashton Park.

Hope this helps