Seems likely I'm moving to Bristol. Please help - where should I live?

[FreckledLeopard]

So, I've had a job offer today for a great role, based in Bristol. DD and I are in London and, sod's law, she started secondary school last week and loves it . She will, no doubt, kick up a huge fuss, but since I need a job, then we may have to move.

So, in terms of location, I will be working at Temple Quay. There's a possibility that DD will go to Sidcot School, near Cheddar. The school has bus routes from Clifton/Redland/Nailsea/Weston-Super-Mare. Alternatively, I could probably drive her there on the way to work, but ideally she'd get the bus.

So, the plan is to rent to start with. I don't want to go over £900 pcm if I can help it. Property needs to have 2 (preferably 3 bedrooms) and must have a garden.

So, looking at google maps, it seems that anywhere South of Bristol could work, but I really don't know much more than that. DD is lively, would probably not relish living in the middle of knowhere, but could probably tolerate a village near Bristol if it had good bus routes. I would like to be able to get to work easily (by car or bus).

Where should I be looking, wise women of Bristol ?

Hi! Live between Bristol and Cheltenham. Welcome to the area OP! Haven't been to Clevedon in years! I would avoid Weston.

Hi live in a village outside of Weston suits us with teenagers, good safe village, bus route to Weston and Bristol, kids can cycle to train stations to get trains to school, Bristol, bath, London. Airport half an hour away although you can't fly to the states anymore from here without a lot of changes There's a minibus that picks up around the local villages for Sidcot so you may not have to worry about school runs. Weston itself wouldn't bother for shopping, love the mall or cabot circus bristol but enjoy the walks along the prom on a summers evening and enjoy drinking a thatchers cider while watching the grockles . DH works in Bristol and the M5 can be a bit of a nightmare on a Friday evening in the summer, but you get used to it. Worth it to live in some wonderful countryside but within a short distance of civilisation. PS save your money and check out Backwell school.

Though about Congresbury? Half way between Bristol and WSM. Good bus links although fares are expensive. It's very close to Sidcot and has outstanding state secondaries too. Pretty respectable good community etc. not sure about house prices as I've been London so long I've lost all sense of perspective.

Thank you all for suggestions! Am looking at houses in Horfield, Westbury on Trym, Clifton and Bishopston on Monday. Also looking at a place in Pill. So long as I can get DD (or DD can get herself) to the Sidcot bus pick up points in Clifton/Redland in the morning (around 7.30am I think), then I won't need to do much ferrying, since bus will take her to and from school.

Does anyone have any views on Pill?

Exexpat - glad there's another single mum in Bristol who's on mumsnet! Feeling very nervous about moving away from friends and family in London.

Your DD will love Bristol city centre. Very good shopping and always things going on

Make sure you join Mumsnet Local and go to the meet ups - has been great for me since moving up North.

I do wish we could have moved to Bristol instead. Good luck - its a great City

FreckledLeopard - how did you get on? Find any possible places?

I think you'll find there are plenty of single parents in Bristol, and quite a few on MN. Possibly fewer out in the villages - they seem to be much more two parents and 2.4 kids sort of places where a single woman is seen as a bit suspicious and/or threatening - so you might find you feel more at home and have more chance of meeting like-minded people if you are in the city. But then again I may be biased...

Hi exexpat. Yes, found a house and a school. We're going to be renting in Southville for the time being - have put in application form etc and they're just doing references. Hope to move in at the end of October.

Am thankful for Mumsnet local - hoping I can meet nice people at a meetup!

Sounds like progress! And Southville is a good place - lots going on, handy for the whole of central Bristol, walking distance to work for you. And I think quite a strong community feel, so you should be able to get to know people reasonably fast.

I haven't seen much sign of any regular Bristol meet-ups on MN local, but there is a fairly recently set-up book group. A couple of the members are from Southville/Bedminster area, and we meet quite centrally, one evening a month, so you'd be welcome to come along.

Oh Southville is ace, I am SO Jealous! It is so self contained and close to everything (plus the Hen & Chicken used to do ace pizzas, 2 for £10 on a Monday night!).

It is somewhere I still really miss, and must admit judge everywhere else on .

Good luck with everything!

Hi Freckled

I was just about to reply to your thread when I noticed you had found a rented house in Southville! I have lived in the area over 10 years and love it. North Street has a great vibe with local independent bars and shops but you are walking distance to the city centre/Harbourside. The transport links are good too but the bus is quite pricey! Enjoy!!

hi I am thinking of buying a house on the edge of Pill/Ham green, love the house, it is perfect but i'm not sure about the noise you might get from the motorway.

Dd was a student there and loved it. She lived in Clifton, Bishopston great, Horefield near the pool but wasn't as keen on it apart from the pool and Gloucester Rd then Clevedon. Liked Clevdon but it was a long cycle ride to work in Gloucester Rd, Bristol and Spike Island.
We looked at Southville but one house was awful and the agent lost the keys to the other. North Road seemed good and she liked the Tobacco Factory and went to a few things there. There was a market sometimes near there. They just can't afford the rent any more and have come back up north. Lots of their friends have too. It is a shame because Bristol has lost a bunch of talented young people. I really think the student housing should be capped too. Last student house was £360 each x5 tiny sitting room as they let the real sitting room out as a bedroom. Kitchen not too bad as galley and two fridges one freezer. One bathroom one toilet. Tiny yard. Some damp. Two bedrooms were small. No parking.