More questions about living in Bristol

[halfnhalf]

We're looking for a house in Bristol, and were initially thinking of Cotham, Redland, St Andrews - that kind of place. But, driving around on Sunday, we realised that it would probably be a constant PITA to find a parking place. Is it a big deal (I know there's some MNers who live there) or do you get used to it?
Anyway, we drove on down to the harbour, and did the harbour walk and realised there were lots of modern properties there. I especially liked Merchants Row, Rownham Mead and the area near the Nova Scotia - would be v. grateful if anyone can let me know what it's like to livew there (instead of strolling round on a sunny day)?

Not sure if it helps, but it seems like half of Bristol is currently being dug up at the moment so it's having a huge impact on parking. Also several main roads have recently had the parking regulations changed which is having a knock on effect. Can't comment on the areas around the waterfront, the other areas you mention are lovely though. biased

thanks for that - I'd been driving through all the traffic works and not considering the impact

Most of Cotham and a big chunk of Redland will be included in a new residents' parking scheme sometime in the next couple of months - they are already painting the new road markings round where I live this week.

So that should make parking for people who life here a lot easier, but we will have to pay £30 a year for the privilege, more if you have two cars, and I think something like £1 or 50p a time for guest permits. But at least it will mean we don't get used as a commuter car park any more.

And I'm not sure what will happen with the big shared student houses with lots of cars - I think it's a maximum of two permits per house, possibly three.

I live in bishopston. Aside from getting more for your money I decided to live here over Cotham/Redland because of parking and students. More of one and slightly less of the other .

We're 5 min walk to St Andrews park and gloucester road, but without the hassle of parking. Roads off gloucester rd are a slight PIA for parking, but you don't have to move far away before it's fine.

Not sure how much you have to spend, but lots of the bigger places in Cotham/Redland have off street parking. We weren't rich enough to bag one of those . We did rent in Redland for 6 months and it drove me insane not being able to park outside my house, esp with a baby in tow.

Hope that helps?

We lived in Southville which is just over the river from that area of Bristol. It is lovely, the harbourside is beautiful and there is always something to see, including balloons gliding overhead. I miss it terribly!

However, unless you have parking it can be incredibly dicey over there on football match days (if City still play at Ashton Gate!). Gets v busy v early on, and can really snarl it up. You would also bear the brunt of people coming in from Long Ashton as there was still some road parking that was free when we were there. You also would get inconvenienced on the half marathon days, and harbour festivals.

Most of the areas you mention do have parking, but maybe worth a nose round on a weekday morning to see if it suits you?

Tis lovely, though, and incredibly convenient for pretty much everything!

*meant the harbourside-y bit!