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Original poster

Bristol or Cardiff ?

41 replies

spg · 07/02/2014 23:48

Hi,
DH is going to be starting a new job in Newport in April

We have been considering the question of where to live: Cardiff or Bristol as they seem the nearest big cities.

I work from home at the moment. But, plan to be looking for other options soon. And for my work, Bristol seems like a better bet. But, I am told that commuting to Newport will be more time consuming from Bristol (than Cardiff)

DD will be 3 in May and goes to a Montessori school at the moment. In terms of expectations out of a city: would want something that is reasonably cosmopolitan, child-friendly, green spaces, things to do for a 3 year old, good pre-schools

Does anyone have any views that can help me please

OP posts:

lilyaldrin · 07/02/2014 23:49

How would your DH be commuting?

gracehedley · 08/02/2014 00:04

Yes, Bristol is a bit further and he'd also have to pay severn bridge toll (6.40 per day) if driving. Both cities would suit you, by the sounds of it though, apart from the travel if you were to live in Bristol.

jojane · 08/02/2014 00:13

Do you want t live in a city? We live in Monmouthshire. - Chepstow area, 15-20 min from Newport but bristol is just over the bridge, cardiff is not too far away, lots of gorgeous countryside.

Original poster

spg · 08/02/2014 00:13

He would be driving. Yes, the toll charge is something that crossed our minds too. But, i thought that there may be an option of monthly payment or something like that that can keep the cost a bit low.

I don't know anything about either of the places.

Of course, Cardiff is a capital city.
However, In my search so far, I couldn't find a single Montessori school in Cardiff. I am by no means saying that it is a big indicator of anything significant.

But, it is just that I am slightly leaning towards Bristol, I don't know why really.

OP posts:

HaroldLloyd · 08/02/2014 00:18

Bristol is a much worse commute to Newport than Cardiff.

beaglesaresweet · 08/02/2014 00:24

Bristol has a lot more to offer imo. Culturally, and great for families. It's more boho than Cardiff, but also has traditional areas, so more to choose from. Cardiff more provincial despite being a capital.

Original poster

spg · 08/02/2014 00:29

jojane, as long as not too far away from city, we will be ok. But, then, the question of finding a good nursery/pre school/prep school will also be there.
DD will only be 3, so not old enough for the real schools, just yet.

OP posts:

jojane · 08/02/2014 00:38

A lot of the schools in Bristol have minibuses that collect from the Chepstow area.

starballbunny · 08/02/2014 00:43

Why live in a city? Both Bristol and Cardiff have horrific traffic.

Getting in to Cardiff in an evening is worse than getting out, which always seems weird. I guess their are a lot of people who live in Cardiff working towards Newport.

The worst tempered drivers in the planet live in Bristol.

Honestly, find a house in Monmouth or Ross on Wye and have some quality of life. Seriously, if your DH does Bristol to Newport your DD will never see him.

canutesauntie · 08/02/2014 00:56

What starballbunny said.
There are some great places to live around Newport where you'll get a lot of house for what you'd pay for something small in Bristol. Commuting in through the north of Newport is a lot easier than along the M4. I know several people that commute to Newport from near Ross each day quite happily.
If you are set on a city though I'd say Cardiff - its more compact.

starballbunny · 08/02/2014 00:58

Ledbury, Malvern, Tewksbury (although you have to be very careful where if your not a duck), anywhere in stricking distance of the M50 is a nice if long commute to Newport.

Avoid the M5, past Gloucester J12 area jams at peek periods.

At non peek times Bristol and Birmingham are very easy.

starballbunny · 08/02/2014 01:03

canute has just reminded me, I have a DF who decided to stick at one DC because he and his DW can't afford their nice house in Bristol without them both working full time.

It's expensive.

ladyquinoa · 08/02/2014 08:38

If be seriously looking at Monmouth. Lovely area, very green, very food orientated with lots of alternative types.

ladyquinoa · 08/02/2014 08:40

Monmouth has also great schools unlike Bristol which is openly known for poor schooling.

fedupandfifty · 08/02/2014 08:47

I'd stay the Wales side of the bridge whatever you do. There's no concession for regular travel. I used to travel over the bridge every day and there were always holdups around the tunnels at Newport and the M4/5 intersection at Bristol.

Cardiff's a nicer city, though, imho. And cheaper. But loads of nice places to the north of Newport and Cardiff which are easily accessible.

HaroldLloyd · 08/02/2014 09:01

I would not live in Bristol and commute through choice and it's so expensive traffic is awful, trains are awful often late and cramped.

lilyaldrin · 08/02/2014 10:48

I would rather live in Bristol than Cardiff, but wouldn't want to commute from Bristol to Newport every day.

Housing is a lot cheaper in Newport or Chepstow than in Bristol too, though I don't think Cardiff is that much cheaper to be honest.

If you're looking for private schools, Bristol has a bigger selection than Cardiff.

higgle · 08/02/2014 10:56

In and otu of Bristol as a commuter is a total nightmare if you are driving. The local trains have lots of commuters with folding cycles which might be an option (not sure about trains and newport) I live between Gloucester and Bristol but have never applied for a job in Bristol because the commute is so awful.

Sunnyshores · 08/02/2014 11:20

Another vote for Bristol over Cardiff - but there's no way that I'd commute daily from either.

FlirtingFail · 08/02/2014 11:27

Bristol is great, and improving all the time. It feels a lot more buzzy than it did 5 years ago. If you are more likely to find work in Bristol that would be a big plus for me.

Bristol schools are improving rapidly. A lot of the inner city primaries are great now, and the secondaries seem to be slowly following suit.

You need to look at train connections to Newport really. Totterdown/Victoria Park are walking distance from Bristol Temple Meads, but you could also commute from Stapleton Road or Filton Abbey Wood.

A friend of mine commutes from Stapleton Rd to Cardiff and it seems fine. (Plus she combines it with some school drop offs etc. so it is not like she is working v.long days.)

WeileWeileWaile · 08/02/2014 11:29

The train commute Bristol to Newport is a nightmare - cramped, late trains every day. DH did it for about 10 years & found it soul destroying. Cheaper than than driving though - £2k per year.

I'd go for Cardiff over Bristol though, but agree you'll get a lot more for your money outside of the two.

CatsAreLikeChocolates · 08/02/2014 11:42

I live in a village in a rural area just west of Cardiff (Vale of Glamorgan) and commute to Newport (all be it only 3 days a week). I don't find it a problem and it usually takes about 25 minutes. I certainly wouldn't want to be coming in from the other side though. The traffic seems a nightmare! Besides the bridge toll is equally expensive if you pay daily or monthly, and in high winds they just shut the fecker an leave us poor welshies stuck on the wrong side! I'm biased as I was brought up in the Diff so love it passionately. Just asked DH who is Scottish and went to Bristol Uni so should be less biased, but even he prefers Cardiff and the Vale for its fab schools, its cool arts scene, its easy access to gorgeous beaches, parks and mountains, as well as the more laid back and friendly atmosphere.

Chocchip88 · 08/02/2014 13:14

Monmouth is great and there's a Montessori nursery and school. The commute to Newport is v straightforward too

GingerMaman · 08/02/2014 13:18

I don't know each of the cities well, but having been to both on holiday, I would definitely go for Bristol, it is so cultured and has a Harvey nichs

exexpat · 08/02/2014 13:22

Bristol is great (I live here) but there is no way I would choose to live here and commute to Newport. Long drive, expensive tolls, frequent delays on the bridge due to accidents or bad weather etc. I'd live somewhere on the Welsh side of the bridge and pop over here when there are interesting things going on at weekends. I'd also agree with others who say you'd get a lot less house for your money in a nice area of Bristol than somewhere the other side.

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