Nice areas in Bristol - or ones to avoid

[BimBamBoozle]

Can anyone recommend some nice, family friendly areas in Bristol?

I have a family member who will be relocating there for work reasons and I have some spare time to idly browse properties - but I have never been there so don't really have a clue where to start!

Ideally a 3-bed and with good school options. Budget is around 350k. Definitely not a renovation project.

Thanks in advance.

Everyone will tell you that Bristol is lovely, but it isn't. Parts of it are and they will be £££.

Clifton and the new harbourside are lovely, do they need to be central.

For that budget I'd look at Downend, Staple Hill, Kingswood. Some parts of the south, such as Southville, Brislington etc.
He would get more for his money if her went further out of the city, say to Bradley Stoke, Stoke Gifford etc.

Where are they working? I used to live in Bristol and traffic can be horrendous, would be good to either stay north or south of the city centre imo

Traffic towards the city centre is horrendous.

Bradley Stoke is like a big housing estate, but might be OK for a young family.
Places near to Bradley Stoke are a bit industrial. A lot of houses have gone up on he outskirts since I lived there.

Depending on lifestyle, I'd look at towns and villages ouside Bristol.

That’s not a big budget for Bristol. There are some amazing and family friendly areas but you need more like £500k AT LEAST to look there, such as Westbury on Trym, Stoke Bishop, Henleaze. It’s a fabulous city and there are a lot of great primary schools but secondary provision is generally appalling. If the children are older that will be an issue. People pay £7-800k for a bog standard semi in order to live in the catchment of Redland Green which is pretty much the only really good state secondary. Cotham School is also decent but the catchment is totally unaffordable on that budget.

And yes, don’t plan on commuting by car-traffic is awful. A lot of people cycle.

Nice is subjective.

If he wants nice and middle class, a bit green and leafy, that budget will not stretch. I like Easton, St George and out towards Kingswood (but not kingswood itself). I hate the surrounding towns and villages with a passion, to me, they are quiet, dull and classically suburban; to someone else that could be lovely, peaceful and away from Bristol traffic...

I hated living in Bradley Stoke.

A friend lives in Kingswood and it doesn't really feel like Bristol.

Downend, Pucklechurch, Mangotsfield and Staple Hill are all quite nice, although not that central. Close to green spaces and motorway though.

I agree that secondary provision in Bristol can be patchy, but it's definitely improving!
Bristol Free School is very good, as is St Mary Redcliffe. Redland Green gets good results, but the pastoral care is less impressive! Orchard School hasn't been great in the past, but is improving rapidly!
As with all schools, it would depend heavily on the child!!

We are moving from near Victoria Park (Windmill Hill area) in Bristol and I'm going to miss it so much. Just sold our 3 bed for less than your budget. It's a really amazing community here and has been a fab place to live for our little family. Easy access to the city centre too, half an hour-ish walk or a quick bus/car ride, Bristol traffic permitting (one of the only things I dislike about this city!), and not far from Temple Meads too. Happy to answer any questions about it if you would like. We're relocating for work reasons and I'm going to miss it a lot. Not originally from here but I felt very much at home.

Do they need to be in Bristol? I live between Bristol and Bath and commute into the city centre as I'm lucky enough to have an onsite parking space. When I haven't got the car its just 10 minutes to Temple Meads station on the train.

For info- Bristol is a county as well as a city, so although the postal address may be Bristol a property might actually in another council authority (Bath &North East Somerset; South Gloucestershire; North Somerset).

whateverjudy

secondary provision is generally appalling

That's not actually true though. There's plenty of good schools - Bristol Free School, Bristol Cathedral Choir School, St Mary Redcliffe, Fairfield, Colston's Girls' School. On the outskirts there are plenty of decent schools like Backwell, Gordano, Castle School, St Bedes. Redland Green isn't actually as great as people make out.

For that budget to get somewhere nice I would suggest the outskirts perhaps Westbury on Trym, Thornbury, Portishead, Long Ashton, Nailsea. It does depend on how central they want to be. Central Bristol is very diverse, the outskirts less so. Some areas are really arty/cool like Montpelier, Southville, Windmill Hill, Totterdown & not far from the centre. Bradley Stoke is quite boring and still quite a way out. A small town on the outskirts is probably better than Bradley Stoke.

Wotton under edge if looking for a town close by

I'd be looking at some of the villages/towns on the edges. Easily comfortable, more affordable and more open spaces. Look at places like Frampton Cotterell, Downend and Coalpit Heath are popular for families, maybe even Yate, Rangeworthy or Winterbourne. It really depends what lifestyle they'd be looking for.

Also, I agree with previous posters to avoid Bradley Stoke, it's just a bit nothingy.

Thank you very much to everyone who has responded.

I shall have a look in some of the areas recommended.

Portishead or clevedon - you'll get something nice in budget, only 30mins into Bristol. Good schools.
Otherwise Ashton/North Street/windmill Hill is lovely but I'm not sure what prices are doing there

Will they be working in the centre?

I teach in Bristol and keep a permanent eye out for property as we’re planning to move in the next couple of years. £350 is a small budget- it’s about what we can afford but you’re looking at a 2 bed terrace in areas like St George/Easton/Windmill Hill. Prices have shot up in recent years. The secondary schools aren’t that great and 6th form provision particularly is not strong. Echo the Redland Green comments. The suburby bits of Bristol are v dull.