Moving to Bristol

[roseky]

We're thinking of moving from Surrey to Bristol. We are a multicultural family, so looking for a diverse area with decent schools. We're looking to buy a 2/3 bed semi for

Good question! East Bristol tends to be cheaper but the secondary schools are not great I live in Fishponds, you could just about get a house here under budget. It’s diverse, lots of families, lovely green space, really nice area. However the local secondary is no better than ok (I have a child there). Bristol secondaries are all very over subscribed at the moment so there’s very little choice or opportunity to move schools. If secondary schools are important to you I might consider another city. But will be interested to read other replies!

Thanks! Our boys are only 5 and 1, so secondary isn't a huge concern for now.
Are there any areas we should definitely avoid?

That’s good, as I think Bristol primaries are generally good. Secondary does come up fast though - would you be prepared to move again in 4 years? I don’t think there are any bits of Bristol I wouldn’t be happy to live in myself - but you’ll get a feel yourselves when you look at places!

PS I should say that if you are active churchgoers, there’s a very good Church secondary.

Any reason for Bristol? Do you need to be close to the city centre?

What is your budget?

Bristol is a great city, I love most everything about living here except the secondary schools!

@RoseRoseRoseRose

PS I should say that if you are active churchgoers, there’s a very good Church secondary.

Thanks, yes we would be open to moving in a few years if need be.

@Newhousehope

Any reason for Bristol? Do you need to be close to the city centre?

No, we don't need to be close to the city centre. OH's job has moved to permanent remote working, so now only need to get to London once or twice a month, and would really like to live somewhere more diverse and more affordable than where we are now. Bristol seems to tick those boxes.

I would investigate Redfield, St George (parts are diverse, parts not), Easton, Fishponds, Horfield. I doubt a semi will be in budget.

I’d also consider Cardiff, Birmingham, Sheffield, which I suspect may have good combination of affordability, diversity, nice property and schools. Bristol IS nice but the property market is way over cooked and lots of places are going for considerably over asking.

Bristol is not as nice as people think it is.
Parts of it are lovely but other parts are grim, as you would expect in a large city.

I used to live there. I left.

@ILoveShula

Bristol is not as nice as people think it is. Parts of it are lovely but other parts are grim, as you would expect in a large city.

I used to live there. I left.

I get that, and I'm not expecting perfection. But we can't afford more than a flat where we are now, which is a pleasant, but very dull town. Now that we don't need the proximity to London, we'd like to move somewhere more interesting where we can afford to buy a house.

Where did you move to that is better?

Honestly for that budget and if you only need to go to London a couple of times a month, I would not look at Bristol.

You could get much much more for your money by heading north or to the midlands.

Bristol is very expensive in comparison to a lot of places.

Outskirts of bristol in south gloucestershire are nice, longwell green, keynsham, warmley, oldland. Not much of a commute into the centre but far away enough.

Terraced houses would be the most common in the areas mentioned. Would this be acceptable?
For a semi detached, an ex-council type property would fit the bill.
Otherwise it would depend on how far away you wanted to be from the city centre. There are some areas with more modern properties.
Why not check what sort of areas you can afford and then ask what those areas are like?

We are in Emersons Green/Lyde Green area (suburban Bristol), you can just about get a 3 bed semi here for £300k.
It’s a nice area with decent schools (new build type housing estate) not massively multicultural but we’re an interracial family and feel comfortable here.
You might also want to look at Eastville, Brislington, Redfield, St George if you want somewhere closer to the city and less suburban feel. Not sure about the schools in those areas I’m afraid.

You’re not going to get a nice house in a nice area of Bristol for that budget. Bristol is very overpriced for what it is, I would definitely scope out some other areas too.

I live in Bristol, about 15 mins from the centre and we paid 550 for a 3 bed semi. I do love Bristol but it's really expensive and you don't get a lot for your money

I doubt you would get a semi with that budget but a terrace in East Bristol might be within your reach and the area is getting better but it's important to do your research. Primary schools are mostly fine and secondaries are improving, some of them at least. I know parents that are very happy with their state secondaries.

Moved to the outskirts then moved away. Places like Keynsham are nice.

I don't recall it being diverse. I got the impression at the time that it wasn't - it seemed predominantly white. It comes up quite high in the inequality ranks.

The city was involved in shipping is previous centuries. You will have heard about the toppling of a statue.

Parts like Clifton are very nice. The city centre is great.
Parts are industrial.

A lot of housing has gone up recently. If they are like a newer Bradley Stoke, they are probably a bit soulless.

Personally I think Bristol is now very expensive. It's a bit of a cliche now inasmuch that so many people from London and the Home Counties have relocated, pushing up prices. Why don't you explore Gloucestershire? The areas around Gloucester are up and coming -and you can get from Gloucester to Paddington on the train. Think about Dursley, Stroud, suburbs of Gloucester, also while a bit further out the Forest of Dean is absolutely beautiful and you'll get a great house for your money.

I love Bristol and parts of it are diverse but the housing is in my view very expensive.

You’d need to check out areas in person as different areas have very different ’feels’ but maybe St George’s, St Anne’s, Downend, Fishponds, St Werberghs (maybe too pricey?), Knowle, parts of St Paul’s.

Good luck me babber!

Bristol is neither diverse nor affordable, so if those 2 issues are your priorities you are looking in the wrong place.

As others have said, the secondary schools in Bristol aren't great, so a lot of people go private. House prices have absolutely rocketed in the last few years, so you wouldn't get a house in a particularly desirable area for that budget. Our area is being turned into an HMO/student ghetto and we are eventually going to have to move, but won't be able to afford to stay here and will have to move further away.

I live near keynsham and I like it

As regards where is better, it depends what you want. Do you want to live in a village or a city. What sort of schools etc?

What makes your Surrey village nondescript?

I'd be looking at Berkshire and Bedfordshire, if diversity is a factor, but you won't get a city in those counties. Somewhere like Reading or will be convenient for commuting into London.

You could live somewhere outside, like Keynsham, which is on the A4 to Bristol and has a train station. Weston Super Mare is nice, like Bath but on Sea, I felt when I visited my sister there. Weston is 25 minutes on the train from Bristol.

There are many nice villages around Bristol. I think it depends how you feel about always having to use the car, whether you would want to be in a village, or a nearby town, or an affordable area of Bristol. I don't know how expensive Totterdown is, but it's a nice, pretty, arty area on the hill not far from the centre. Parts of Ashton Vale ( is it?) and Bedminster have nice views of the water.