Cheltenham v's Reading v's Bristol

[Alexis26]

Hola! Can anyone advice which of these places would offer a good life for a youngish 30s person looking for a bit of 'buzz'?

I have a budget of 350k for a decent sized modern 3-bed house, although admit I'm struggling to find much in Reading! I've spent a couple of days in Bristol but my initial impression was that it seemed a little run down, although I wasn't there long enough to get a proper feel for it.

Cheltenham appeals, although im mot sure if there are many 'bars' as opposed to pubs in the way of nightlife? It's nice to get your heels on and have a dance at the weekend!

Work wise, I work as a contractor in IT so will be looking for project management type roles.

Any info would be vert much appreciated !!

I'm struggling a little to gauge your 5 year plan, and how that fits in to your current requirements. 3 bed houses aren't going to be found in the buzzy parts of any of the towns/cities. Are you better off getting a central apartment for now, then the sensible house near good schools if you want to go down that route at a later date?

You can't buy a house in a nice bit of Bristol for your money, so would be better off with Cheltenham. I do agree with PP though that Bath sounds like a good option you you - more buzzy than Cheltenham but not as run down as Bristol.

@senua

I'm also looking to meet a partner and would prefer to meet a smart professional This is a bit Jane Austen.

MissyB1
I guess that is this point of the thread .... different people, different points of view. The OP asked for somewhere ‘buzzy’ so not sure of the relevance of country walks?

There a 3 pubs in the Suffolk’s - the retreat, the Suffolk arms & the beehive and they are most definitely pubs ( 2 of them rundown), which the OP specifically said she didn’t want, not bars which she did (you can wear your heels in - her words) and the rest of the Suffolk’s is second hand clothes shops and ropy ‘antiques’ and coffee shops except for champignon which is a very particular type of restaurant you would eat at more than once a year. Even the daffodil is part of chain now.
Anyway, you have your opinion and I have mine and no need for the sarcastic comment. Different folk, different opinions.

Bath is a good option but not as buzzy as Bristol, plus older age groups I would say. True £350k wouldn't he enough to live in the nice areas but it would be enough to live in the buzzy areas. These are trendy and cosmopolitan but some are more gritty than it sounds like you want. More often than not those buzzy areas are more gritty and alternative. The nicer areas probably aren't that buzzy though as it's mostly families and older people who can afford them. Sounds like you want buzzy but can't afford really nice and buzzy.

@Gloschick

I'm struggling a little to gauge your 5 year plan, and how that fits in to your current requirements. 3 bed houses aren't going to be found in the buzzy parts of any of the towns/cities. Are you better off getting a central apartment for now, then the sensible house near good schools if you want to go down that route at a later date?

You can't buy a house in a nice bit of Bristol for your money, so would be better off with Cheltenham. I do agree with PP though that Bath sounds like a good option you you - more buzzy than Cheltenham but not as run down as Bristol.

Hey. My 5 year plan is just to buy a place and hopefully meet someone and see what happens next. I'm not planning to have any kids. I am not really considering flats because u have to pay around 1200-2000 a year on ground rent and maintenance charges and there can be problems with noisy neighbours, from above, below and either side. I'm also looking for around 1100 square foot.

I don't need to be right in the hub of the nightlife. I don't drink much so would probably drive into town anyway, so 10-15 mins drive out of town would be fine and hopefully mean I could find somewhere more affordable :)

I currently live in Crawley, which is not exactly meeting my needs and its probably around and hour to the nearest decent buzzy town ie Tunbridge Wells, Guildford etc.

There's no way I would even consider buying a house without knowing a lot lot more about the place, ie you should rent first. To @Alarae who said "Reading is not a place for artisan or independent places" I can only 😂😂 - Reading has wonderful independent businesses, just not in The Oracle! @Alexis26 I think Reading is a good option for you but I would rent first. I think the jobs market here is definitely the best out of the three.

@Mrsjamin

There's no way I would even consider buying a house without knowing a lot lot more about the place, ie you should rent first. To *@Alarae who said "Reading is not a place for artisan or independent places" I can only 😂😂 - Reading has wonderful independent businesses, just not in The Oracle! @Alexis26* I think Reading is a good option for you but I would rent first. I think the jobs market here is definitely the best out of the three.

I agree the jobs market is very good in Reading - 3 business parks close by also helps! I'd definitely consider renting but house prices are on the up, and I'm worried I'd be paying 30k more for a house in 6 months time. I've also got a lot of stuff, which will have to go in temporary storage which will be expensive!

Caversham on the other side of the river to reading but still within waking distance of the station is ready lovely. Lots of independent shops and bars there. Henley on Thames is close by and really lovely too

Where are you moving from OP?

You show a real lack of knowledge about Bristol in your comments. It is a major city and appeals to all sorts of different people. It is one of the most popular cities in the UK. Not everyone will have been born and raised in Bristol and so SHOCKING, no not everyone will have a Bristolian accent. And I can guarantee that nobody will think you're "posh".

The areas you might want to go out in, Clifton, Whiteladies Road etc are not going to be places you can afford a 3-bed house place in.

Bristol is also a major hub for law and insurance. I know quite a few people who work in IT, all of whom live in Bristol.

I was born in Cheltenham. The only reason I'd consider moving back there is because there are nice houses and good schools.

There wasn't much going on in Cheltenham when I was a teenager and at that time the high street was still pretty active. I don't think it is now.

I don't drink much so would probably drive into town anyway, so 10-15 mins drive out of town would be fine and hopefully mean I could find somewhere more affordable smile

Bristol traffic is horrendous OP so a drive that should take 10-15 mins often is far more than that. There are also plans to severely limit car use to and from the city centre.

You may possibly be able to afford a new build in the outskirts of North Bristol but you wouldn't be able to afford a 3 bed property in the more buzzy parts of the city. Prices in areas mentioned such as Bishopston/Horfield are way beyond that now.

I grew up in Cheltenham and now live near Reading. Reading’s best selling point for me is its proximity to London - on a fast train you’re in Paddington in 28 minutes, which just opens up a whole world of opportunities in non-Covid times. The traffic in Reading is consistently dreadful, but there are lots of offices and business parks around so plenty of job opportunities I reckon. Caversham is nice, we lived in Henley for years which i loved, but it’s expensive and inconvenient to get anywhere else!

I live in Reading and you should be able to buy a 3 bed house on your budget (we bought a fairly big 2 bed for 250k 2 years ago), but might struggle more for modern as much of the housing stock is Victorian, especially around the centre and university area. They are building a lot of new houses to the south of Reading/towards Shinfield but new builds always come at a premium.
I would probably choose Bristol in your shoes as it’s got more going on. Reading has reasonable nightlife, some good restaurants and is close to London but Bristol has more in the way of cultural stuff.

Oh and there’s really no need to avoid Oxford road in Reading. I wouldn’t live directly on it as I wouldn’t want to live on any main road but there are plenty of nice roads off it. It’s got lots of independent supermarkets and restaurants/takeaways, at least one hipster coffee place, library, dentists, two train stations, bus routes, close to brewery taproom and the Thames path…

Why do you need a three bedroom if it's just you? To afford the areas you want in Bristol maybe downgrade to a 2 bed. Then once you move up the career ladder or have a partner to buy with get something bigger. That's what DH and I had to do.

Prices have gone through the roof in Bristol, we got a three bed house for £385 eight years ago on the edge of one of the nicest areas. It's now rocketed in worth. We would have been priced out if we were looking now.

@Whattodo121

I grew up in Cheltenham and now live near Reading. Reading’s best selling point for me is its proximity to London - on a fast train you’re in Paddington in 28 minutes, which just opens up a whole world of opportunities in non-Covid times. The traffic in Reading is consistently dreadful, but there are lots of offices and business parks around so plenty of job opportunities I reckon. Caversham is nice, we lived in Henley for years which i loved, but it’s expensive and inconvenient to get anywhere else!

Thank you. I've been told calcot and tilehurst would be my best bet for motorway access and reduced traffic as I think it's unlikely I'd be working right in the city Center. I've seen some good houses in Tadley and thatcham but they are much further out - what's your opinion on these areas? I also saw didcot is just 13 mins on the train but still a 25 minute drive?

@cleocleo16

Why do you need a three bedroom if it's just you? To afford the areas you want in Bristol maybe downgrade to a 2 bed. Then once you move up the career ladder or have a partner to buy with get something bigger. That's what DH and I had to do.

Prices have gone through the roof in Bristol, we got a three bed house for £385 eight years ago on the edge of one of the nicest areas. It's now rocketed in worth. We would have been priced out if we were looking now.

I don't need to live in an expensive affluent trendy area, just reasonably safe so I can go for an evening walk without fear of been attacked or lower percentage of been attacked. I can just drive to the more trendy areas for a coffee or night out. I'm Sure they're not that far away?? I'm looking for 1100 square foot 2 or 3 bedrooms is fine, but I just don't want a pokey place. I've seen quite a few properties on Rightmove within budget at this size and areas look fine but guess pictures can be deceiving?

Tadley and Thatcham are the opposite of buzzing, nothing much going on so you’d have to go into Reading/Newbury/Basingstoke and it would be expensive to get a taxi back if you wanted to drink. Tadley doesn’t have a train station either. Didcot is also fairly dull but is at least quite close to Oxford.
Calcot is fine but I’d avoid the area of Tilehurst around the Meadway. In the northern part going towards Purley there is an 80s ish housing estate which has quite nice houses, some other nice bits as well.

@Alexis26 I don't think Bristol is for you. My cousin lives in Cheltenham, she's in her mid twenties and it's buzzy enough for her. Lovely park and good train routes.

Have lived in and loved both. Would probably consider Bath in your shoes.

Hello. I have just moved from Bristol after 20 years living there, I also went to school in Cheltenham and visit regularly so know both well.

Cheltenham is mostly older folk or young families. It has no shopping centre to speak of as most of the shops have sadly closed down. It has a few nice bars and restaurants but on the whole nothing special. It is pretty and calm and mostly quiet. Having known Cheltenham all my life I think it feels more down market than it used to. It’s hard to explain but it just is less attractive and not as up market as it once was.

Bristol is a fabulous city, bars, restaurants, theatres everything you could want or need for every taste, There are run down areas ,as with every city but Cheltenham definitely has those too. It has lots to offer and diverse areas to live , from more middle class to trendy and all in between.

I agree with @cleocleo16I and @Noname99 I would chose Bristol in your shoes.

It's easier if you name specific areas where you've seen houses you like?

Bristol is a great place to live and has something for everyone. Really buzzy and cosmopolitan, but with quieter family-orientated areas too, and small enough that it's easy to escape to the countryside. No one will even notice your accent! Like any city it has its rough parts, of course, but I definitely wouldn't characterise it as run-down.

In your position I'd look for a smaller place initially - probably a flat in Redland, St Andrews or Bishopston - or possibly harbourside. Then buy a house in a few years once you know where you'd like to live longer term. Living in a flat is not so bad!

@mocktail

Bristol is a great place to live and has something for everyone. Really buzzy and cosmopolitan, but with quieter family-orientated areas too, and small enough that it's easy to escape to the countryside. No one will even notice your accent! Like any city it has its rough parts, of course, but I definitely wouldn't characterise it as run-down.

In your position I'd look for a smaller place initially - probably a flat in Redland, St Andrews or Bishopston - or possibly harbourside. Then buy a house in a few years once you know where you'd like to live longer term. Living in a flat is not so bad!

Cool. What makes u think a flat is a better short term option, as u have to pay around 1200-2000k a year in ground rent and maintenance fees? Plus flats can be hard to sell on, as everyone wants outdoor space now?

@Catfox1

Have lived in and loved both. Would probably consider Bath in your shoes.

I've heard Bath is lovely but also that it is super expensive? I also need to consider the job market, and I'm mot sure how Bath area fares for IT contract work?