Where to move in the UK?

[deathofastrawberry]

DH, baby and I currently live in Bristol where we grew up. We bought our house in august 2021 and it's a lovely 4 bed house in a nice family area good for schools, transport etc but it's just so boring, no real buzz or anything going on. We used to rent a flat in Clifton near the city centre and would absolutely love to live there again, it's just so ridiculously expensive for what you get. We also have a Labrador that needs a decent sized garden which is impossible to find in Clifton or nearby areas.

Anyway we can move anywhere in the UK as we run our own business from home so we thought why limit our options to just one place.. preferably we'd like to live no more than 2.5-3 hours away from our families. So really what we're looking for is that urban buzz but in a relatively low crime family area with good schools, doesn't have to be too close to a major city, could be a small town with charm with independent shops, cafes, restaurants, markets, parks.. bonus points if there's a beach nearby. Nothing too out the way or rural, we are city people and don't want to feel cut off from the rest of the world

We've looked at Cornwall, Falmouth looks really nice but there aren't many houses on the market at the moment.. we'd live near London but prices are crazy in the sort of area we'd move to.. we also like Liverpool but it's maybe a bit too far.. Surrey could be another option but don't know much about the different areas. Just as an example of areas we've looked at so far.

Our absolute maximum budget is 950k and looking to move in next 2-3 years before our son starts school.

Any recommendations? TIA

@mortgagemusings oh and I like Redland, just not as much as I like Clifton particularly Clifton village. And they're both equally as expensive!

@steppemum I take your point on the vibe! but OP had looked at Cornwall and it ticked lots of the boxes.....

@GaiaWise

I moved from Bristol to South Wales. Look at SA3 in Swansea -Mumbles, Langland, Newton. Nice buzz, good inde shops, restaurants. Great schools - look at bishopston comprehensive. Swansea is a small compact city. Like Bristol it has rougher areas but not SA3. They are building a new arena and lots of works going on in the city centre, new library etc. There are two universities, colleges, a great pool with flumes and wave machine, and dozens of amazing beaches. Langland, Caswell, Bracelet and Limeslade are all walking distance from Mumbles and Three Cliffs is just one of the beaches a short drive away.

The houses in Newton and Langland have better gardens, Mumbles itself is mainly Victorian terraces with small gardens.

Swansea is full of people priced out of Bristol and London and it really is a city on the up.

My DD is at Swansea Uni.

I have only been twice (at her command) but cannot believe how amazing Mumbles is. It's like being on holiday in some French resort.

She lives in Bryn (?) and regularly walks into the city centre for choir (30 minutes). She feels very safe.

[quote DanbyDale]I love this, walking distance of city centre, may not be enough garden for your dog though?

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/111645263#/?channel=RES_BUY[/quote]
that house is lovely.. what's Nottingham like? I've only heard bad things to be honest!

@Outnumbered99 as I said in my OP it doesn't necessarily have to be a big city, even a small town or village with a lively high street and lots going on within close proximity to us would suit us well. Hence why we looked at some areas of Cornwall as we'd also love to be near a beach!

@deathofastrawberry Cheltenham definitely worth a look then. No beach sadly but lots of your other boxes ticked

[quote deathofastrawberry]@mortgagemusings oh and I like Redland, just not as much as I like Clifton particularly Clifton village. And they're both equally as expensive! [/quote]
My friend moved from Clifton to Redland, and is really happy in Redland with lots of great walks for her dog, cafes etc.

@CraftyGin

Your daughter will be in Brynmill. I live near there and I love it there. More studenty but i like the buzz that brings. Plus I can’t afford SA3! But there is a five mile prom along the whole of Swansea bay so mumbles is an easy walk or cycle

Swansea has the reputation as a dump but it is far from that. I think it is much nicer than Cardiff.

Cardiff/Penarth/Swansea/Mumbles if you want coast.
Exeter/Exmouth?

Chester. Small city, loads going on. You'd get something fairly central with that budget. Good schools too. Just under 3 hours to Bristol

[quote GaiaWise]@CraftyGin

Your daughter will be in Brynmill. I live near there and I love it there. More studenty but i like the buzz that brings. Plus I can’t afford SA3! But there is a five mile prom along the whole of Swansea bay so mumbles is an easy walk or cycle

Swansea has the reputation as a dump but it is far from that. I think it is much nicer than Cardiff.[/quote]
That's right. Her street is Bryn Road, by the rugby ground. She is a short walk from the vibrant restaurants of Bryn-y-Maur.

Contact Kirsty & Phil?

Winchester, Chichester and Cheltenham are very nice but don’t have an urban vibe

If you were happy to stay near Bristol, the Hill Road part of Clevedon is nice.

Like @GaiaWise I can highly recommend Mumbles/Langland. I moved here from a big city 15 years ago and absolutely love it. Great buzz in Mumbles. And the new Arena will hopefully bring in a bit more in way of theatre/events which has been sadly lacking. House prices are a bit bonkers at the moment but probably ok compared to Bristol.

Tippendell Lane, St. Albans, Hertfordshire, AL2
www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-118293902.html

Leamington Spa? I don't live there but my friend does. Very buzzy, nice vibe, charming, great parks and lots of lovely shops/restaurants/cafes. Not sure about the schools though? About 2 hours from Bristol.

Parts of Bournemouth are quite buzzy these days - Southbourne for example

South manchester?

What about bournmouth?

I was going to say Bournemouth/ Poole. Maybe even Christchurch?

I lived in Clifton for a long time and it is an amazing place to be for many reasons. I think to replicate a similar vibe is difficult outside of London. Possibly south Manchester/Didsbury but its a long way removed from Bristol and you'd have to be very sure of uprooting yourselves. (I grew up around there so am well aware of how it differs to live in the 2 places)

I love Mumbles as well and it is regenerating hugely with gorgeous coastline and beaches on your doorstep but Swansea itself is a far far cry from Clifton and I don't mean geographically. Cheltenham is dullsville esp compared to Bristol.

I'd stick with Bristol, Cotham and Redland are right next to Clifton, it's a short walk to clifton village and you get to keep all the buzz of Bristol.

I now live near Salisbury which many people love but its so dull and uninspiring and I can't get on with Southampton and Bournemouth either - not a lot there, bit ugly and a bit rough!

I live in BS3 in Bristol. Southville is lovely. You could get an incredible house for £900K in BS3. North Street is super vibrant and has lots going on for people of all ages and it's 10 minutes in the car to Clifton village via the Cumberland basin (as you must know). We go to primrose cafe / zoo / downs / in-laws in Redland often. The primary schools are excellent and Ashton Park is a decent secondary school. You can walk into town from Southville and get to the waterfront in 10-15 minutes, including the newly developed bit (cargo) with nice shops and restaurants. You must know all this though if you are from here.
Southville is much much nicer for families than Clifton IMO. There is nothing in Clifton village that you can't find on North street and it's getting better and better all the time.

@Jojibear we would definitely consider Cotham/Redland, I thought that the house prices were about the same as Clifton though. It seems that you are probably right as on my search for places similar I have mostly only found places near London, like Hampstead, wow the house prices there are absolutely crazy. Bath could be another option and Chester looks lovely too.. we checked out Bournemouth in October last year and I agree.. loved the beaches and thought Southbourne was nice but generally the city seemed a bit rough and I much prefer Bristol!

How about Exeter? Lots of students to give it a buzz and nightlife but plenty of countryside and beaches. I used to live in clifton too but was glad to leave the " buzz" behind although it's beautiful. I now live somewhere outside Bristol probably even less buzzy than you!
Also think Cardiff sounds a good option. If you want buzz would definitely not head for small towns in the SW.