Where to live within an hour, hour and a half of Bristol (Clifton)

[whereonearth]

We really, really need to move!

DH works in Bristol but doesn't need to be every day; flexibility on timing of travel so traffic not a major concern. I work from home.

We have two children (6 and 3) and maybe a third one on the way...

Really struggling to find even a 'town' to start from because we're not currently local to the South West. We have explored Frome as an option before but the housing stock isn't quite what we are looking for and schools difficult to navigate.

We need a bigger house because we both work from home; so probably 5 beds. Preferably detached. But I'd like not to be so rural that our school run is taking place on a single track dirt road.

Our budget could stretch to up to a million. Please kind experts of Mumsnet, where do you think we should live? What lovely towns in the South West am I missing?

@whereonearth that gives me a lot to go on- !! I don't think some of the nice little villages are going to be right- I think edge of Bath and keynsham /saltford definitely would fit as you will have schools on doorstep - keynsham and Saltford has a big Waitrose and 2 gorgeous farm shops , wells also has lots of this but is further from Bristol, Portishead does too and if you like new builds might well fit what you want- it has masses of it- and is supermarket central - you either I feel love it or hate it- my other half is from there and hates it-so I tend to discount it !! Its also on the coast- same with clevedon . Will have a look around again

Wootton Bassett, Marlborough, Purton, Malmesbury, Tetbury, Cirencester,

I’m from Bristol originally (now in East Anglia) and my parents are still there. My dream was always to buy a house around the Churchill area - good links to Bristol via the A38 and gorgeous countryside around.

@Crikeyalmighty I absolutely love this one https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/136297382#/?channel=RES_BUY

@whereonearth - really love it too- I like Stroud a lot. Have you been? If you liked Frome, Stroud is quite similar- artsy kind of place, does tend to be a bit organic market and occasional wafts of weed-but it's non threatening, if I'm honest I like it way more than Bristol-thing is with Bristol (and this is just my view ) I found it was a fag to get anywhere and I only really liked Clifton and I found large parts of it really grim and threatening, we rarely go .

It can be a bit of a fag of a drive but I would say probably 50 minutes to an hour on average.

It's a great 'potter' - my H likes it because it has lots of vintage shops and record shops and a great market and nice cafes etc - we go quite often - it's 45 minutes for us from Bath on a good run.

Cheltenham

Stoke Bishop is a walk to Clifton across the Downs and there are houses in the one million pound range that should be lovely with a bit of work. Obviously there are more expensive houses but there is quite a range. Westbury-On-Trym, Combe Dingle etc are all close by. There is now a decent secondary school for the area and good junior schools. There are several local cafes and a few pubs in the area. There is a huge community spirit and it’s pretty friendly. The Downs is close by for walks as well as the lovely Sneyd Park Nature reserve etc. There is even the Botanical Gardens there. The buses aren’t great 3 an hour although more near the university halls. Another place to look is the developments around the Mall - there were some eco million pound homes all close to the new zoo, ice skating rink, the new arena and all the shops.

Winterbourne. Good schools in walking distance (state). Selection of small shops including a coop. Easy striking distance of Parkway, the Mall, Bradley Stoke Tesco/Aldi, Frnchay and M32/M4/M5.

Have a look at portishead

I have friends who live in nailsea and commute into bristol. It's lovely

Are you in stoke bishop? Im in Coombe dingle 🤣

I’d avoid anywhere that’s south of Bristol if you want to get out anywhere other than south. The M5 is horrendous on a Friday afternoon and getting across Bristol can take literally hours.
Winterbourne, Thornbury, Chipping Sodbury (not Yate), Malmesbury, Chippenham, all good schools and access to M4 and Bristol. Lots of villages around those places too with fairly decent access to the towns.
Although if you currently live in Bristol not sure why you’d ever move out. Think you’d just be disappointed!!

There are 5 bed homes in Clifton for £1million on Rightmove.

You might want to think about somewhere that has good public transport links as Clifton village has a Residents Parking Zone https://www.bristol.gov.uk/residents/parking/residents-parking-schemes-rps/residents-parking-scheme-areas/clifton-village
The nearest railway station is Clifton Down, so one of the satellite towns might be a good idea like Nailsea, Severn Beach, Yate or Keynsham.

When looking at schools, depending on what area you settle on , you need to be aware that Bristol is a tiny council authority and is bounded by South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset (known locally as BANES) and North Somerset

Backwell area is popular. You can get the train into Bristol or even direct to London. Good schools. You can live somewhere that feels pretty rural but is actually well connected. Nailsea itself not too appealing but has a Waitrose.

Long Ashton is another popular area for families. Good primary schools. I’m not sure where they go for secondary. It’s got a few nice amenities and feels semi rural while being very close to the city. Easy to get to Clifton but also to the Southville area which has lots going on.

Wells and the surrounding area is lovely. Chew Valley area. Further out but the Quantocks or Polden Hills.

Keynsham is nice but I'd avoid Wells, midsomer Norton is nice, don't bother with radstock,

What about Herefordshire? Much cheaper than the South West, with stunning scenery and villages that are still communities. We live here and my husband commutes to Bristol (and sometimes London by train) once a week, it takes just over 1hr 30 mins to Bristol. We both work from home with superfast fibre to the house. There are lots of great primary schools and secondary options including independent schools that have bus collection options throughout the county.
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139507466?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=buying&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_BUY
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/86333391?utm_campaign=property-details&utm_content=new-homes&utm_medium=sharing&utm_source=copytoclipboard#/&channel=RES_NEW

Dursley is also a nice option, if living further out.

I’d check schools before falling in love with a house.

Bruton area. Sexey’s school (senior).

You’d have Frome & Wells up the road. & some lovely villages.

Chippenham.

Really good secondary schools.

Lovely countryside.

30 minutes to Bristol TM by train and just over an hour to London. Best of all worlds.

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139528682

www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/138920138

Wells lovely
www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/137438420