Moving to Bristol - need opinions on areas please

[Showboat140]

Hello, We are moving to Bristol with two girls one starting year 8 and one starting year 12. We have school places sorted. My husband will be working in the harbourside area. We are relocating from Scotland so our budget is relatively limited which is pricing us out of our preferred location of Westbury-on-Trym. The surrounding areas are where we are now looking so want recommendations on where to consider/where to avoid please. Eg is Cheswick Village a nice place to live? Stoke Bishop looks achievable but is it well connected into Bristol Centre? TIA.

I grew up in Westbury/Stoke Bishop and had a fair few friends at BGS and Redmaids. It was a good place to grow up and a friend and I were in a cafe in what was the garage in Stoke Lane a couple of years ago and both agreed that if we were coming back to Bristol we would want to be there, not that either of us could afford it these days. I think if I couldn’t get what I wanted there in your position then I would look at Backwell:

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142770923#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or possibly Portishead in the basis that the rail link will eventually happen.

We spent 20 years in Dorset and have now moved back up and gone for North Somerset as money goes further and close to countryside but access to a station so grown up DC can get back.

I’m don’t know the school situation but I have a friend who works dock area, Bristol and lives in Newport. You get a lot of house for your money.

Sorry forgot to say, that’s Newport, Wales and he commutes in by train

@MrsMoastyToasty thanks that's a great point about the school buses.

@Seaitoverthere thank you - that's really helpful. I'll investigate!

My advice would be not to rely on school buses to outlying villages unless you really have to. Both schools have loads of extra curricula opportunities which are really limited if you are dependent on buses (unless you are happy to drive in daily!)

Second this. Your budget should be able to get you something decent in these areas (or over towards Ashley Down or St Andrews Park). Stoke Bishop would also be worth a look. Really this budget should be workable in most parts of the city aside from Clifton and bits of Redland.

Sorry, saw you actually mentioned Stoke Bishop in your opening post - we offered on a house down there (which we didn't ultimately buy), I work down by Temple Meads and whilst the buses aren't spectacular, they're definitely workable.

We ended up buying on the Ashley Down/Bishopston border and I can definitely recommend the area.

Buses to the centre from Stoke Bishop wouldn't be going down Gloucester Rd. They'll be coming from Cribbs down Falcondale Rd, over the Downs and down Whiteladies. If he avoids the school run traffic it should only take 20 mins.

OP, I don't know why some posters are directing you to outlying villages. I've just seen your budget and (even in this day and age) you should be able to get a property in Stoke Bishop or Westbury for that. I've just looked at Rightmove and there are three 4 beds with gardens in that price range now.

Southville and Bedminster are great.

I think I might be confused about where Stoke Bishop is 🤣 I live as far south as you can go and it still be Bristol that's my excuse 😁

@ginasevern are you looking at detached ones only? The OP’s DH wants to be detached.

You should be able to find something detached roughly within your budget on the northern edge of Stoke Bishop. You are much more likely to find a detached house there than anywhere further in - most of more central Bristol is semi-detached or terraced in that budget.

This one looks like it ticks all your boxes: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142845167#/?channel=RES_BUY

Or this one: https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/140967617#/?channel=RES_BUY

There are buses from round the corner from those two houses into town which would go close to BGS; not quite so close to Redmaids, but that is an easy drive. There is also the local train line from Sea Mills, which stops off at Clifton Down (walkable to BGS) and Temple Meads, and there are shops within walking distance, as well as lots of green space.

Henleaze may also be worth a look - very easy for Redmaids, and bus routes to BGS and the centre of town. You may find the odd smaller detached one close to your budget there, eg https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/139286930#/?channel=RES_BUY

I would definitely recommend somewhere in that sort of area rather than the further out new-build developments - Stoke Bishop and Henleaze are a well-established family-friendly area, you will spend much less time in the car, and you are more likely to find other children from your DCs' schools living nearby.

With an 850k budget I wouldn’t consider Cheswick Village. It’s not an area of Bristol as such, just the name of a new build housing development, not in the same league as Westbury on Trym or Stoke Bishop. I

We looked at Cheswick Village years ago for our first home abut ruled it out as there was talk of having the Bristol Rovers new stadium there, those plans were canned but it really put me off. Because it’s next to the uni, there’s tons of buses going in and out.

Stick to Westbury, it’s nearer your DH’s work and nearer the schools. Just a more sought after area.

I would be looking around the St Andrews Park area on that budget.

E.g. this place although the garden is on the small side you have the Park nearby (this one is at the low end of your budget range, you can probably get one with a bit more garden with a bit more research)

https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/144132623

There's a bus (72) that goes along Gloucester Road and then up past Cotham to BGS, you have excellent shops on the Gloucester Road and it's an easy bike ride into the centre

There wouldn't be a detached house in the St Andrews Park area for £850k - mostly terraces, like that one. OP said her husband insists on detached. If he were a bit more flexible, then lots of other areas become possible.

@exexpat that's super helpful and i had seen those houses, sadly both sold stc but all your info helps confirm that it is a suitable area - thank you!

@Moveoverdarlin thankyou - that's really helpful!

Ah I hadn't spotted the update of needing Detached @exexpat. You are quite right.

Has this one already been suggested?
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/143216561
Cranbrook Road is a brilliant location, though I dislike the way that estate agents call rooms on the lower floors "bedrooms" when they might more reasonably be described as a dining room or study.

This one is better, though the location is less lovely
https://www.rightmove.co.uk/properties/142790591