Where to live in/around Bristol!?

[BristolHelp]

Hi Mumsnet,

My DH and I are looking to move to the SW from London. We have family in Bath and Devon and would like to be within easy reach of Bristol for jobs (either by train or cycle).

We have a 4 month old DD so will be considering good primary schools in our search too.

We are looking for a vibrant but relaxed community with some green spaces. We really enjoy walking with our dog and grabbing coffee at weekends, but will also want to be near leisure amenities such as playgrounds/kids clubs/swimming pools as DD gets older.

We are planning on another child as well so we'd like to be near some good nurseries and be around other families with children of a similar age.

We've looked at Nailsea/Backwell but feel it may be too sleepy for us. We've also considered Keynsham but We've heard the traffic can be awful.

Can anyone suggest some areas for us to consider? Our budget would be up to £525k for a 3/4 bedroom house.

Do you have any requirements on the house? E.g. parking or semi detached? If you want to o b in the city Southville in South Bristol sounds like it would work for your requirements but they are terraced houses with on street parking only.

Hi! Definitely semi or detached with parking. We currently have no parking and it's a nightmare!

I used to live in Redland and absolutely loved it there—close to the centre of town but right next to the Downs and lots of spacious, leafy roads. It's mostly huge Victorian houses converted into flats round there (which is what we rented), but they're big flats, often with gardens.

I am familiar with Redland but way way out of budget! We have been in flats for 7 years, we are looking for a house now.

Have a look at Knowle/Knowle Park. Possibly top of your budget but ticks a lot of your boxes.

Have you thought about Newport, Gwent? Or would you prefer to be closer to Bristol?

I used to live in Nailsea and can confirm it’s a pretty dull town in terms of things to do. The schools are great and it’s safe. But it would be a culture shock coming from London!

someone recommended Knowle and I would disagree.

Redland, Stoke Bishop and Westbury on Trym are lovely.

I personally wouldn’t like to live in Hartcliffe, Knowle, Fishponds, Patchway.

I would recommend Portishead and Clevedon (both have swimming pools) over Nailsea and Backwell.

There are parts of Bishopsworth that are lovely and within budget. The areas of Knowle closer to Totterdown and the parks could be within budget and have a very different feeling to Knowle west. Most of the desirable areas mentioned, like Redland and even Southville are way out of budget. Look at Headley Park. Mostly extended semis with parking and some good schools around.

Totterdown maybe? Near to a leisure centre, a road with lots of nice cafes, a good primary school and walking distance to the train station and some parts of town.

Newport as in Wales? We want to remain in England to make best of the childcare funding available! Wales doesn't have the same provisions.

Thank you! I have visited Portishead and it's so lovely, I'm just worried about the traffic?

I think if you want detached/semi-detached and parking you will have to be out of Bristol. Nailsea/Backwell is a good shout as the secondary schools are very good. Keynsham has a similar vibe to Nailsea in my opinion, but the proximity to Bath is handy. Traffic is bad everywhere so I wouldn't let that put you off Keynsham.

Bloody hell don't send her to Knowle. 🤣

I've lived in both Nailsea and Knowle (not Knowle West). Knowle is lovely and don't fall into the trap of thinking it is the same as Knowle West - it's not!! However you will struggle for semi/detached plus drive around there - only a few roads have drives and they'll likely be out of your budget.

Nailsea yes dull in terms of nightlife but good schools and a great parent community which comes with opportunities to socialise. If you live close to the railway station Bristol and Bath are both well within reach for nights out etc. Your budget will stretch to detached and driveway too.

Defo look at Portishead - it’s a fabulous place to live and grow up. You’re also the right side of Bristol for getting to Devon. I’d move back there in a heartbeat if my job allowed it.

Thank you. I don't care for nights out but would like a community where there are some good local gyms for yoga/pilates, cafes, local events etc. For example where we live now in London has two yoga spots and a farmers market every month. Ideally something like this. Would Nailsea still be a bit too sleepy?

Ashley Down, Horfield and parts of Lockleaze would all have something within budget and are where lots of young families priced out of Bishopston and St Andrews are buying.

If you like a more alternative vibe, St Werburgh's could be worth a look too.

All have pretty decent primary schools and green space, plus access to some local facilities or easy reach to main ones.

Thank you, would you be able to outline why it's so great?

I agree about the proximity to Bath. Family live on that side of Bath as well so we'd be down the road. Also very easy to get to Bath for bigger shops and even the Christmas Market etc. Hmm might need to give Keynsham another thought!

Nailsea has all that stuff so you'd be fine on that front.

Driving from Nailsea to Bath can be a pain though (although getting there on the train is a doddle!).

I loved the proximity to Bristol, Clevedon and easy access to head to Devon and Cheltenham/Glos (where I have family). Portishead itself has a huge variety of property types and prices and I very much liked being by the coast and having the marina. The village is fab and felt welcoming - lots of nice places to eat and drink and the Gordano valley is beautiful. I’ve not lived there for a couple of years but grew up, was educated there and lived there as a kid and an adult. Visit frequently to see friend and family and still love it.

The Greenbank; nice bits of Easton in general (it's easy to tell the nice bits by price). Stapleton Village (a village the city enclosed, in the city but still little and pretty). St George/Redfield. St Werburgs. Totterdown. They should all have things in budget (if not everything in your budget), some you'd not get a drive, but the parking isn't difficult at all. Some you might have to sacrifice house appearance for a driveway. They're all suburbs the city grew around, so peaceful and with their own amenities and all a bit alternative, so lots of community/workshop/artsy things.

(I'll grant the parking is difficult in totterdown. If that's important, don't look there.)

Bedminster all the way. Wonderful community, everything you need in walking distance and very friendly

I’d look at Bath itself or surrounding villages - Bath ticks all your boxes and is definitely more affordable than (nice bits of) Bristol these days. 15 min train to Bristol from Bath. Good cycle route too.