If you had a choice would you live in Bristol or Bath?

[luvaduck]

and why???
esp if you live in one of them I would love to know your thoughts

Say if money was no object (it is but lets just say if...)

Which do you think is the nicer city to live in? Good with pre school kids?

We are thinking of areas around the downs in bristol (clifton/redland/cotham/westbury park) which is looking more likely, but I have always wanted to live in Bath. Currently we are v rural after leaving London and not really liking that much so a move back to the city is in order.

Any advice? Tis going round and round and round in my head, and dh says i am spending too much time on rightmove!

[paddingtonbear1]

my ILS live in Bristol, from what I've seen I like it. Lots of development going on in the centre - new Cabot Circus is nice.
Bath is probably better with kids though. dh's aunt used to live in Oldland Common somewhere!
Over xmas my dad and I cycled from Bristol to Bath along the old railway path. The Bath end is nicer I must say.

[luvaduck]

well we're not really, as bath will mean dh changing jobs, which is just about a possibility...

thanks so much for advice ladies, am off to have a long think.

[samsonara]

I would love to be in a position to choose between them to live in. For Bath I'd choose the Coombe Park area, so that I'm close to Victoria Park, far enough away from the city centre but close enough for a shortish bus ride. For Bristol, I would live in Henleaze, close to the Downs, not far from Clifton and close enough to the motorway, Cribbs Causeway shops and easy bus links to the city centre.

[retiredgoth2]

....Oldland Common, a stiff walk from Keynsham (and the giveaway station).

I was born and raised in Kingswood, my Mum still lives there. It was never the most salubrious place, but now is frankly a bit scary.

...I worry that that the whole place is a fire risk, with so much acrylic sportswear in such a small area...

[georgimama]

Do you live in Keynsham or Kingswood, retiredgoth? So many MNers in such a small part of the world!

[ilovelovemydog]

Money no object -- Kingsdown or Redland.

Bristol has some truly diabolical schools, so as Charlotte says, get into a good catchment area, or accept the fact that you may have to go private.

Harbor area is fab, and there are lots of green spaces (Downs, Leigh Woods, Oldbury Court)

[retiredgoth2]

....I live in a dormitory suburb on the Bath edge of Bristol, both city centres are equidistant in terms of mileage.

However.

...the centre of Bristol is a 45 minute drive through traffic, or an interminable wait for a bus that probably will not come, and be horrendously slow and expensive if it does. I could get a train, but Temple Meads is some distance from anywhere useful.

...and it is pretty cruddy when you get there. Though to be fair, Bristol has as many beautiful buildings and quirky shops and cafes in alleyways as Bath. It is just that in Bristol they are spaced out, with a whole lot of not nice stuff in between.

Bath, by contrast, is a 15 minute drive through countryside, or a short train ride to a station that is in the city centre, which is compact and beautiful. It is a lovely place to live, but very expensive unless you live in Twerton (don't). Bristol can be expensive, too, especially in the middle class areas that are in the catchment of the only decent secondary school (recently opened, and cynics claim, placed specifically to ensure minimal oiks in the catchment)

...I should really be talking Bath down, as I really want to move there, and it is expensive enough already and I need to sell my house.

Ahem.

...so what you need is an 80s box halfway between the two....

[spookycharlotte121]

Bristol, have lived here all my life and love it.
There are amazing shops, lots of things to do with kids from st werbergs farm the zoo, jump, the city museum, cinema and lots more.

lots of green open spaces for walks and picnics like the downs, vassles park, blaise (sp?) castle, snuff mills for nice walks.

On a saterday afternoon the area along the waterfront is sooo cool. Lots of bars you can sit outside at and enjoy a drink or two with nice food menu's.

Im just starting to branch out into todler groups as I have been hiding away from the world so dont know alot about them.

There are good schools, although you need to pick your area carefully and make sure your in their catchment area.

Like I say I love Bristol. I live in a horrible area where there are drugs problems but once I have some money I intend to move to a better area.

BRISTOL ROCKS

[georgimama]

Really?

I'm scared to be too specific on the internet (not you, I'm sure you're not a nutter but you never know who is reading) as I am literally the only mother with a young child in the village!

[mrsflowerpot]

With kids, Bath, definitely. Loads going on, not too big but still buzzy. Plus Bristol schools are not the best, particularly at secondary.
I loved living in Bath, would move back there tomorrow if dh would let me. Georgimama - from what you say you must live about 3 miles from me...

[pickupthismess]

BATH!

[belgo]

I would live in Clifton. Or Redland. But money is an object and we would move to Southville if we were ever to move back.

[francagoestohollywood]

Oh, I spent a lovely yr commuting to bristol (the commuting was crappola though, as the train was always late, or disappeared before getting into temple meads . So I say Bristol, Clifton if money was no object. Though not sure what the state school situation is like there.

[bratnav]

You can walk to Clifton Village in about 15 minutes, WOT 'village' about 10 minutes (actually very nice), top of Whiteladies about 5-10 minutes.

[petrovia]

Sorry Luvaduck I was just being silly, actually Bristol sounds fab from what I've heard and I have an old friend in Bath who says it's very nice. I'll b*gger off now as I have nothing useful to contribute! Sorry

[georgimama]

I live in a tiny village between Bath and Stroud. It's about 15 miles to Bath and 18 to Bristol.

[luvaduck]

no to what petrovia? as in you wouldn't choose either?

i bet we live near each other georgimama

[luvaduck]

Bratnav sounds fab thanks, and our sort of budget for renting too. will check out that area - can you walk into clifton village??

[petrovia]

No

[georgimama]

No but I live very close, I lived in Bristol as a student. I would love to live in Bath

Summer days often find us in Bath either having a picnic in the park or lunch in Cafe Rouge or somewhere similar!

[bratnav]

Also there are 3 fab primary schools within walking distance.

[luvaduck]

sorry to be a PITA but can anyone tell me some good toddler stuff (groups/activites that I'd be welcome to etc) to do in either as we are near enough to go along for a morning or afternoon, and could try them out - rather than just shopping which is what i end up doing...

[bratnav]

We live on the other side of the Downs in Stoke Bishop (next to Westbury) and we love it, buzzy Clifton just up the hill, but lovely and quiet where we are, along with about a million various pre-school/toddler/baby groups.

It does come at a price though, we have a 2 reception, 4 bed house and it costs us £1400 pcm rent

DP grew up in Bath and we both love it

[luvaduck]

okay well thats good to hear

do you live in either??