Advice on artsy towns within half hour of Bristol

[RubyD]

I am sure this has been asked 1 million times but here I go again.

I am looking for the holy grail.

We are planning to relocate from London to the Bristol/Somerset area in 2021. I will be starting up a yoga/massage/retreat business eventually so we want to be in lovely countryside, a pretty town, ideally fairly lively to give me some business and with a creative vibe. Hubby might be working in Bristol at least part of the week so ideally half an hour to 45 mins commute.

Obvs we are going to explore the area a lot but we will only have a few weekends to do this without our kids so want to make sure we hit the hotspots.

Would be great to have options for good primary and secondary schools.

Any recommendations would be amazing.

Thank you.

This may make a difference to traffic in the city....and a heads up if you have a diesel car!

www.google.com/amp/s/www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-bristol-50292596

Frome, Stroud or Bath, if not actually Bristol itself. Bristol is overrun with alternative health practitioners, as are the others, but as you are not worried about this, perhaps consider where the greatest affluence is in the demographic that might consider using your services. I'd plump for Bath or Bristol itself. The countryside surrounding Bath is stunning, and it has excellent transport links to Bristol.

I love Keynsham but can't imagine anyone would go for a yoga retreat there. You need Frome or go over the bridge into Wales.

there's enough yoga retreats already in the sw

Indeed!

But what about south west of Bristol? Look along the Bristol-Exeter leyline ...However, there is a lot of competition for the kind of thing you want to offer. You'd have to be very good and develop a following. The West Country is hippie heaven, really.

We love Bath because you get the best of all worlds. “Proper” country walk from doorstep or 5 mins bus 10 min cycle 20min walk into a beautiful city so teens happy. I grew up in a village not inflicting that in my kids

Look at Long Ashton or Chew Magna.

I hope he is happy to commute by train - the target commute time by car will restrict you to the outskirts of bristol.

Nailsea and Backwell
Clevedon
Wrington
Chew magna

It doesn't need to be a 'hippy' area surely? Loads of people like yoga and art but aren't hippies!

I agree. You want a posh middle class naice area for yoga.

Most hippies are middle class

My target students are mums so an area with families is best. Doesn't have to be a hippy area at all but would be nice if some galleries and events going on. Lots suggested so have to weed through and make a plan.

Long Ashton
Clevedon. DD was at Uni in Bristol and loved living there. She stayed after Uni for several years but after their house share mates dwindled they found they weren’t considered for renting outside of student rental because DD worked part time in two jobs and was an artist. They eventually moved to Clevedon as the two of them couldn’t afford Bristol. It cost them £850 for two bedroom semi. They lived there for two years but then went travelling. They quite liked it. There is a quirky, arty cafe down near the water. She said the cycle paths around there were really good and she used to cycle into her jobs on Gloucester Road. I think she said it took about forty minutes.Spike Island was a bit less. There was a small craft centre just outside Clevedon. There was two shopping areas one down by the coast and another up the hill.
You may have found somewhere by now. I have insomnia so found your thread. DD was at a yoga retreat centre in NZ not long ago. They were there for about six weeks working in the cafe. She said it was amazing.

Bradford on Avon. Regular train to Bristol. Stunning countryside, canal, lots going on.

Somewhere like Rangeworthy, Winterbourne, Frampton Cotterell or Coalpit Heath might be worth looking at. They are just about within commuting distance (though you'd need to check) and are family areas. They are in South Glos though, not Somerset.

OP, I moved from a village within 20 mins drive from Bristol to rural west Ireland.

Phew, I feel happy here. I HATED Bristol. Too may ‘try hard’ types.

Frome is very family friendly with good sort of hippie/bohemian vibe. Lots of independent shops/organic cafes and restaurants. 12 miles from Bath.