Where to live around Bristol?

[TEKNOPUG]

So it looks like I'll be moving to Bristol in a couple of months. Ideally, I don't want to live in Bristol per se; would rather be out in the countryside, garden, garage bit more space, a bit less people. However, Bristol needs to be commutable by public transport. So either needs to be on a decent bus route or near a station. So maybe as far East as Bradford upon Avon and as far North as Chipping Sodbury and as far South as Worle, I guess, from looking at the train timetables.

I know Bristol centre well and Bath but have no real idea about the outlying areas. I would like to hear any advice or suggestions that would help me focus on a particular location.

[BristolRich]

TEKNOPUG said:

However, Bristol needs to be commutable by public transport. .

Good luck. Bristol's Public Transport Infrastrucure is best described as Poor and expensive.

Chipping Sodbury for eg:

Nearest rail connection is Yate and vastly over populated at rush hour and during winter.

Bus routes exist, decent ones do not. The bus service is unreliable and ££££££.

Driving - 3 miles can (if you time it wrong) take over an hour week days.

Many cycle connections if thats your weapon of choice. Advertised train services that permit you to bring bikes on board will refuse if too full (usual especially during winter).

Improvements are coming but it wont happen over night.

The North Bristol fringe suffers greatly from over population and centres of employment, but limited improvements to road or transport infrastructure. As you'd expect it takes only takes one small thing to have a huge knock on effect.

Rush hour some nights can start at 16:00 and last well beyond 19:30.

Edited by BristolRich on Tuesday 8th July 15:10

Edited by BristolRich on Tuesday 8th July 15:12

Edited by BristolRich on Tuesday 8th July 15:12

[TEKNOPUG]

Travel costs aren't much of an issue, more travel time. I've noted your comments though.

[hornetrider]

Where are you working roughly, location wise? Oh, budget?

[LordGrover]

If you work in central Bristol then as above, probably a PITA to commute if 9-5 hours.

Not clear to me where you'll be working though, but I live in Chipping Sodbury and work 10 miles away at North Common. 15 minute 'commute', v light traffic via some decent lanes. Half an hour to Bristol or Bath with Gloucester/Cheltenham and Swindon not much further. Cardiff/South Wales too.
Sodbury has pubs, coffee shops/deli, restaurants, butchers, bakers, fruit & veg shop plus supermarket and yate within spitting distance (good/bad?) with shopping centre. Vibrant and lively local community and there are few places I'd rather live. YMMV.

[TEKNOPUG]

hornetrider said:

Where are you working roughly, location wise? Oh, budget?

The $64k question.....

I'm not. I'm a consultant.I work all over the country or at home. I need an internet connection and some semblance of a train station within reasonable taxi distance (work pays).

However, my other half is starting a 12month teacher training course, which is based in Bristol UWE and on placement somewhere. The placement location has yet to be confirmed. This will obviously have a great impact on where we move but trying to at least rule out some places now.

Ideally, I want to be out of town, 1/2 bedrooms, garden, driveway/garage. More countryside than town. But if we have to live in the centre, then it's unlikely we'll get a garden and I won't bother with a car either.

Budget? Well income will be halved as she's not working but currently live in Hampstead, so everywhere seems cheaper. £800-900 a month?

[hornetrider]

Well, bit vague but there's quite a lot of places that are reasonable to live in close to Parkway station which will get you back to the big smoke in an hour and a half. Parts of Stoke Gifford back onto country but you could look at Winterbourne or Frampton as well.

[TEKNOPUG]

hornetrider said:

Well, bit vague but there's quite a lot of places that are reasonable to live in close to Parkway station which will get you back to the big smoke in an hour and a half. Parts of Stoke Gifford back onto country but you could look at Winterbourne or Frampton as well.

Yes, quite vague I'm afraid There will have to be some travel into the centre but the placement location is obviously key. I don't want to be reliant upon a car, hence looking at areas with stations. Otherwise it would be a lot easier. How does the North of Bristol compare to the East and South?

[TEKNOPUG]

hornetrider said:

Well, bit vague but there's quite a lot of places that are reasonable to live in close to Parkway station which will get you back to the big smoke in an hour and a half. Parts of Stoke Gifford back onto country but you could look at Winterbourne or Frampton as well.

Travelled in and out of Parkway quite a lot - never seemed very inspiring from my taxi window.

[hornetrider]

North Bristol (Almondsbury and surrounding villages) is a nice part of the world, lovely country pubs etc. Might be a bit of a challenge on your budget though. You'd probably get more for your money in Bradley Stoke which is a bit of a soulless mass estate but has lots of facilities now and excellent transport links. Pick the right bit of it and you'd be ok.

[boobles]

The traffic in Bristol is terrible 24/7

Edited by boobles on Tuesday 8th July 15:56

[TEKNOPUG]

boobles said:

The traffic in Bristol is terrible 24/7

Which is why I want to live outside it, so I can get a car.

[hornetrider]

For things which aren't a 2 bed box and have a bit of character...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

[TEKNOPUG]

hornetrider said:

North Bristol (Almondsbury and surrounding villages) is a nice part of the world, lovely country pubs etc. Might be a bit of a challenge on your budget though. You'd probably get more for your money in Bradley Stoke which is a bit of a soulless mass estate but has lots of facilities now and excellent transport links. Pick the right bit of it and you'd be ok.

The issue is more the lack of suitable rental stock, rather than the price, in a lot of these outlying villages. Somewhere to consider though.

[TEKNOPUG]

hornetrider said:

For things which aren't a 2 bed box and have a bit of character...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-to-rent/proper...

Looked at a couple of those - they are the right idea. Might just have to tell the missus to get a moped

[LordGrover]

This one's in my road, plain but practical. click.

[TEKNOPUG]

Did they run out of money when building the train line to Thornbury or just think better of it?

[TEKNOPUG]

LordGrover said:

This one's in my road, plain but practical. click.

And what are your views on Chipping Sodbury?

[LordGrover]

TEKNOPUG said:

And what are your views on Chipping Sodbury?

See above 15.34

[TEKNOPUG]

LordGrover said:

See above 15.34

Thanks