Where to live around Bristol?
Discussion
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.
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.
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 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 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. 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?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. 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.
The traffic in Bristol is terrible 24/7hornetrider 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.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 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...
s2sol said:
There used to be a station in Thornbury, more or less at the Tesco roundabout. The line went to Yate, of all places. I can't remember when it closed to passenger traffic, but the line from Yate was in use as far as the quarry at Tytherington until a couple of years ago.
There's still a couple of railway bridges and a bit of embankment left at the back of Alexandra workwear. It's a popular place to take one's dog for a crap.
Was just looking a map and following the train line for potential locations when it abruptly stopped just short of the town.There's still a couple of railway bridges and a bit of embankment left at the back of Alexandra workwear. It's a popular place to take one's dog for a crap.
s2sol said:
That's right. It's a mixed blessing that there's no station. I'm pretty sure it means that property is less expensive than it would otherwise be, which I see as a good thing. It also means that Thornbury keeps an identity of its own, rather than becoming a dormitory town for Bristol.
We can get a taxi from Bristol home for about £40, which seems a lot to me, and that's the only downside. We generally drive in, leave a car overnight, then pick it up the next day (once we're sober).
Thornbury's great. The nearest stations are Parkway or Cam and Dursley. Stonehouse isn't a lot further, and has a decent London service. I'd imagine commuting to UWE would be a pain in the arse, though.
The Campus is at Frenchay and there are student busses that run from Parkway, so getting there is key if we are North.We can get a taxi from Bristol home for about £40, which seems a lot to me, and that's the only downside. We generally drive in, leave a car overnight, then pick it up the next day (once we're sober).
Thornbury's great. The nearest stations are Parkway or Cam and Dursley. Stonehouse isn't a lot further, and has a decent London service. I'd imagine commuting to UWE would be a pain in the arse, though.
- looks like a bus (312?) goes to the Campus from Thornbury.
DoubleSix said:
If your budget will stretch the best place to live imo is the leafy northern suburbs beyond the downs; Sneyd Park, Westbury-on-Trym & Henleaze.
UWE is just a short jaunt down Southmead Road, central Bristol takes me 15 mins and the area is just lovely with much greenery and nice parks.
Henleaze is probably going to be more than I want to pay as there is so few suitable rentals (most are family size houses). Will look into the others though.UWE is just a short jaunt down Southmead Road, central Bristol takes me 15 mins and the area is just lovely with much greenery and nice parks.
DoubleSix said:
Would be fine if my GF was working but don't really want to pay London prices on a reduced income.....less cash for ME!! So placement has been confirmed as at either UWE or Filton. So will probably concentrate search around Chipping Sodbury and villages, as I reckon will only get a flat in the desirable parts of Bristol and really want something a bit bigger (garden, garage etc).
Shame that the outlying villages aren't better served by public transport. Will have to do some man-maths to decide whether I want to run a car daily.
Shame that the outlying villages aren't better served by public transport. Will have to do some man-maths to decide whether I want to run a car daily.
tuffer said:
TEKNOPUG said:
And what are your views on Chipping Sodbury?
Having been brought up there...If I had to choose a place to live outside Bristol I would choose, Hampshire, Cornwall or Wiltshire 
To be honest, Sodding Chitbury is not all that bad apart from the fact it is now attached to Yate......which is utterly utterly utterly sh!t.
Need to crunch some numbers but as I don't currently have a car, it's going to mean another "moving" expense.
This has some charm to it: http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/33764478 although if I'm going to have to maintain a daily runner, I'd really like a garage.
This is cheaper than my current one bedroom flat...... http://www.zoopla.co.uk/to-rent/details/17604605
Agree on both parts. Having a car would definitely give us a lot more options. But then I have to buy a car (a depressing one at that) which I hadn't really budgeted for until after we have moved. Then there are things to consider which I take for granted, such as decent broadband for work...
Nothing is ever easy
Given up on buses; the routes and timetables are a mess. Simply not feasible. I'm surprised at how poorly served the outlying areas are by trains - no stops between Parkway and Swindon for example. I guess I've just got use to being able to go anywhere, at any time in London.
North was preferred destination but might start looking at area's in the South & East that are served by stations running into BTM.
Nothing is ever easy
Given up on buses; the routes and timetables are a mess. Simply not feasible. I'm surprised at how poorly served the outlying areas are by trains - no stops between Parkway and Swindon for example. I guess I've just got use to being able to go anywhere, at any time in London.
North was preferred destination but might start looking at area's in the South & East that are served by stations running into BTM.
Edited by TEKNOPUG on Friday 11th July 12:06
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