Moving to Bristol

A question about : Moving to Bristol

Hi All

I've been wondering where to post this, but i am going to start a new job in Bristol in September and have no idea about where in the city to base a flat hunt. I'm a married young professional, looking for a one bed flat with parking. I need to be within about half an hour of the town centre by bus or cycling (or a bit longer if walking) if not in the centre. I'd like to be near a decent sized supermarket too.

I've lived in city centre manchester before and enjoyed being so close to everything, but now I am in a suburb of london and have enjoyed the smaller high streets and local shops (and not having to do my food shopping in a pricey tesco metro).

Can anyone make any recommendations? And also give an indication of likely council tax? There'll be a big fat thank you for any useful responses.

Best answers:

• allrighter!
• Are you talking about renting or buying? And what budget?
  Off the top of my head, from what you've said so far Bedminster would sound quite suitable; mostly old-style terraced housing about 30-45 mins walk from the centre or an easy cycle. There's a big Asda in the middle of it, plus other local shops.
• Well, if your budget is up to that level for a 1 bed flat then I would start your search in somewhere like Clifton and surrounding areas, which are only about 20 mins walk from centre (and you'll get staggeringly fit walking up Park Street every day...)
  It also has quite a "London suburb" feel to it. Cotham is also nice and similarly priced
  Depends what you like - the above places are nice but for me a little bland. Bedminster/Southville area is cheaper, a little more lively and for me, more "Bristol".
• thanks again, i had no idea clifton was so close to the centre of town.
• I lived in cotham and redland which are lovely areas of Bristol. Was there 32 years. Clifton is also lovely and they are relatively close to each other. With your budget you should be able to easily afford to rent a small property in these areas.
• Get yourself in one of those Redrow flats by the St James Barton Roundabout! 1802 or something? well nice, and well central! Or down by the harbour, on the way to Bedminster area!
  TBH, there arent a great deal of really nice, affordable places in Bristol! Every area has its downsides (Bedminster is well scruff, but defo proper 'Bristol' ) You cant go far wrong with Clifton village and the surrounding areas, but they are densely populated by students. And thats where the rascals come from Portishead to knick the cars to burn them out (I know as I used to work for the Police, and my mate had his car knicked and found nr Portishead!!) but they are nice places to live other than that!
  I lived in Horfield (not ideal for you, not walking distance to town/work etc, well, not under an hour its not) for a few years, and although that was mega scabby, its really nice now, so theres a lot of gentrification going on in Bristol, and I would have thought a few places are very nice now!
  Have a look on Google maps for the place your working, then check out what the surrounding areas have to offer on the net, there's plenty of places, and Bristol's a wicked place to live. I loved it, and am sure you will too my lover
• Thanks for this, I have only heard good things about living in Bristol, either from people who have lived there or want to live there.
• I really don't know about how much places go for, but I would recommend Redland/Cotham (where my mum lives, and I live part time), but the nearest supermarket is in Clifton Down (unless you count a small Somerfields). You're only a stone's throw away from the Gloucester Road, which has all sorts of local, independent stores on it, as well as a Tesco Express, Boots and Smile. It's also about 20 minute's brisk walk to the city centre, if you go down the very steep Marlborough Hill (I mention this because we were doubling our journey time before we realised this, which took about 4 years. There are lots of converted Victorian properties, and the local school, Cotham comprehensive has a good reputation if you are planning on having kids.
  Clifton (I'm going to talk about Whiteladies Road area here, as that's what I know about - my grandparents live there) is good, and there are lots of good shops on Whiteladies Road, including a Tesco Express where I spent a month arguing with them over voucher acceptance, before I produced a letter from CS and emerged triumphant. . . . they hate me there but that's a whole other story. There is also a Sainsbury's at Clifton Down, where there is also a boots, wh smiths and so on.
  As for those 5102 flats over St James Barton - don't. They're stood over a busy main road, and the traffic noise must be awful.
  There is also an out-of-town shopping centre on the north side of Bristol, called Cribbs Causeway, with a massive shopping centre called The Mall (subject of many a girly outing), and a big Vue cinema, b&q, tkmaxx, hobbycraft etc.
  You'll want to stay away from areas like Knowle West, St Pauls and Laurence Weston, as they are really rough. Bedminster isn't quite as rough, but is still a bit chavvy TBH.
• There's a nice city farm in Bedminster though, called Windmill Hill City Farm. I start volunteering there on satyrday week There are also city farms in St. Werburghs, Hartcliffe and Laurence Weston, but Hartcliffe is also mega-rough.
  I have to agree about the whole don't-even-think-about-going-into-St-Pauls bit though. There are more pimps than you can shake a stick at, plus a massive drug problem. There's a girl in my year at school whose dad used to own the infamous black and white cafe there, before the police got a court order to pull it down. He was on the local news about it when they pulled it down. Which is how they got the money for an Audi TT and her private education. She's been seen more than once hanging around on the streets of St Pauls more than once too.
• I loved living in Bristol and would go back like a shot if the work was there for me. Fantastic place.
  I guess that Bedminster would be the best in terms of your work location. It would probably be described as up and coming (think in the same way that Acton or Tooting are up and coming but in a Bristol equivalent IYSWIM).
  Clifton is nice but way too full of students and probably a bit far away once you move into the more bohemian areas. Redland and Cotham are nice too and with all three areas you have the number 8 and 9 buses which go to BTM. Having said that all areas would be a decent enough cycle.
  Also what about Hotwells? It was up and coming when I was there.... if it ever got there I don't know but might be worth a try.
• Agree with all the above, Clifton/Cotham/Redland/Kingsdown are great areas. If you live there you can walk to Whiteladies Road, which has many shops/cafes/bars/delis etc. Also Clifton Village has a really nice atmosphere.
• I've lived within 10 miles of Bristol (