Thinking of relocating to Bristol. Depending on who I talk to, the reactions I've received are: *crinkled nose*, "very creative area," "too much crime," and "less boring than its cousin (Bath)." For anyone who has lived in (or visited Bristol), what did you like (or dislike about it)?
Posted by SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit | AskUK | View on Reddit | 260 comments
And, did you like any of the neighborhoods more than others?
And, for what reasons?
Also, does it skew young or are there plenty of things for late 30s+ to do?
Itsstillyourturn@reddit
Bristolian here.
If you can afford to live in Cotham, Clifton, Redland, Henleaze, Stoke Bishop, St Andrews then great, yes do it.
If you can't afford those places avoid it like the plague.
National-Incident-18@reddit
This is a bit of an exaggeration, thousands of people live very happily and safely in other parts of the city
Itsstillyourturn@reddit
I live in Bristol & not in one of the nice areas. Don't get me wrong I love Bristol and will probably never move out. I just think for the price, Bristol isn't all that. Its grimy, dirty, transport & traffic is shocking, services are terrible. In some places the anti social stuff is way out of hand. Another poster mentions Southville & Vic Pk, nice 3 bed terrace is £750k.
I get around the UK quite a lot, not everywhere is like this. I just don't see it as good value.
National-Incident-18@reddit
I class Southville as posh 😄 Yeah I don't get why it's so much more expensive than St George when it's the same level of grime and ASB. I live in one of the cheapest parts of the city and its great, lovely community, safe schools, safe at night. I did experience crime when living in more expensive 'nicer' areas though.
Interesting_Camel987@reddit
There are other nice areas south of the river - Southville, Long Ashton, parts of Knowle and Victoria Park. I loved living on Gloucester Road and Montpelier when I was younger.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Currently looking at redland / clifton but will check out those areas as well!
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
OP, have you visited Bristol personally?
Honestly, best thing to do would be spend a long weekend here and have a nosey about.
_mister_pink_@reddit
It’s a really nice and quite trendy and interesting city. For me the problem is that you either live in the nice part of the city which is (personally) prohibitively expensive, or you live in the not nice parts which are a bit further out and pretty run down.
If you can afford to live there and afford to go out to all the nice bars cafes and shops then it’s probably great.
If you’re not in a great position financially that you’ll be living in the rougher areas with no money to spend on what the city has to offer than personally I wouldn’t bother.
Also the city is basically one big hill. If you have trouble walking it might be a problem.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yes I've heard Redland and Clifton areas are very nice but expensive.
Would you say there's a lot of "green spaces" / nature areas well?
Optimal-Room-8586@reddit
It's horses for courses though. Personally I find Clifton and Redland feel a bit snooty.
MinimumCut140@reddit
Eastville park, snuff Mills, vassels park can all be walked. There's perdown also which is connected. Can walk for 4 hours easy.
Frenchay and Fishponds are close to those areas.
Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit
Well Clifton Down is about as big a green bit as you can get.
julemeister@reddit
Ashton court is bigger with Leigh woods next door
Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit
My god 29 years I did the Ballon Festival. I had forgotten about that place lol
bluntnwuk@reddit
Not if you’re used to London.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Nothing like Clifton Gorge in London.
julemeister@reddit
There's more parks than London. Bristol is 11th in the country that London doesn't even rank per capita.
exhausted-pangolin@reddit
London has literally 3000 parks, you've no idea what you're talking about
Though Bristol is approx 24% park and London is 23% park so Bristol does still win
colej_uk@reddit
Parks aren’t as nice as the nice ones in London but you have Gloucestershire and Somerset on your doorstep
kingofthepumps@reddit
Loads of green spaces mate
colej_uk@reddit
Yes I’d say good for green spaces in the city and lots of beautiful countryside not far away.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
It is several big hills tbh.
cowbutt6@reddit
You can also live in the cheaper parts that are on the https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Severn_Beach_line and work and go out in the more expensive parts.
PullUpAPew@reddit
Bedminster, Southville and St Phillips are pretty flat
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
It has fuck all to do with Bath for a start. You can walk across it in half and hour and be in the countryside. It's a city but feels like a village.
Dense_Appearance_298@reddit
A village with 500,000 inhabitants, a motorway running through it and an international airport? Have you ever set foot in a village? Are you feeling alright?
Maleficent-Heart2497@reddit
The M32 ( that's the one that doesn't run though the city ) stops at the end of Newfoundland rd, The airports 5 miles out from Bemmy ( that's bedminster Down actually) but whatever...
While the city was a whole is large , 42sq miles, what we think of as central Bristol is compact and easily walkable .
I lived in Montpellier/ St Paul's/ Cotham and Horfield and was backwards and forwards up to Clifton and across to Radcliffe so yeah it always felt like a big village to me and when people talk about Bath and Briz and what it's like they don't mean the suburbs but you crack on with your little insults on the internet instead of engaging.
And pick ee out the stingers
OkTechnician4610@reddit
I was born & brought up in Bristol. St Andrews area. It’s a vibrant city there are bad areas same as any city. Way too many electric scooters though they are everywhere. Clifton & Redlands nice agree but many many flats & university lets. Big houses. Bradley stoke on outskirts is ok not bad prices. Horfield not too bad. Just outside of Bristol are some nice suburbs. Kingswood & hanham, Whitchurch & keynsham. Stoke Gifford used to be ok. Less decent areas knowle west, bedminster, Easton, st George to name a few.
flinstoneguy55@reddit
Been here since 2021. Still finding new bits to explore. Not super cheap public transport but it does have some, making it possible to go around without a car. Avoid city centre like the plague unless you like getting verbally assaulted by the homeless.
Areas like Redland, Clifton, Henbury are pretty lovely to live in.
The indie food shops and cafes are amazing. The cost of living is rather high. That's been my experience
Briecap@reddit
Henbury? Did you mispell Henleaze?
abyssal-isopod86@reddit
I was born and grew up there and in the surrounding areas.
And I will never go back.
CrustyHumdinger@reddit
The "crime" thing is nonsense. No doubt an American told you that.
Derfel60@reddit
Ive lived in or around Bristol all my life. Its fine for a city, though id prefer Bath or Wells. I wouldnt live in St Pauls, Easton, Knowle or Hartcliffe unless youre a big fan of true crime documentaries and want to see some first-hand.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Bath was the other area I was looking at as well.
What makes you lean more towards Bath (out of curiosity)?
Tsarinya@reddit
Bath like Bristol is quite expensive but the cheaper areas not in the centre aren’t as run down and crime riddled as Bristol
julemeister@reddit
You haven't been in the poor neighbourhoods of Bath apparently.
Tsarinya@reddit
I have, they are no where near as bad as Bristol.
julemeister@reddit
I used to work in mental health in Bath and it's up there. Bristol Drugs Project just moved to Bath recently to deal with the rise in young people's drug use.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Bath is pretty boring tbh. If you live on a hill you get a nice view but it is bit like living in a bowl.
Derfel60@reddit
Its quieter, it looks nicer and the people are more well to do.
Hot_Growth_9643@reddit
Have you been there? It’s bloody beautiful
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
Easton is full of trustafarian types and London ppl now (The Greenbank side) it's expensive AF to rent there now.
St Judes and Stapleton Rd can be a bit rough, I've lived in both the rough and nice bits, I got used to the rough bit and have fond memories of it. Obvs not the filth, the smell of it in summer, the shouting drug addicts, the crime etc. I had great neighbours there, better than any rich area I've lived in.
Derfel60@reddit
Thats mad to me, when i was growing up St Pauls was the famously bad part of Bristol but Easton was the not as well-known but twice as dangerous bit.
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
I know someone who had to move to Clifton when he couldn't find anywhere he could afford in Easton, this was something like 7yrs ago!
Some of Easton is still rougher, but the 'above the tracks' section joining to Gbank is pretty nice.
I'd happily live in parts of St Paul's, but not City rd or Grosvenor rd area.
escuchameray@reddit
Knowle West specifically I think you mean, Knowle itself is a great area to live
julemeister@reddit
I live in Knowle it's quite affluent now with homes around 500 to 600k
julemeister@reddit
And close to town
Derfel60@reddit
Yeah Knowle West
Happily-Incorrect@reddit
I reckon the Broadwalk rennovation might begin the process of gentrifying Knowle West though, so it could be a good place to buy now with a view to it being much nicer in a few years.
Educational_Cow111@reddit
Hartcliffe is an AVOID
munchbunch365@reddit
Bristol seems alright, but it's incredibly expensive for what it is.
If you aren't rich there are definitely nicer places to live in the UK. If you are rich enough to live in a nice bit of Bristol, then you would be rich enough to live in lots of nice places in the UK and so you would want to be sure that you really wanted to be in Bristol for some quite specific reason that would be quite personal to you.
If this was a generic, I am up for moving cold to a UK city, then I would never actually suggest Bristol. Which isn't to say it's not nice, it is, but you get more for your money elsewhere. There are perfectly nice bits of London that are cheaper than the nicer parts of Bristol.
mrafinch@reddit
Grew up in the Bristol ‘burbs (Patchway, Bradley Stoke, etc) and spent all my weekends in town
Bristol is one of the best cities in the country! Amazing nightlife and music scene, a lot of history (good and bad), lots of cool sights to see, close to the beach and Wales, pasties
EUskeptik@reddit
Transport, whether public or private, is utterly atrocious.
Bristol has long needed a tram system and the city would be ideally suited to one. However, the politicians can never agree on anything, least of all public transport.
The result is chronic gridlock and high levels of air pollution.
-oo-
MessNo4178@reddit
When I was younger 20’s I lived in Bristol (st Paul’s/montpelier/st weighburgs.) Sussex place. Area depends what estate agent is trying to sell you, worked in Bath. Felt like a perfect combination of grown up work in a professional place, whilst living in a cool/fun place.
I moved to a different part of the country, but now (40s) I’d rather live in bath for grown up raising a family vibes, but work in Bristol so I could still pretend I was young and cool.
ButteredReality@reddit
It's got a lot to do, it's a fun city, the people are generally pretty friendly.
The tap water is awful.
MeltingChocolateAhh@reddit
Bristol and Bath are both really cool places to be down south. If you don't fancy Bristol and for some weird reason, you get an inclination to spend a weekend in Birmingham or Cardiff, both places are easily reachable from Bristol. I lived near Bristol for about a year and it was just a cool place, but that is known to be an expensive area.
As for employment which you might be thinking about too, you shouldn't be struggling for that in the Bristol area, possibly depending on which field you work in.
Saying it's a "creative" place is a bit of a stretch, but it tries to be, reminds me a little bit of the touristy parts of Camden. If anyone says there is too much crime in Bristol, I think they need to leave their bedroom and see what grass really looks like. And to say it's less boring than Bath is subjective, but both are pretty cool places.
Something about Bristol I don't like is the traffic, but I would say this is one thing it does better than Birmingham, Cardiff and Bath.
arky_who@reddit
It's a lovely city, but I sort of got priced out. It's one of those expensive cities that doesn't quite have the wages to match, at least in my experience. I was sort of managing but the opportunities in London for my line of work where just too good to pass up. If you're into nightlife, art, activism or anything like that there's so much you can do, and I visit the city every 6 months or so just to eat a few meals because the food is amazing. Had the best coffee of my life there (Full Court Press).
Honestly I miss the city every time I think about it. Like it was an awful time of my life when I lived there for a bunch of reasons not to do with the city but I also have such good memories despite that. Can't recommend it enough, especially if you're queer, arty and/or interested in getting involved in left wing causes.
It skews young, but not exclusively.
Humble-Stay9771@reddit
Love Bristol, lived there for ten years last century (!) and married a Bristolian. We now live in Scotland. We visit Bristol regularly and always enjoy it but could not afford to move back with the cost of housing (nor do we want to).
Sorry it has become a London overspill, that makes it very hard for young people to compete for accommodation.
Compared to Edinburgh and Glasgow, which I know well, the public transport in Bristol is very poor, very car dependent. It is however a very friendly place, there is lots of green space, an interesting waterfront to wander along and the weather is great. Good luck in your search.
eggchasing@reddit
Bath is a great option and you can be in central Bristol in 10 - 15 mins by train, which is better than what most of the suburbs of Bristol offer by public transport.
steveakacrush@reddit
I spent 18 months living in Bristol just before COVID happened.
It's a nice enough town, although quite expensive. It always reminds me of Seattle - full of students, coffee shops and there is a strong smell of weed wherever you go!
Charliecat08@reddit
Hey, it’s a city-We have a cathedral, don’t you know!
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Portland description if i ever read one haha
I do quite love the idea of coffee shops and variety of people
shivilization_7@reddit
I live in Portland now and moving back to the UK and people keep telling me I’d love Bristol
No-Department-4561@reddit
Yeah but Seattle has the space needle…Kurt Cobain…
EroticFalconry@reddit
Bristol has the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Massive Attack.
No-Department-4561@reddit
Seattle has the Seahawks… space needle… Kurt Cobain
steveakacrush@reddit
And a long rich history of slavery.
shivilization_7@reddit
Still in the states though ain’t it
No-Department-4561@reddit
Yeah but Kurt Cobain…
shivilization_7@reddit
He’s been dead 30+ years mate
julemeister@reddit
Definitely quite similar.
coldestregards@reddit
Yeah or Brighton
UKWatchCollector94@reddit
Best of luck with your move to the UK 🇬🇧
steveakacrush@reddit
Should have added I was there for a work thing - if I had had a choice I wouldn't have lived there.
Wide-Budget2332@reddit
The strong smell of weed comment is so true 🤣🤣
No_Ring_3348@reddit
I was there near 20 years ago and it was the same back then, good to see some things never change.
Dontunderstandfamily@reddit
It's my favourite place, I wouldn't want to live anywhere else. I am saying that as a lefty, queer, neurodivergent person who works in theatre though, so feel like I am very much a big part of the demographic which is why some people will crinkle their noses at you.
Qyro@reddit
I'm completely biased, but Bristol is my favourite city in the country in every regard except public transport.
schweffrey@reddit
I don't live in the UK anymore but I am always in awe of the music scene in Bristol and wish I visited more.
Spent a day working there once, on the hill overlooking the suspension bridge and it was well nice.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I've heard that view is amazing and I'm a huge music lover!
unicornvega@reddit
I lived there a while ago so I might be out of date. Had to live further out than I would have liked and then moved closer but in a really rough area because the public transport was spotty. It’s a big city without a metro and patchy trains so you need to take buses and the traffic is a bit chocka. Equally makes it hard to get home after a night out without a high taxi charge.
I found it all very expensive if I’m honest but I did have fun and I loved the art and the music. I found the upper class hipsters a bit annoying and there were drugs everywhere, all the time but if you like that then that might suit you.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Transportation is really important to me since I likely won't be driving. Also, I've heard mixed things, but are E-Scooters allowed in the city?
Someone said they were illegal 🤔
ribenarockstar@reddit
For what it’s worth, I (early 30s) moved to Bristol a few years ago and I’m now looking to move to Bath.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I'd love to know why you're switching. I've looked at both but still on the fence
ribenarockstar@reddit
The best way I can describe it is with reference to my favourite queer cafe in Bath, Daisy and Bean (now closed, sadly). I was talking about it to a friend, and said "if that same cafe were in Bristol, it would be a couple of miles up one of the high streets, and take an hour on the bus to get to, or it would be really grubby in vibe and proud of it." The nice bits of Bristol are really nice, but they're also really expensive, and public transport is terrible/ the city takes way longer to move around than it should for its size. For less money, I can live in Bath, and commute by bus or train, but have *Bath* on my doorstep. (Context is that I'm long-term single - though hoping that might change one day - and don't want kids - which isn't going to change - so I'm not looking at 'family house' type houses but rather central flats and small houses)
JohnCasey3306@reddit
I dare say 80% of the criticism applied to any city, applies to any city.
If nothing else, Bristol is lovely for a long weekend break ... Book into a hotel, get a feel for it.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yes i was thinking of getting airbnb for a month just to get a longer feel for it because you're right, could apply to any city
TheGentlemanddragon@reddit
Bristol is Swansea but pretentious
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Pretentious in what ways?
TheGentlemanddragon@reddit
Just got a bit of a snooty, posh student vibe!
I do say this with my tongue in my cheek though, its a brilliant city with great music. Swansea is a little jealous
-Enrique@reddit
Bristol has a lot going for it. The culture scene is very good - lots of live music, exhibitions, plays etc. - there are areas which are quite attractive, lots of good pubs and restaurants, you're not far from some stunning countryside and there's a lot of other towns and cities which are very accessible from it.
However it's also incredibly expensive, there's quite a few areas which are pretty dodgy and deprived (yet it's still expensive in those), quite a lot of homeless and drug addicts, traffic and public transport are awful and there's a lot of petty crime (bike thefts are very high and you get a lot of feral youths)
Are you coming from London? There has been a huge London > Bristol pipeline in recent years which is part of the reason housing and rent is so expensive
Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit
I used to work in the Watershed for GWR - Bristol was at it's best back then I think
PutAutomatic2581@reddit
The culture and drugs go together.
-Enrique@reddit
Kind of although most of the serious drug addicts are not really interested in arts and culture. There are also a lot more habitual drug users in Bristol compared to other cities though and the culture has some impact on that. I guess it's all the same market at the end of the day too
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
See the music, theatre, artistic elements are what really appeal to me.
I also heard there's a board game culture there as well which I know I'd love.
No, not coming from London, but i heard a lot of people are which apparently is driving up housing costs.
Do you find that to be true?
Or is housing a challenge no matter where you end up?
daddy-dj@reddit
I lived in Bristol nearly 30 years ago now, and it was already expensive back then, so it's not people from London moving there that drive the cost up.
I've lived in several places in the UK since, and Bristol is probably the one I'd be most happy to move back to.
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
I moved back there (had lived there as a child) 16-17yrs ago and didn't find the rents horrific, I was on a low income too. I did have to live in shared houses and didn't live in fancy areas.
I had moved there from another really expensive place though, my idea of 'ok' rent was skewed towards the pricey end.
I can't afford the rents in either city now.
Perfect_Inflation485@reddit
Sorry- but there is evidence now that people moving from Ldn has increased house prices and rents in Bristol. I live in Bristol and know this. Tho it's not the only reason. There are many factors and housing is a huge issue in the UK now and further afield.
timco12@reddit
I live in Bristol and can confirm the board game culture is definitely a thing here!
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
That makes me happy! Would you say it's easy to make new friends at those places? Or is it mostly people who know each other meeting up for game night?
One of things I'm looking for is making new friends (preferably 30s+)
RedditDude2174784@reddit
I'm pretty sure they have social nights at them that anyone can turn up and play with new people or old people they've met there - check out Chance and counters, there's 2 in Bristol I believe - 1 central the other by Gloucester Road (pretty well known part of Bristol that's a long stretch of road full of various shops, bars, restaurants etc) which is pretty lively!
timco12@reddit
Also, run clubs are super popular here if that’s of interest!
timco12@reddit
I think that really depends as it can take some time to meet new friends in any city but yes, there are plenty of Meet-up groups and socials!
Content-Violinist613@reddit
They literally said it in the comment you are replying to.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
You're right and Sunday brain has officially entered the chat...time for more caffeine haha
-Enrique@reddit
Sounds like you'd be well suited then. I probably take it for granted that I could check the listings and have my pick of great live music or theatre 7 nights a week
I think the challenge of house prices is true for most of the city. You'll be paying over £300,000 for a small 2 bed house or over £1,000 a month rent for a one or two bed anywhere in the city, maybe more. Probably need to double that in Redland or Clifton. You can find a place for cheaper in the outskirts like Emerson's Green or Bradley Stoke but then you don't get as much out of the City. If renting properties all get snatched up immediately after listing as well so housing is definitely in short supply
gummibear853@reddit
Everyone who lives there is barking mad. Visited during the time of the horsemeat scandal. Was walking past a butchers on Gloucester Road that had set up a barbecue outside to cook their homemade burgers and sausages. Bloke walking past turned to the butcher and started braying like a horse.
KittyHalfEyes@reddit
Moved to Bristol from London. It’s like going back in-time. Very cultural and arty city. People are friendly and welcoming. Lot of engineering and tech jobs. As an immigrant ( explorer? ) , this the best city i am passing by so far.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Good to know! Which country did you move from?
I've seen on other subreddits it's kind of difficult to integrate so it's top of mind for me.
KittyHalfEyes@reddit
TamilEelam. I have no issues integrating. We usually get the vibe from people depend on what ever the vibe we are giving to them.
wannabewimbro@reddit
I've never lived there. Visited friends who lived there. I've never "got it" in terms of the love for it. Over-gentrified with insane house prices. The working class are priced out for pseudo-liberal middle class who think they want equality when it's them paying £500k+ for a two bed Victorian terrace which has pushed everyone else out. All the "cool" bars, restaurants, clubs etc are not unique imho and just like what you find everywhere else. The town centre is visually derelict. Such an overrated place.
SockSock@reddit
About 10 years ago I lived there for nearly a year before moving permanently to Cardiff and I loved it back then, I still go back a few times a year to see friends. It has changed a lot. Gentrification has hit hard and fast, the character and communities of whole neighbourhoods has changed drastically from one visit to the next. Lots of couples from London have replaced local communities, not a bad thing if that's what you want but it can be jarring going back knowing what it used to be like. Everywhere changes but Bristol in particular seems to have changed faster than other places I know.
GrabbedByTheGhost@reddit
Drugs and tramps everywhere. Avoid.
bars_and_plates@reddit
I think that your experience of it is going to depend on whether you enjoy being in a "vibrant" area.
I like visiting these sorts of places for a quick holiday break but living in them is too overwhelming.
_pankates_@reddit
I live in Bath and have plenty of friends in Bristol, so I think I know it fairly well. It's a great city in my opinion - lots to do, I find people to be pretty friendly. My best friend lives in Totterdown near to a big park and it's brilliant, I don't think it's a particularly expensive area but it's quite pleasant and we've not seen anything untoward any time we've visited, lots of nice families in the park. I have another friend in Redland and it's not as nice, but it's fine, it's not awful or anything. They're fairly close to stokes croft which is an interesting area - it's quite alternative which can be good, but I know it's got a reputation.
That's just my perception anyway - good luck with your move, I hope you enjoy it. I don't disagree that Bath is more boring than Bristol, but I personally like boring, and it's only ten minutes on the train.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I'd actually love to hear more about Bath if you don't mind.
Like what made you choose it over Bristol.
And if it was easy to make friends there (esp. For 30s+)
_pankates_@reddit
Sure - Bath's pretty great imo, it's a beautiful city which I never forget, it's nice to live somewhere that people travel worldwide to visit for its beauty. Loads of history. Shopping is pretty good, decent local theatre and it's no trouble to go to Bristol for tours of bigger shows or more shops. I just chose it based on vibes - it is a slower pace than Bristol and that suits me better, YMMV.
Fairly easy to make friends, there are some great meet up groups (the Bath subreddit can point you their way) including for 30 up, gaming / D&D groups if that's your thing. People tend to be pretty friendly in my experience. Main downside is that it's expensive.
Wide-Budget2332@reddit
I lived in Bristol for 2 years after uni and I got my first grad job after graduating. It’s a lovely city - it’s a nice size where it’s not too big or too small. You can choose to be in the city and then have the countryside on your doorstep. The nightlife is great and there are some pretty cool restaurants and cafes. It’s very creative and all the people I met were lovely. That being said with the creative side there are a lot of quirky activities you can get involved in.
Downside - the traffic is horrendous as it’s so busy all the time. It is expensive. It’s also very hilly and I wouldn’t say the public transport is as good as it could be. Lots of people choose to cycle around but it is hilly so you need to be a certain level of fitness.
I also want to mention that is renown for its nightlife and drugs the drug and drink scene are quite big. You don’t want to be on your own in a wrong area at night but I guess that goes for any city.
WGD23@reddit
Its London lite. Loads going on, lots of diversity in and between different neighbourhoods and good access to great countryside. Probably my favourite UK city, having lived there is at different stages of my 20s & 30s. I would say the crime thing is a bit overdone in the responses here, but it for sure has all the socioeconomic challenges you would associate with a big city.
Why not just buy a caravan, park it up somewhere and give it a try? If it suits you can buy a habit, sorry, I meant house. Personally, and similar to what someone else has said, i wouldn't want to be more than a couple of miles outside of the city centre, but choose wisely. Now I'm middle aged I'd want a decent income to live there, it can be frustrating seeing everything going on and not having the resources to participate.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Has literally nothing to do with London. London lite, absolute rubbish.
Hot_Growth_9643@reddit
Bath is better. Live there if you can afford it. If you can’t - Bradford on Avon is worth a shot too-
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Bath is like living in a tourist bowl and gets boring after a while.
nogeologyhere@reddit
To live in Bristol is leagues above Bath. Bath is too touristy, and way too expensive.
CaptainVXR@reddit
I've lived in both cities for most of my life, Bath gets boring very quickly. Other than Oldfield Park, most of the residential areas have pretty few amenities. There's not really equivalents of Whiteladies Road, Gloucester Road, North Street etc.
Living in Bristol gives you far more options of things to do, plus easily being able to do day trips to Bath, Bradford on Avon etc.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
How's transport in Bath?
Hot_Growth_9643@reddit
It’s fine it’s on the main line to London
Contrarian1234567@reddit
I go for work occasionally, very vibey and fun!
ShufflingToGlory@reddit
I think it's great.
What do you want? City life? Leafy towns and villages on the outskirts? Suburbs?
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I like the idea of laid back, cozy cafes and green spaces. Someone told me Clifton is a good match for that but I need to research more on that front.
I'm a (social) introvert, so I like having access to a variety of activities, but I don't want to be in the thick of it at all times if that makes sense haha
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
Henleaze, Westbury on Trym or Stoke Bishop don't have the cafes etc but lots of green space which might suit. Very expensive though.
WinglyBap@reddit
Check out the St George area as well. It has the best park in the city and will be a lot cheaper than Clifton.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
St George is a shthole compared to Clifton though.
Happily-Incorrect@reddit
Really easy journey into town from there too so you get the best of all the areas.
Briecap@reddit
Bishopston/Gloucester Road area probably more so than Clifton.
ShufflingToGlory@reddit
Nice! Clifton or Westbury on Trym would be the places my mind first goes to. Westbury being significantly more quiet with more of a village vibe.
Tsarinya@reddit
Clifton is very expensive. For that sort of vibe it might be best living outside the city but somewhere with transport links?
yolo_snail@reddit
Funny accent
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I've only heard a few accents.
But I am curious, do you find that some people "put on" an RP accent depending on who they talk to? Because I've experienced that a few times
Particular-Quit-630@reddit
You really don’t hear Bristolian accents in Bristol very much. There’s only a few pockets in Bristol who have what many consider a ‘Bristolian accent’.
Wonderful_Falcon_318@reddit
You hear them all the time outside the student/trendy areas.
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
Some of my Bristolian relatives have strong accents, others don't. One told me she deliberately made her accent less 'Pirate Farmer' when she moved away from Bristol.
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
Definitely. A couple of my Bristolian relatives do it, only the older ones. The younger ones don't care that they sound like Pirate farmers.
Further out suburban areas tend to have more Bristolian accents, inner city is full of toff sounding students.
Shire, Sea Mills, South Bris, outer suburban council estates- Withywood, Hartcliffe, Bedminster and further out in that direction have more Bristolian accents.
Bemmy Asdals is sometimes full of local characters (that's olde-Bristolian for ASDA btw.)
Leeroywildman@reddit
I’m a Bristolian born and bred. Yes I’ve that pirate-farmer accent and i wouldn’t want to live anywhere else!
otterlyamazing2000@reddit
I lived in Bristol for 5 years previously and am moving back in summer depending on my work situation. I absolutely love it, it has something for everyone and is a very progressive place where people seem generally friendlier than where I’m from.
Also lots of beautiful nature around and Wales/West Country just on the doorstep.
A very easy place to find community in comparison to other parts of the UK.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I've noticed there are quite a few cool places to visit around it for day trips so you're right!
Also, what neighborhoods would you recommend (currently looking at redland / clifton)?
RedditDude2174784@reddit
Check out Totterdown or Bedminster (North Street is more gentrified, East/West street is likely to follow in the coming years)
QuizzicalSquid7@reddit
Brilliant place for anyone LGBTQIA+, neurodivergent (already mentioned here) and arts scene it’s incredibly strong. If you like weird and off the wall dance music it’s basically heaven for that.
When I was 18-22 I really wished I had gone to Bristol uni and loved visiting. It was everything I was looking for in a place. However, visiting now that I’m older it’s startling how studenty it actually is. A lot of (imo) soulless pubs, rah accents and a kind of lack of authenticity to it.
A lot of people who stayed in Bristol kind of get sucked into that lifestyle. I live in London and have a range of friends from all over the city in all different professions. In my experience, you talk to people from Bristol and they seem to genuinely believe that finance is the devil and anyone who isn’t covered in tattoos and thinks maybe capitalism isn’t so bad is a demon. Bear in mind some of these people were originally private school themselves.
Bristol is a fantastic place to be young and there is a lot I love about it. Not sure it’s for me anymore but that’s ok - it’s good to visit. I’d recommend doing a long weekend there, go for some big walks, try out Lakota/Sawmills/Black Swann or any of the other amazing clubs. That’s where the place shines.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yeah see, that's my hesitation. I've lived in university towns before, and while there are definitely places to go for people no longer at uni, I've found a lot of decisions (economically) are typically made around universities (not sure if that's the case in Bristol).
Also, want to find friends in 30s+ range so not sure how easy that would be...
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
Imo it's an easy place to make friends. I moved back at 30ish after not living there since childhood. The only people I knew there were family members and a couple of family friends.
I made friends fairly quickly through volunteering in an area of personal interest, a good way to meet likeminded people.
nogeologyhere@reddit
You'd have no problem. It's probably the easiest city in the country to make friends in, for some reason.
Mammoth-Passion-413@reddit
I was born there. Lived there for 40 years and miss it - It depends on the area you are considering
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Looking at redland / clifton areas but others on this thread have given me other options to look into as well.
Main thing for me is wanting to make friends late 30s+, chill laid back cafe feel (but option to go to lively places), music, theatre and green spaces (i need nature).
mahler_1@reddit
Every city will have good and bad points. As a Brummie I'm used to hearing negative comments on my great city. I visited Bristol for the weekend a couple of years ago and thought it seemed a great place. Yes it had its fair share of trouble but then you go to Clifton and it's a different world.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I'm looking at Redland / Clifton area and that's what it seems like (different world). So you're definitely right in that front!
RevolvingGoose@reddit
Tbh if you're thinking of moving to somewhere with the vibes of Clifton but it's a bit on the spenny side for you, then you're probably better off in Bath.
murrayflew@reddit
If you can afford to live in these areas then Bristol is great, you could also try Henleaze which is slightly up from Clifton but right next to the Downs (huge green space) and is like a village of its own but with really good access to all the exciting parts of Bristol and very very low crime. I lived there for 4 years and loved it, it’s got a great cinema and the pub that they used in The Young Ones.
With those areas you’re also close to Redland Common, which is a lovely little sun trap green space in the summer and just across the Clifton Suspension Bridgr you have Ashton Court which is a sprawling green space overlooking the whole of Bristol, and Leigh Woods also.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I do love green space and I've not heard anyone mention Henleaze so I'll definitely check that out. Thank you!
Zestyclosereality@reddit
I've got mates who live in Hotwells (kind of south of Clifton) and it's such a great place to live. They're so close to Clifton, Redlands and walkable to the city centre as well.
The only issue is parking, but you don't necessarily need to drive in Bristol.
nogeologyhere@reddit
Redland and Clifton are legitimately lovely. If you can afford to live in either, you'd struggle to find a nicer urban area outside of London. So much choice for cafes, bars, independent shops, pubs, restaurants.
Wiltix@reddit
Like living in any major city that has improved in the last decade you have the gentrified nice parts, then the parts that got left behind. Some parts got left behind more than others. But how is this any different to nah other major city in the UK.
Bristol would be a great place to live if you like bars, shopping, live music, or social experiences/ activities.
Bristol also has really good transport links, quick to get to Cardif, I believe there is a relatively good train service to London.
Another_Outpost@reddit
It’s extraordinarily expensive, and even if you can afford it, finding a place is an absolute nightmare.
Ok-Humor-5672@reddit
Diverse, expensive to live in the nice bits, less expensive to live in the shit bits, close to some great stuff, got a lot going on, lots of run down low income areas, loads of homeless, great artist scenes, turbo island.
I've only lived in Sheffield and Southampton so hard to compare but I like it better than both of those cities.
coldestregards@reddit
Plenty of things late 30s to do. I’d live there now if I could afford it and wanted to be in a city. I lived in Bristol for 3 years at uni when I was 19-22 but would still spend a lot of time there after that period. I’m 36. I love Bristol. Great music scene (I’d be at gigs a few nights a week, if you’re into that), quite liberal (whether that’s you or not, it’s a fact, a lot of alternative mindsets), good nightlife, arty, shopping, food and drink and coffee, big but not too big, plenty of flights from the airport if you do domestic or international trips, good public transport (buses and trains)
I wouldn’t say Bath is boring, I’ve just always found Bath quite posh and there’s not so much of an alternative scene there, not so much going on I suppose
V expensive for housing but if you’re considering moving there you’ll know this and it’ll obviously be within budget
Educational_Cow111@reddit
I’ve been loads of times it’s amazing but the students do too many drugs
Beggatron14@reddit
All these posts seem the same to me. You will never have everything you want in an ideal world. It’s all about compromise on what will make your own life easier in my opinion.
Only you will know that, just listen to what people say and ask the questions you want to know the answer for, not just because you were told you ‘should’ ask those questions.
Everyone’s position in life are different and actions are carried out for different reasons. So decide on what you want, for you and your family, and pick the best destination on those merits. Every town has all sorts of good/bad things, asked the right/wrong people and you will get skewed answers.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
You don't know what you don't know about an area...
But you're right.
Thinking of picking one of the neighborhoods and staying there at airbnb to get a better feel for it.
Beggatron14@reddit
Not a bad idea if possible for you.
Like I said, speaking to people around the country, everyone loves to hate where they are from but then add the old ‘but it’s …..’ to the convo to make it sound like a nice place.
Even searching good/bad online for a place will throw mixed results, but they will all be on peoples experiences and we don’t tend to factor in ourselves when advising people on things like this.
My opinion, Bristol is great. There’s things it could improve with the infrastructure and ease of access but it’s been trying to move in the right direction.
It’s a cultural place, but also ageless and appreciated by the people there for the most part. A lot worse places to live. As I said, I’d advise to think about your needs as a family and choose accordingly!
Krismusic1@reddit
I've only visited Bristol briefly a couple of times, so my input is not worth much but the regenerated dick area is really nice.
Tequila-Tarn@reddit
I liked how friendly people were and the ease of driving to Devon and Cornwall.
Perfect_Inflation485@reddit
All down to cost. And a few on here clearly don't have to worry about money. Vast majority of us do. Utter chasm between the two, especially in these grim times. However - I live in Bristol and yes there are lots of good things about the place. Lively and cosmopolitan without being London oversized, lots of different village type areas, diverse people... Clifton is beautiful but largely built from the proceeds of slavery. Horribly expensive too - as some people on this thread have said. Unless you are minted (in which case I am trying hard not to hate you), try Redfield/ St George in East Bristol. Area is gentrifying which means getting more expensive - tho still more affordable than many other areas. Best of luck in your search...
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm definitely not minted so feel free to send me positive vibes haha
White_hammer82@reddit
I used to live in Bristol. Live in Weston-super-Mare now. How about Portishead?
dimman117@reddit
I’ll be moving to Bristol also, so I’m curious what peoples opinions are.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Awesome!
What neighborhoods are considering and why?
Also congrats!
dimman117@reddit
Thank you! I’m moving for work and it pays well (for my age), so I’m excited.
I found a room in Sea Mills/Stoke Bishop. Near the train station, so it’s easy for me to get to Clifton Down or town centre for socialising etc, and good access to the m5, which I’ll using to get to work.
But it is nearly impossible to find a room in a good location, in a nice house where you are not sharing with 8+ people for less than £900. It’s much more expensive than I thought.
You can look at places like henbury or catbrain, but at that point you’re so far out from the centre that you might as well live in one of the surrounding villages and commute in. Plus those two places I listed don’t have a train station. Filton does on the other hand, and is more expensive from what I’ve seen.
Where are you considering moving to?
curiouslyopen333@reddit
Lived in Sea Mills for 8 years. It’s a funny place! It’s basically a nice post war council estate (homes for heroes) 80% of which were sold under ‘right to buy’ which made it an ideal first time buyer area (like me). I’m a snob and had concerns, but loved it until kids came along. Easy access to the City, plus some really nice areas nearby - Westbury, Stoke Bishop etc.
at the risk of upsetting people The Mills is very much divided in two - the red brick houses (everything to the east of Shirehampton Road are great, but I wouldn’t want to live on the other side…. It’s er a bit more ‘earthy’.
dimman117@reddit
I found a place few minutes away on foot from sea mills station. Had a drive around and it looked nice, but time will tell how the area is in reality.
Not sure whether it is in the nicer area of sea mills or if the more ‘earthy’ side like you described it!
curiouslyopen333@reddit
We were very happy there until kids meant we needed more space. It’s definitely become more gentrified over the last ten years, but still Bristolian. If you’re down by the station that’s very nice. I wouldn’t have any negatives and it’s one of the few parts of. Bristol that has good bus services.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I'm looking at Redland / Clifton areas. Trying to find freehold but it seems there are more shareholds than anything.
Also, sounds like you're embarking on a cool chapter of your life so live it up haha
dimman117@reddit
Redlands looks nice from what I’ve seen. Not sure what your budget is, but freeholds in that area are going to be expensive.
Yup, new chapter in my life, it’s scary but exciting at the same!
emmayse@reddit
I love Bristol! The public transport may be woeful but it's a really charming city and I've always seen it as the gateway down to Somerset, Devon and Cornwall. The public transport is a bit shit but it's a nice, creative vibe and I've always found it a very chilled place to be. Always had good food and drink there as well and it's a decent connection to London (if that matters to you!)
Upbeat_Vegetable_846@reddit
I loved it for a while (2012-2020), but seeing places like St Paul’s get gentrified and pricing all the culture out really put me off. I have friends paying £1k a month for a 1 bed flat, it’s got ridiculous. I moved to Shropshire, I have a lovely detached house, it’s beautiful, my mortgage is £350
Fungled@reddit
It’s expensive and the traffic is awful. Lots of culture on offer but the days when it was a laid back place seem to be long gone
_lippykid@reddit
I feel like you could list any place on planet earth and you’d get the same mixed bag response. All comes down to your own personal taste and priorities
EstablishmentNo7239@reddit
Lol. Bristol is lovely. Lived there 10 years, and it is an amazing base for getting out in nature (dartmoor, cheddar, south Wales, brean, etc etc), whilst having a great party scene, food scene, art scene, climbing, cycling, circus, job opportunities, all sorts. A lot of people end up living south of the river near bedminster due to price, but i always lived in the vicinity of Gloucester road/Cotham as I liked the area.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Someone else mentioned Cotham! I will look into that for sure
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
Cotham is really nice, central. The steep hills to get up there are a bit of a killer, but there are buses and you may have a car.
ambergriswoldo@reddit
Good: There’s lots to do, good bars and events always on, beautiful woodland and coastlines just a short drive away, it’s like its own little world
Bad: It’s expensive to rent / buy, it’s pretty grimy and grotty, basically like a smaller London, there’s a good amount of people there that are so in their own little world that they aren’t open to other ways of living (super vegans that will judge and rant at you for not ordering vegan / eco warriors that will berate you for driving a car etc)
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm not looking for a London vibe tbh. Want something smaller and more laid back if that makes sense.
ambergriswoldo@reddit
Have you spent much time in Bristol before? For me it’s too loud and too much like London, but if you want somewhere with a good nightlife then you might still like it. In the end that wasn’t enough for me to get over how busy it is
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
No i haven't been there but plan on doing airbnb for a month or so to "get a feel" but preemptively asking questions
thedailyrant@reddit
My Great Grandad died in a hospital there during the war. Adds nothing to the consideration, but I was interested.
quellflynn@reddit
bristols a big city, so are you planning to commute daily? best to get a house in the same area you work I'd have thought.
elbapo@reddit
I have visited and briefly lived.
My impressions are that it is like the 90s never died with all of its vices and virtues.
Yes its vibrant and colourful and stinks of weed. Yes the poshos blend with in quite an interesting way not often seen elsewhere. It has a decent nightlife and music scene.
But on the other hand its fairly ugly what they've done with a potentially nice city. There's a lot of ugly late 80s early 90s development unsympathetic to anything historic. The public transport and pedestrian offer is also stuck in the 90s. Its rough around the edges and (famously) covered in graffiti. And it stinks of weed.
BocaSeniorsWsM@reddit
Many of the answers so far intimate you've got lush/posh/expensive areas (Clifton etc) or rough as arse (St Pauls, Harltcliffe etc), but the reality is 90% is neither; just the obvious scale from one to another that every city has.
There's loads to do. You can drink by the river in the city centre. Plenty of diverse foodie places. It's multicultural, arty, modern, liberal. It's pricey, yes.
There are lots of suburbs that have developed their own community hub village-like feel; southville, Bishopston, St Werburghs/Easton etc
It's bloody great.
JP198364839@reddit
Moved there in 2009. It was fine. Lived in Hanham and then Ashton. Both areas were decent, quiet (where I was anyway) and easy to get into the city centre.
I think it’s a cracking city.
Diplomatic_Gunboats@reddit
Its not difficult to be less boring than Bath. Bath is incredibly boring unless you have an interest in history.
Bristol is significantly more interesting than Bath. And has better transport links to other interesting places.
bluntnwuk@reddit
If you’ve lived in any other major city in the UK, crime is seriously low in Bristol. It’s very tame in that regard. It’s a very friendly and open place, so that has its ups and downs in that you’ll be exposed to all sorts of weird and wonderful people. If you aren’t used to that, maybe it could seem intimidating? But honestly it’s the most chilled of all the big cities in the UK, I’d say.
Zubi_Q@reddit
If money wasn't an issue, Bristol would be my choice. My favourite city!
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Just curious, what kinds of things make it your favorite city?
Zubi_Q@reddit
Just love the vibes, whenever I walk around. It's such a place that is so alive! Love the Clifton suspense area
BuzBuz28@reddit
I guess it partly depends where you’re relocating from. I’ve done from London and Bristol is a million times better. Great community, slower pace, more affordable, nice people. Yeah there’s crime but that’s everywhere, but I wouldn’t say it’s anything abnormal. In Bristol I can be in the countryside within 10 mins or the city centre in 10 mins. I think it’s got something for everyone and I absolutely love it!
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Been checking out surrounding towns / villages as well for potential day trips and you're right so many cool places to see!
smallgreyishbear@reddit
Lived there for just over a year when I first got together with my husband. He did a post grad at UWE and never left. We rented in Clifton, it is lovely but I prefer somewhere with a bit more edge (but then I’m used to living in some of the less salubrious areas of SE London haha).
Made the mutual decision to leave for career progression however we still miss it and enjoy going back for the weekend. Wouldn’t rule out settling there again one day when we quit our jobs. Love the proximity to Devon & Cornwall and London is still really accessible. Cost of living there is probably the biggest negative right now.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Just curious, I won't ask where you live now, but what alternative cities did you consider and why?
smallgreyishbear@reddit
Husband got offered a job in Edinburgh so we decided to take it, spent around 5 years up there. That’s also a great place to live if you have the financial means (and can cope with the weather). Back in London now though and I don’t see us leaving for the foreseeable. Even then it would have to be somewhere with similar attributes but perhaps slightly frenetic (i.e. Bristol).
WastelandOfConfusion@reddit
It’s great for neurodivergent people.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
You know, you're not the first person who has said that to me!
What specifically stands out for you in that regard as pros?
WastelandOfConfusion@reddit
Idk, it just makes you feel more at home and relaxed, you don’t feel continuously judged, and interactions have a better pace.
shellturtlestein@reddit
The question is is it right for you?
Opinions are cheap, action is expensive
Only one way to find out
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
This is true. Thought about doing a month stay at Airbnb in one of the neighborhoods I'm looking at just to get the vibe.
VehicleWonderful6586@reddit
Well worth going there to have a look. My take is it varies a lot by area. It’s a bit creative, quite studenty, a bit druggy, friendly to homeless people as long as they’re not in Clifton, and also has a depressing number of areas full of the usual white working class knuckle draggers who blight most English cities.
BeneficialJuice2878@reddit
I stayed there for a month during work experience. The locals were very rude and unwelcoming. As well, it’s a generally obnoxious area I think.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
What part did you stay in?
I'm looking at Redland / Clifton area since I heard it's a little more laid back and quiet.
MissFlipFlop@reddit
If you can afford Clifton it's nice.
I like Bristol but some areas are so expensive and others are cheap for a reason. So it's becoming a place of big financial divides.
Economy-Fox-5559@reddit
As a born and bred Bristolian this is sadly the most accurate description of the city.
MissFlipFlop@reddit
As a fellow west country lass it makes me sad as well.
I can't afford Bristol.
Accomplished-Fix3841@reddit
I lived in Clifton for three years, and moved out to the suburbs this past autumn. For my tastes, Clifton had too many students. It didn’t bother me while out and about, but the roving lads on Wednesday through Sunday nights, drunkenly making their way home made me feel old and grumpy, lol.
I rented in an eight-flat building where I was told the landlord only rented to professionals and postgrads, but it was mostly young 20-somethings whose parents were paying the rent.
In the end, I decided I was the odd one out.
That said, I still love going back to Clifton / Redland for coffee and shopping.
Flaky-Delivery-8460@reddit
Clifton is the posh bit. One of the charms of Bristol (born there, moved away for uni, visit about once every two months) is the slightly rough edges many areas have. Yes you need to have wits, but it's vibrant and exciting and there's a lot going on.
I'd also look at Totterdown, Bedminster, Hotwells or even Brislington if you don't mind being a bit further out.
South city is better than North imo. Parents now live in Henbury but the issue there is that you need to know exactly what street as one street over and you are in rough bits or in Westbury which is 8 times the price!
Economy-Fox-5559@reddit
I live in S Bristol and have to say of those Hotwells is probably not the place it once was. It’s close to the centre and the harbourside is nice but it’s not a nice area after dark anymore unfortunately. The others you mentioned are definitely worth considering though!
GreatChaosFudge@reddit
Redland/Clifton is well-to-do and expensive, so yes there’s less ‘trouble’ in those areas.
Economy-Fox-5559@reddit
The two most expensive places but definitely lovely little parts of the city. Full disclosure you won’t get much space for what you’re paying as Bristol is one of the most expensive places in the country for house prices but it’s got everything you’ll need in those areas and vibrant community.
Economy-Fox-5559@reddit
Sure it wasn’t just you?
Alexboogeloo@reddit
Bristol is a great place to live. Loads of entertainment and interesting topography. Close to the sea and nature and has everything you could want.
Beautiful areas like Clifton. Plenty of grimy areas too. Investment is happening in the city but it’s got a way to go. It is happening pretty rapidly though it seems. So I guess there are enough investors who believe in it.
The people are way friendlier than the south east but it’s still a city, so not as friendly as village life as twer. They very much more into choosing life than work as their mantra. Which is absolutely no bad thing as far as I’m concerned. Imagine stepping into prime 90’s. Less coke head talk about themselves and think they’re interesting. More pills generation full of discovery and love. That could be the influence of all the music that came out of there in that time?!….
Very popular for cycling but don’t get anything too posh, cos it will get nicked.
Bath is very nice but you’d feel fairly suffocated if you were used to proper city life. Not a lot of diversity with people, shops or entertainment.
Briecap@reddit
From reading your posts, this might be a bit of a rogue one, but have you considered Chepstow? It seems an exact fit for what you are after, as long as you dont mind not living in a city. If you drive the commutte to Bristol is about 30 minutes along the motorway, and it is half the price. If you want community, nature and a demographic in the 35-50 range, that is Chepstow.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
This is the first time someone has mentioned Chepstow but given your description, I will definitely check it out. Thank you!
Highlord_Salem@reddit
I've live in and around Bristol a fair bit during my uni years. Its either a compleat shit hole at times or the best place to be. Its kind of got a little bit of everthing for everone kinda place.
Beneficial_Effort595@reddit
Clifton is nice I live there but there are lots of anarchists in Bristol for some reason.
Kind-Tie5236@reddit
It's had a lot of the creativity and character ripped out of it by insane rents and gentrification, it's still great, just not what it used to be.
Parts of it are rough/so filthy you feel grubby just walking through them. Other parts are well kept, clean and pretty.
Renting is extortionate there. A decent income or the ability to buy a place would be helpful.
There is loads to do, for all age groups. I'd rather live there than where I am now, as an older person, but I can't afford Bristol rents and really don't want to live in a shared house.
I used to live there and have family there, I left due to housing costs/my need to live alone after years of shared houses.
Which areas are best for you to look at depends on your budget.
I like Montpelier, St Paul's and the nice bit of Easton but I'm not one for rich areas, I prefer a mixed area.
Cotham, Redland, Clifton, Bishopston, St Andrews are some nicer areas in the inner city.
A relative of mine got an affordable rental on a council estate further out of town (private rental, not council) if you have a car it's worth looking a bit further out. I'd not rely on the buses.
meggo91@reddit
Have a look on the Bristol subreddit, there are many posts similar to yours that you will find useful.
I’ve lived in Bristol for 10 years and my husband is from here, like any city it has lots of good and bad points. I do find it’s romanticised and overrated by some but then I’m often reminded how much I love it. It has loads of culture, music, great food, lots going on and is small enough to not feel overwhelming while still having all the convenience of living in a city.
If you are looking to move I would make sure you are realistic about the housing market and cost of living here. We are looking to move (having a baby) and for any 2 bed place you’re looking at around £1500 a month. For a room in a shared house it’s more like £800. The housing market is also extremely competitive so give yourself plenty of time to look for something.
There is lots of housing being built on the city but the majority is pricey student accommodation. Also many landlords are turning their places into Air BnBs as Bristol has become so popular. Many local people feel priced out of their home and are having to move out of the city. Me and my husband are considering this but we have long time jobs and family here so are trying to stay.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Thank you I will spend more time in that subreddit!
Also, it seems like there aren't many freehold houses. Are you finding that is an issue as well?
Violet351@reddit
I loved Bristol but it’s really expensive nowadays
iloovehugecock@reddit
I went to uni there and didn’t really like it. The city centre is just shit. Really wide and open but fuck all to do there.
Gloucester Road is just… horrible. I don’t know why I hate it so much but I just do.
My friend was murdered there about 15 years ago. The uni was shit. The place was boring and dirty. I’d never go back personally.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I'm so very sorry for your loss 🫂
Quiet-Rabbit-524@reddit
I’m sorry about your friend and that you had a bad time in Bristol, I think it’s easy to have a bad time here, as much as it’s easy to enjoy it.
Particular-Quit-630@reddit
I would say Bristol punches above its weight and is a great city to live.
However, it is very expensive to buy/rent if you want to live in a nice or popular area, it’s also quite a dirty city and has its fair share of crime.
Job and career prospect are good but the roads/public transport is terrible. For this reason many people cycle even though it’s actually pretty terrible for cycling (unless you live along the Bristol/Bath cycle path).
For this reason I would say the best spots to live are on the cycle path or maybe somewhere like Southville where it’s suburban, but has everything you need and it’s walkable to the centre.
I would say it’s better for people in their 20s than their 30s tbh. But it’s still decent.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm definitely looking to make friends with older age groups like 30s - 50s. I've always been an old soul so i want to connect with people my age or older
CaptainSpazclart@reddit
I wouldn't bother mate the ketamine is shit here nowadays
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Not my thing but noted 😂
Nicename19@reddit
The black swan and chill
iamdadmin@reddit
Bristol is now London commuter belt and has some of the fastest rising housing costs and lack of available properties in the whole country.
Nice place but extremely expensive. Would avoid.
NumeroRyan@reddit
The accent …. like living in a real life Hot Fuzz
Ambitious_Bat5233@reddit
Nah man that's wells, not to be pedantic but they are diffrent accents. Bristol is pirates, wells is the wurzels.
NumeroRyan@reddit
That may be, but it all sounds the same to me.
Ambitious_Bat5233@reddit
Fair, I feel that about some parts of the north.
Rocky-bar@reddit
It's a big city with lots of steep hills and colourfully painted houses.
GreatChaosFudge@reddit
I grew up there. In the 70s/80s it was a bit of a dump. Renewal began after I left and now it’s an attractive, lively city with a huge amount going for it. I think of it as London without the museums (although Bristol does have museums).
If you can afford the nice areas (Clifton, Stoke Bishop, Redland, etc) it’s an ideal place to live in many ways. If you can only afford the rough areas it’s a bit grim - but you still have a nice city centre to escape to, and plenty of parks.
The main downsides are it’s expensive, it’s very hilly (you’ll get fit quick), and the public transport is shite.
If I couldn’t afford to remain in London (which might be the case soon), I’d happily go back to Bristol even though my money wouldn’t go much further there.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
I am looking at Redland / Clifton specifically and it's definitely pricey. Also, freeholds seem to be less of a thing there...
Free-Frosting6289@reddit
For me it's dirty and littered. Run down, unless you're in the rich areas. Roundabouts and roadsides, streets are horrifically littered. It's gross.
FireWhiskey5000@reddit
I grew up in Bristol, though haven’t lived there for over a decade. I found it quite frustrating. It seemed to me to be a big city that had the attitude of being a small town. Maybe things have changed but get anything done like mass transit systems or the arena just gets blocked at every turn.
It’s also very expensive. When my parents moved out a few years ago they got a truly insane amount for their house. Great for them, but it was a large but fairly normal (at least to me) Victorian house.
Maybe it’s common to be a bit meh about where you grew up. It’s an interesting enough place to visit, but I have no personal desire to move back there to live and I’ve never really understood why it’s so popular.
That’s my 2 cents anyway. Like any large city there are nice bits, not so nice bits, bits that are too trendy for their own good.
Quiet-Rabbit-524@reddit
In my mid 20s and lived here for about 5 years. Bristol is a caricature of itself. It’s a creative, gentrified, wealthy, poor, scatty, corporate and fun-loving. You need money to be here, either for rent or drugs.
Unhappy_Performer538@reddit
I visited and I did like the local art scene and found the town to be interesting but I don’t think I’d live there. The level of desperation is a little bit too high for me.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
When you say desperation, do you mean economically?
Unhappy_Performer538@reddit
Yeah. There are a lot of people who struggle financially and with drugs and mental illness. I was there for a few days and it was the middle of the week in the morning and this poor man was rolling on the ground in some kind of drug haze and an ambulance had to be called. And tons of other similar people walking about or panhandling. It is a cool place for a visit. But I’d find it a bit depressing to live.
colej_uk@reddit
How much you encounter this massively depends on what part of the city you are in. Having lived here for quite a few years now I would say maybe it’s a little better than it was 5 years ago, but it still is a problem.
MissFlipFlop@reddit
Yeah. It's either rich and gentrified. Or poor and minimal services for any help.
1whoisconcerned@reddit
I used to live in Weston-super-Mare and often visited Bristol for the nightclubs or Saturday shopping. There is a lot of crime and drugs but no more than any other major city really. It’s nice if you know where to go and where not to go. Got nice theatres and plenty pubs and restaurants.
SaveMeWakeMeUp@reddit (OP)
Yeah I'm kind of prepared since any city has good and bad parts.
What were some of your favorite pubs and restaurants?
1whoisconcerned@reddit
Oh I couldn’t remember them now as this was back in the early 90s.
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