Moving to Bristol -- Where's good to live?

Aggerdoo

Hey
I've recently found out I will be moving to Bristol in September for a new job. I am just starting to look at where I should live.
I will be working near the Aztec West business park, I plan to commute by bike. Just wondering if anyone can suggest any nice areas to look at living/any places I should avoid at all costs?
I've heard Clifton and Redland areas are nice and St Pauls not so nice?
Filton is obviously a lot further north and hence closer to where I'd be working just wondering what it's like as a place to live?
I'm 23 so would like somewhere where there is a bit going on/easy enough to get to somewhere to do things.

Any advise/tips would be great, thanks in advance for your help.
Also any good things to do/go riding (on and off road) etc.

Cheers
Aggerdoo

rmw

Clifton and Redland are expensive but possibly the best areas. Filton is OK (good and bad bits) but not much happening there so at your age I'd look at Bishopston/St Andrews or Cotham which neighbours Redland. They are on the main A38 route directly out to Aztec West (5-7 miles) and have more of a vibrant social scene and is near enough to Bristol city centre for night life.

rjsterry

Depends what you mean by nice. Clifton is nice, but while The lower end of Gloucester Road might be a bit more gritty, you might find it a bit more interesting too. The suggestions above are probably a happy medium.

sloppyschleckonds

Bath

Daz555

Cycling to Aztec limits your options.

Areas around Cheltenham/Gloucester Road would be a good pick with the Stokes Croft end of things being a bit edgier but having some associated cool as a result.

redvee

Daz555 wrote:

Areas around Cheltenham/Gloucester Road would be a good pick with the Stokes Croft end of things being a bit edgier but having some associated cool as a result.

+1 for Stokes Croft cause I lives there, Broadmead/city centre/coach station 5 mins walk away, always a bonus when out as you don't need to save £20 for the cab home. Plenty of pubs & bars a stones throw away.

anonymousblackfg

St Andrews/Monpellier(next to st pauls)/and possibly Horfields (the bit from Zetland Rd up to the Coach and Horses (opposite St Andrews are all good shouts).

Cotham/Redland (Kingsdown?) will be pricey and also consider from there you'll need get up and over the downs everyday. I'd avoid Filton if I were you, lots of cheaper accommodation as a lot of UWE students.

cyclingprop

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Bath

This.

rjsterry

cyclingprop wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Bath

This.

That's the best part of 20 miles each way, down the Railway Path, or over Lansdowne if you are nails, so not terribly practical I'd imagine. It's very pretty, but there's much more going on in Bristol. Also, the pretty bit of Bath is very pricey.

craker

Most of the youngsters we employ (I work in Aztec West) have found digs nearby (all of them in Bradley Stoke) but its proper suburbia out here, still there are trains and buses into town.

Bottom end of the A38 does tick more boxes location wise but means you have to commute up and down the A38 every day. Looks a bit crazy IMHO.

Meanwhile of course I live in Wales and have an excellent commute each morning, though Chepstow nightlife 'aint what is used to be (so I'm led to believe).

rjsterry

craker wrote:

Most of the youngsters we employ (I work in Aztec West) have found digs nearby (all of them in Bradley Stoke) but its proper suburbia out here, still there are trains and buses into town.

Bottom end of the A38 does tick more boxes location wise but means you have to commute up and down the A38 every day. Looks a bit crazy IMHO.

Meanwhile of course I live in Wales and have an excellent commute each morning, though Chepstow nightlife 'aint what is used to be (so I'm led to believe).

Bet the Severn Bridge crossing has been interesting of late. I grew up in South Gloucestershire, and would venture over to the Wye Valley occasionally on my weekend rides. The descent down to Tintern is great fun, IIRC.

anonymousblackfg

you better get voting:

http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Cyclists-d ... story.html

secretsam

rjsterry wrote:

cyclingprop wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Bath

This.

That's the best part of 20 miles each way, down the Railway Path, or over Lansdowne if you are nails, so not terribly practical I'd imagine. It's very pretty, but there's much more going on in Bristol. Also, the pretty bit of Bath is very pricey.

Bath - nein danke, full of pretentious yummy mummy types, hilly as hell and infested with tourists. Bristol way cooler. Cheaper too.

As for where in God's own city, have you thought about Southville (?) or edge of Bedminster if you want to be central? Clifton and Redland v expensive, but nice. Depends on your fiscal situation. Cotham? Used to be a bit student-ish but OK. St Werburgh's OK. Horfield full of Gasheads but otherwise sound. Handy for Ikea.

If you're working out at Aztec, stay in the north of Bristol. Basically, get down there, have a look around and chat to a few estate agents.

Oh, and in case you didn't know - parts of Bristol are really quite hilly.

rjsterry

SecretSam wrote:

rjsterry wrote:

cyclingprop wrote:

SloppySchleckonds wrote:

Bath

This.

That's the best part of 20 miles each way, down the Railway Path, or over Lansdowne if you are nails, so not terribly practical I'd imagine. It's very pretty, but there's much more going on in Bristol. Also, the pretty bit of Bath is very pricey.

Bath - nein danke, full of pretentious yummy mummy types, hilly as hell and infested with tourists. Bristol way cooler. Cheaper too.

As for where in God's own city, have you thought about Southville (?) or edge of Bedminster if you want to be central? Clifton and Redland v expensive, but nice. Depends on your fiscal situation. Cotham? Used to be a bit student-ish but OK. St Werburgh's OK. Horfield full of Gasheads but otherwise sound. Handy for Ikea.

If you're working out at Aztec, stay in the north of Bristol. Basically, get down there, have a look around and chat to a few estate agents.

Oh, and in case you didn't know - parts of Bristol are really quite hilly.

+1 for Bedminster - I lived on York Road overlooking the New Cut for 18 months and really liked the feel of the place.

secretsam

rjsterry wrote:

+1 for Bedminster - I lived on York Road overlooking the New Cut for 18 months and really liked the feel of the place.

Plus it's handy for Ashton Gate

rjsterry

Try as I might, I could never get excited about either the Robins or the Gas. Or any other football team for that matter.

Back on topic, it's probably wildly inappropriate for lots of other reasons, but living in Leigh Woods would mean your commute would take you over the S'pension Bridge twice a day, which would take some beating.

secretsam

rjsterry wrote:

Try as I might, I could never get excited about either the Robins or the Gas. Or any other football team for that matter.

Back on topic, it's probably wildly inappropriate for lots of other reasons, but living in Leigh Woods would mean your commute would take you over the S'pension Bridge twice a day, which would take some beating.

Plus you could take the Rolls when it was raining