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moving to Bristol

JessB

JessB

New Member
hello! I'm a British-Canadian currently living in Liverpool, but now I'm thinking of relocating to Bristol. I don't know anything about Bristol! I have family in London, so I could go there, except that would mean being in London, and I don't really like it there. There's no coastline for starters; and I've lived in capital cities before and I know what they're like. I've got friends in Glasgow too, but I miss summer. Bristol has summer, right?

Anyway. I've been here two years and have a good job in Liverpool but it's term-time only, plus I haven't got any friends and the loneliness is destroying me. I want some advice about where to live in Bristol. I'm looking for a house share situation, and since I haven't got a job lined up I figure some place pretty close to town without being super expensive would be nice. Good public transport links would be nice too - I can't drive. What neighbourhoods are nice and friendly? I think I could deal with having no friends if I liked the place I was in.
 
What sort of areas do you like to live in? Bristol probably has it all in one way or another but its hard to recommend if youre not sure what people are looking for.

Are you able to take a little long weekend holiday in Bristol first?

You might want to think a little more about the idea of being happy in a place without friends, friends can make you like the place you live in no matter where you are!
 
I like a place that's a little green... with parks nearby, cultural stuff, international food, I like comedy clubs, outdoor stuff; there's no indoor skating rink for miles around here but that isn't a huge thing for me. I'd like to live somewhere prettyish - not super industrial. I don't really need to be close to major supermarkets because I prefer supporting local businesses where possible... I visited my friend in London recently, there's a room opening in her house share but for 500pcm I'd like a living room or a garden or both.

It would be nice to live nearer my friends but I rely on them too much and need to be more independent. Also my friends who live in the UK are all my uni friends from Canada who have moved here, and all the friends I've made since being here were from other countries, which they have returned to. I am British by birth, I'm determined to make some British friends! But I guess after two years without that happening I should probably look for neighbourhoods that are maybe more diverse than where I live now :/
 
JessB said:
Bristol has summer, right?
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Sort of, though we're close enough to the atlantic that it can be quite rainy at times. It's lovely when it is warm though.

JessB said:
there's no indoor skating rink for miles around here but that isn't a huge thing for me.
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Good job, cos Bristol's just about to lose it's one and only ice rink, which is being turned into yet more student accommodation.
 
I hope so, I really can't work out why it's been so hard... Although possibly I should stop standing around Liverpool town centre, weeping and screaming WHY WON'T YOU PEOPLE LOVE ME!!! generally this type of activity gets you mistaken for the world's neediest prostitute, and policemen do not want to be friends.
 
Gerry1time said:
Good job, cos Bristol's just about to lose it's one and only ice rink, which is being turned into yet more student accommodation.
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It would be cool if they made it student digs but kept the rink. Students will put up with anything for a cheaper situation
 
I've lived here 52 years and have no real life friends. :(

Oh and Bristol's a hell of a long way from the sea - though I sometimes fancy I catch a whiff down by the cut ...
 
Depending on your budget, I reckon the Gloucester Road area would suit you (quite studenty, lots of independent shops, close to city centre, loads of restaurants to choose from, nice park nearby). Or maybe the St George area (little further out, another lovely park, Bristol-Bath cycle track, less studenty, multicultural, more house for less money).
 
Yeah, I partly moved here, thinking there was a beach not too far. :facepalm: Still here though, so it's got something. Southville / Bedminster might be other areas you might want to look at. The latter a bit cheaper and less gentrified. Well, I mean, not been made over with new bars and stuff. They're practically the same area though.

The city centre and immediate surrounds are all within walking distance, even if you haven't got everything you want in your locale.
 
Bristol doesn't have a nice coastline really, it's all river mud and industrial zones, although I suppose Severn Beach has a kind of bleak appeal. To get some reasonable beaches you have to go 25 miles to the south of Western Super Mare.
 
bi0boy said:
Bristol doesn't have a nice coastline really, it's all river mud and industrial zones, although I suppose Severn Beach has a kind of bleak appeal. To get some reasonable beaches you have to go 25 miles to the south of Western Super Mare.
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Do any british cities have a nice coastline? Plymouth maybe?

Bristol has those wet steps, that's nice in the summer.
 
lizzieloo said:
Do any british cities have a nice coastline? Plymouth maybe
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Not really except Norwich, which is further from the sea than Bristol.

Another vote for Southville from me in terms of areas of B'tol to live, also Totterdown which has pretty coloured houses and nice views:

totterdown.jpg
 
Hey I'm also a Canadian moving to Bristol. (new trend???) Google seems confused about which neighbourhoods are decent (aside from Clifton). Can people give a yes or no to these areas? Horfield, St. George, Bedminster, Brislington, around Arnos Vale, and where exactly does Knowle get bad? Thanks for any input! I'm coming down in a couple of weeks to actually look at places, but I'm trying to formulate a plan.
 
Teresah said:
Hey I'm also a Canadian moving to Bristol. (new trend???) Google seems confused about which neighbourhoods are decent (aside from Clifton). Can people give a yes or no to these areas? Horfield, St. George, Bedminster, Brislington, around Arnos Vale, and where exactly does Knowle get bad? Thanks for any input! I'm coming down in a couple of weeks to actually look at places, but I'm trying to formulate a plan.
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All of those areas are OK. I'm not sure that I would call Knowle bad exactly, although Knowle West does have a certain reputation. My friend lives there and she is quite middle class, although she seems to like it well enough, apart from the fact that it is quite far from the city centre.
 
Teresah said:
Hey I'm also a Canadian moving to Bristol. (new trend???) Google seems confused about which neighbourhoods are decent (aside from Clifton). Can people give a yes or no to these areas? Horfield, St. George, Bedminster, Brislington, around Arnos Vale, and where exactly does Knowle get bad? Thanks for any input! I'm coming down in a couple of weeks to actually look at places, but I'm trying to formulate a plan.
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Depends who you are that's why those online neighbourhood rating things are crap. I would hate Clifton.
 
If you dislike pavements covered in dogshit, riots and bohos slumming it avoid Montpelier. Apart from that no one areas is friendlier than the other imo.
 
You say the coastline is far like 25 miles is a huge distance, but I'm from CANADA. England fits in my province with room to spare! Besides this week I learned enough environmentalism to feel guilty about wanting to be on the coast :/

It's funny how some people are really selling me on Bristol but there's still an undercurrent of not letting me expect too much. Sometimes I meet people in Liverpool who are almost angry at me for leaving Canada, not because they don't want me here but because all they know about Canada is that it's so fabulous.
 
Teresah said:
Hey I'm also a Canadian moving to Bristol. (new trend???) Google seems confused about which neighbourhoods are decent (aside from Clifton). Can people give a yes or no to these areas? Horfield, St. George, Bedminster, Brislington, around Arnos Vale, and where exactly does Knowle get bad? Thanks for any input! I'm coming down in a couple of weeks to actually look at places, but I'm trying to formulate a plan.
Click to expand...
JessB said:
You say the coastline is far like 25 miles is a huge distance, but I'm from CANADA. England fits in my province with room to spare! Besides this week I learned enough environmentalism to feel guilty about wanting to be on the coast :/

It's funny how some people are really selling me on Bristol but there's still an undercurrent of not letting me expect too much. Sometimes I meet people in Liverpool who are almost angry at me for leaving Canada, not because they don't want me here but because all they know about Canada is that it's so fabulous.
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Jess meet Teresah, Teresah, Jess :D
 
One things's definitely true about Bristol -- it has a great choice of truly excellent pubs. Take advantage say I (posting now from the pub and beer desert that is Swansea :( ).

I'm well jealous of anyone lucky enough to be moving to Bristol. Have fun! :)
 
William of Walworth said:
One things's definitely true about Bristol -- it has a great choice of truly excellent pubs. Take advantage say I (posting now from the pub and beer desert that is Swansea :( ).

I'm well jealous of anyone lucky enough to be moving to Bristol. Have fun! :)
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But Bristol's pubs are nowhere near as good as Liverpool's. If pubs is the decisive factor (and I'm guessing not) stay where you are!
 
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