Bristol

Bristol is located in the South West of the UK but it has great transport links throughout the country. It also has an airport close to the centre. Combining city and countryside living Bristol is one of the most popular cities for Londoners looking to escape. This Area Guide gives you an overview of this city and some of the best places to live in Bristol. Including, reviews from residents who own or rent in Bristol. 

4.60
Average Location Score

Excellent

72%

Very Good

20%

Average

7%

Disappointing

1%

Very Poor

1%

Best places to live in Bristol

HomeViews Top Rated Development ranking takes into account the Star Rating and HomeViews Transparency Rating of every development in the area

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Colourful terraced houses in Bristol

Getting Around

Bristol is the wealthiest, happiest city in Britain, according to a survey by MoneySuperMarket. It outperforms other cities in terms of economy and quality of life. With the completion of the Bristol Arena, the high-speed rail reducing the time to London and the transformation of the harbourside, there is a lot going on. The city is made up of a series of areas, each of which has its own unique character.

Best places to live in Bristol

The top place to live in the city is Clifton. To live here you need plenty of spare cash, but if you love original Georgian homes this is the place to be. Redland is also a popular area and slightly more affordable. Both Clifton and Redland are popular with young professionals and are near Clifton Village which offers restaurants and independent shops. Clifton is the default option for many would-be movers with its architecture, shops, schools and outdoor space.

best_places_to_live_bristol_bench_overlooking_docks

If you want to be more central then explore the once-derelict Floating Harbour which is the heart of the city. With views of the harbour, the SS Great Britain and to experience Bristol maritime history this could be the location for you. Heading south towards the centre you will find a number of new developments. Spike Island, previously former docklands can be found between the Floating Harbour and the Cut. Here you will find Steamship House and Wapping Wharf one of the newest waterside developments, which are both great places to rent in Bristol.

“The area is well equipped with pretty much everything you need, lots of small independent shops and restaurants.” Andrew, Verified Resident of Wapping Wharf

“I like the location as it is easy to get around by foot. I dislike the fact that if I had a car there would not be any space as there is not enough car park.” Kristin, resident of Steamship house

Bristol Suspension Bridge at dusk

Outside of the City Centre

Further out Emersons Green and Downend are areas located just a couple of minutes from each other. Each offer easy access to the centre – 20 minutes in the car, 30 minutes by bus or 45 minutes cycling. Popular with families these are great suburbs with excellent schools. Each of which have access to the motorways and the ability to quickly escape to the countryside. Horfield is a good safe neighbourhood which offers plenty of great shopping and local produce. The commute to the city centre is within easy reach only a couple of miles away.

Hanham is perfect for families and the quiet life but closer to the centre than Emersons Green and Downend. But, a great place to rent in Bristol nonetheless and the property prices reflect this. Whilst there are not many new developments in this area you can find the Paintwork Apartments on the waterside just off the Bath Road between Hanham and the centre.

“We love that our children can play around this place and that we do not get to worry so much about them.” Nick, Verified Resident of Paintwork Apartments

Featured developments in Bristol

Paintworks Apartments, BS4

Paintworks Apartments, BS4

Verve
4.12 (14 reviews) 4.12 (14 reviews)
Wapping Wharf, BS1

Wapping Wharf, BS1

Umberslade
4.20 (11 reviews) 4.20 (11 reviews)

Reviews in Bristol

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Lovely modern apartments with some minor issues

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jun 2022

Perfect location, slap bang in the city centre so I can’t mark them down on this. Minutes walk from Temple Meads Station, shops/cinemas/bars of King Street, 10 minute walk to Wapping Wharf. Perfect location

Please review your development:

The development is new and modern feeling. Very clean flats with modern appliances (dishwasher/oven/microwave/convection hobs). The location is the biggest benefit to this development, its right in the middle of Bristol which is perfect. The buildings are on the whole very quiet, but sadly the ceilings aren’t thick enough to prevent loud stompy neighbors from keeping you up. Also an issue of people smoking on the balconies (which is prohibited in the tenancy agreement), but if you aren’t bothered by this then it won’t be an issue. Probably the biggest issue is quite how hot the flats get in the summer, if you aren’t a fan of the heat I would not recommend as they are sweltering.

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

I wish I had known just how hot the flats get in the summer.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Responded fantastically, can’t knock the front desk team. We had a leak coming through the ceiling and they dealt with it the same day.

3
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
2
Value
4
Management
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Staff working on reception are polite and nice.

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jun 2022

Very close to harbour. 10 minutes walk to train station
Regarding parking there is no parking on street and underground parking is paying extra

Please review your development:

Staff working on reception are polite and nice. Facilities in flats are good but there is also issue like in our case where we are still waiting replacement of HOB more then a year. Very good application for reservation (gym, roof lounge). Furnished flats should be more functional furnished

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Flats are good and location is perfect. It would be good if parking was included or at least provided on lower price

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Still waiting replacement of HOB. There is also issue of motion light in utility room (the reason why it is on motion sensor it is still arguing, as it is turning on all the time for no reason

2
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
3
Value
4
Management
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Convenience and community

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Jun 2022

We live in Box Maker’s Yard in Bristol. Although when we initially moved in, post-lockdown, the area was lacking in bars/cafes. However, as people have returned to the area, businesses have opened back up, with a cafe expected to open in the building, as well as a local supermarket, brewery and a vegan donut cafe. This means we have everything we need, right at our doorstep.

Please review your development:

We have loved living at Box Makers Yard, so much that we have extended our stay indefinitely! We love the staff, the facilities (gym, parking, the roof terrace), and have made some close friends. Our neighbours water our plants when we are away, and we have a group of friends who watch the F1 with us in the communal space weekly. The staff are always kind and responsive. I don’t think our quality of life at BMY can be topped!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

Our day to day lives are improved by the sense of community and friendship at BMY – everyone is always up for saying hello, whether in the lifts or the lobby, the gym or watching the football in the communal area.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Usually well. We have noticed a few cracks in our walls, which I messaged through about for attention only. Also the light outside our door in the corridor has been broken for some time, but as I understand it they are waiting on some parts.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Amazing place to live in – great facilities, staff and design

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Apr 2022

Local area is very convenient – 6 minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads (which I am going to miss a lot!) and the new Sainsburys is definitely helpful. The river (2 minutes away) with places like Veeno, Double Puc and Small Goods (best donuts ever!) is great. There are some great restaurants on Old Market Street (25a Old Market, Chido Wey) which is about a 5 minute walk, as well as being a short walk into town (15 minutes) for a wider range (Three Brothers on Welsh Back is our favourite!). I wouldn’t say it has much traffic noise at all. We don’t have a car so we didn’t pay for a car parking space, but when people visit you sometimes get lucky on the permit spaces, or there’s a car park opposite (not the cheapest but handy!).

Please review your development:

Every time people visit us at BMY they compliment us on how gorgeous the building looks – I love the design of the communal spaces and the apartments are done really nicely. We’ve had a couple of minor issues (e.g. sink blocking) but maintenance have always responded really quickly. The cleaning team keep the place spotless too! Design wise, I would only say that some of the cupboard shelves in the kitchen area are quite high up, and it would’ve been handy to tile behind the sink too. Parcel delivery is really convenient and I’ve never had any issues at all. The gym is very well equipped and is never too busy when I go. The staff team are really friendly and helpful, and a lot of effort goes into to organising resident events. We didn’t opt for a flat with a balcony – the roof terrace is lovely, and we’ve rented the private rooms a few times which has been great. It is not the cheapest rent, but you get the high quality you’d expect. We are only moving because we are buying a house, and I am definitely going to miss BMY!

Please share one thing (or more) which you wish you had known before you moved in:

1) Consider the direction that your apartment faces – I didn’t even think about it at the viewing, but I was pleased we got a flat that doesn’t get direct sunlight, as I imagine it can get quite hot. 2) We barely used the heating in the winter as the flats are so well insulated – has definitely helped with finances! 3) They provide mattress protectors which was handy as we didn’t need to buy king-size protectors before we moved.

How has the building management responded to any problems or issues you have raised:

Really responsive – easy to raise any issues via the online portal or calling down.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
4
Value
5
Management
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Manager Response

Hello Matilda, thank you for leaving us a review, we really appreciate it. I will pass on the feedback to Scott and Paul in our Facilities team and Karen and Hayley our Housekeepers do work hard to keep the areas tidy and clean. We do have another independent local company going into the retail unit opening shortly on your door step next to the reception, we are awaiting final confirmation but I know the residents will love it as much as the staff will. We do have different unit types and layouts which face different directions with different views and aspects. When on an apartment viewing the team can give out any information on request for any future residents so they know North, South, East or West directions. The water emergency incident was a serious situation which the onsite team worked with 3rd party contactors to resolve as soon as possible. The debris from the water company along the road while doing their maintenance works had caused sediment to build up in our system filters which had fallen into the open pipe works and was washed into our building. Good luck with your new house and the move when the time comes, that is exciting news. Thank you