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. 

4.59
Average Location Score

Excellent

71%

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

Expand Map
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

Write a Review

Good value at city centre

Review Date Dec 2021

Absolutely fantastic location and very quiet if facing away from the street. Good value for the rooms, although there’s no on-site gym or game room etc, the location is central enough to be close to everything. Pet friendly policy is a big bonus. Only anti social behavior is from the tenants – some of them smoke weed and the smell is left in the lift or circulated inside the whole building.

Please review your development:

Spacious rooms, abundant and great furnitures. Ventilation system is of good intention but can bring in others’ cooking smell as well as weed smell. Management usually reply promptly except for maintenance. When logging out maintenance jobs online, they often get ignored or auto-closed or delayed by many days.

Parcel delivery is another big trouble because no mailman would use the hidden away parcel room. Due to that our parcels keep getting lost.

Great parking lot except when some people bring in visitors – they may park illegally at someone else’s space and there’s no way to stop them, especially on weekends.

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

Quiet and safe neighborhood at a central location. No receptionist to receive parcels. Ventilation system may bring in unwanted smells into the flat.

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

They are friendly and willing to help us with our concerns. Responses are prompt.

4
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
5
Value
4
Management
Read all Read less

Was this review helpful?

Report

Report

Classy little apartment

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2021

Super lovely area of Bristol! Close to everything, whilst being just far away enough to have peace too

Please review your development:

Modern development, apartment finished to a very high level. Finished to high standard throughout. Really good that pets are allowed. Was main reason moving here. Includes everything you’d need. Building is always kept very clean and hoovered by the full time cleaners and staff here.

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

Would be good to know if the windows are or aren’t going to get cleaned

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

Yes they fixed our light switch quickly. Came out soon after we emailed for them

3
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
3
Value
3
Management
User submitted image of Redcliff Quarter by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1
Read all Read less

Was this review helpful?

Report

Report

Hongkongers living in Bristol

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2021

The location is very convenient when you have to gain frequent access to the city centre. Though, it appears that there are some many drinkers during the night, especially in the weekend and their noises and over excited behaviours would have scared some people.

One of the shortcomings is that there is no parking for tenants, especially for us living in the Tannery House. The property management office is located too far away and it seems we are helpless or being left unattended when in need or emergency. For a place that accommodate for over a hundred of households, we would think that there should be a site office with at least a small team of staff who will answer and respond to tenants daily issues.

Please review your development:

As a newcomer to UK from HK, I used to live in densely populated building clusters with busy daily traffics. Therefore, the convenience in getting access to or out of our residences is very important as we always have to rush to work, come back late and 24hr accessibility. But in here, we enjoy a more spacious living environment which is quiet and less stressed.

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

There may more Hong Kongers coming to settle in UK and they all have the need of finding a temporary home. Private renting shall be one of their options especially for people who just arrive some cities or places in UK. I would suggest the building management can take this potential tenants’ need into consideration in help the new immigrating families.

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

We just moved in the residence for less than 2 weeks and many things have to be adjusted and observed. In overall, the building management is responsive to our questions or inquiries but may not be helpful or solving the problems right to the point. They may give us a lot of information but may not be the answers. We still need to apprehend their replies with some personal guess.

4
Facilities
4
Design
5
Location
4
Value
3
Management
Read all Read less

Was this review helpful?

Report

Report

Overall good

Verified Resident
Verified Resident
Review Date Dec 2021

We chose this as it allows pets. Location is great and it’s quiet enough. However a lot of drunk people are usually around at night in front of the property who pee and vomit near the entrance.

Please review your development:

Design is good and it’s very spacious, and allows furniture to be placed very well. Kitchen amenities are at good quality. Not sure why the oven light burns out and the same happened just the next day after the repair. In our flat the underfloor heating in the en-suite bathroom is also not working and not fixable by their maintenance team.

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

People around the bar at night who pee and vomit a lot, which I see a few times a week

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

Yes, although not all issues can be addressed I think it’s acceptable.

5
Facilities
5
Design
5
Location
5
Value
4
Management
Read all Read less

Was this review helpful?

Report

Report