The Bristol Railway Archive

As my signature says, I live in Glasgow but was brought up in Bristol, and my wife was brought up near Wells. I am now thinking of moving back to the Bristol area, just as soon as I find a suitable job, - mainly to be nearer to my mum (who lives in Leigh Woods) and my wife's parents (who live at Wookey Hole), but also because we both feel it's where we really belong. We've got a 3-year old son and we'd like him to be nearer his relatives.

We'll have to decide where exactly to live, and we are rather constrained in this by the fact that by choice neither of us drives a car. I feel we've been rather spoiled by living in Glasgow with its superb and continually expanding suburban rail network; it's a place where it's quite easy to have a car-free lifestyle. My impression is that Bristol will be rather different, so we will have to choose carefully where we live.

Of course I don't know where I would be working, but let's assume it will be within walking distance of Temple Meads.

We'd like to live near a railway station with a good service, so that seems to restrict our options to Nailsea, Parkway/Bradley Stoke/Abbey Wood Keynsham and Yate. We've visited all of these places and Nailsea seemed by far the nicest.

I wonder if anyone on this group would care to comment on the pros and cons of these places, especially with regard to transport.

I might also mention that we really liked Portishead but not only does it not have a train service - it doesn't even have a bus route that goes to a station!

Hi Andy,
I think your assesment is quite reasonable - you could probably include WSM or Yatton as well - WSM is pretty well rail served to three stations. Being originally from Portishead, the lack of a rail service has been bemoaned for years and nothing has been done. The bus service is shockingly expensive as well (ú7 rtn to Bristol), so probably no good to you at all.
I have to say tho, I don't think the train service is up to much round the Bristol area either, and especially since Farce Late Western took over the suburban services. I've given up pretty much and use a bicycle to get to work.
I personally think Filton's a good place to be and the amount of trains stopping there is huge now.
Happy job & house hunting!

Hi Andy

I think you can safely include the Severn Beach line aswell, which has an approximately hourly service now which will be increasing to half-hourly from December. It's really quite reliable recently, though the line has no Sunday service. Why they think nobody needs to go anywhere on a Sunday I'll never know!

I use Montpelier and Redland stations every day (except Sundays!) and it's really quite OK.

The nicer places to look are around Montpelier / Redland / Clifton Down / Sea Mills / Shirehamption.

Wouldn't recommend Severn Beach as it's a long way out and the train service is replaced by a bus to Avonmouth for most of the day. Avonmouth is OK, but not many people live there.

Stapleton Road (Easton) and Lawrewnce Hill also have a good service but they are quite "bohemian" areas

Julien

jules wrote:Hi Andy


The nicer places to look are around Montpelier / Redland / Clifton Down / Sea Mills / Shirehamption.


Julien

I think Redland & Clifton Down are slightly more upmarket than the other three.

There is not much around Sea Mills station in the way of facilities or housing without a bit of a walk.

Can't recommend Redland, full of students, noise and double parked cars.

And all the resturants I used to like have changed hands.

Andy.

I have always lived in Backwell and although I like living here, house prices have become rediculous. Nailsea has more shops and facilities but can be a fair walk to the station. As a regular visitor to Yatton I would say it is also a nice area and seems to retain some sort of community spirit.

simon wrote:

jules wrote:Hi Andy

The nicer places to look are around Montpelier / Redland / Clifton Down / Sea Mills / Shirehamption.

Julien

I think Redland & Clifton Down are slightly more upmarket than the other three.

Yes, I think we're not aspiring to Redland or Clifton as they're probably outside our price bracket.

By the way, Simon, I noticed when walking around Nailsea that the Head Teacher of Nailsea school is a Mr R.Gildersleeve. Remember him?

[quote="AndyK
By the way, Simon, I noticed when walking around Nailsea that the Head Teacher of Nailsea school is a Mr R.Gildersleeve. Remember him?[/quote]

Gosh there is a name from the past - I would have imagined he was long retired but then age differences mean rather more when you are younger.

simon wrote:[quote="AndyK
By the way, Simon, I noticed when walking around Nailsea that the Head Teacher of Nailsea school is a Mr R.Gildersleeve. Remember him?

Gosh there is a name from the past - I would have imagined he was long retired but then age differences mean rather more when you are younger.[/quote]

He was a young teacher in our day. He was actually a pupil at the Cathedral School when I was in my first year there, so he might still only be in his 50's.

Portishead Prowler wrote:Hi Andy,
I think your assesment is quite reasonable - you could probably include WSM or Yatton as well D

Thanks. We haven't visted Yatton as we thought it might be too small, but perhaps we'll check it out.

We did have a look round Weston but the town centre seemed a bit run-down and the residential areas seemed unnaturally quiet - it felt somehow spooky and menacing. I didn't like it at all.

Weston is a dump.

I like Montpelier...........although its from a students point of view that rail service is good its even more reliable than the local trains back in my hometown Birmingham

You can also consider windmill hill/totterdown both close to bedminster station,not forgetting parson st station which gives bedminster down/part of ashton a service..........problem is in bristol prices will keep rising so don't delay.

How about Yate Chipping Sodbury area?, resonable Train services, boasts a junction station to watch the trains go by, and good bus service the wife commutes every day and house prices are still realistic.

You can also consider windmill hill/totterdown both close to bedminster station

Both Bedminster and Parson Street would have an excellent service ** IF ** the powers that be had the common sense to fnally re-instate services to/from Portishead .....

Until then, regardless of how nice Portishead might be, I wouldn't recommend you moved out there until there is a better way of getting in to town ....