Where to live, Gloucestershire?

LizD_2

H2b is applying for a job in Bristol. It'll mean a major move for both of us and the next step up to a family home.

We don't want to live in Bristol (or any city), so we're thinking of Gloucestershire, as the job's based in Frenchay. Any tips?

sciencegeek

dont forget if you decide to live north of the river you will have a bridge toll to pay every day (about a fiver i think). The scenery is very nice though!

Fred_Carno_2

Hi,
It really depends upon how much you want to spend,and whether you want old or new.
i'm looking at houses at present with a view to moving to South Glocestershire area myself.
I live in Chepstow but work in several locations but mainly Somerset way.
Beware the temptation to go over the bridge to Chepstow, Caldicot, and Forest of Dean for the cheaper houses and scenic surroundings as it will cost you £5.10 a day to commute over the Bridge.
It's also a pain if you travel on the Old Bridge which seems to close at the slightest puff of wind these days meaning a detour over the new bridge of 20 miles or so.
South /Glos quite rural going north through Yate, Dursley etc, and onto Stroud but getting more expensive towards the Cotswolds.
Gloucester still reasonably priced and new Kingsway Urban Village being built just on south side - mix of houses from apartments, to 5 beds.
Sorry don't know much about property going south from Bristol though.

If you post what you would like to know in more detail I'll try to assist some more.

Good luck

LizD_2

We'll be looking for a small family home, 3 bed (ideally 4) with a garden. Prefer an older house, somewhere reasonably villagey, but still needs to be within say, 30-45 mins commute of north Bristol. We'll probably be looking at up to £200K.

Fred_Carno_2

Sounds like your price range will get you something nice,best place I found to look was Rightmove.co.uk - at least you'll get a feel for whats around.
As Frenchay is north Bristol you are probably right to look to the north to avoid having to go through city at peak times- traffic in Bristol is not good.
Lots of nice villages noticeably quieter on Severn side of M5 Alveston/Olveston/Thornbury/ way if you don't mind the twin Nuclear Power Stations of Oldbury and Berkeley - hopefully both closing soon though.
I'm favouring Gloucester suburbs/Quedgeley for price reasons - my budget a little smaller than yours, but hoping for 3 beds.
Let me know if you need any more local comment !.

tomstickland

I work near Wotton under Edge.
£200K won't stretch far in Wotton - 2 bed modern terraces were going for £150K last year. Though it's always worth a look.

Several random options off the top of my head:
-Yate: Chipping Sodbury is nice town and then Yate is a big sprawl of housing but nothing particularly wrong with it.
-Thornbury: compact town with moderate amount of housing sprawl on the side of it, but not too much.
-Acton Common
-Aust
-Stroud

The motorway is very busy in the mornings because loads of people live out to avoid Bristol prices.