Bristol or Basildon dilemma please help

fiftyeighter_2

Ok I give in. Only trying to tell the good things about Essex. It's not all chavs etc. wishing you all the best whatever you decide. And of course.....well done you.

Callie22

We moved out to the south-west from the south-east a few years ago and I'd personally say Bristol over Basildon. You get more for your money (ok, not in Clifton but the outskirts of Bristol and other places on the M4 corridor offer a good standard of living for a lot less money than London and the surrounding areas) and there are some really nice places not far away.

mrsmortenharket

I'm up the road from Basildon. It isn't the Bronx.
There are plenty of areas around as well. Many people work in one place and live in another.
Wages wise, unless you get london waiting then Bristol makes sense from a financial POV.
I know people from the Bristol area and none of them have a good word to say about it.
*waves to fiftyeighter+

geri1965_2

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/bristol-named-britains-best-city-to-live-in-9210931.html

tiger_eyes

Another happy Bristolian here. A beautiful city that I'd recommend to anyone.

savingqueen

There are good and bad parts and people in every area don't forget. People tend to concentrate on the negatives and overlook the positives. Why don't you spend a few days in both areas and see for yourself?
I know Basildon reasonably well and its a bit mixed as are lots of places - yes a few dodgy estates in some parts (some being knocked down to build new housing) but far nicer places outside of those and particularly on the outskirts. Just need to do your homework! Surprisingly lots of green places, easy to get to countryside, woods, country parks, coast, London etc and relatively cheap to live. Plenty of shops and markets, huge range of supermarkets and Lakeside short drive away. Lots of amenities - several sports centres, swimming pools (big new sports centre there), golf course, bowling, big cinema etc and lots for children of all ages to do. Most people are decent and very friendly and areas I have been to have a good community spirit. (know several different people in/around the area)
I have only been to the posher bits of Bristol - very nice but know of friends who lived there and again some areas very different (according to them)

BTW I wouldn't recommend you calling anywhere a XXXXhole - every area is "home" to many people and they won't thank you for what you have said in your post. Make the most of wherever you live and you won't go far wrong.

Savvy_Sue

fiftyeighter wrote: »

What about a place further out. There are some lovely villages, small towns very nearby and very easy to get to Basildon.

fiftyeighter wrote: »

all the outlying pretty villages.

One thing to think about with villages, if you're planning to be there long-term and bring up children, is that what's lovely for young children may not be so good for teenagers. Mind you I'm a Londoner, and definitely not a country person ...

So actually I wouldn't necessarily fix on finding 'the' place to live right from the start.

When we moved our eldest was 12, and a lot of people said things like "there are lots of lovely little villages around Bristol". Why anyone thought that that would be good for us I'm not sure, and certainly it was great as the boys grew older that they could get themselves around the city to see their friends without me having to constantly run a taxi service.

Winter_Phoenix wrote: »

But why don't you get a cheap coach or bus ticket and look it over for yourself?

I would definitely do that, and if you already have the person you want to raise a family with on the scene, go together.

Another thing you need to know about Bristol is that the transport links can be variable. If the job's in Filton, then it's worth looking at the easily accessible areas - you don't necessarily want to be driving through the city centre in the rush hour, and if you're reliant on public transport you definitely don't! If you can cycle, great, but many of the cycle lanes are shared with buses which personally I wouldn't enjoy.

catkins

I don't really know Bristol so can't comment on it but I don't live that far from Basildon and, although not the nicest place in the world, it is not as bad you as seem to think.


It does have some good shops and there are some nice areas. I have a couple of friends who live there and they have never had any problems. One lives in Laindon (she has children) and says she is quite happy living there.


You mention commuting to Basildon but why from East London? East London is not that great, most of it certainly no nicer than Basildon. Why not commute from somewhere else in Essex? As others have said there are some lovely villages not far away or, if you don't want a village, what about Chelmsford, Colchester, Billericay, Brentwood? House prices are not cheap in any of those areas though.