[remus]

Looks like Im going to be moving to Bristol in the near future, don't really know the place at all though so was just wondering about good/bad areas, how much Im likely to pay etc.

Ideally I'd be somewhere with easyish access to the M4 (east) and not a million miles from a climbing wall (though looking at a map these are kind of conflicting), a supermarket in the vicinity would be a bonus. Probably going to be going for a room in a house share or similar so I guess a studenty area would be better in terms of price, availability etc?

[Duma]

I commute along the m4 east, currently from Redland. don't have to do it at rush hour, but it's normally 10 to 15 mins from mine to the m4. st werburghs is right next to both the m32 and UCR, don't know about room availability though. For UCR st werburghs, Montpelier, st Andrew's are all pretty handy, and pretty easy to get to the motorway. Easton is your best bet if you want to be walkable to TCA, also ok for m32. bedminster/southville is good for redpoint (worst of the walls IMO though) and handy for the centre, but most awkward for getting to the m4.

[remus]

Nice one, cheers.

Is there much to choose between Montpelier/St. Andrews/Easton in terms of crime or is it not enough of a problem to worry about?

[abarro81]

I have Easton in my head as being pretty ghetto compared to the other two, but then growing up in Clifton I never really went there so it may just be a rep..

[Duma]

st andrews is fine, quite well to do. Montpelier/st werburghs is ok, right next to st Paul's though which you prob won't want to live in. don't know Easton well enough to comment really. I'd avoid st Paul's, fishponds, knowle. are you bothered about nightlife etc? Gloucester rd/stokes croft is good, north st in bedminster, plus the centre. lots of students in Clifton and cotham. bristol is a fairly compact place. it's a great town, I love it here.

[Duma]

barrows, I think eastons improved of late, but is still prob the more downmarket end. not spent much time there though so no expert.

[abarro81]

Ah cool, yeah, I think of Easton as being worse than St Pauls, but I've not lived in Bristol for more than a few weeks at a time for 7 years now (damn that makes me feel old!)

it's a great town

+1

[remus]

Not too bothered about nightlife, a couple of decent pubs in the immediate vicinity wouldn't go amiss though.

[JackAus]

I lived in Bedminster for a couple of years. Loved it there. Lived just off North Street, half hour walk to TCA, Spotted Cow just around the corner, 15min walk the the centre.

I looked at a place in Easton and when I went to view the flat, there was a shooting just across the road like an hour earlier..... Funnily enough, didn't move in..

it's a great town

+1

+2

Really liked it. Definitely miss living there!

[SA Chris]

I lived in Bradley Stoke. It was shit - avoid. Easy access to motorways though, which was what I needed. Otherwise it's a great place, but if you are moving from up north you will miss the amount of easily accessible evening bouldering.

[shurt]

If you are moving from up north you will miss the amount of easily accessible evening bouldering.

It took me years to get over this. However, you can do a three pitch 3 star classic on limestone after work.
Agree with most of what people said. Avoid Easton. St Andrew's is a bit dull, Bishopston better as close to Glos Rd and good pubs. I lived in Montpelier for years and had a blast. Close to Werburghs wall. St Werburghs is only Ok in my opinion. I find it a bit depressing. I would avoid living in areas right next to the border to rough parts I.e. close to St Pauls or Easton as you're more likely to get car or burglary probs.
Something no one has said yet is get a bike. It makes getting about to walls, town etc easy and cheap. As Duma said everything is pretty close together if you live vaguely centrally (Bradley Stoke not included Chris!). Also living in north Bristol makes evening cragging harder work as the gorge is south and driving through town after work is busy. Sounds like you working up near M4 so this would be an issue anyway.
I've given up on all the walls apart from TCA but if you like.routes then werburghs is good for that but they don't change it around that much. The circuits at TCA change practically monthly.
Ok, ramble over. Bristol is a nice place. Good striking distance to Devon, Cornwall, Pembroke and Dorset. I like Dartmoor a lot too...

[SA Chris]

Not to mention the delights of Wye, S Wales and Ogmore.

[remus]

Good info, cheers gents.

[BiggaG]

In what way is St. Werburghs more depressing than Montpellier? Ok, it's next to St. Paul's but I have never had any problems in the last seven years I have lived here. I know a lot more people who have had problems in Montpellier due to the addicts coming from stokes croft. 

I thinks places like Montpellier, St Werburgs, the nicer parts of Easton are ideal in terms of climbing as you are close to the main climbing walls and you are also near the M32, so escaping the city is easy.

[douglas]

I can put you in touch with a climber with a room to let if you need? St George area.

[shurt]

In what way is St. Werburghs more depressing than Montpellier? Ok, it's next to St. Paul's but I have never had any problems in the last seven years I have lived here. I know a lot more people who have had problems in Montpellier due to the addicts coming from stokes croft. 

I thinks places like Montpellier, St Werburgs, the nicer parts of Easton are ideal in terms of climbing as you are close to the main climbing walls and you are also near the M32, so escaping the city is easy.

Only my opinion dude. I lived at the top end nowhere near stokes croft so never had  any probs