Thinking of moving to the Centre of Bristol?
Caz Blake-Symes • August 18, 2020
Home to tech giants, inventors and engineers, Bristol is a buzzing city renowned for both innovation and the arts.
A vibrant and buzzing city, Bristol has lots to offer both its residents and visitors. From excellent schools to a sensational arts scene, it has all the attractions of a big city – and on a scale ideal for walking.
What to expect living in Bristol
The Sunday Times named Bristol the Best City to Live in a few years ago, but it has always been a popular place to set up home. The proof is in the wide range of architectural styles spanning centuries that the city’s residents have left for us to enjoy.
The oldest building in Bristol is St James’ Priory, which dates back to 1129, but there are more than 50 Grade I and 3,000 Grade II-listed buildings to explore too. It is not all old buildings, though. In fact, much of Bristol was rebuilt after the city was bombed during World War Two. Modern high-rises such as the Castlemead building sprang up in the spaces left behind, adding new architectural designs – and homes – to the skyline.
At the start of the 21st century Bristol Harbourside underwent its own regeneration. The area is now filled with chic bars, restaurants and music venues. From the mid-1980s, Bristol’s multicultural mix gave rise to a creative and cool subculture, resulting in the musical explosion of the 1990s – Massive Attack, Tricky, Roni Size to name a few.
This sowed the seeds towards Bristol’s reputation as an attractive alternative to London for those in search of an edgy urban vibe. And if you’re looking for endorsement, Buzzfeed has even published “19 Things Every Londoner Learns When They Move To Bristol.” But with so many attractions – and a great quality of life – word seems to have got around; house prices in Bristol have increased by 24% in the past five years, according to Zoopla and that trend may look set to continue.
Where to start your property search
Bristol is divided into several neighbourhoods and suburbs, including Hotwells, Clifton, Montpelier, Redland and St Pauls, and each has its own personality.
Clifton: This small town just outside the city centre is always likely to remain desirable. It is perfect for students because of its proximity to the universities and its range of large huge houses, many of which are split into flats. But Clifton is also popular among home-hunters with bigger budgets for its glorious period homes, village feel and independent outlets.
Redland: If you’re looking for more intimate accommodation and a quieter life, Redhill offers reasonably-priced one- or two-bedroom flats in the city centre that are close enough to the action, but still a bolt hole to escape to.
Bedminster: Bedminster – or ‘Bedmo’ as it’s locally known – is one of Bristol’s most up-and-coming areas. Rows of once scrappy Victorian terraces are now much
improved but buyers can still find the odd bargain.
Stokes Croft: Bristol’s answer to east London, property in Stokes Croft is already going for a premium as trendies, yuppies and hipsters move in. Living in the Croft is to be surrounded by cool new businesses, artistic graffiti and artisan coffee shops.
Property types
And what about the type of property you will find in Bristol? If you are in the market for stately Georgian villas, then Clifton’s Royal Crescent to the west of the city is your best bet.
And for a trendy suburban lifestyle, the Victorian terraces of Montpelier are ideal – or you can find sleek modern apartments in Broad Quay and the Harbourside.
With two universities and several campuses within its boundaries, Bristol also offers plenty of student digs. So if you’re looking to invest or buy a place for your student offspring, as well as city centre flats, look to the suburbs beyond Clifton, Cotham or St Werbburgh’s, where you’ll find plenty of homes with six bedrooms or more.
Things to do in Bristol
There is plenty of history to explore in Bristol. Parts of the cathedral, the Chapter House and Abbey Gate House all date back to the 12th Century. And if you are a fan of the BBC’s adaptation of Wolf Hall you’ll be pleased to know that some scenes were filmed here. One of Bristol’s most famous residents was the visionary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. You will spot several of his great works around the city, including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which links Bristol to Leigh Woods in Somerset. Bristol Harbourside is home to the SS Great Britain, a passenger steam ship moored in the Great Western Dockyard. Now a museum ship, you can climb on board and find out more about Brunel and life at sea.
Finding jobs in Bristol
Part of the draw of Bristol is the jobs market – particularly when it comes to high-tech companies. According to a recent Tech City report, the sector employs 62,000 people. Hewlett Packard has a research laboratory in the city, while many smaller businesses make everything from silicon chips to websites. The growth of the tech sector looks set to continue with several enterprise zones springing up throughout the city. Bristol Temple Quarter, in particular, is home to businesses dedicated to developing high-tech, low-carbon and creative solutions.
Bristol retains its strong links to the aerospace industry having been a centre for aeroplane production during the War. Today BAE Systems, Airbus and Rolls-Royce are all based in Filton, north of the city.
Getting in and around Bristol
Getting to and from Bristol is simple, thanks to its connection to both the M4 and M5 motorways. The M4 runs from London to south Wales, while the M5 goes from West Bromwich, near Birmingham, to Exeter. Getting around the city itself by car however is trickier. Many roads are undergoing improvements to help ease the increasing volume of traffic. Bristolians therefore often choose to cycle, although the hills can make it hard going.
The city is also serviced by two key train stations: Bristol Parkway and Bristol Temple Meads. Trains arrive here from London, Wales, Birmingham and the north east of England.
If you want to get out of the UK, Bristol Airport offers easy access to destinations throughout the UK and Europe, with low-cost flights provided by the likes of Ryanair and easyJet.
We have excellent relationships with numerous estate agents in the Greater Bristol area and will be delighted to put you in touch with the most appropriate lender.
For further details and to book your FREE CONSULTATION with one of our expert Mortgage Advisers please contact us
Bristol Mortgages Online www.bristolmortgagesonline.com
Tel 0117 325 1511
Bath Mortgages Online www.bathmortgagesonline.com
Tel 01225 584 888
Exeter Mortgages Online www.exetermortgagesonline.com
Tel 01392 690 888
Email info@swmortgages.com
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Stepping onto the property ladder is one of the most exciting milestones in life. However, between understanding deposits, navigating affordability checks, and choosing from thousands of deals, the process can quickly feel overwhelming.
Whether you are looking for property in the Bristol, Bath or Exeter areas, working
Saving for a house deposit remains the single biggest hurdle facing first-time buyers in today’s property market. As a result, more parents and grandparents are searching for ways to step in and give the next generation a head start. The good news? If you’ve built up equity in your own home over the years, you may be able to support your child without having to drain your cash savings or liquidate investments. 4 Main Ways Families Can Help First-Time Buyers 1. A Cash Gift (Gifted Deposit) This is the most straightforward route. You provide funds directly to your child to put toward their deposit or purchasing costs. • What lenders require: A signed gifted deposit letter confirming that the money is an absolute gift with no expectation of repayment, along with proof of funds showing where the money originated. 2. Releasing Equity From Your Own Home If your capital is tied up in your property, a remortgage or a further advance allows you to unlock cash built up in your home equity. You can then use these released funds to fund your child's deposit without dipping into your emergency savings. 3. A Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor (JBSP) Mortgage A JBSP mortgage allows you to add your income to the mortgage application to boost your child's overall borrowing power. • Key benefit: While you share responsibility for the monthly mortgage repayments, your child remains the sole owner on the property deeds. This avoids triggering additional Stamp Duty costs that usually apply when purchasing a second home. 4. Family-Assist or Springboard Mortgages If you prefer not to give money away permanently, a family-assist mortgage lets you place savings into a linked collateral account or secure a portion against your property equity. • How it works: Your savings act as security for your child’s loan for a set term (typically 3 to 5 years). Provided all mortgage payments are kept up to date, your money is returned to you at the end of the term. What Lenders Will Look For When submitting a mortgage application involving family help, lenders will carefully inspect the source of funds to satisfy UK anti-money laundering regulations: Gifted Deposit Letter Signed declaration stating the cash is a non-refundable gift. Proof of Funds Bank statements showing the accumulation or source of the capital. Overseas Documentation Extra verification and audit trails if funds originate from family abroad. How Bristol Mortgages Online Can Help Navigating family mortgages and equity release requires choosing the right structure for both your family's finances and your child's long-term independence. Whether you want to explore remortgaging your home to release funds or structure a Joint Borrower, Sole Proprietor arrangement, our specialist, Phil Clark, at Bristol Mortgages Online, guides you and your child through every step of the process. Ready to explore your options? How to Contact Us for Advice Phil Clark will personally deal with your enquiry Tel 0117 325 1511 Email info@swmortgages.com Complete a form via our website www.bristolmortgagesonline.com Please remember: YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE • #BristolMortgagesOnline • #BristolMortgages • #BristolMortgageBroker • #Remortgage • #RemortgageAdvice • #MortgageBroker • #helpfromparents • #equityrealease • # gettingonthepropertyladder
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