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
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Tel 01225 584 888
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Tel 01392 690 888
Email info@swmortgages.com
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We are thrilled to be celebrating our 17th Anniversary this week.
Phillip Clark founded Bristol Mortgages Online in 2008.
Lower mortgage rates are supporting more house sales against a backdrop of modest house price inflation. Zoopla’s House Price Index tracks key trends in the UK housing market - here’s the latest news in May 2025.
This Edition Includes..
Helping Your Family Onto The Property Ladder
What will happen to Interest Rates This Year?
Easing Stress Testing?
Looking to Remortgage?
Getting a Mortgage with Adverse Credit
Plus lots more…
Mortgage rates are likely to stay in the 4-5% range this year while changes to affordability testing by lenders could give buyers a boost.
Sky high house prices, high cost of living, student loans and rising rent costs mean that getting on the property ladder is challenging. But the desire to own a home remains strong for many young adults.
Now, the affectionately known ‘bank of mum and dad’ (or bank of other family members) may wish to lend or give money for deposits and other house purchase costs. Our expert Mortgage Advisers will be able to discuss all options available to suit your specific family’s situation.
The Bank of England has voted to reduce the Base Rate by 0.25% for the second time this year, taking it to 4.25%. Base Rate was held at 4.5% in March after it was cut by 0.25% in February.
Adapted from Zoopla’s April 2025 Housing report I mage: The analysis uses average house prices from the house price index and for first-time buyers to assess mortgage payments at different mortgage rates applied to a 30- year mortgage, at different loan-to-values. One emerging trend that we expect to positively support market activity in the coming months is a relaxation in how lenders assess the affordability of new mortgages. While buyers focus on the mortgage rate they will pay, lenders also check whether the borrower can afford a 'stressed mortgage rate' at a higher level than the borrower will pay. While the average 5-year fixed rate mortgage is around 4.5% today, many lenders are currently 'stress testing' affordability at 8-9%. This makes it harder to secure a mortgage without a large deposit. If average mortgage stress rates were to return to pre-2022 levels of 6.5% to 7%, this would deliver a 15-20% boost to buying power. An average first-time buyer with mortgage repayments of £1,020pcm at a 4.5% mortgage rate would typically have to prove they could afford monthly repayments of £1,550pcm at an 8.5% stress rate. If the stress testing is relaxed to 6.5%, repayments would fall to £1,275pcm, boosting buying power. It's a similar pattern for the average homeowner, while the actual impact will vary by lender and type of borrower. This change would consequently supporting demand and sales volumes, helping to clear the stock of homes for sale, rather than boosting house prices. Other existing rules and regulations that remain in place will continue to impact the availability of mortgage finance. Comment from Phil Clark “This is potentially very exciting news and will give borrowers a greater choice of products if these rules are relaxed. Regardless of whether you are a First-time Buyer, Looking to move, remortgage or invest in property, there are a huge range of competitive mortgage deals on the market. I will be delighted to discuss your specific requirements and offer you the most suitable deal!” Please call Phil on 0117 3251511 or email info@swmortgages.com For more information about the Mortgage and Protection products we offer, please visit www.bristolmortgagesonline.com Your home/property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage or other debt secured on it.
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There have been some important changes to the legislation regarding Stamp Duty Land Tax with effect from 1 April 2025.
This edition includes fantastic new mortgage products, updated guides for those with adverse credit, 17 great tips to follow before making and application and lots more.
If you need help with any of the items covered, please call Phil on 0117 325 1511.