27-01-2022
Following on from the COVID pandemic, house buyers’ priorities changed. Covid lockdowns meant that we could only leave the house to exercise. Many of us had to work from home.
It was no surprise then that house buyers’ requirements changed considerably, with many purchasers demanding garden space. Those that no longer needed to be in the office 5 days a week realised that they could live and work from a large property in a rural location.
The Best Places To Live Near Bristol (To Commute To The City Centre)
The team at Fox Davidson have lived in and around Bristol for over 40 years, and over the last 20 years, we have helped thousands of clients purchase property across Bristol, North Somerset, Somerset, Bath and Wiltshire.
Using our own experience and the recommendation of clients, we have put together our top ten places to live outside of Bristol. The areas we have chosen have beautiful surroundings and are practical for commuting to and from Bristol.
With each area being equally appealing for its own reasons, we felt that the fairest way to compile this list was in alphabetical order.
Backwell
Backwell has one of the most sought-after secondary schools in the Southwest. Situated just 9 miles from the city centre, it is relatively near to Bristol.
With a train link into Bristol city centre, it is the combination of good schooling and easy commuting that has made Backwell very popular.
The village is situated in the beautiful Somerset countryside and is the starting point of many great walks.
The nearby National Trust Tyntesfield House and Gardens provide a great day out and wonderful views across the valley.
Travel To Backwell
Distance: 9 miles
Commute time by car: 22 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 47 minutes
House Prices In Backwell
Properties in Backwell had an overall average price of £569,255 over the last year.
Most sales in Backwell during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £599,635. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £554,207, with terraced properties fetching £398,125.
Overall, sold prices in Backwell over the last year were 26% up on the previous year and 19% up on the 2018 peak of £478,535.
Cheddar
Cheddar and its surrounding villages are home to some of the most beautiful walks along the Mendip hills.
Cheddar is famous for its caves, cheese and of course – Cheddar Gorge. We recommend visiting the Christmas shop at the bottom of cheddar gorge (at any time of the year) and walking up the 274 steps that make up Jacob’s ladder.
Less than 20 miles from the city centre, Cheddar is within a commutable distance for people working in Bristol, while enjoying the splendid countryside of somewhere much more rural.
Travel To Cheddar
Distance: 19 miles
Commute time by car: 38 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 1 hour 54 minutes
House Prices In Cheddar
Properties in Cheddar had an overall average price of £339,752 over the last year.
Most sales in Cheddar during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £308,300. Detached properties sold for an average of £451,858, with flats fetching £121,167.
Overall, sold prices in Cheddar over the last year were 12% up on the previous year and 14% up on the 2018 peak of £298,134.
Chew Magna
The jewel in the crown of the Chew Valley and one of the most desirable places to live south of Bristol, Chew Magna is situated near Chew Valley Lake (with the famous Salt & Malt fish and chip shop) and is surrounded by beautiful countryside.
Chew Magna contains some spectacular houses that back on to the river which runs through the village, which also offers some wonderful artisan shops and restaurants, and even boasts its own distillery.
Located less than 10 miles from the city centre of Bristol, Chew Magna offers professionals a commute which is relatively traffic-free, while enjoying the open space of the Chew Valley.
Travel To Chew Magna
Distance: 9 miles
Commute time by car: 22 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 55 minutes
House Prices In Chew Magna
Properties in Chew Magna had an overall average price of £810,711 over the last year.
Most sales in Chew Magna during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £862,723. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £777,500, with terraced properties fetching £305,000.
Overall, sold prices in Chew Magna over the last year were 36% up on the previous year and 16% up on the 2017 peak of £697,139.
Cirencester
Cirencester was the second largest town in Roman times, second only to London. Therefore, Cirencester has a wealth of Roman heritage including an amphitheatre! The Corinthian Museum is definitely worth a visit.
Cirencester then became an important market town in the wool trade, with the current town layout reflecting this. The large, open high street still hosts open-air markets, albeit now more food orientated than wool.
Cirencester Park is a wonderful parkland that adjoins the main town, boasting some of the highest regarded polo fields in the UK and notes Prince Charles among its famous participants.
Although cyclists may not fancy commuting from Cirencester to Bristol, the city centre can be reached by car in less than an hour, increasing its appeal to those looking to live outside of Bristol.
Travel To Cirencester
Distance: 43 miles
Commute time by car: 57 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 3 hours+ (not advisable!)
House Prices In Cirencester
Properties in Cirencester had an overall average price of £354,919 over the last year.
Most sales in Cirencester during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £384,038. Terraced properties sold for an average of £296,502, with detached properties fetching £528,143.
Overall, sold prices in Cirencester over the last year were 2% up on the previous year and 10% up on the 2018 peak of £322,585.
Clevedon
Clevedon is a town to the South of Bristol that is situated on the coast of the Severn Estuary. It has a Grade 1 listed Victorian Pier which is open to visitors.
There are lovely seafront walks along the Promenade and ‘Poet’s Walk’, (so named as it was a favourite route and source of inspiration for Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Alfred Lord Tennyson).
Restaurants, cafés, and boutique shops can be found on Hill Road (which was also used as the set for the TV drama ‘Broadchurch’) and with its position just half an hour outside of Bristol, it is becoming increasingly popular with commuters.
Travel To Clevedon
Distance: 14 miles
Commute time by car: 30 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 1 hour 15 minutes
House Prices In Clevedon
Properties in Clevedon had an overall average price of £368,310 over the last year.
Most sales in Clevedon during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £381,964. Terraced properties sold for an average of £290,865, with flats fetching £289,808.
Overall, sold prices in Clevedon over the last year were 10% up on the previous year and 10% up on the 2018 peak of £333,830.
Long Ashton
The village of Long Ashton absorbed the nearby hamlets of Yanleigh and Bower Ashton to create a linear Village only a mile or so out of Bristol.
Resident’s pride themselves on having been able to retain a rural charm to this area, whilst in a location so close to Bristol. The nearby Ashton Court Estate is a beautiful parkland and mansion house open to the public all year round, while the Forestry Commission’s ancient woodland of Leigh Woods is popular among locals and visitors from further afield.
When taking traffic into consideration, the commutable time from Long Ashton to Bristol city centre is quite similar whether you are driving or cycling, making it one of Bristol’s premier and most popular areas for home buyers.
Travel To Long Ashton
Distance: 4 miles
Commute time by car: 13 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 21 minutes
House Prices In Long Ashton
Properties in Long Ashton had an overall average price of £534,528 over the last year.
Most sales in Long Ashton during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £705,540. Terraced properties sold for an average of £357,340, with semi-detached properties fetching £522,698.
Overall, sold prices in Long Ashton over the last year were 25% up on the previous year and 18% up on the 2017 peak of £453,767.
Portishead
Portishead is a vibrant town to the northwest of Bristol. It is home to some of Bristol’s well known TV personalities and sports professionals.
Portishead has a lovely Victorian high street, boutique shops, a marina which you can walk all the way around, as well as a nature reserve and woodland walks.
With the city centre of Bristol reachable by car in less than half an hour and by bike in less than an hour, it is no wonder that Portishead is becoming more and more sought-after.
Travel To Portishead
Distance: 12 miles
Commute time by car: 25 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 55 minutes
House Prices In Portishead
Properties in Portishead had an overall average price of £405,231 over the last year.
Most sales in Portishead during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £519,264. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £379,480, with flats fetching £240,603.
Overall, sold prices in Portishead over the last year were 8% up on the previous year and 14% up on the 2018 peak of £354,010.
Saltford
Saltford is a beautiful village to the south of Bristol. It is a very popular place to live given its proximity to the city centres of both Bath and Bristol, as well as its good schools, shops, restaurants and pubs.
Saltford runs along the River Avon, with some properties looking out directly on to the river.
The Bird in Hand pub offers direct access onto the Bristol And Bath Cycle Path, giving cyclists a safe, convenient route into Bath and Bristol.
Saltford is also close to Park & Ride locations for Bristol and Bath, making both cities easily commutable for people wanting to live outside of Bristol.
Travel To Saltford
Distance: 8 miles
Commute time by car: 21 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 40 minutes
House Prices In Saltford
Properties in Saltford had an overall average price of £506,055 over the last year.
Most sales in Saltford during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £583,447. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £470,467, with terraced properties fetching £335,000.
Overall, sold prices in Saltford over the last year were 5% up on the previous year and 3% up on the 2019 peak of £493,105.
Tetbury
The antiques capital of the Cotswolds, Tetbury is a market town which grew via the wool trade. They still hold an annual ‘woolsack race’, where entrants race up and down a 1 in 4 gradient hill with 60 kilo sacks of wool on their backs.
Tetbury is considered home to Prince Charles who resides in nearby Highgrove House, which adds to the appeal for many people.
The commute from Tetbury might be a bit much for cyclists, but for motorists, it is just 40 minutes drive to the city centre of Bristol.
Travel To Tetbury
Distance: 28 miles
Commute time by car: 40 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 2 hours+ (not advisable!)
House Prices In Tetbury
Properties in Tetbury had an overall average price of £403,047 over the last year.
Most sales in Tetbury during the last year were semi-detached properties, selling for an average price of £399,317. Terraced properties sold for an average of £342,974, with detached properties fetching £545,917.
Overall, sold prices in Tetbury over the last year were 3% up on the previous year and 12% up on the 2017 peak of £360,810.
Winscombe
Winscombe has won numerous awards, including the best family-friendly village in North Somerset. The village is home to a vibrant high street with shops, pub, doctors and a dentist.
The Strawberry Line (an old railway line) runs through the village and is now used for pleasant walks and bike rides, attracting many visitors from outside of Bristol.
Less than 20 miles away from Bristol, Winscombe is within commutable distance to the city centre, while retaining its rural charm.
Travel To Winscombe
Distance: 19 miles
Commute time by car: 38 minutes
Commute time by cycling: 1 hour 45 minutes
House Prices In Winscombe
Properties in Winscombe had an overall average price of £381,459 over the last year.
Most sales in Winscombe during the last year were detached properties, selling for an average price of £437,197. Semi-detached properties sold for an average of £324,765, with flats fetching £105,875.
Overall, sold prices in Winscombe over the last year were 2% down on the previous year and 12% down on the 2018 peak of £431,256.
All house price data taken from www.rightmove.co.uk
