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Bristol, the largest city in the
south-west of England, lies on the River Avon a few miles inland of the mouth
of the River Severn. It is bordered by the counties of Somerset, Gloucestershire
and Wiltshire, and the nearby bridges over the River Severn make it a gateway
to South Wales. The nearby historic spa town of Bath is in commuting distance
of Bristol, as are many attractive villages in surrounding countryside, such
as the Chew Valley, Cotswolds or Mendip Hills. Suburbs of the city include
Clifton, Kinsgwood, Filton, Mangotsfield, Keynsham, and Long Ashton, as well
as Avonmouth, where the city meets the Bristol Channel.
The city of Bristol has a population of just over 380,000. The population
of the wider Bristol City Region - which includes the four unitary authority
areas of Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, North Somerset and South
Gloucestershire has grown fast over the past ten years and now has
a population of almost one million. The area has attracted a number of new
businesses, being a popular destination for company relocations and a growing
centre for financial services, micro-electronics companies and the media
industry. Bristol offers a good selection of state and private schooling
and is home to two universities and a number of colleges of further education
Its splendid architecture, attractive parkland, lively arts scene and numerous
leisure amenities all make the city a desirable place to live.
Bristol lies 120 miles west of London and, with two main-line stations, has
good rail services to towns throughout the country. Its also has excellent
motorway links, being close to both the M4 and M5, and is within easy reach
of coast and surrounding countryside. It is served by a fast growing regional
airport, Bristol International, which offers flights to all major UK destinations
and many international routes. It also has a network of urban cycling routes
in and around the city.
Bristol has been described as 'the coolest city in the south west' [Lonely
Planet] and is justifiably proud of its thriving cultural scene and attractive
places to live. Its successful mix of historic and new buildings and its
wide ranging calendar of events gives it a unique appeal to its many residents
and visitors. The city hosts four international film festivals, a number
of street festivals, and is particularly well-known for its balloon festival
and its cutting edge music scene. It has well respected theatre and concert
venues, including the Bristol Old Vic, the Bristol Hippodrome and Colston
Hall, and a number of fascinating museums and art galleries. In particular,
the Arnolfini - the internationally renowned contemporary arts centre at
the harbourside - and the recently opened @t Bristol, are favourite visitor
attractions. Shortlisted for the 2008 European Capital of Culture, the city
plans to spend a further £152 million on its cultural infrastructure
over the next few years, which should further enhance its reputation as an
important and lively cultural centre.
Throughout its long history, Bristol's position at the mouth of the Severn
has ensured its place as a crossroads of exploration and trade. It was at
one time England's second largest city, and was a prominent industrial city,
prospering from its importance as a trading centre and international port.
Its expansion during the 18th century saw the increasing development of the
suburb of Clifton, which became a popular area for merchants to build houses
away from the dock area. By the end of that century, however, the port of
Bristol was starting to decline, and although work began on a floating harbour
to overcome its problems with large tidal flows, Bristol suffered from a
loss of trade. However, new docks were built in the 1870s at mouth of Avon
and Bristol continued as an industrial centre. The Victorian era also witnessed
the engineering feats of Isambard Kingdom Brunel: his Clifton Suspension
Bridge and the SS Great Britain are now two of Bristol's major visitor
attractions.
Although Bristol suffered heavy bomb damage during WW2, it regained a strong
post-war economy. The aircraft industry which grew up around the suburb of
Filton was a particularly important post-war industry for the area. Bristol
now has a thriving economy, with high average earnings, low unemployment,
and high productivity relative to other regional cities, and is an important
commercial centre.
The development of Bristol's harbourside has been a major success story in
the city's history. Once a symbol of the area's declining industry, it has
become the centrepiece of Bristol's regeneration. The transformation of the
waterfront area by the river was started in the 1970s with the opening of
the Arnolfini Arts centre and has continued over recent decades. As well
as commercial property and leisure facilities, the harbourside area is also
a popular residential area, offering new housing, waterfront apartments,
luxury developments and attractive townhouses. This is a particularly desirable
place to live in Bristol, being close to the city centre and offering pleasant
views overlooking Bristol's floating harbour
Another sought after area to live in Bristol is the village of Clifton, to
the north-west of the city. Within walking distance of Bristol University
and close to good shops and restaurants, it is a popular district for both
student accommodation and family living. It lies two miles from the city
centre and a quarter of a mile from The Downs. The area contains beautiful
traditional Georgian and Victorian properties, with many elegant terraces
and squares. Both detached houses and semi-detached houses can be found here,
as well as flat conversions in traditional buildings. There are some very
substantial houses for sale in this area, commanding some of the higher prices
in Bristol. The area also contains some modern apartment blocks, maisonettes
and luxury apartments.
Neighbouring Cliftonwood and Redland are also attractive areas to buy a house
in Bristol, with both traditional housing and modern townhouse developments
for sale. The residential areas of Westbury Park and Stoke Bishop offer a
range of styles of houses and flats, and large family houses can also be
found in the suburb of Westbury-on-Trym. The city also offers many potential
development sites for those interested in land for sale or property developing
in Bristol. Further out of the city, rural properties and cottages are for
sale in north Somerset or south Gloucestershire, in countryside locations
or quiet hamlets and villages such as Chew Magna.
Average prices of property in and around Bristol are similar to the averages
of England and Wales. On the whole, property prices in Bristol have risen
significantly over the past decade, and despite a recent slowdown, growth
has continued in 2004. In 2004, the average price of all property in Bristol
was around £188,000. The average price of detached houses was just under
£300,000 and of flats just below £160,000. Obviously, this average
disguises a wide range of prices which, like most cities, varies very much
according to the area. Estate agents in Bristol can advise on the most
appropriate areas to look for a property to buy, depending on your budget
and preferences. They can also help with all aspects of selling a house.
A property search on the internet will bring up houses for sale and details
of estate agents in Bristol as well as information on property auctions in
the Bristol area.
Other info pages:-
Aberdeen,
Birmingham,
Brighton, Bristol,
Cambridge,
Cardiff, Dorset,
Edinburgh, Glasgow,
Leeds, London,
Manchester,
Newcastle, Norfolk,
Oxford & York
plus Jargon Buster &
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