Bristol/Edinburgh/Dorset

How far out from the city centre are you willing to live?
Shrug. I'm not sure exactly where the job is yet either, just been having a chat with the guy who is managing the recruitment. I'd ideally not have a big commute; but I'll worry about that more when I know more about the role.

I guess what it comes down to is max 30 minute commute (by bike if poss), and near the rowing club.
 
Shrug. I'm not sure exactly where the job is yet either, just been having a chat with the guy who is managing the recruitment. I'd ideally not have a big commute; but I'll worry about that more when I know more about the role.

I guess what it comes down to is max 30 minute commute (by bike if poss), and near the rowing club.

Fair enough - the City of Bristol rowing club is at BS1 6TR - so I'd look around Cumberland and Coronation Road and thereabouts - and it's just over the water from Hotwells.

If you go for the Southville side, it's perfectly nice (though those who've never lived on the south side of the river won't be able to tell you this) I have several friends around there who've found very nice houses, closer to the centre than those on the north side - at a lower rent/price.

It also puts you close to North Street which has the Tobacco Factory (bar and playhouse) plus loads of the usual high-street stuff.
 
I've been fortunate to live in both Bristol and Dorset (Bournemouth). Bristol is brilliant fun, vibrant, and there's loads to do.
I'd pick Dorset out of the two though. It's more chilled out, smaller population (on my 30 minute walk to work along the cliff top I pass only a handful of people). It's the sunniest part of the UK, a more beautiful part of the country, and it has a sandy beach that's 7 miles in length. Basically, for the entire spring/summer it's like being on holiday. It beats the number of shops and amenities of Bristol any day.
 
I share a flat in Redcliff which is just under £1k a month for the three of us.

But we do have secure off street parking and I'm a 5 minute walk from the centre so I'd rather pay more to live in the centre rather than travel in all the time.

Very relaxing place to live, little too relaxing actually as I really need to get a move on and explore more of the city. :)
 
Out of the options I'd probably pick Edinburgh but I haven't lived in either of the others to give a fair comparison. As for your hobbies rowing should be relatively easy in Edinburgh or at least I've seen a few rowing clubs going up and down the Union Canal. The countryside is within easy reach from most of Edinburgh and the transport links are fairly good although the current (idiotic) situation with the trams and the inexplicable rise of one way streets does mean that it can be more problematic to navigate Edinburgh than it would otherwise need to be.
 
My opinions (I live on the Somerset/Dorset border, spent 2-3 years at a time working and living in places like Bristol, London, etc.)

Edinburgh is a fantasic place to visit or working/staying short term but I wouldn't want to settle my life there (a bit like London in that respect).

Bristol theres a lot going on, lots to do, some nice areas but it doesn't have quite the relentless pace of other big cities and while theres some youth problems most people have been friendlier in general than I found from living/working in the bigger cities like London and Edinburgh.

Dorset/Somerset is where I'd rather settle down for the long haul, relatively low crime, great scenery and feels more relaxed, sometimes a bit too quiet/not much to do but most towns and bigger villages have regular and quick transit links to places like Bristol, Bournemouth, etc. where theres more going on.
 
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Bristol is amazing. Big city in terms of things to do and see but not too big (can walk across the centre in 30 minutes). Also great links - less than 2 hours from London, Birmingham, Cardiff etc and don't forget the Megabus for said destinations!

I live in Clifton which is a lovely lovely area and one that people think is expensive, but it's really not unless you're stupid - I'm only paying about £50 more a month than some of the worst areas in the city.
 
My family are from Bristol, and I think it's a great city, and wish I was living there again. I have to agree that Clifton is the best place to live.

Bristol but consider Portishead - 8mile from centre and brand new marina development
I really like Portishead, and I have relatives who live there. I think it's definitely worth considering, if you don't mind living a little way from the city centre.
 
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