10 best places to live in Bristol according to residents

Colourful terraced houses in Bristol

To discover the best places to live in Bristol, we asked the city’s residents! HomeViews reviews provide verified insights on some of the city’s best new developments. Whether you’re looking to rent or buy new builds, Bristol has some outstanding options. This list will provide you with some great ideas based on the thoughts of the people who live there.

The top 10 will change frequently as fresh reviews for new homes in Bristol come in. Check in regularly as we’ll keep it updated and accurate!

10 best new developments to live in Bristol

1. Box Makers Yard, BS2

Legal & General, urbanbubble
4.61 (278 reviews) 4.61 (278 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Box Makers Yard, BS2

Top of the pile in Bristol is Box Makers Yard, a rental-only development from Urbanbubble. It has a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on offer, with a variety of furnished and unfurnished options with courtyard or city views, extra storage and private balconies or terraces. Each apartment comes with an open plan kitchen-living area with floor-to-ceiling windows throughout. Likewise, bespoke designer furniture packs are available.

The development itself offers plenty of amenities and facilities, all available on-site, including a 24/7 concierge service, secure fob access system, resident lounge with a games area, an air-conditioned gym with weekly fitness classes, as well as a private rooftop dining suite with an outdoor terrace.

Read reviews and details of Box Makers Yard, BS2

2. Templebridge Apartments, BS1

Westmark Development Company
4.47 (6 reviews) 4.47 (6 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Templebridge Apartments, BS1

The Templebridge Apartments development is located on Bristol Harbourside, in close proximity to Cabot Circus and Temple Meads train station. Voted into second position, it comprises just 22 apartments, most of which feature excellent river views from their spacious balconies.

Read reviews and details of Templebridge Apartments, BS1

3. Hawkins & George, BS1

Grainger
4.37 (43 reviews) 4.37 (43 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Hawkins & George, BS1
Located at Finzels Reach, Hawkins & George is in the heart of Bristol with over 194 homes to rent. The homes range from studios, 1 and 2 bed apartments. The scheme benefits from being located next to modern offices, bars, restaurants and coffee shops. As well as local amenities renters have onsite resident services team […] Read reviews and details of Hawkins & George, BS1

4. Frenchay Gardens, BS16

Redrow
4.24 (23 reviews) 4.24 (23 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Frenchay Gardens, BS16

Frenchay Gardens, by Redrow Homes, is a mere six miles away from Bristol’s city centre, while also conveniently located just half a mile from J1 of the M32. Residents benefit from a range of local supermarkets and leisure facilities, including a cricket club and several golf courses that are nearby. Our residents reviewed Frenchay Gardens into fourth position.

Read reviews and details of Frenchay Gardens, BS16

5. Wapping Wharf, BS1

Umberslade
4.20 (11 reviews) 4.20 (11 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Wapping Wharf, BS1

In fifth place is Wapping Wharf, an Umberslade development designed by Alec French Architects. It boasts around 500 one, two and three-bedroom apartments located in the historical and cultural heart of Bristol. It is also only a 20-minute walk or six-minute cycle away from Bristol Temple Meads station.

Read reviews and details of Wapping Wharf, BS1

6. Invicta by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

A2Dominion Rental Only
4.20 (29 reviews) 4.20 (29 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Invicta by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

Next up is Invicta, a residential development with a range of one, two and three-bedroom apartments on offer. Located on Bristol’s Harbourside, it’s only a short distance away from a good range of waterfront attractions. This is in addition to the plentiful nightlife options and the city centre’s shopping outlets. Bristol Temple Meads station is less than a mile away, which has links to CrossCountry, GWR and South Western Railway services.

Read reviews and details of Invicta by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

7. Canons Gate by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

A2Dominion Rental Only
4.09 (57 reviews) 4.09 (57 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Canons Gate by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

Canons Gate is an A2Dominion by Rental Only development located on Bristol’s Harbourside. The development features 101 rental-only apartments. All apartments include balconies, and residents can enjoy plenty of space in their landscaped communal gardens and open-plan living rooms. Furthermore, the Harbourside is full of attractions, offering plenty of bars, restaurants, shops and leisure activities. Another benefit is that Bristol Temple Meads station is only about a 20-minute walk away.

Read reviews and details of Canons Gate by A2Dominion Rental Only, BS1

8. Paintworks Apartments, BS4

Verve
4.08 (14 reviews) 4.08 (14 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Paintworks Apartments, BS4

Our eighth entrant, Paintworks Apartment is a Verve development comprising 331 one to four-bedroom apartments, alongside offices and commercial space. It has a waterside location with close proximity to Bristol Temple Meads station. The apartments vary in style from old paint factory buildings to newly built apartments and houses.

Read reviews and details of Paintworks Apartments, BS4

9. Highbrook Park, BS34

Crest Nicholson
4.02 (23 reviews) 4.02 (23 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Highbrook Park, BS34

Highbrook Park, by Crest Nicholson, sits in the village of Harry Stoke – and ninth place. Comprising one to five-bedroom homes, the development benefits from excellent transport links. With Parkway Station a few minutes away, as well as the M32, residents here have access to central Bristol within 30 minutes.

Read reviews and details of Highbrook Park, BS34

10. Castle Park View, BS2

Savills
3.90 (12 reviews) 3.90 (12 reviews)
Area guide to Bristol
Image of Castle Park View, BS2
Castle Park View is a 26 storey high-rise building in Bristol, offering one and two bedroom rental apartments. Castle Park View’s central location with Castle Park and Bristol Temple Meads are a short walk away, meaning it offers most amenities on the doorstep. Read reviews and details of Castle Park View, BS2

Is Bristol a good place to live?

Clifton Suspension Bridge Bristol at night
Clifton Suspension Bridge at night

There’s a reason Bristol regularly tops the charts in happiness and satisfaction in major UK polls. It manages to combine the bustle of city life with more tranquil, low-key lifestyle elements.

Culturally, it’s a gold mine. The beauty of its Georgian streets and imposing architecture of major public institutions separate Bristol from the UK’s more faceless cities. This rich history comes to life too, in its outstanding universities, which are among the best in the UK.

There’s also no shortage of beauty in its parks and green spaces, and the Cotswolds are right on your doorstep.

Bristol – best place to live in the UK?

Bristol was voted in the top three happiest places to live and work in the UK in 2023. In addition, the west country city regularly tops polls of the UK’s best places to live.

The eighth-largest city in the UK, Bristol is a creative and multicultural metropolis. From the genteel Georgian terraces of Clifton and Redland to the edgier streets of Bedminster and Stokes Croft, Bristol offers something for every demographic.

The historic Bristol Docks are now home to a thriving collection of restaurants, galleries, bars and museums. Ships The Matthew and S.S. Great Britain are also major visitor attractions, along with Brunel’s spectacular suspension bridge across the Avon Gorge.

Read More

best_places_to_live_bristol_bench_overlooking_docks
The view over the River Avon with Clifton and Hotwells in the distance

Is Bristol expensive to live in?

Bristol is one of the UK’s most expensive cities. It routinely outpaces the nation’s average property prices, and the restaurants, nightlife spots and other key expense metrics follow suit.

While expensive overall, there are more affordable areas in this diverse city. Similarly, it’s not hard to find low-cost, but high-quality, alternatives for entertainment, dining and leisure activities. Plus, Bristol offers a wealth of cultural attractions that are free to visit.

New homes in Bristol

Bristol University and the University of the West of England ensure that demand for new homes in Bristol is always high. The aerospace industry provides a major economic stimulus to the area, with BAE, Rolls Royce and Airbus all located in Filton. The BBC has also expanded its production centre in Bristol in recent years, bringing media professionals flocking to the West Country.

So, let’s check out Bristol’s top 10 new developments. These rankings are based entirely on the scores given by verified HomeViews reviewers and nothing else.

What is HomeViews?

Property prices in Bristol

The current average sales price of a property in Bristol is £385,939, according to the latest figures from Rightmove (May 2024). A flat in the city averages at £273,034, while the average price of a terraced house is currently £383,631. Median monthly rent in Bristol is £1,750, according to Home.co.uk (May 2024).


Check out our Bristol area guide to find out more about the city. Live in a new development in the city? Please add your own review here and help people thinking of moving to Bristol! You can easily add your development if it’s not yet on the site.

Bristol

Bristol
Bristol is located in the South West of the UK but it has great transport links throughout the country. It also has an airport close to the centre. Combining city and countryside living Bristol is one of the most popular cities for Londoners looking Read more about Bristol

HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.

written by

Jan Moys

A residential property expert with over 15 years’ experience creating content... Read all

A residential property expert with ov... Read all