Downend is a residential suburban northeast of Bristol.
The area has good travel links for commuters as it’s just off the ring road, which connects it to Bristol city centre, as well as the M4 and the M32. There are regular local bus services into central Bristol from here too. The nearest train station is Bristol Parkway just over three miles away, with rail links to various UK cities. Alternatively, Bristol Temple Meads station is just over five miles away, and it has connections to the whole of the country.
Downend has a good selection of schools for local children, including Stanbridge Primary School and Christ Church C of E VC Infant School. There are also nurseries and preschools in the area. For secondary education and sixth form students, there’s Downend School, which has academy status.
There’s a good range of local stores along the shopping parade in Downend, with some great independent options. There’s Downend Cards & Gifts, Kustom Floors and Furniture, Hazel Holly Florist and Fabrics Plus Limited, which has fabric, haberdashery, yarn and all kinds of creative items. Locals can also visit the optician and there’s even a bridal store here, called Bride at Home.
Downend has several grocery stores, including Co-op Food, Sainsbury’s Local and Tesco Metro. Neighbouring areas give locals access to bigger supermarkets, such as a large Sainsbury’s at Emerson Green and a Morrisons in Fishponds.
Enjoy a good selection of local cafes, such as Beehive Coffee House, which services up incredible-looking Freak Shakes. There’s also Freshly Ground or The Bromley Tea Room. Piece of Cake bakery sells amazing hand-crafted cakes and bakes, and they create personalised cakes for any occasion.
When eating out, Badminton Road has plenty of choice. Mezze at The Dragon is in a restored 17th-century pub serving up tasty small plates of Mediterranean-style food. ITALB Ristorante Italiano is another great local option, or enjoy some good Indian food at Tikka Raaz.
The area has a good selection of pubs to choose from too, like Horseshoe, The Duck & Willow and The White Swan.
Downend has good local amenities, with healthcare centres, a library and a post office. There’s plenty of green space for people to enjoy here too, such as The King George V Playing Fields, which has grass pitches and a children’s play park. There’s also Lincombe Barn Park and Woods, with paths, a play area and events, such as bat walks and bird of prey talks. Locals can also access the Bristol-Bath Cycle Path, which is a great flat route for cyclists and walkers.
Being so close to central Bristol, there’s easy access to everything that the city centre has to offer, such as shopping, eating out and a great nightlife. There are also great attractions like Bristol Zoo, Bristol Aquarium and Aerospace Bristol.
