Speedwell
Bristol 021 · 4 sub-areas · 9,026 residents
Bristol 021 is a residential neighbourhood within Bristol, home to around 9,000 people and sitting in the middle of the city's rental market. A typical two-bedroom flat lets for about £1,550 a month — noticeably above the UK median for a 2-bed but broadly in line with what Bristol commands. Owner-occupation is relatively high for an inner-city area, with nearly six in ten households owning their home.
Speedwell is a green, lower-density part of Bristol — parks within walking distance of most addresses, a slower weekday rhythm, and a population skewed toward longer-tenure households rather than transient renters.
Overview
What's it like to live in Speedwell?
Day-to-day life sits close to greenery — a park or playing field is within easy walking distance of most addresses; Recorded crime is higher than the national norm — common for built-up urban areas, but worth weighing if you're looking for a quieter base; rents sit firmly in the upper bracket nationally, with a typical home letting at around £1,888 a month; gigabit broadband is effectively universal.
Generated from the latest May 2026 data · refreshed automatically
Figures are aggregated across 4 sub-areas — population-weighted means for rates, sums for counts. Sources cited beneath each section.
Speedwell in Bristol
Living in Speedwell
Bristol 021 has a mixed, settled character that sets it apart from the city's more transient student-heavy zones. Close to six in ten households own their home, which tilts the neighbourhood toward families and longer-term residents rather than the revolving cast of short-term renters you'd find closer to the university campuses. That stability shows in the age spread — just over a fifth of the population is under 18, a higher share than many Bristol neighbourhoods.
On rent, you're paying mid-range for Bristol. A 2-bed comes in at around £1,550 a month — above the UK national median of roughly £1,200, but that's simply the Bristol premium. Rents here rose about 7.6% in the past year, which is meaningful but not exceptional by current market standards. Council tax (Band D) runs to about £2,714 a year, so factor that in alongside rent.
The demographic picture is relatively mixed. The ethnic diversity index sits at 48.6, higher than many suburban Bristol areas, and around a quarter of residents were born outside the UK. Nearly a third of households are single-person, so there's a slice of solo renters and younger professionals alongside the families. Degree-level qualification is around 34.5% of residents — solidly educated but not the hyper-graduate concentration you'd see in Clifton or Redland.
Practically speaking, the nearest mainline rail station is roughly 2.5 km away — about a 32-minute walk, though most people drive or cycle. With nearly half of residents commuting by car and almost a third working from home, public transport use is low at 8%. Greenspace is a real selling point: over 80% of residents are within easy walking distance of green space, and the average distance to the nearest patch is just 215 metres. See the streets and sub-areas below for more detail on specific pockets within Bristol 021.
What you'll need on day one
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Frequently asked
- Is Bristol 021 a nice place to live?
- It depends on what you're after. Bristol 021 is settled and family-oriented, with high owner-occupation and good greenspace access — over 80% of residents are within easy walking distance of green space. The trade-off is a crime rate noticeably above the national average and a school Ofsted picture that's below the national norm. It's a solid mid-range Bristol neighbourhood rather than a standout one.
- What is the rent in Bristol 021?
- A typical 1-bed runs around £1,227 a month, a 2-bed around £1,546, and a 3-bed roughly £1,759. These are estimates scaled from city-level data using local sale prices. Rents rose about 7.6% in the past year. Add around £226 a month for council tax (Band D) on top.
- Is Bristol 021 safe?
- The crime rate here is around 141 incidents per 1,000 residents a year — roughly 75% above the UK national average. That puts it at the higher end of Bristol's neighbourhoods. Theft and anti-social behaviour drive most of the headline number. It's worth visiting at different times before deciding, particularly if you have young children.
- What's the commute from Bristol 021 to Bristol city centre?
- Most residents drive — nearly half commute by car, and almost 30% work from home. The nearest mainline rail station is about 2.5 km away (roughly a 30-minute walk). Public transport use across the neighbourhood is low at 8%, reflecting Bristol's limited rail and bus coverage compared to larger cities.
- Who lives in Bristol 021?
- A mix of families and settled residents — about 60% own their home, which is high for an urban area. Just over a fifth of the population is under 18. Around a quarter of residents were born outside the UK, giving the area genuine demographic diversity. Single-person households make up nearly 30%, adding a layer of younger professionals and solo renters.
- What schools are near Bristol 021?
- There are 101 schools within 2 km — a very dense catchment. Around 41% of those are rated Good or Outstanding by Ofsted, well below the national average of roughly 89%. The nearest Outstanding school is about 2.1 km away. Check Bristol City Council's admissions pages for current ratings and catchment boundaries, as these change regularly.
- How does Bristol 021 compare to other Bristol neighbourhoods for rent?
- It sits in the middle of Bristol's rental market. A 2-bed at around £1,550 a month is above the UK national median but not at the top of the Bristol range — neighbourhoods like Clifton command noticeably more. If affordability is your priority, there are cheaper Bristol areas, but Bristol 021 offers relatively high owner-occupation and good greenspace for the price.