We’re pretty sure if we polled the coolest places to live in Bristol the Harbourside would rank fairly low. Easton? Definitely. Totterdown? Certainly. Bedminster and Clifton? Most likely. But the Harbourside? Well apparently is.
In a survey from Naturecan to find the coolest places to live in the UK in 2023, voted for by the general public, the highest ranking area of Bristol was the Harbourside. 5,000 respondents decided it was eighth among the top 50 Coolest places to live in the UK – with no other Bristol area featuring. Nearby towns that did, however, include Bruton in Somerset (6) and Bradford-on-Avon in Wiltshire (24).
We love the Harbourside and can’t wait to spend summer nights down there with a few tinnies again. But have they even been to Bristol? We have our doubts. “A vibrant neighbourhood centred around the Bristol Feeder Canal and known for it’s quayside eateries,” say Naturecan about the Harbourside. This is odd because the Bristol Feeder Canal runs by St Philip’s Marsh.
Of course, there are some great things about the Harbourside. Fantastic attractions like SS Great Britain, M Shed and We The Curious are great for a family day out. It sports one of the best art galleries in Bristol with the Arnolfini. Stop for a drink at the Grain Barge or grab a bite to eat at Wapping Wharf. Of course Naturecan highlighted none of this, instead choosing to focus on the movie Stan & Ollie starring Steve Coogan, that was filmed there. Very cool.
The top spot, however, went to the fishing village of Polperro in Cornwall. A “popular hang-out for artists is the perfect palace to watch the sunset, grab some drinks and relax in a sleepy seaside village.” It was followed by Wells-next-the-sea in Norfolk, Marlow in Buckinghamshire, Morecombe in Lancashire and Liverpool’s Baltic Triangle. To see the full list head here.