Living in Totterdown
Totterdown is a neighbourhood of Victorian terraces on a steep hill in south Bristol, mostly in the BS4 postcode with some streets in BS3, a short walk from Temple Meads station. This guide covers the practical side of living here.
Quick answer
- House prices: homes in Totterdown sold for an average of £374,399 over the year to early 2026, 5% more than the year before. [1]
- Renting: example listings in 2026 asked about £1,100 a month for a one-bed flat and £1,500 for a two-bed; there's no published average for Totterdown. [2] [3]
- Council ward: Totterdown is in Windmill Hill ward, home to an estimated 14,104 people in mid-2024. [4] [5]
- Getting about: Temple Meads station is at the foot of the hill, within walking distance. [6]
- Parking: a residents' parking scheme is proposed; the council's survey closes on 5 November 2026. Details
- Clean Air Zone: Totterdown is outside Bristol's zone, which starts at the Three Lamps junction. [7]
How much are houses in Totterdown?
| Measure | Figure |
|---|---|
| Average sold price, last 12 months | £374,399 |
| Change on previous year | +5% |
| 2023 peak average | £365,128 |
Most homes in Totterdown are terraced houses, so the average reflects a mix of terrace sizes. Check recent sales on your street before making an offer. [1]
How much does it cost to rent in Totterdown?
No organisation publishes an average rent for Totterdown alone. As examples, a one-bed flat was listed at £1,100 a month and a two-bed flat at £1,500 a month in 2026. [2] [3] Compare several current listings before you agree a rent.
Where is Totterdown, and which ward is it in?
- Location: south of the River Avon, above Temple Meads, where the A4 Bath Road and the A37 Wells Road split at Three Lamps. [8]
- Postcodes and boundary: Totterdown has no official boundary. The residents' association TRESA notes that postcode, ward and parish boundaries all differ, and addresses fall in both BS3 and BS4. [9]
- Ward: since 2016, Totterdown has been part of Windmill Hill ward, with the south-eastern part of Bedminster and the Ravenhill Road area of Lower Knowle. [4]
- Population: the ward had 13,958 residents at the 2021 Census and an estimated 14,104 in mid-2024. Neither figure is for Totterdown alone. [10] [5]
Where are the nearest GPs and libraries?
| Service | Where |
|---|---|
| Wells Road Surgery (GP) | 233 Wells Road, Knowle [11] |
| Priory Surgery (GP) | 326 Wells Road, Knowle [12] |
| Knowle Library | Broad Walk, Knowle [13] |
| Bedminster Library | Bedminster Parade [14] |
| Wick Road Library | Wick Road, Brislington [15] |
| The Harbour (community halls) | A former Methodist church in Totterdown with three halls for local groups [16] |
Which GP practice you can register with depends on your address. Use the NHS website to find practices that cover your postcode and are accepting new patients. [17]
What schools are in Totterdown?
Hillcrest Primary School on Cemetery Road is Totterdown's own primary school, rated Good at its January 2022 inspection. [18] There's no secondary school in Totterdown. See schools in and near Totterdown for primary and secondary options and how places are given.
How do you get around from Totterdown?
- Train: Bristol Temple Meads is at the bottom of the hill. Visit Bristol's walking route from the station runs through Totterdown's colourful streets and over the New Cut. [6]
- Bus: the 512 runs from Totterdown via Windmill Hill, Bedminster and Redcliffe to the city centre. Check the current timetable before you travel. [19]
- Roads: the A4 Bath Road and the A37 Wells Road meet at Three Lamps, at the edge of Totterdown. [8]
- Hills: many streets are steep. Vale Street has an average gradient of about 21.8%. [20]
More in getting to and around Totterdown.
Is Totterdown a safe place to live?
No source publishes a crime rate for Totterdown as a whole. For one example, StreetCheck counted 57 crimes within half a mile of Bath Road, Totterdown, in October 2025 and rated the level "medium". [21] For a street you're thinking of moving to, look up its postcode on the police.uk crime map, which shows recorded crime month by month. [22]
Is Totterdown in the Clean Air Zone?
No. Bristol's Clean Air Zone has been running since 28 November 2022. [23] Totterdown sits just outside it: the boundary starts at the Three Lamps junction, so drivers coming in on the Bath Road can turn onto the Wells Road without entering the zone. [7]
- Charge: £9 a day for non-compliant private cars; fully electric vehicles don't pay. [23]
- Possible rise: the council has considered raising some charges to £14 a day. [24] Check the council's checker before you drive in.
What is changing near Totterdown?
- Residents' parking and Liveable Neighbourhood: both are being consulted on or designed now. Read the guide.
- Temple Island: Bristol City Council approved Legal & General's £350m Temple Island scheme, with 520 homes, offices, a hotel and shops, in April 2026. [25] Objectors argued the towers would block views of Totterdown's coloured houses from the city. [26]
Community groups
- TRESA (Totterdown Residents' Environmental and Social Action) holds public meetings on planning, transport and local issues. [27]
- Arts trail: the Totterdown Arts Trail opens homes to visitors every November.
- Events: see what's on in Totterdown through the year.
Sources
- House prices in Totterdown, Rightmove (HM Land Registry sold prices): rightmove.co.uk
- One-bed flat to rent, Totterdown, £1,100 pcm, PrimeLocation listing, 2026: primelocation.com
- Two-bed flat to rent, Totterdown, £1,500 pcm, PrimeLocation listing, 2026: primelocation.com
- Windmill Hill, Bristol, Wikipedia: wikipedia.org
- Ward mid-2024 population estimates, Bristol City Council: bristol.gov.uk
- Walks from Bristol train stations, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- Questions and answers about the impact of the Clean Air Zone on Totterdown, TRESA: tresa.org.uk
- Sign post and Three Lamps, Bath Road and Wells Road (list entry 1203998), Historic England: historicengland.org.uk
- Where is Totterdown?, TRESA: tresa.org.uk
- City of Bristol wards, 2021 Census, City Population: citypopulation.de
- Wells Road Surgery, NHS website: nhs.uk
- Priory Surgery, 326 Wells Road, All Health and Care: allhealthandcare.co.uk
- Knowle Library, Bristol City Council: bristol.gov.uk
- Bedminster Library, Bristol City Council: bristol.gov.uk
- Wick Road Library, Bristol City Council: bristol.gov.uk
- Lighthouse Vineyard Bristol: The Harbour, LandAid: landaid.org
- Find a GP in Bristol, NHS website: nhs.uk
- Hillcrest Primary School (URN 131522), Ofsted reports: ofsted.gov.uk
- 512 Totterdown – Windmill Hill – Bedminster – Redcliffe – Bristol City Centre, bustimes.org: bustimes.org
- Filming for Cadbury advert on Bristol's steepest residential street, Bristol24/7, 11 February 2026: bristol247.com
- Crime near Bath Road, Totterdown, BS4 3EF, October 2025, StreetCheck: streetcheck.co.uk
- Crime map by postcode, police.uk: police.uk
- Bristol Clean Air Zone, charges and vehicle checker, Bristol City Council: bristol.gov.uk
- Clean Air Zone charges could increase to £14 a day, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- Bristol £350m Temple Island scheme approved, Construction Enquirer, 7 April 2026: constructionenquirer.com
- Plans approved for Temple Island tower blocks, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- TRESA, Totterdown Residents' Environmental and Social Action: tresa.org.uk