Inside the UK city dubbed 'little London' that's 120 miles away from the capital

Estate agents have noted a trend of Londoners relocating to the smaller, more affordable city of Bristol in the South West.

Dubbed 'little London' by some, Bristol is just 90 minutes from the capital and has experienced an influx of buyers and renters from London in recent years. Bristol's appeal lies in its 'town-like' atmosphere and picturesque surroundings, with many viewing it as a less expensive and more laid-back alternative to life in London.

Rightmove reports that the average house price in  Bristol  stands at £385,223, compared to London's hefty £749,202 - a significant difference of £363,979.

Despite being cheaper than London,  Bristol remains one of the UK's priciest cities for both rent and property prices.

So, what's driving Londoners to swap the capital for this smaller and somewhat cheaper city? Jessica Penfold, an employee at Mark's Bread, a bakery in south Bristol, told MyLondon: "I just had enough. Coming back to  Bristol you almost feel a breath of fresh air." 

Jessica, originally from  Bristol, returned home after moving to London for university studies. She settled back into south Bristol, an area popular among young people, reports 

"It's as simple as getting from A to B, say I need to get somewhere in London, it's head down, concentrate, you've got to get there, you've go to protect your phone. Bristol is so much less busy, that you can just wander," she explained.

"I'd have shared a flat with some friends in London and it would have been not very nice, and it would have been a little bit grubby, whereas in Bristol you get a nice Victorian two-bed house with a garden for the same money."

"It's not as busy, polluted and it's cheaper."

Estate agents in Bristol have noticed an influx of Londoners to the West Country, citing various reasons for the move. Desirable locations such as central and south Bristol, Clifton Village, and Redland are particularly sought after due to their proximity to train stations.

"It's a mix. Some of them come for jobs, some work from home and want to move because it's not as busy, polluted and cheaper," said a lettings agent at Chappell and Matthews in Bristol.

The ability to commute back into London is a significant draw for those relocating, with train journeys to London Paddington from Bristol Temple Meads taking as little as 1 hour and 27 minutes. Nick Stopard, Managing Director at Broadwalk estate agents in Bristol, said: "The coast isn't too far away, you've got south Wales and the Mendips which has some lovely countryside."

Despite a slight decrease in the number of Londoners moving to  Bristol , Nick Stopard observed that many are now joining friends or family who have already settled in the city. He said: "A lot of London buyers that we do meet this year seem to be a lot more familiar with  Bristol, they're visiting a lot, they're following the path that the original trailblazers have set."

"And whenever we meet London buyers, which is a lot - we still meet loads of London buyers - a lot of them are citing that as quite important as well, so access to the countryside and you know,  Bristoll has its own identity, its own spirit."

"South of the river probably seems most popular with London buyers, because I think there's a real sense of community, a diverse demographic of people, a really nice amount of events and things have sprung up and a good sense of community."

Similar to many areas in London, such as Brixton and Hackney, lots of areas in  Bristol  are now becoming increasingly expensive to live in, especially for people originally from the city. "London buyers are only one section of buyers, so I wouldn't say they solely have made prices increase, but they've definitely been a contributing factor," said Mr Stopard.

"When a London buyer comes along they maybe have been saving a deposit for a London house which is much more expensive or they might even be selling a London house and therefore able to get a lot more space for their money."