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Central

Interactive map displaying Central

About

Central ward encompasses Bristol's historic core, anchored by the Castle Park area on the east bank of the Floating Harbour. The district includes the ruins of St Peter's Church and the remains of Bristol Castle, with modern retail and office developments surrounding these green spaces. The ward's western boundary is defined by the harbour itself, creating a distinct edge.

A key feature is the extensive network of underground vaults and chambers from the medieval city, accessible in places like the Christmas Steps. The area contains the central shopping districts of Broadmead and The Horsefair, alongside the main bus station. It functions primarily as the city's commercial and transport hub, with a limited residential population concentrated in a few pockets.

Area overview

On average Central has high deprivation and high crime levels, with around 542 crimes per 1,000 residents per year. Approximately 13.2% of homes in this area are social housing provided by a local council or housing association. The average income per household in Central is £62,846 per year. There are 5 schools in Central: 1 primary (0 Outstanding and 0 Good) and 1 secondary (1 Outstanding and 0 Good). Central is home to around 18,390 people, with a population density of about 8,241.5 per km2.

Crime rate
8/10
Crimes per 1k residents
542
Deprivation level
7/10
Income level
9/10
Social housing
13.2%
Connectivity
N/A

Area Profile

Central Population
18,390
Population density
8,241.5 per km²

Crime

Crime per 1,000 population

Violence and sexual offences
213.49(+548%)
Anti-social behaviour
135.4(+797%)
Public order
93.2(+1314%)
Other theft
77.54(+1277%)
Shoplifting
60.9(+813%)
South West average

Demographics

Ethnic groups

British
9,424
51.24%
Other White
2,407
13.09%
Chinese
1,395
7.59%
African
1,231
6.69%
Indian
713
3.88%
Total population: 18,391

Economics

Education (age 16+)

Level 4 qualifications or above
7,335
42.56%
Level 3 (A level)
6,906
40.07%
No qualifications
970
5.63%
Level 2 (GCSEs 9-4)
919
5.33%
Level 1 (GCSEs 3-1)
541
3.14%
Total 16+ residents: 17,233

Housing

Housing tenure

Private landlord or letting agency
3,546
54.65%
Social rents from council
914
14.09%
Owns with a mortgage
714
11%
Owns outright
552
8.51%
Other social rented
429
6.61%
Total households: 6,488

Property prices in Central

Based on 135 recent sales, the median property price is £290,000 in Central area, with individual transactions ranging from £100,000 up to £818,500.

Price distribution per property type (last year)

Price distribution by property type for Central in the last year.

Median sale price and percentiles per property type (last year)

Median sale price, sales count, and percentile information for each property type in Central over the last year.
TypeSalesMedian
Detached1£665,000
Flats129£281,000
Semi-Detached2£677,500
Terraced3£475,000

10 years median price trend in Central

Ten year median sale price trend for each property type in Central.

All postcodes in Central

BS15DS

Orchard Lane

BS16RZ

Somerset Street

BS16SA

Somerset Street

BS28DT

St Michaels Hill

BS28JE

Dove Street

BS82AA

Belgrave Road

BS13BH

Brigstowe Street

BS14PH

Prince Street

BS14QF

Prince Street

BS15LH

Park Row

BS16FH

Somerset Street

BS16LA

Georges Square

BS16RS

Mede Close

BS28BU

St Michaels Hill

BS28EH

Prospect Avenue

BS14BE

Queen Square

BS14BQ

Telephone Avenue

BS14BS

Telephone Avenue

BS14BY

Broad Quay

BS14ER

King Street

BS14LW

Queen Square

BS16AG

Portwall Lane

BS16AY

Central

BS16BA

Central

BS16BF

Temple Way Underpass

BS16BH

Portwall Square

BS16WE

Gaol Ferry Steps

BS12EU

Broad Street

BS12LY

Lower Maudlin Street

BS13BL

Fairfax Street

BS13DX

Broadmead

BS13NG

Cherry Lane

BS81QD

Queens Avenue

BS81TE

Woodland Road

BS81TH

Park Street

BS81TL

Tyndall Avenue

BS81TN

Woodland Road

BS81TP

St Michael's Park

BS81TQ

Tyndall Avenue

BS81TR

University Walk

BS81TS

Cantock's Close

BS81UP

Cantock's Close

BS81PX

Queen's Road

BS81UU

Woodland Road

BS13EX

Central

Data Sources

All data is sourced from official UK government agencies and public datasets. Last updated: 16/01/2026.