Advice about Bordeaux to move there

Hello,
My husband (double nationality English/French) and I (Dutch, having lived for more than 30 years in the French part of Belgium) plan to visit Bordeaux and surroundings as a reconnaissance with the aim of living there either in 2 years time or earlier if we've fallen in love. We've lived in the Tarn since Protected content an hour and a half from Toulouse.
We would like to get in touch with people who live in Bordeaux and/or surroundings and who could give us some practical advice about the safest outskirts, the best choice of area in renting and/or buying, how active the expat community is or any other suggestions that might be of interest.
We want to live in an area near a tram station going to the centre of town, meaning Bordeaux.
We love cycling, walking, theater, eating out, concerts especially jazz, café theatre, art classes, Qi Qong, charity work, reading on a bench in the sun...
Any advice would be most welcome and if all goes well, why not meet up for a cup of coffee somewhere in town while we're there ?
Looking forward to your replies.