The Bristol Student Guide: Horfield

About the author: Hi! I'm Evie Greville. I am an undergrad student at the University of Bristol, studying English, and I am passionate about expressing and exploring my love for my university city. As well as being UniHomes’ Bristol Content Ambassador, I adore making art of every kind, especially writing about anything and everything!

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Horfield is a more relaxed area away from the bustle of the city centre, but just a bus ride away, and with its excellent proximity to Bishopston and Gloucester Road’s liveliness, it offers the best of both worlds for students.

Horfield is the perfect area for students looking for slightly lower rent and nice, typically larger, house shares, allowing large student friend groups to stick together. Read on to find out more about this suburb in my Bristol Horfield guide.

Horfield student guide

Location

Horfield is a popular student spot once your first year has ended and you move out of halls. It’s a Bristol suburb found at the end of Gloucester Road, bordering Filton, Lockleaze, and Ashley Down.

The location is ideal with a 15-minute drive, 20-minute cycle, or 30-minute direct bus to the centre. There’s an option for everyone. There is also Filton Abbey Wood Station nearby for train travel. It’s perfect for students from either the University of Bristol (UOB) or the University of the West of England (UWE). Many students purchase bus passes for seamless travel, with it being a half-hour bus trip to the UOB campus or a 20-minute journey to the UWE campus.

Having fun nearby

Horfield itself has a host of great things to do. Firstly, there is Horfield Leisure Centre. Not only is there a 25-metre swimming pool, but also a football pitch, a gym and a group fitness studio. The centre holds over 150 classes a week, including boxing, body conditioning, circuits, core fitness, bootcamps, swimming lessons and spin classes. There is something for everyone!

Horfield Common is also a great spot for students, perfect for runners, summer picnics and kickabouts with friends. There is also, of course, the Memorial Stadium, home to the Bristol Rovers for any local football lovers.

Lastly and most notably for student activities in the area is shopping. A student pastime for students not just in Horfield but all over Bristol is coming to Gloucester Road to visit the charity shops. Gloucester Road happens to be the longest road of independent shops in the whole of Europe, so it’s perfect for a day out!

Food and Drink

In terms of a food shop, nearby there is the Eastgate Retail Park with a 24-hour Tesco, as well as a Lidl on Mueller Road.

If you fancy heading out for a meal instead, there are also so many great spots to go to. My personal recommendations include MØD Coffee for a variety of pastries and treats, The Nectar House, the perfect place to grab brunch and the spot to find delicious, varied food, and Pizzarova for handmade sourdough pizzas.

There’s also a variety of places to go out for a pub trip. The Royal Oak is a cosy pub with a garden and an outdoor pizza oven! This is known as the go-to spot for cheap pints, live sports, and a good atmosphere. They also offer student discounts and deals with the MiXR app.

The Inn on the Green is also a student spot with a large garden and a country pub feel. Another option is The Drapers Arms, which serves local gin and craft beers. My final recommendation for something more unique is Bottles and Books, which offers a unique charm with craft beers, ciders, hot sauces, and comics!

Nightlife

If you want to go out for the night and hit the club, Stokes Croft is right around the corner and the place to be, just a 15-minute bus ride away. This is a nearby student hub for nights out, concentrated especially in The Love Inn and The Croft.

According to Nearfield, The Love Inn is run by the team behind Love Saves the Day, Bristol students’ favourite festival, and it specialises in electronic music, food pop-ups and cocktails. Similarly, the legendary venue, The Croft, has triumphantly reopened under its original name, offering an intimate gig venue with a brilliant, rustic, grunge feel.

Student accommodation in Horfield

So if you’ve just moved to Horfield, or you’re considering it for your next student house, you’ve got a lot to look forward to. It is the ideal place to live, to enjoy peaceful, residential living whilst remaining connected to the inner-city excitement and the joys of Gloucester Road.

Whether you’re after a smaller three-bedroom house or a house large enough for the whole friend group, there’s an option for everyone. The average rent is around £160 per person, per week (PPPW) with bills included on UniHomes. The properties range from around £133 a PPPW to £251 PPPW, so there’s a good opportunity to find something that works for everyone involved.

This Horfield guide, of course, cannot include all the joys of the suburb, so it’s best to head over for the day and get to know the area for yourself.

Browse our student accommodation in Horfield and grab a room in one of Bristol’s much-loved areas today!

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Whilst you’re out having fun in your new uni city, remember that UniHomes promotes responsible drinking, and any alcohol products featured within this article are for ages 18+.

The views and opinions expressed in these blogs are those of the UniHomes Content Ambassadors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion of UniHomes. UniHomes accepts no liability for the content of these Student Blogs.