UniHomes guide to

Bristol

The Best Places to Live in Bristol

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Uni Life in Bristol

Located in the hills of South West England is the city that never sleeps. Uni student life in Bristol is always lively, and the city is one of the country's most vibrant places to be. Its buzzing student community makes it a great place to study, with outstanding nightlife, an extensive collection of indie restaurants and cafés, and an admirable culture.

Bristol has two great universities in it - the University of the West of England and the University of Bristol. UWE is a bit further out from the city centre, but it's only a 25-minute bus ride away, and with the Students' Union on campus, you'll never be far from the action. Bristol University is located close to the city centre, just off Kingsdown. Fortunately, accommodation for the University of Bristol students is always in close proximity to useful amenities, with plenty of pubs and bars a short walk away.

Key reasons to study in Bristol

  • 1
    Voted the best place to live in Britain

    Bristol's lively music and arts scene, exciting places to eat and drink, and parks and open spaces mean it's no surprise it was awarded the best UK city to live in and provides fantastic student lifestyle opportunities. The city is also known for being the UK's first ever European Green Capital in 2015, thanks to its strong record on waste recycling and renewable energy.

  • 2
    Nightlife suited to everyone's taste

    The city centre is always awake with life, with bars, pubs, and nightclubs all within walking distance of one another and open every night. Here, you'll find two of the country's most popular bars - Milk Thistle and Cotto Wine Bar and Kitchen, but student favourites also include Motion and Lakota. Gigs, theatre productions and concerts are also always packed into the calendar.

  • 3
    City of greenery

    If you need a break from the late nights, don't miss out on the chance to explore one of Bristol's gorgeous parks once the sun comes out. Bristol has over 400 parks and gardens to choose from, so you're bound to find one near your accommodation! Some popular ones include Castle Park, Brandon Hill, and the university's own Botanic Garden.

  • 4
    A British food capital

    Bristol Uni student life is greatly boosted by a good hangover cure in the city. You can find plenty of eats here, with Pizza on the Park, Three Brothers Burgers, and Pieminister all offering hearty options for a great price. There are plenty of independent businesses to support here, and students often flock to the Harbourside Street Food Market on Wednesdays and Thursdays.

  • 5
    Festivals galore

    This city is known for hosting vibrant festivals to add a sprinkle of excitement to student life in Bristol. The Bristol Harbour Festival and Bristol International Balloon Fiesta are completely free. Also, the annual Bristol Pride champions diversity and sees tens of thousands of attendees.

  • 6
    Home to Banksy

    Home to the infamous graffiti artist Banksy, Bristol student life wouldn't be complete without days out exploring some of his work, which can be seen in different spots across the city. He also comes back every so often and adds to the collection! For more art, explore Bristol Museum & Art Gallery.

Bristol is such a good uni city. There are so many clubs with different types of music to choose from, and it's especially good if you like drum and bass. If clubbing isn't your thing, there are great places to eat, like St Nicholas' Market and cute cafés.

Catherine G Brand Ambassador

Bristol's full of all sorts of different cultures and types of nightlife. It's got everything you need. Pam Pam's club on a Wednesday sport social night is always amazing. The Voi scooters in around the city are cool to go for a ride on with your flatmates too!

Phoebe W Brand Ambassador

Universities in Bristol

University of Bristol

Picture of University of Bristol

A prestigious red brick and member of the Russell Group, the University of Bristol is one of England's best universities. Found just off to the north-west side of the city centre, students enrolled here often live in areas like Clifton, Redland and Kingsdown.

University of the West of England

Picture of University of the West of England

The University of the West of England (UWE) is a popular campus university located in the village of Filton, just to the north of Bristol. It was rated 11th in the UK for student satisfaction by the NSS.

Student Life in Bristol

Motion is one of the best clubs in the world according to a recent survey, and it's my personal favourite. If you like DnB, you have to visit Lakota! Clifton has some great sushi restaurants, and The Lanes is really fun to play some bowling and have a drink.

Catherine G Brand Ambassador

Frequently Asked Questions

Absolutely! Student life in Bristol is renowned for its strong sense of community and feels safe. It offers both the vibrancy of nightlife and the tranquillity of gorgeous green spaces, bringing that much-needed balance that many students look for.
Bristol’s live music scene is one to watch out for. While not as big as London or Manchester, Bristol still knows how to do Friday night right, and you can catch a gig, drink, or boogie all across the city. Give The Fleece, Small Bar, and Basement 45 a try!
Student housing in Bristol is constantly popping up, due to the growing number of students choosing to study in the city. Most students stay in Bristol in the city centre and Clifton, although Horfield, Filton, and Fishponds are also popular.
October is the best time to start looking for student accommodation in Bristol. Properties will be available until February, but we would recommend starting a search for a property during the autumn. The most popular student areas in Bristol include Filton, Horfield and Fishponds.
UniHomes has a property search tool which displays hundreds of student properties in Bristol, all with bills included. Sign up to our mailing list so that you can be notified of new properties going live.
Tenancy periods in Bristol usually last for 12 months. Most contracts will start on the 1st July and end on the 30th June the following year. Occasionally, letting agents may offer tenancy periods that last for 10 or 11 months, starting in August or September. You can always enquire with the letting agent to find out how long your contract length will be.
Deposits are usually either 4 or 5 week's rent. The maximum legal amount a landlord can charge your for a deposit is 5 week's rent. You’ll get your deposit back when you move out of the property. That said, if the landlord is still owed outstanding rent or needs to pay for repairs to damage within the property, they may take deductions from the deposit to cover the costs.
UniHomes accommodation in Bristol usually costs £110 – £349 per person, per week. This price includes the cost of all bills you'll need to pay, which you won't always see on other student accommodation websites. Check out the full range of student accommodations available in Bristol.

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