HEADLINE EVENTS IN BRISTOL

With the array of events on offer and things to do, as a student living in Bristol you will never be disappointed. The city is young, vibrant and has plenty of edge, enhanced by their large student population, it is a forward-thinking city with a taste for art. St Lawrence House student accommodation is surrounded by eclectic street art and graffiti which Bristol is famous for.

Co-LAB in Broadmead handpicks innovative artists and designers from Bristol to showcase their products in store and online. To match your new room to the Bristol city aesthetic, this is a great pitstop for creative inspiration or to buy unique decorative pieces. Spike Island, is home to a gallery within a unique building and a tea warehouse, as well as plenty of workshops for creatives from many different fields. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and Arnolfini Gallery are unique experiences to visit but both offer some of the best collections in the country, perfect to explore on a rainy day.

If you’re into cinematography, Bristol is a great city to explore your passion. As an established UNESCO City of Film, and there are countless screenings and film festivals every year for you to indulge in. If you’re more of a history enthusiast, Bristol’s lineage lies in the tobacco, glass, and chocolate trades, and also has a shameful past as part of the Atlantic slave trade (which has been acknowledged and extensively written about and demonstrated in exhibitions in recent years). You can find out more about the history of the slave trade at the M Shed, within the Bristol People Gallery.

The highest profile event you cannot miss in Bristol is Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, held each year over a four day carnival. It’s a spectacular event launching over 100 hot air balloons in the sky and has to be at the top of any Bristol student’s bucket list.

Bristol Harbour Festival is another great spot to head over to with friends for tasty food and great beats from the local performing artists. If street art is your thing, then you won’t want to miss Upfest. It is Europe’s biggest urban paint festival with a multi-venue setting, encouraging visitors to explore and find  out for themselves what treats can be found around the next corner.

One of the best ways to see this wonderful city is by taking one of the walking tours offered by the passionate locals. World famous street artist Banksy (we still don’t know who Banksy is or if it is a collective of graffiti artists) hails from this international city, and a walking tour around all of Banksy’s original artworks takes you through every nook and corner.

If you head down to the harbourside, the SS Great Britain is a magnificent former passenger steamship that attracts visitors from across the U.K. Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is a truly magnificent example of architecture which you can admire whilst enjoying your morning coffee.

Bristol is also a city appreciates nature, nestled in between urban architecture you will find plenty of green spaces to relax and recharge the batteries. The University of Bristol’s Botanic Garden is home to over 4,500 species of plants and is very much loved by students looking to escape the busy city setting.

GOING OUT OUT IN BRISTOL

Bristol nightlife, similar to the dynamic food scene, is thriving and continues to impress students coming to this electric city. The diversity of the clubs and venues on offer will find you in nightclubs hosting some of the top DJs in the world and underground gigs featuring up and coming artists months away from breaking into the mainstream charts. There is an ever flowing supply of live music across the city and even a thriving LGBTQ+ scene. And if you’d rather be sipping a glamorous cocktail in a bar with a few friends or watching some live comedy instead, you will find that too!

If you’re a new student living at our Bristol student accommodation, start at King’s Street which is less than a 10min walk away. Amongst it’s cosy cobbled streets you’ll be delighted to find an incredible selection of microbreweries, a jazz pub, and some traditional old ale pubs. King Street Brew House, for example, offers a variety both cask and keg beers, brewed right there and then.

Looking to dance the night away in a relaxed environment? Park Street and The Triangle are fantastic areas with many lively pubs, bars and late-night student club nights. From a wide range of choices and music genres to suit any Bristol student, no matter what your music taste is, you will find company in either of these well-loved spots. For a more alternative scene, head over to Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road, popular with underground talents and emerging trends.

The Apple, a bar and club located on a boat, can be found less than 10min away from your Abodus student accommodation. As well as it being a true student institution in the city, it sells 8% cider in half pint measures, at £1.50 a pop, it is probably one of the best atmospheres you’ll find in the whole city.

If you’re into live sports, check out The Sportsman, a ‘proper’ pub, with big TVs showing all the live sport with plenty of pool tables, perfect to hang out with a bunch of mates. They also offer some great student discounts on food and drink.

The Lanes on Nelson Street is another unique place to have a great night out with a bunch of friends! It has a bowling alley, a bar, and a diner open all week – with live gigs, club nights, and karaoke rooms to complete the set of entertainment on offer! Other places to check out also include The Volunteer Tavern, The Cat and Wheel, The Blue Lagoon and The Gallimaufry.

Clubbing can be a large part of your student experience, and even if you’re not an avid goer, Bristol will tempt you to try at least a few of these diverse experiences. Whatever your taste in music or atmosphere, Bristol has it all. The biggest and longest established club in Bristol, Motion, has been named one of the best clubs in the world, critically named the 2nd best club in the UK by DJ Mag. A huge courtyard, a riverside terrace, and four large indoor dance floors – what else could you want for a fabulous night of dancing?

If you’re into underground music, Lakota is the beating heart of the scene, with multi-room dance floors and over the top event nights. Also don’t forget to check out Thekla, Bristol’s iconic floating boat club, and The Fleece! the legendary live music and club night venue. The Island is a techno haven, and The Black Swan and Blue Mountain home to some epic drum and bass nights.

WHERE TO SHOP IN BRISTOL

Getting to know the shopping scene of the new city can be an exciting experience as a student and while you would expect there to be an array of shopping places in a city like Bristol, it can still really surprise you! Many consider Bristol to be the capital of shopping in the South West, from big high street brands to quirky and exotic independent boutiques, you will find it all here and for reasonable prices that won’t break the bank.

From your home at St Lawrence House or Harbour Court, our two Bristol student accommodations, you’re close the buzzing shopping scene, with a wide variety of supermarket brands and independent grocery stores to keep your fridge full each week. If you’re looking for something more unique, this multicultural city has lots of arts and craft & vintage clothing stores to fines your wardrobe.

Clifton Village is a picturesque area to explore. Have a stroll from Clifton Suspension Bridge through the village to peak at many of the upmarket boutiques there. If the prices are a touch too high for a student budget, it’s still a beautiful place to visit.

Bristol Shopping Quarter, located in Broadmead and only 5min walk from St Lawrence House, this mecca is where you will find the popular familiar brands, including High Street staples like Bershka and H&M, and other one-off wonders. In particular, the Cabot Circus, is a unique designed shopping centre offering over 90 big brands and high street stores, as well as wide range of restaurants, cafes, and a cinema. Shopping late? A really handy place to know in Bristol is Cribbs Causeway. It’s located in the outskirts of the city, offering similar big-name brands as the central shopping centres, but has extended and very handy opening hours.

If you’re ready to venture out and explore some independent shops, don’t forget to check out Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road, the longest street in Europe, housing a menu of vintage stores of clothing, arts and crafts.

If you’re into the alternative-shopping scene, Bristol is a heaven for students. Many students, looking to create their unique style, often shop at Park Street and The Triangle for the trendy shops and retro clothing along the steepest hill in the world!

The markets in Bristol, as in many of the UK cities, offer a taste of local vibes and can be a great place to shop as a student. In addition to cobbled streets in the city centre, the Old Market is a fascinating place to pop in on your next shopping trip. Many unique local traders means you will find some bargains here for sure!

The Christmas Steps Arts Quarter, eight unique streets in Bristol’s old town, is an incredible experience that might take you a full day to truly take in. The area has history dating back to the 1600s and now offers independent shops, art galleries, bars and more than a few surprises, where artisans and creative traders work side by side to keep this diverse corner of Bristol as unusual as it’s been throughout its long and intriguing history.

Finally, don’t forget to pop into the Wapping Wharf, located around Bristol’s harbourside, it’s the newest district and a hub of exciting independent businesses in shipping containers. Students, local Bristolians and visitors alike come together here to shop, eat and relax by the glistening waterfront.

SPORT & LEISURE IN BRISTOL

Both universities in Bristol offer some fantastic sports facilities to take advantage of when studying in this vibrant city. Both offer a wide range of sports and activities to get involved in, whether you’re simply looking to keep fit whilst at university, got your eyes on that shining Olympic Gold Medals, or simply want to join a football team with your mates for a laugh, you can do it all here.

Many places in the city, including the ones not run by the universities’ or student unions’, offer free entries with your student card, or discounted student rates, particularly at the local gyms. For example, The Indoor Sports Centre at the University of Bristol, located on Tyndall Avenue (a quick 15min walk away from our Bristol student accommodation) gives you access to a state-of-the-art gym, a double-court sports hall, exercise studios and a 32-metre swimming pool at the SU. Coombe Dingle Sports Complex, and Saltford Boathouse on the River Avon will offer first class sports pitches, tennis courts and Olympic weight-lifting gyms.

For those aiming to compete at an elite level, the Performance Squad helps talented young athletes meet hard targets, without compromising on education. The advice and guidance provided helps plan your progress and includes professional physiotherapy support, nutritional advice, and your training equipment can be priceless at the early stages of your sporting career.

With more than 60 sports clubs available to join through the Students’ Union, you will certainly find one or more activities to suit your needs and interests. Some examples include ultimate Frisbee, skydiving, American football, cycling and others. And of course, as in many other cities in the U.K, football and rugby is alive and well amongst students and spectators get together to watch the big matches in popular bars and pubs across the city.

Bristol is a lively city to go and see a match live with your friends being home to two football league teams in Bristol City and Bristol Rovers, playing at Ashton Gate and the Memorial Ground respectively. City play in the Championship, and depending on the visiting team, sometimes you may struggle to get tickets, but the atmosphere is definitely worth the wait! For a more spontaneous match day, you can buy tickets to see Rovers on the day for most matches.

If you’re a fan of rugby, you will enjoy watching Bristol Bears, who play in Premiership Rugby, the top tier of professional English Rugby Union.

Finally, Bristol, while known for its urban traditions, promotes a healthy lifestyle and has a variety of long city walks and countryside hikes for you to explore both the architecture on offer and the rolling hills. If you’re considering jumping on a bike to get around, many students find it to be the most convenient mode of transportation, with cycling links available pretty much everywhere. Just beware of the steep hill from College Green up to Queens Road! If you’re not ready for your own bike, as a cycling city, Bristol offers bikes to hire and daily cycling tours. If feeling adventurous, why not cycle on one of the many special trails taking you to Bath and beyond – a great day out, loved by many students looking to spend their weekend outdoors.  

TOP UNIVERSITIES IN BRISTOL

Living at an Abodus student accommodation in Bristol means you will be right in the heart of this wonderful city and only about 15min walk to the central campus of the University of Bristol.

If you’re living at Harbour Court, you can easily cycle or walk in less than 20min, or take a short 15 min bus ride to drop you off right in the centre of campus. The University of West England (UWE), which is located on the outskirts of the city, is also only a 15min bus journey away due to the excellent travel links on offer.

One of the top 50 universities in the country, University of Bristol offers academic excellence in a thriving and green city, invested in high quality learning and personal development. Founded in 1876 as University College, Bristol, it became a full-pledged university in 1909, and was the first higher education institution in England to admit women. Its rich history has inspired a number of great scientist and philosophers, thirteen of whom are Nobel Prize winners, including Sir Winston Churchill.

Uni of Bristol students can access nine extensive libraries, which are each dedicated to particular study areas with subject support from staff, as well as access to literally millions of resources online and in print to help you learn and elevate your research.

Bristol students can also make use of three study centres which have been specially designed to ensure that independent and group study work can be completed in peace and quiet. With 2,300 PCs and IT facilities across campus, you can do all your work here, including collaborate with others in plenty of communal spaces. Did you know? University of Bristol is only one of two universities in the country that have a full NHS practices for students to take advantage of.

If you’re looking for additional support or to immerse yourself in an active social life with other students living in Bristol, The Student’s Union is a great place to meet new friends and offers well over 400 sports clubs and societies to cater to a large number of interests, sports, and hobbies. Having recently refurbished the Richmond Building, home of Bristol SU, it now offers great facilities to hang out at.

The SU is a prime place to hang out if you’re a Bristol student, with a buzzing café bar that hosts events for students every week. Here you’ll find a gig venue, a swimming pool, a couple of theatres, and even a dance studio, so you will never get bored and always find fun here when taking a break from your studies!

University of the West of England (UWE), which can be found on the end of this amazing city, offers a perfect learning environment while still being close the beautiful modern centre of Bristol. If you live at St Lawrence or Harbour Court, you will be catching a quick bus to campus in the morning. And it’s worth it! One of the largest higher education providers in the South West of England, the university is known for its close collaboration with employers and industry experts locally, nationally, and at an international level, allowing students to gain experience in real life business and add some valuable skills to their learning.

The campus offers a range of specialist facilities that any UWE Bristol student will enjoy. A mock courtroom, a nursing simulation suite, forensic crime scene house, wind tunnel, flight simulator, multimedia broadcast studios, and financial trading rooms – just to name a few.

It goes without saying that the high standards for research and continuous practical learning are important values to this university.

So you’re career-minded, the Students’ Union Job Shop might be top of your to do list. It offers students access to part-time jobs and expert advice on job hunting and guidance on employment rights, tax issues, and national insurance contributions. Around 200 students from the university also undertake internships each year through a programme at UWE Bristol.

To keep active, check out the 180 sports clubs and societies open to students, and an array of volunteering opportunities and charitable enterprises. During your leisure time, the SU offers an on-campus cinema & centre for Performing Arts – particularly popular with students, as well as a selection of bars, shops and trendy cafes to catch up with friends in and unwind after hard weeks studying.