The ultimate student guide to exploring Bristol

Imagine a city that provides students with prestigious universities, a vibrancy in aesthetics and culture, a staggering maritime history, an extensive arts scene and a myriad of viewpoints offering dramatic skyline views. Believe it or not, it exists.

Welcome to Bristol, a city that is fast becoming one of the most popular UK locations to study in, with beautiful neighbourhoods, a vast amount of activities on offer and a broad selection of deluxe apartments that provide a safe, stylish haven to make home.

Bristol is famous for both its top-class education and its enigmatic blend of culture, arts, music & history within one city. Situated in the southwest of England, the birthplace of legendary artist Banksy combines striking architecture with the modern street art scene, making city life just that bit more interesting.

Home to the renowned University of Bristol as well as the University of West England, Bristol brings students together from all over the world, offering a wide range of activities to partake in, historical landmarks to explore and a wealth of food and drinks options to enjoy during the week.

For the avid nature lovers, the food connoisseurs, the theatre enthusiasts and the history fanatics, the city provides each individual an ideal selection of options to explore in their new home away from home.

How to get around Bristol

It helps when a beautiful city provides an excellent transport system, and it’s safe to say that Bristol offers just that.

Despite the fact that walking around such a unique city makes for a fun-filled morning before university, whilst ticking off a nice amount of steps, Bristol is a little hilly and therefore public transport can often be more preferable.

The best option by far is to jump on the bus, which is more affordable and usually travels directly to and from the universities. For those worried about being caught in traffic, trains are also efficient, but aren’t located as close to the campuses as the bus stops. They do offer easy routes from Bristol to other areas within the UK, which is great for the student holidays.

Closest things nearby

Student Luxe offers student apartments in some of the most sought-after locations in Bristol, close to popular attractions as well as universities, libraries and coffee shops. We’ve compiled a quick list of essential places nearby, as well as hot spots that are ideal for relaxation on study breaks.

Top Things to Do In Bristol

Over the years, Bristol has won many awards ranging from ‘European Green Capital’, the ‘European City of the Year’ and the ‘Best City in Europe’ back in 2017. Bristol’s Old City has even gained UNESCO World Heritage status due to its distinct architecture encompassing both Victorian and Georgian periods.

The city has an extensive history that can be learnt about on city tours, through various museum exhibitions and by exploring some of its most famous landmarks. Combined with its outstanding arts scene, the varied assortment of restaurants, cafes and bars on offer as well as numerous viewpoints and walking trails, it’s not difficult to see why Bristol is so popular with students. We’ve listed our favourite things to do in Bristol to help students become acquainted with their new home.

Get to know Bristol with a city tour

It’s nice to amble around the city centre and admire the variety of buildings, but we prefer to find out about what we’re looking up at – in a fun, dynamic way. Students can choose to walk around on a self-guided tour or even book onto a free city tour where they can admire the street art, visit historic landmarks, viewpoints and even check out Cary Grant’s favourite haunts back in the day!

Learn about Bristol’s maritime history onboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain

One of the most iconic ships in both Bristol (and in fact the world) is Brunel’s SS Great Britain, which can be found near the campus of UWE. 

Invented by esteemed engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this was the first ever ocean liner ever manufactured before its launch in 1843. Over the years, it played different roles, starting as a transatlantic passenger ship for the wealthy before transporting emigrants to Australia, military servicemen to war and finally cargo between England and the West Coast of the USA  before it was eventually abandoned in the Falkland Islands. 

After a lengthy battle to return it to land, the ocean liner was restored to its original form of the 1800s and is open for visitors to explore and learn about its famous history. Pay a visit to the two interactive museums and don’t forget to climb the rigging for astounding views of Bristol.

Step onboard and book tickets here.

Visit the M Shed

Situated a short distance away from the SS Great Britain lies the M Shed, a free museum hosting a variety of exhibitions, shows and events with all one topic in mind: Bristol.

Through a variety of interactive means, fascinating historical objects and informative displays, students can learn about how neighbourhoods transformed over the years to shape the Bristol we know today, the chequered history of the city with its contribution to the Transatlantic Slave Trade and how the Bristolian lifestyle has revolutionised over the centuries. 

Student Luxe’s Top Tip:

The museum is shut on Monday, so plan accordingly!

For more information, click here.

Eat, eat and eat some more at the Harbourside Street Food Market

There almost seems to be no part of Bristol that isn’t oozing with history and Harbourside Market is no different, previously the city’s former port. Nowadays, students can eat, shop and drink to their heart’s content against one of Bristol’s prettiest backdrops at Harbourside Market which runs every Wednesday and Thursday and on the weekend. Tuck into a selection of world-class cuisine taking inspiration from all over the world, from mouth-watering meats to vegan tacos and delectable desserts!

Visit the oldest market in Bristol - St Nicholas’ Market

Fancy getting lost in a market that first opened 1743? Who doesn’t? Enter St Nicholas’ Market, which is situated in the the heart of the Old City, and offers the public not only a selection of food to nibble on, but a wide range of original accessories, hand-made gifts and vintage clothing to buy. It’s therefore not difficult to see why the market is renowned for being one of the best in the UK.

It’s time to get curious at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

This building is so beautiful that it’s hard to even want to explore when staring at such stunning interiors – but do wander, because it’s what’s inside the building that makes this experience so thought-provoking.

Situated practically on the University of Bristol’s campus lies the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, famous for its striking stature and remarkable collection of historical artefacts, fascinating exhibitions and impressive art gallery.

Student Luxe’s Top Tip: Don’t miss Banksy’s sculpture inside! Find out more information here.

Delve into the ingenious world of Banksy

Fun fact – Bristol is the birthplace of possibly the most famous street artist the world has ever seen and students can actually spot his artwork throughout Bristol in Stokes Croft, the cultural hub of Bristol. Who are we talking about? Banksy of course!

Why not take a self-guided tour to discover some of Banksy’s legendary murals and gain an insight into the meaning behind some of these incredible pieces of artwork.

Student Luxe’s Top Tip: Where The Wall has created an online self-guided tour that doesn’t require users to download an app. Listen to a fun audio narrative detailing Banksy’s creative impact on his hometown whilst strolling around the city.

Climb up the Cabot Tower

Located near to the Clifton Suspension Bridge (which we’ll be talking about later) and within the delightful Brandon Hill Park is the Cabot Tower, standing proudly at 105ft.

As seen with many structures in Bristol, dates back hundreds of years, originally built in 1897 in recognition of John Cabot’s famous expedition from Bristol to the coast of North America in 1497, discovering a ‘new found land’ – commonly known as Newfoundland in Canada.

This tower isn’t an easy feat with a narrow staircase and 109 steps to climb until the top, however the outstanding views over Bristol are well worth the beads of sweat.

Student Luxe’s Top Tip: For the best views, we recommend students to visit at sunset or a day when the sun is shining down on the beautiful city.

Take a walk along the Clifton Suspension Bridge

One of the most iconic landmarks of Bristol has to be that of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which provides spectacular views over the Avon Gorge and Bristol City. Despite being used as a toll bridge since 1864 – for the horse-drawn traffic that came through that way – it’s free to cycle or walk across the bridge and we thoroughly recommend students do just that.

Whilst admiring the landscape, and walking on the bridge, students should take a moment to think about the history behind the structure. The bridge started construction in 1831, was later abandoned and then completed in memory of the mastermind behind the design, Isambard Kingdom Brunel. It’s truly fascinating to experience a landmark and find out how it came to be there in the first place. For this reason, why not visit the Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre to learn more about the construction of the bridge and the attempts it took for Brunel to complete it.

Splurge at Clifton Village

Clifton Village is a delightful neighbourhood, conveniently located right by the suspension bridge so students can easily nip over here to explore after – but allow a few hours, it’s easy to spend a lot of time here. 

Here one can find an area that amalgamates classic Georgian architecture with modern amenities; a world where quirky cafés, renowned restaurants and independent boutiques are positioned within cute, cobbled passageways and in majestic buildings dating back to the 18th century.

Have a scenic stroll through Leigh Woods

It’s really important for students studying to take regular breaks, inhale fresh air and find moments of tranquillity and Leigh Woods is the perfect place to do just that.

The leafy woodland provides well-marked flat paths for walking (and cycling), with astonishing views down the Avon Gorge and of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, amidst ancient trees harbouring wildlife and surrounded by beautiful bluebells in the spring months.

Student Luxe’s Top Tip: It can get muddy here, so take a good pair of walking shoes. 

Pay a visit to the stunning Bristol Cathedral

Located slap bang in the middle of College Green is the wondrous Bristol Cathedral, one of Bristol’s most grandiose monuments which combines aspects of the Medieval period, seen in parts of the choir, with features of the Victorian era – notice the difference in design when gazing up at the nave and west towers. 

Entry to the Cathedral is free and one can sometimes hear the music of the organ playing at certain times of the year whilst admiring the phenomenal gothic-style architecture and the stunning, stained-glass windows dazzling in the sunlight.

For more information, click here.

Get off the beaten path (quite literally) at Leap Valley

Whether it’s wintry walks or summer strolls, well-known trails can get a little too busy during popular seasons, so it’s nice to know about hidden paths that aren’t such tourist traps. 

Leap Valley is actually situated 15 minutes away from Bristol city centre and is popular with locals who are looking for a fun adventure for their dogs due to the mix of forestry, rivers, streams and meadows to explore. 

Discover the assortment of flora and fauna and take a moment to admire the wide range of wildlife growing here, uninterrupted by daily city life.

Time for a ‘fiesta’ (but not the party kind) at Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta

Time to start filling up the diary with the best kinds of dates – Balloon Fiesta dates that is.

This iconic 4-day hot air balloon spectacle has been a part of Bristolian heritage since its inception in 1979 when a small group of enthusiasts came together one weekend to fly 27 hot air balloons. Fast forward to the present day, and this has grown into Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons worldwide and is as famous to Bristol as its other popular landmarks. 

Students can enjoy watching over 100 hot air balloons take off and light up the sky in an assortment of colours from dusk until dawn, alongside family activities, delicious food stalls and a variety of local music.

Check out the food, music and street art festivals in Bristol

It’s festival time! But which is best for students? All of them? Why not!

Bristol has long since been established as a cultural hub for muralists, foodies and exciting, upcoming music artists. It’s no wonder then that the city hosts an assortment of popular festivals, gigs and displays to showcase the best in art, cuisine and music. From Upfest Festival where international and local street artists take over the city, displaying their artwork over many buildings, to Forwards Festival featuring a mix of legendary and upcoming music artists on the stage to the Foodies Festival where students can sample the most delicious of cuisine from all over the UK across different food stalls that they may not have tried previously.

Happy Exploring!