Why Bristol was a good choice

So you decided to choose Bristol, eh? Well if your experience when deciding which universities to put in your top five when applying to UCAS was anything like mine – and then further deciding which to put as your firm and insurance choice – then I bet there was a labyrinth of factors to consider.

Credit: UWE Bristol

From making sure you are on the right course to ensuring the particular institution was academically suitable, teachers constantly reminded us of the important of making the right choice. And, inevitably, one factor we have all been encouraged to consider is location, location, location.

Well, you have hit the jackpot with Bristol. Sure, earlier this year The Sunday Times ranked it the best UK city to live, judging it on a variety of areas from school performance to house prices.

But I say that Bristol is the greatest because it caters for what I refer to as the three S’s of student living: Studying, Socialising and Shopping.

The first ‘S’, studying, is the one we have supposedly come to university primarily for. Luckily for us, Bristol accommodates students’ needs very well. In a city like this, it does not necessarily matter that you can’t get a seat in the library to revise for exams as there are so many great and unique places to go. There are all in the independent coffee shops in Clifton Village (my personal favourite last year was Wainwright’s), and other popular ones like Boston Tea Party dotted all about from Queen’s Road to Whiteladies Road. In terms of studying in coffee shops (which, for an English student like me, is very necessary if we are going to live up to the stereotype of our course), we are spoilt for choice.

Boston Tea party on Gloucester Road, Bristol

But when the weather is nice, there are great outdoor places too. From the Downs to Castle Park, the green spaces for us to enjoy are endless. This is a particular asset of Bristol. We have the social life of a great city like London or Brighton as well as the great countryside-like spots for studying or relaxing. In this sense, Bristol really is the best of both worlds.

Surrounding these green spaces is some great architecture. The colourful buildings overlooking the Floating Harbour (which admittedly remind me slightly of a scene from that absolute classic of a children’s show, Balamory) has a wonderful seaside feel to it, whilst the Georgian architecture in Clifton provide streets and sights that truly no one can ever get bored of.

Credit: Distribution- Bristol

And, of course, where there are both green spaces and great city buildings, there naturally comes great views. In the Clifton Observatory by the Suspension Bridge (now with a new café on its roof), you can see out into the distance, use the Camera Obscura to get a 360-degree view of your surroundings or delve down into the Giant’s Cave to overlook the Avon Gorge. Equally, you can climb up to the top of the Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill where you can see the view of possible the most generic photo of Bristol University to ever be taken.

The view from Clifton Observatory cafe Bristol

These pursuits can either be solo or with a group of friends, but there is certainly much else that makes Bristol a great place as we swiftly manoeuvre into the second S of student life – socialising and culture.

Socialising in Bristol can involve anything from enjoying its nightlife, to participating in its inherently political culture (there have been several marches against Donald Trump and in the 2017 General Election, Bristol West had the biggest swing to Labour and the highest Labour vote of any constituency in the UK), or to simply enjoying its history which means more than just spotting the surviving Banksy murals.

Bristol’s nightlife is particularly notable, with a whole range of clubs for students to enjoy. From Thekla, which has the added novelty of being on a boat, to SWX, to the trashy yet loveable Lizard Lounge conveniently placed on the Triangle.

Thekla on Bristol’s Floating Harbour

Finally, the last ‘S’ on our list of student needs, Bristol is great for shopping. Bristol has all the favourite high street shops in the outside shopping area Cabot Circus. But Bristol shopping would not be Bristol shopping if there were not some smaller places to buy your goods such as the stalls in St Nick’s Market which has a fantastic array of independent retailers selling everything from clothes to great photos of Bristol.

St Nick’s market on Corn Street, Bristol

The next few years of your life will be interesting to say the least. But in a place like Bristol, it will certainly not be forgettable.