The University of Bristol’s student accommodation is spread across the city in three ‘villages’. North, East and West (alongside the Langford Campus located in Bristol Veterinary School). These villages are located in three main areas of the city – Stoke Bishop, City Centre and Clifton. Since each area is so difference, it can be tricky to know which one to go for. To help you out, we’ve put together a guide to Bristol’s accommodation. All prices listed are for the 24/25 academic year, as next year’s prices haven’t yet been released.
North Village/Stoke Bishop
North Village is located in Stoke Bishop and is right on the Clifton Downs. It’s home to the following residences:
- Hiatt Baker Hall
- University Hall
- Badock Hall
- Wills Hall
- Churchill Hall
- Durdham Hall
Wills Hall and Churchill Hall are both catered accommodations and Badock Hall is mixed. Since all the halls are really close together, North Village has a more campus-y feel. With the Clifton Downs a stone’s throw away and the university’s Botanic Garden next door, it’s especially nice in the summer. Whiteladies Road and the Henleaze area are fairly near, and (most importantly) Scott Cinema is only a short walk away. However, the Stoke Bishop Residences are around 2 miles from the main university campus, which is a 15 minute bus ride. The U1 bus service runs throughout term time, and takes students to campus and to the city centre. The U2 bus also runs, taking vet students to the Langford campus. A bus pass is included in the accommodation fee, but the distance is definitely something to think about if you know you want to be really close to campus. Since it’s further away from the shops, the nightclubs and the city centre, it might not be for you if you know that you want to be close to everything.
West Village/Clifton
West Village is situated largely in Clifton and is home to the following residences:
- Northwell House
- Manor Hall
- Hillside Woodside
- Clifton Hill House
- Goldney Hall
- Queen’s Road
- Unite House
- Winkworth House
- Richmond Terrace
- Brunel House
- Orchard Heights – undergrad
- Culver House – Postgrad only
- Deans Court – Postgrad only
- Harbour Court – Postgrad only
- Woodland Court – Postgrad only
Clifton Hill House is the only catered accommodation in the West Village. Compared to North Village, West Village is a lot more spread out and residences are found in a variety of places. Brunel and Unite House are near Park Street and the city centre (close to campus), Winkworth House is nearer the Harbourside and Millenium Square. Park Street is full of great shops, cafes and even Banksy’s street art, whilst the Harbourside is a lively area with bars, restaurants and a number of attractions. Hillside Woodside is on the other side of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, near Ashton Court Estate, which is home to herds of deer and is an ideal place for a Sunday walk. Some of the other residences (such as Goldney Hall, Clifton Hill House and Manor Hall) are situated in Clifton Village, a quiet and picturesque place filled with independent shops and cosy cafes and pubs. The main campus is generally walking distance away. Since some are further out than others I’d recommend checking the uni’s website for more details!
East Village
East Village is located in the city centre and is home to the following residences:
- Campus Houses
- Riverside
- Accommodation at 33
- New Bridewell
- The Courtrooms
- Campbell House
- Print Hall
- St Thomas Street
- Redland Road- Postgrad only
- Old Vicarage- Postgrad only
- Chantry Court- Postgrad only
- Redcliff Street- Postgrad only
- St Nicholas Street- Postgrad only
- Dean Street Works- Postgrad only
- Marlborough House- Postgrad only
Since these accommodations are in the centre, there’s a lot more going on around them. Many of the city’s iconic attractions, such as Cabot Circus shopping centre and St Nicholas Market are located right on their doorstep. East Villaeg accommodations are also closer to clubs such as SWX and a number of pubs. Bristol Temple Meads train station is also very close (not to mention Lidl). If you want to be at the centre of things, and a short walk away from venues and attractions, take a look at East Village. The downside is that it’s busier and louder, so if that’s not your thing, you might want to choose something different. Many of the city centre accommodations are walking distance from the university’s main campus, but students can also take the U1 and U2 buses which stop in the centre.
That concludes our guide to the three main accommodation areas. There are so many other factors that go into choosing university accommodation – price, room type, services etc. so make sure to consider those when making a decision. For more information on residences, room types, prices and the application process, head to Bristol’s uni’s student accommodation page here.
