Nestled in the scenic hills of South West England, Bristol possesses beautiful architecture, a buzzing city centre filled with green spaces, and a vibrant harbourside.

If Bristol is where you’re planning on studying, you’ll need a comfortable home to immerse yourself in this wonderful city. Student.com will take the hassle out of finding your ideal student accommodation. We offer a wide range of rooms and student flats in the properties we list in Bristol.

If you need help with finding your ideal accommodation in Bristol, don’t hesitate to give us a call.Don't waste time though, because the earlier you book, the more options you'll have available to you. The closer we get to your move-in date, the more places will be sold out.

Bristol at a glance

Bristol or ‘Brizzle’ among locals, is a city small enough to remain friendly, but large enough to offer lots of fun and intrigue. It’s a city with a dynamic combination of centuries-old heritage and an irrepressible creative spirit.

It’s one of the warmest and sunniest cities in the UK and has all the buzz of a major city without the expanse, which makes it highly convenient for students on a budget. Bursting with culture and diversity Bristol attracts students from all over Britain and across the globe.

Bristol itself is very walkable, but it’s also a gateway to the South West, providing easy access to Bath, Cardiff and the beautiful surrounding countryside making it perfectly placed for travel further afield.

It was named the best city to live in in the UK in 2017 by the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide, and the best city in the UK for under-26-year-olds according to BBC’s Newsbeat. A major reason for that is the city’s balancing act of heritage, modernisation and culture.  

Rich heritage

A demonstration of Bristol’s rich heritage is on display all over the city from its iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge (opened in 1864) to the SS Great Britain, the legendary ship that ferried travellers between Bristol and New York City in the 19th century.

Technology

Despite the city’s rich heritage, Bristol’s modern economy is built on creative media, technology, electronics, and the aerospace engineering industries. The city is a buzzing incubator for start-ups and new enterprise with SETsquared Bristol helping over 2,500 UK start-ups. It was named the best business incubator in the world by UBI Global.

The Bristol VR Lab, Airbus UK and the science and tech hub FutureSpace, are indications of the city’s high tech ambitions. Bristol even has its own version of America’s Silicon Valley, Silicon Gorge, a region where several high-tech and research companies are based. The city’s forward-thinking character has been rewarded by the Financial Times, which named it ‘European Region of the Future.’

Culture

Steadily growing a reputation as a creative hub, Bristol has numerous artist studios and creative spaces across the city, from Old Market to The Island, and Co-LAB in Broadmead.

Known as the home town of the mysterious and globally renowned street artist Banksy, the city will strike you with all kinds of original and beautiful art just by walking the streets. Banksy’s original artworks can be seen all over the city but you can also discover up-and-coming artists at Upfest, Europe's largest street art and graffiti festival. Stokes Croft and Southville are both great places to enjoy urban art, but hidden gems can be found in every corner of the city. 

Bristol also has one of the UK’s biggest media hubs outside of London. But the city also has a film culture. In Bristol, you’ll find regular short film events, film festivals, pop-up screenings, and fringe theatres. As recognition of its work as a leading film centre, Bristol has been awarded UNESCO City of Film status. The global status, which is held by only 13 cities around the world, is a genuine feather in the cap for the city.

Student life in Bristol

If you choose to study in Bristol you’ll be spoilt for choice when it comes to events to go to, sights to see and activities to partake in. Conveniently many of these are within walking distance of each other.

Bars and pubs

The city has several quirky, top-class bars and pubs. The White Bear is a favourite with students, while the popular King Street boasts an eclectic mix of pubs, among them the world-famous Old Duke where you can hear live jazz every evening. If you want to stay out all night, keep an eye out for Tribe of Frog events at Lakota.

Music venues

Bristol’s live music scene incorporates every genre of music imaginable. You can experience an eclectic mix of classical, jazz, pop, folk, world music and everything in between at St George’s.

The Fleece, the Thekla, and the O2 Academy specialise in indie and alternative rock acts, while Colston Hall has everything from symphony orchestras to solo acts.

Festivals

If you’re into festivals then you’ll love Bristol. This city’s got festival fever all year.

There’s festivals for music (Bristol Americana Weekend, Love Saves the Day, Valley Fest), art (Upfest), ballooning (Bristol Balloon Fiesta), Maritime (Bristol Harbour Festival - the mother of all maritime festivals), film festivals, food festivals, craft beer festivals, cider festivals, a chocolate festival, a surf film festival, a Shakespeare festival and a slapstick comedy festival. There’s even a festival dedicated entirely to local boy turned Hollywood A-lister - Cary Grant.

If you’re a student on a budget you’ll be happy to know that they can enjoy the Balloon Festival, Bristol Harbour Festival, and Upfest for free.

Museums and art galleries

For a less hectic experience, you can explore some of Bristol’s many outstanding museums and art galleries. The award-winning SS Great Britain, the traditional Bristol Museum and Art Gallery and the 21st-century interactive experiences M Shed and We The Curious science centre (formerly called @Bristol) are a few great places to spend your free time.

Universities in Bristol

The city’s main university is the University of Bristol. It’s one of the best universities in the world, ranked as the 61st best university globally in the 2023 QS World University rankings. It can trace its origins back to 1595 and the founding of the Merchant Venturers School. The school received its royal charter and acquired its current name in 1909. Today it’s a large university with almost 30,000 students. The high proportion of international students ensures that you’ll be studying in a cosmopolitan atmosphere in Bristol.

Other notable universities in the city include the University of the West of England, the BPP University Bristol and the BIMM Bristol.

Frequently asked questions

How do I apply for student accommodation in Bristol?

Applying for student accommodation in Bristol with Student.com is easy and free. After making your choice from our many options of student lets in Bristol, then go to the property page and click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now.’ Then leave your contact details so that one of our booking consultants can call you and take you through the next steps, either giving you more information or helping you with getting your contract signed with the landlord.

What are the different room types you offer?

There are three types of rooms you can choose from in Bristol.

Shared Rooms - Two or more people will sleep in separate beds in the same bedroom. Additional living facilities like bathrooms and kitchen facilities are also shared.

Private Rooms - Similar to the Shared Rooms except you’ll have a private bedroom and possibly a private bathroom, depending on the property.

Entire Place – a fully self-contained studio with a private bedroom and bathroom, as well as cooking facilities all for yourself.

Is it safe to rent private student accommodation?

It’s totally safe to rent private student accommodation on Student.com. We carefully vet all the landlords we list so if you book your student accommodation with us it will be from a trusted provider.

Can I book a student house with you if I’m a part-time student?

No, this is unfortunately not possible. Our accommodation options in Bristol are only available for full-time students.

Can I see the property before I move in?

Many of the properties we list in Bristol have an excellent array of photos and videos on the property pages, so even if you can't see the place before you move in, you'll still be able to get a good idea of how your new home will look like.

If you'd prefer to see the place for yourself before booking though, and you can get to Bristol before your move-in date, this can be arranged as well. Our booking consultants will be happy to arrange this for you, so give us a call or click ‘Enquire’ on the page of the property you’re interested in and we’ll be in touch.