Bristol neighborhoods - The most important districts of Bristol

1. Before arriving in Bristol
2. How to get to Bristol - Getting to Bristol by train, plane, car or bus
3. Public transport in and around Bristol - Getting around Bristol and the UK
4. The cost of living in Bristol
5. Save money in Bristol - Tips for living on a student budget in Bristol
6. Accommodation for students in Bristol - Top tips and advice
7. Bristol neighborhoods - The most important districts of Bristol
8. Nightlife in Bristol - Nightclub guide and going out in Bristol
9. British cuisine - The gastronomy of Britain and traditional dishes
10. What to do in Bristol
11. Festivals in Bristol - Festivals and events in Bristol and the South West
12. Day trips from Bristol - Places to visit and excursions around Bristol
13. Bristol in 3 days - What to see and do in 3 days

Bristol is full of nice areas to live in. In this next section we shall take a look at the best areas to live as a student, in terms of price and location and of course where students tend to gravitate towards so you can be sure to live in a lively area full of a student ambience.

Gloucester Rd. and Stokes Croft - the cultural quarter

A district that is home to hundreds of independent shops, cafes and restaurants, that displays the talent of many street artists upon its walls and that of budding artists within its ever-changing galleries and exhibitions, and an area that really gives you a feel of the bohemian Bristolian culture; Gloucester Road, known as being “the longest street of independent shops in Europe”, is a fascinating and wonderful place to live during your time in Bristol. You will find yourself walking through this area looking up at the famous wall art, smelling the delicious scents of freshly cooked food, listening to some stunning live music escaping the walls of an independent cafe, sipping on the tastes of your recently bought vegan takeaway coffee whilst feeling the ground beneath your feet.

Gloucester Road and the areas of the district that branch off around it are very popular areas for the students of Bristol to live. Located just a stone's throw away from Stokes Croft and all of the bars and pubs on Gloucester Road itself, it makes for a great location to live in terms of going out at night and returning home quickly and safely, without having to pay much for public transport, if any at all. There are also plenty of independent places on Gloucester Road to buy your fruit and veg, as well as other stores such as Tescos and Sainsburys to buy everything else, so you should have all that you need within walking distance.

The places that surround Gloucester road and Stokes Croft - and where lots of students tend to live - are Montpelier (which has its own little train station), St. Andrews, St. Werburgh’s and Horfield. Montpelier and St. Andrew’s can be a little more on the expensive side but they are some of the nicest areas to live in Bristol. They are also a little further away from the big supermarkets though, so be sure to check on Google Maps the exact location of your new place and the shops nearby. Of course, there is plenty of public transport within these areas should you need to take a bus to the supermarket. St. Werburgh’s is a really nice area; it is cheap and it continues to deliver that bohemian vibe that resonates throughout Bristol. Filton is an area that is at the very North of Gloucester Road. This is quite a studenty area as it is close to UWE but it is quite far from the centre of the city. Saying that, being out of the centre makes it a lot cheaper to live and you can get a bus into the centre of Bristol, which takes about half an hour. Therefore, if you are going to study at UWE during your Erasmus year, this might be a suitable place for you to live.

Southville and Bedminster

Located just South of the River Avon, the areas of Southville and Bedminster hold high streets full of independent cafes, restaurants and pubs in the palm of their hands, which helps to deliver that warm community vibe. During Upfest you will be sure to see street artists hard at work throughout this area, adding to the unique street art that gives life to the walls of this creative city. You will hear the excited shuffle of feet as people enter the Ashton Gate Stadium on a Saturday afternoon to watch Bristol City FC or Bristol Rugby play a match on their home ground and the sound of victory as it bellows through the air and the smiles on the faces of the Bristol fans as they leave the stadium to continue their celebrations. You can sit in Victoria Park and enjoy the views over the city as joggers and dog walkers pass you by.

Although it is a little further afield, these areas are still very easily accessible from the city centre. You can walk there within 25 minutes and a bus takes just 15 minutes. It is a beautiful district to live in if you want to escape the rush of the city and have more of a suburb feel to your stay. There are plenty of shops to fill your refrigerator and numerous pubs to fill your evenings.

Clifton

Home to some of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks and attractions, you can walk over Clifton Suspension bridge and discover some of its most interesting histories, you can visit Bristol Zoo Gardens and get lost in the flutter of the butterfly enclosure, and you can nestle into a hot chocolate and cake in some of the cutest cafes or beautiful boutiques that Clifton has to offer. With divine fine food, stunning Georgian architecture and shops full of trinkets and jewelry aplenty, whether you want to relax on the Downs eating a picnic or lose yourself in the antique shops, this is a truly gorgeous area to visit.

Living in Clifton is much more on the expensive side, so I wouldn’t really recommend planning on living here, but grab your picnic rug on a Saturday afternoon and enjoy some time exploring this area as it really is a must-visit place. Take a walk down Whiteladies Road which connects Clifton with central Bristol and enjoy lots of the foody places that offer student discounts, and return back in the evening to experience the lively nightlife that it offers.

City Centre and Old city

Located in the heart of the city, take a trip into the Medieval past by visiting the Old city of Bristol and discover some of its rich culture and history and enjoy some of the delicious food that St. Nicholas’s market has to offer, then time travel back to the present day and explore the vibrant shopping quarter of the centre and find yourself in one of the largest Primark’s in England, bagging yourself a bargain on your new favorite pair of shoes. Visit the Bristol Hippodrome Theatre and relax into your comfy red velour seat as you watch a sell-out, award-winning show of the Lion King or Swan Lake.

The centre of Bristol holds a unique and interesting culture, bursting with things to do and places to see. It would be a crime to come to Bristol and not experience the beauty of it. However, living in the centre of the city or the Old City is very expensive and it would be difficult to find a place on a student budget here.

Harbourside

This area, once lively with traders and sellers, ships and voyagers, is now lively with modern restaurants, markets and museums instead. You will be sure to see the teams of rowers out training on a Wednesday evening or markets on a Sunday afternoon, filled with delicious curries, live music and woodfired pizzas. After you have filled your tummies with yummy food and your soul with beautiful music, head over to one of the many museums that sit close to the harbour to fill your mind with interesting science and to explore interactive and engaging exhibitions. On the days where the markets are not set up, there is a huge range of restaurants to choose from that are located on the Harbourside. Eat until you can eat no more at the Za Za Bazaar all you can eat or enjoy a pizza and a local Somerset cider at The Stable. You could spend a whole day in this area, there is so much to do! This area is mainly restaurants and the harbour, so it is not really an area that students tend to live in.

• Continue to Nightlife in Bristol - Nightclub guide and going out in Bristol
• Return to Accommodation for students in Bristol - Top tips and advice

Photo gallery