Bristol is a city vibrant in nature with a multitude of events, history, art, culture, and new activities to indulge in. To celebrate our Bristol campus, we have compiled the top five reasons to study in this eclectic city.
By the Content Team. Published 21 April 2022. Last updated 21 June 2024.
Well connected
Bristol is located in the West of England, only a short distance from both London and Wales. London and Cardiff can both be reached by public transport within an hour. Bristol’s proximity to Wales provides the opportunity to explore its capital city as well as its beautiful countryside.
Bristol is also a short distance from the county of Somerset, a popular tourist destination due to its scenic meadows, array of beaches and ancient sites to explore. Somerset is also home to the ancient city of Bath, getting its name from the Roman-build baths built around 70AD making them over 2000 years old.
Bargain shopper haven
The city is known for its open and progressive atmosphere, and the approach to sustainability is no exception. Bristol was ranked the most sustainable city in the UK in 2021.
This is in part due to its vast number of charity shops, helping its residents to shop more sustainably and dramatically reducing the detrimental effects of fast fashion often prevalent in large cities. Whether you’re a thrifty shopper looking to restock your student wardrobe or in the market for vintage fashion attire, you’ll need the charity shop guide on Bristol and Local. They have a comprehensive list of the best places for charity shopping, the number of shops you’ll find there and even include a rough price guide.
It isn’t just Bristol’s shopping with is impressively sustainable. The city’s high sustainability scoring also relates to the number of people using LED lighting, electric cars, and generally implementing sustainable habits such as recycling and composting.
Festivals and events
Another reason Bristol is a popular city among students is the vast number of events held across the year. You’ll find festivals for film, nature, live music, and food to name a few and events held year round to celebrate the communities which call Bristol home.
One of the most popular, and unique, events is the Bristol Balloon Fiesta – a free, three day event on the outskirts of the city – which sees over 100 hot air balloons take to the air overhead. You can stay grounded with with food, drinks and entertainment and watch the unique display overhead.
Bristol is also home to Upfest, Europe’s largest street art and graffiti festival. The event lasts over two weeks with a packed schedule of exhibitions, creative workshops, walking tours of the city’s murals, talks with artists, and food and drink.
Art and culture
The city is home to many galleries and museums which showcase and explore the rich heritage of Bristol. You’ll find dozens and dozens of venues across the city showcasing art in every conceivable medium and you’re bound to find something of interest, no matter your taste. Theres also a wealth of museums exploring everything from aerospace to archaeology and all in between. You can find a full guide to all of Bristol’s galleries, museums, and exhibitions at Visit Bristol, so you and your friends can plan a cultural excursion to escape your studies.
The great outdoors
Bristol has a buzzing city life but no shortage of natural outdoor space. Located close to the coastal towns of Portishead and Western-super-Mare, you can take a walk along the seaside and explore the scenic local areas.
In nearby Somerset is the striking National Trust Site Cheddar Gorge. The gorge is an impressive sight with 40-foot-high cliffs, formed in the ice age. The gorge has a fascinating natural history and is home to The Cheddar Man, Britain’s oldest fully formed skeleton which was buried more than 9,000 years ago. The Cheddar Man can be seen at the local Cheddar Museum alongside other unique artefacts and exhibitions showcasing life in the Stone Ages.
The great outdoors is also on your doorstep in Bristol with Brandon Hill Park and Royate Hill Nature Reserve both being local to the city.
Find out more about The University of Law’s Bristol campus.
