Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Only the apps you allow.

Meet the Other Phone.
Only the apps you allow.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Higher education

Talk to other parents whose children are preparing for university on our Higher Education forum.

Original poster

Advice on Bristol Accommodation Please!

44 replies

whoreandpeace · 09/04/2015 21:02

Hello, I think my DD is going to firm on Bristol and she is trying to work out whether to go for the Stoke Bishop site (2 miles from campus) or for the city centre residences for her accommodation choices. Any advice from anyone who knows would be gratefully received!
Thanks Smile

OP posts:
senua · 09/04/2015 21:21

I have been told that Goldney is the place to go by someone who went there.
Have you seen this schedule?

Original poster
whoreandpeace · 09/04/2015 21:31

Goldney looks lovely - hadn't spotted that one. And thank you for the schedule - very useful. This is going to be tough, isn't it?!

OP posts:
SunshineAndShadows · 09/04/2015 21:36

Wills and Goldney are both quite formal (wills much more so) the city centre halls are more convenient and well equipped but less traditional

senua · 09/04/2015 21:41

There's a big range in prices, which is good I suppose.
It's nice to be within walking distance of clubs lectures. You will pay more in rent but save on taxi fares.

Littleham · 09/04/2015 21:54

Stoke Bishop - Halls clustered together on one site (mix of self catering and catered). The bus goes straight from the site & is a 10/ 15 minutes journey directly into the University. It is free and runs every five / ten minutes. Halls on the site range in price from cheaper (small rooms in self catered flats of 4 / 5 students) to more expensive (larger en suite rooms in catered halls with lots of facilities eg. tennis courts, social rooms...) There is a shop selling all necessary supplies on the site.

City centre -

  • There are a number of small houses eg. on St Michael's Hill which are right next to the university departments.
  • The Hawthorns is the very closest hall - opposite all the Arts departments(plush / self catered / over subscribed / own cafe).
  • There are three catered halls - Goldney (very oversubscribed), Manor and Clifton Hill House (all walkable to the university departments).
  • There are several Unite run halls in the city centre, a 10/15 minute walk uphill (where you pay fees to Unite not the university) - Favell, Rackay, Nelson House, Culver House & Unite House. Orchard Heights and The Courtroom are newly built.

Hope that helps. Happy to answer questions.

DidgeDoolittle · 09/04/2015 22:00

My son is there. He was at stoke bishop. He says to avoid the city centre like the plague. Stoke bishop is where it's at. He lived in uni halls. He loved it. Lots going on there.

Elmersnewfriend · 09/04/2015 22:03

Having lived in Stoke Bishop as a student for 2 years, I can say I paid for a taxi about twice?

Yes it's not quite as convenient, but so many students live out there that it's really not an issue, and the free buses were great even 15 years ago. The cheaper hall fees are a bonus too...

Littleham · 09/04/2015 22:05

My dd is at Stoke Bishop and loves it. The bus runs until very late, so no need for taxis.

By the way, for the second year accommodation it is worth organising by January (in the first year) as you get more choice of houses / flats.

Rascalls3 · 09/04/2015 23:09

My DD was in halls in Stoke Bishop 3 years ago and had a great time. The commute is not a problem as you are all in the same boat. Very sociable and plenty going on. She was in Baddock (one of the catered halls) and absolutely loved it.

VirginiaWoofs · 09/04/2015 23:12

I was at Clifton Hill House (right next door to Goldney)

I would advise against it to be honest.
Apparently Stoke bishop residences have a better "vibe" whatever that means.

Original poster
whoreandpeace · 10/04/2015 07:57

Thank you - all very helpful. One more question.... if you live in Stoke Bishop and go self-catering how near are the supermarkets? On the websites for the SB SC halls it says that supermarkets are 'fairly' near. What does 'fairly' mean? A 10 min walk? Or longer? Thanks

OP posts:
Original poster
whoreandpeace · 10/04/2015 07:58

Also Goldney is very close to the student union building and so easier to get to the swimming pool (my DD loves swimming). If she was in Stoke Bishop, not sure she could get to the early morning swim sessions that easily....

OP posts:
Rascalls3 · 10/04/2015 10:11

Hi just spoken to DD. There is a corner shop in SB. A Sainsburys local 20 min walk across the downs or a larger Sainsburys on the bus route back to SB. You walk to Sainsburys from uni and catch the free bus back to SB. I have 2 DDs at uni at the moment and they both do an online shop weekly despite having supermarkets closer than this now. So food shopping won't be an issue.

Rascalls3 · 10/04/2015 10:15

What subject is your daughter going to do?

glorious · 10/04/2015 10:24

The closest supermarket of any size to the Stoke Bishop halls is Waitrose, I'd guess around a 15 minute walk. I grew up in Stoke Bishop, didn't go to uni there.

Rascalls3 · 10/04/2015 10:50

glorious's Waitrose is probably the closest one depending on which hall your DD ends up in. My DD never used it because it wasn't on her route to and from uni. My DD just added that the majority of your DD's course mates will be in SB and she will be one of a few ( odd ones out??) if she chooses to live centrally.

goinggetstough · 10/04/2015 11:28

My DD was at SB too. If your DC is sporty many of the training sessions( not swimming) take place at the university sports centre near SB. This is an important consideration if you are a team player especially at the beginning. My DD was able to walk to training. Whereas when she lived in town in her 2nd and 3rd year she used to get lifts to training as she knew more people.

Littleham · 10/04/2015 11:49

My dd self caters & does her shopping at the university. She brings it back on the bus. Much easier as long as you buy a few bits each day.

At Stoke Bishop, Wills (catered / formals) is the furthest away from the bus stop so people often get off before university and walk to avoid going up a hill. University Hall (tiny rooms / cheap / friendly) and Hiatt Baker (large en suite rooms / pricier) are right next to the bus stop and both have self catering. Durdham (self catered) is slightly further away from the bus stop, but has the advantage of being quieter.

She has friends in the city centre accommodation and they all seem happy with their accommodation. The main downside for her friends is that they can be quite noisy late into the night.

Legaldoodle · 10/04/2015 14:43

Stoke Bishop here too. DD was in Wills. She preferred catered as it meant there was less to think about in the first year when just getting used to the course and the way a university works was enough! They did have a shared snack area and she enjoyed formals. They do not provide lunch or some meals at the weekend so some food shopping is necessary. I think Churchill might do formals too.

The clubbers like the city centre halls and the university now has a new hall pretty close to the action. DD did get taxis home occasionally; but a shared taxi is not very expensive. The university is hot on them not walking home alone at night. When DD went, the bus pass was included in the annual cost of the hall so it is not an "extra" you have to find. Wills is a bit dated but the quad rooms are traditional and this suits some people. Getting to know a wide range of other students is also easy in the catered halls. Hiatt Baker is no longer Sh_ te Baker as it has been renovated! I think most people end up being happy with their hall but a few people swap if there are problems. However all the halls can have noisy students!

goinggetstough · 10/04/2015 17:27

Not all of HB has been renovated. A friend's DD is there this year and by her description it is identical to the room my DD had 4 1/2 years ago, both in size and rather scruffy. I think most have been done, but not all of them.

Original poster
whoreandpeace · 10/04/2015 20:11

Great! All this is very helpful, thanks. Can you tell me if there are any cafes or snack bars at SB? ie if she went self-catered that she could buy something to eat if she needed something? I'm thinking SB is where she should be if most freshers are there....

OP posts:
goinggetstough · 10/04/2015 21:05

There was the Source Cafe behind Hiatt Baker. I think it is still there. I am not sure of its opening hours.

Rascalls3 · 11/04/2015 01:34

If you/ she can run to it I would go catered. Everyone is going to be eating together and it is very sociable. Much more chance of finding someone you gel with and less hassle in your first year. They have plenty of time to learn to fend for themselves in years 2 and 3 ( or 4, 5 ,6 and 7!!!! If you have a daughter like mine ??)

Littleham · 11/04/2015 10:33

Here is a link for the Source Café, with opening hours. It stocks all the basics - milk, breakfast supplies, tins, pasta, sandwiches, drinks, ready meals, bread etc.

www.bristol.ac.uk/conferences-hospitality/hospitality/cafes/hub.html

My dd prefers self catering and has made plenty of friends. I think it depends on your personality and lecture hours.

Original poster
whoreandpeace · 11/04/2015 11:25

My DD is doing medicine and I've heard that they can be late back and so miss meals, meaning that they have to then make/buy their own meal. That's why we thought self-catered, but I can see the social appeal of catered....

OP posts: