Bristol Accomodation - Durdham Hall

[Corrina1]

My Daughter has been offered a place at Durdham Hall. She really wanted to be in the city centre as she wanted to have a lively, fun experience.

The website suggests it is quiet and that Stoke Bishop isn't a great place.
She suffers from anxiety and is leaving her boyfriend behind so I'm worried she will be unhappy. Does anyone have any experience of Durdham Hall or Stoke Bishop

I will start by saying my DD was at Stoke Bishop 7-8 years ago now but nothing much has changed in the meantime!

The halls at Stoke Bishop are often the most popular. They are fairly close to each other and there are regular buses into Bristol. Lots of students enjoy a social life in these halls and have nights out in Bristol too. You really can do both. However, students are advised to share a taxi back from Bristol if they are out late. The halls make this very clear. No walking back alone.

I have a feeling not every single person in Durdham will be as quiet as a church mouse. However, there is a bit of movement in the halls, so she might be able to change if she doesn’t gel. Frankly: I think the drinkers/clubbers choose the city halls. They just fall into bed from the clubs and bars nearby in the early hours. Is this really what she wanted? Or you? For the majority, Stoke Bishop offers a better balanced experience. Although that does depend on the experience you want of course. Many would say they are primarily there to study! Durdham will be fine.

Dd was at durdham a couple of years ago and enjoyed it- it is trying to improve the deadham label!
Loads of students go down the hill to catch buses into town- included in the accom costs, which continue until about 4am. Stuff going on in hall and at the others- there are about 2000 students at Stoke bishop, virtually all first years. Lots of activities, but the option to transfer is there if she doesn’t like it.

They have extended the bus timetable then! A night out is a bit cheaper than before.

Dd ended up out of the city centre at another uni and it worked out Brill. Quiet when she wanted a good night's sleep and sleeping on friends floors or taxi back on nights out.

For many Bristol first years, Stoke Bishop is the place to be for a lively, fun experience! There are so many halls at Stoke Bishop that it doesn't feel out of the way or lonely - you will meet just as many people there, if not more, than you would in a city centre hall.

The buses stop running a bit earlier than 4am. Link to current timetable is here Timetable to Stoke Bishop.
As this is self catering would also suggest googling shops and supermarkets before you set off.
hope your dd has a great time

My friend’s DD went to Bristol. She didn’t want her Hall and asked to stay on the waiting list for the hall she wanted. She said loads of people moved in the first month or 6 weeks. I think she got a place in another hall (not her first choice) eventually.

Dd was at Durdham last year (left in July this year). She was initially disappointed at being put in Durdham, but was actually very happy there. All the other halls are very close and she went to socials at them (had to be invited by a resident at that particular hall, though).
The Uni buses run regularly and they all seem to use them and Uber’s. Stress to your Dd no walking around late at night though - someone was mugged and stabbed in the alley that runs along the side of the campus a few months ago (Bristol Uni seems to keep a lot of things quiet). Don’t worry though (honestly) as long as Dd is sensible she’ll be fine - they have security driving round a lot.

Stress to your Dd no walking around late at night though - someone was mugged and stabbed in the alley that runs along the side of the campus a few months ago (Bristol Uni seems to keep a lot of things quiet).

They certainly do, this is the first I've heard of it

Unfortunately the Uni didn’t tell anyone, so a friend of the person attacked shared in on the FB page they all use (Bristruths?) once they realised no one had been told.