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Original poster

Bristol - first year accommodation

24 replies

bendmeoverbackwards · 21/04/2021 19:16

My dd is off to Bristol this year and is considering her accommodation options.

She wants a catered hall. She likes the look of Clifton Hill House, it's close to the main university departments and she likes the area of Clifton.

However a few people have said that the Stoke Bishop halls are better for first years even though they are further away.

Anyone have any experience of this please?

OP posts:
Muchtootall · 21/04/2021 19:33

My DD is at Bristol. Although she wasn’t there personally, she would recommend Clifton Hill House. She said it was a smaller, tight knit community but seemed to think it was oversubscribed and hard to get into. She loved Wills although hated the bus each morning and has preferred being in Clifton in her second year. She also said Churchill was good.

PresentingPercy · 21/04/2021 19:58

My DD was at Wills a few years ago now. I don’t think most students see the bus as a big no no. They don’t all go into lectures every day. So factor that in if your DD dung doing a science. Clifton is convenient for falling out of bed into university! After a night out!

Wills is traditional but has a variety of accommodation. DD thought the food was ok but it’s easy to make friends due to the layout of the rooms and eating together. She liked it.

For second year no-one lives in Stoke Bishop. Mostly Clifton and nearer the university. She had lots of friends in Churchill and they were happy too. Stoke Bishop is nearer the sports facilities. You have to travel in and out for nights out but it’s no big deal DD found. Shared taxis back if the buses had stopped. As there are various halls in SB it’s a big village full of students.

Bigfatsquirrel · 21/04/2021 20:38

I have a DC in Clifton but self catering halls next door to CHH. They've had a good time, uni have done a good job through covid. He's met a diverse group of students and made good friends. Clifton is a great location - you can walk everywhere, lots of pubs, cafes, green spaces, shops/supermarkets, gym facilities, swimming pool, close to uni, close to city centre for clubs etc (when open!) - highly recommend. My DC couldn't be bothered with the bus there and back everyday to Stoke Bishop but that's just him - others love it at SB.

Original poster
bendmeoverbackwards · 21/04/2021 20:40

Thank you, this is really helpful. Dd does like the idea of being closer. Think she will put CHH as first choice and see what happens!

OP posts:
NothingIsWrong · 21/04/2021 20:42

I was in Badock many years ago - we all walked up and down that hill many many times... I think I got the bus about twice in the entire time I was there.

Needmoresleep · 22/04/2021 07:58

Nothingiswrong, University advice now is not to cross the downs by foot in the dark.DD used to cycle, but it is quite a hill.

If DD had her time again she would opt for a Clifton or City Centre hall. Far less isolated with scope then to stay late in the library and more easy access to student union stuff as well as more scope to meet up with friends from different halls in city centre venues. Plus a lot easier when you have early lectures or placements.

I suspect when Percy's daughter was starting Bristol a decade or so ago, the City Centre halls were just being built so were less established/popular. Things have changed since.

Xenia · 22/04/2021 10:59

Parents do have different views on here. My 3 who went to Bristol had a really good time two at Wills Hall and one Churchill. My twins finished last year although one has been doing post grad in Bristol this year too and goes back there on Monday.

They wanted catered halls in Stoke Bishop, that kind of Oxbridge college feel, almost, away from city centre without having to bother to cook and Wills even has a chapel on site. However all 3 of my Bristol children did in year 2 and 3 m ove to houses in places like Clifton and one is i a very very city centre flat this year (but that is nothing like his Sotke Bishop halls - this year the little road he is on is so central the restaurants opposite have now been allowed t put tables outside due to CV19 and the noise is off the scale. Whereas you go back to your safe little haven in stock bishop halls with fields and that kind of thing (and not relevant to most but Churchill Hall has more private school educated pupils than any hall in the Country I think - that may be a pro or a con or irrelevant but it could be that private school sixthformers want their food cooked for them at university too or need fewer en suite bathrooms as they have to slum it at home as parents have put every last penny into school fees or whatever.....)

Two of mine read for a BA at Bristol and one a BSc but I don't think the subject makes too much difference to the hall. My BSc one - geog - had field trips (before covid) and had more friends on the course in addition to his halls than his twin who made more friends in his Hall than on his course.

Needmoresleep · 22/04/2021 11:04

Xenia, I think course does make a difference in that if you have regular and compulsory 9.00am labs/lectures every morning the qieue for the 8.00am bus becomes a bore. (And worse if you need to get to the city centre to access public transport for a 9.00am out of town placement.)

PresentingPercy · 22/04/2021 11:53

There were city centre halls back then! However they are not that close to the university either. DS of a friend loved his centre hall near all the bars! Depends what you want.

Wills has lots of ex boarding too - it is only them that put up with the very old rooms with no en suite bathrooms in the Quad!

As I said earlier, if you do not have 9 am every day, it is no big deal to be in SB and visiting other students in the halls there is common. For many arts students it is fine. In fact, all DD's science friends were there too (where she met a lot of them) and I believe they did not find any issues and were happy - Vets, Engineering, Medics etc. They just got on with it. They knew they would have to travel in but it really is not far. It is very friendly in Wills and DD had no trouble making friends. The formal dining in Wills was always a good way to meet people not immediately near your room.

But - get a taxi back if the buses have stopped. They are pretty late and do not stop anyone working in the library.

mumsneedwine · 22/04/2021 12:25

Loads of city centre halls now, all about 10 minute walk to campus. Really lovely and lots of mixing in parks. DD has loved being in city this year as everything is in walking distance and they are first in q for Spoons.
Gets bus for sport once a week. Free pass provided.
Mine is self catered and enjoys cooking but also Iceland do frozen Greggs sausage rolls.

MarchingFrogs · 22/04/2021 13:22

Greggs are on Just Eat where DD lives - not sure whether it's scaling the heights or plumbing the depths of decadence to have one's sausage roll and cappuccino delivered...

Xenia · 22/04/2021 13:30

Worst was my son paying less well off friends in his call with a free such item if they went out and bought his........ Although of course that is just capitalism and market forces and a good deal for all concerned.

I think when the twins were in Stoke B halls the free bus service moved to running all night. I am not sure what happens in covid times however.

PresentingPercy · 22/04/2021 13:31

Are any halls catered in the City Centre? I think it tends to be the traditional halls only. DD was not a great cook at 18 and preferred to continue with the boarding school arrangment - snacks when you want and someone else doing the cooking! At least in Y1 when you are getting used to lots of other things. Fast learner though. Decent enough cook by Y2!

mumsneedwine · 22/04/2021 18:10

Some of Clifton are catered but city centre (only 10 minutes away) are self catered I think.
Mine has been cooking for herself for years and enjoys it. Knew food tech GCSE would come in useful (was also useful at vet interview as she can gut a fish and butcher a chicken - had to prove fine dexterity). Who knew 😂

PresentingPercy · 22/04/2021 18:28

The OP’s DD wanted catered. So Clifton or Stoke Bishop I think.

DD2 did Leiths Certificate. They all have different skills.

mumsneedwine · 22/04/2021 18:37

Mine just cooked or she starved. We were both at work. Prue Leith would have been a bit out of our price range I'm afraid, but was lovely coming home to one of her dinners. And there's a Greggs just outside their halls - must make a fortune from students.
There are several new halls opening for next year so keep an eye on the website. One right by the hospital looks lovely.

PresentingPercy · 22/04/2021 21:11

Are they catered?

SeasonFinale · 22/04/2021 21:13

DS is applying to Badock/Hiatt Baker and that will fill 8 of the 9 choices they can put down when you look at the different options.

olliepolly · 23/04/2021 09:24

My daughter was in CHH and had a very positive experience even with pandemic. Currently second year in a rental with 5 others all from her floor in CHH.

olliepolly · 23/04/2021 09:26

God daughter currently in Manor Hall ( self catering ) good experience and rooms pretty decent .

Xenia · 23/04/2021 10:37

My twins cooked for themselves for 3 years before university (I don't even cook or shop for them now other than about once a year) so wanting catered halls for them was not about not being able to cook.

PresentingPercy · 23/04/2021 17:52

DD was allocated Wills after nothing being available! She would have taken anything at that point. However catered suited her best so she was delighted. But she eats anything and isn’t fussy.

mumsneedwine · 23/04/2021 18:40

Think most of the halls seem lovely and provide a good social side. Bristol looking lovely today as DD sent me a photo from campus - she is dissecting something. Shops and pubs open and waterside buzzing tonight. Some normality is coming back for them 😊

SeasonFinale · 23/04/2021 21:03

That's lovely to hear.

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