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Higher education

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Original poster

Bristol University Accommodation

140 replies

AstroLoco · 19/03/2022 15:20

Ds has an offer for History at Bristol university. He has been looking into accommodation options and has an idea of what he likes, although I'd love the know the reality from people who have experience from there.

Can anyone recommend accommodation and let me know any positives / negatives for each one please?

He is aware that it can be difficult to get your preferred accommodation at Bristol (or even to get accommodation at all), so any advice on this would be gratefully received.

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lilahbelle · 19/03/2022 15:50

I was at Bristol about 12 years ago but I chose one of the "student houses" for my first year (not official halls, but smaller houses and flats that were used for Freshers). I was in a building called Elmgrove Park which was 12 3 person self catered flats together and about 15mins walk from the uni. For me this was a lot cheaper than halls and worked out well.

Most of my friends ended up in Stoke Bishop, mostly Hiatt Baker and they thought it was fine, although a good 40min walk away across the Downs. Goldney in Clifton village was lovely, but very expensive!

Original poster
AstroLoco · 19/03/2022 15:57

Thank you, I'll have a look.

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SeasonFinale · 19/03/2022 16:24

Son is in Badock (first choice was Hiatt Baker but as they say you love where you get!) He didn't want catered but now loves it because not only does he eat with flatmates but blockmates and friends from other blocks.

The free bus pass now not only covers the U1 bus but other Bristol buses too which other non Stoke Bishop students don't get as part of their package.

They also have a hotplate and George Foreman grill alongside the provided microwave, fridge, kettle and toaster which makes weekend evenings easier (when they are not catered for).

He is in a single basic with sink which is pricey and definitely his room has an 80s feel. However the rooms are larger than the newer fancier ones at Hiatt Baker.

One really good purchase was a portable padded headboard as the bed doesn't have one and he loves his.

Happy to answer more specific questions. DS is a history student too.

Original poster
AstroLoco · 19/03/2022 16:33

Thanks so much!

My son has done most the research himself, so I feel like I know nothing and now need to find out as much as I can to help him to decide.

Ds is also saying he doesn't want catered, but I'm wondering if it would actually be better and easier overall. So this accommodation also includes a free bus pass? Is it far from the uni itself?

Now your son is in Bristol, is there any accommodation he thinks is better than others? Or does he just love where he is?

Thanks again ☺️

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TizerorFizz · 19/03/2022 17:20

A long while ago DD was in the old quad of Wills. More of a 1930s vibe there! Including thd rooms and bathrooms. Catered and old fashioned but she liked it. Shared bathroom.
There is a newer block. She never walked to uni and got the bus which is included in fees. Never walk back at night either. There’s no need to.

She found it better to worry less about meals and concentrate on her degree in the first year. University study is a change from school but eating with everyone, she found fun and sociable. Several of her friends from those days did History. All have good careers now.

Other young people we know have chosen city centre flats but mainly because they are close to pubs and clubs. The halls in Clifton are popular because of the short walk to university. Overall, like most, she liked her hall. She had lots of friends in Churchill too. There’s no wrong choice but you must consider all mid cons vs not many, location and catered or not. We felt a year of catered gave breathing space. Cooking skills improved in first year vacation too!

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2022 17:22

DD was in Orchard Heights and loved it. Right in centre so v easy to get to Uni, pubs and river. V v sociable as has a large courtyard in middle. Friend was in Courtrooms and was v similar.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2022 17:24

@AstroLoco everyone gets a free bus pass, even in the city halls. V useful to get to sports ground. DD is a 2nd year. She wanted self catering and had a beautiful double bed room with en suite and had a massive kitchen/lounge area. She used the Uni library a lot to study and was a 10 minute walk up Christmas steps.

ApolloandDaphne · 19/03/2022 17:26

My DD was allocated Badock. It wasn't her first choice and it seemed a bit tatty to me but she loved it and made loads of friends.

HomeHomeInTheRange · 19/03/2022 17:27

My Dc really enjoyed Hiatt Baker and self catering.

The free shuttle bus was great.

TizerorFizz · 19/03/2022 18:11

Hiatt Baker was called “Shite Baker” before they refurbished The Wills Old Quad bathrooms looked as old as the building to me! However for lots of Bristol students it’s not about expensive en suites and modern rooms in the centre but there’s something for everyone.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2022 18:14

😂 DDs accommodation was much much cheaper than HB or Wills.

Original poster
AstroLoco · 19/03/2022 19:15

That's so helpful - thank you everyone! Will continue with the research of these places now ☺️

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FanSpamTastic · 19/03/2022 20:05

I think they can list 8 choices and should hopefully get at least 1 of their choices.

Eldest DD was in Hiatt Baker - she liked it there. She also has good friends in city centre accommodation.

bonnieliesovertheocean · 19/03/2022 20:43

Interesting thread. Thanks. My ds has firmed his offer at Bristol but is still waiting for an email with a student number. He needs this to apply for accommodation? Is that right? He has emailed to chase but still waiting.

eggsandwich · 19/03/2022 20:49

My dd is at Orchard Heights and love’s it, the accommodation is modern and is close to everything, the University itself is only 10 minutes away.

itstimeforme · 19/03/2022 21:22

My DD was at Waverley, a city centre block, her last choice. She absolutely loved it! Being city centre made going out and back easy and she recommended city centre to one of my friends sons the following year and he loved it too.

TizerorFizz · 19/03/2022 22:14

@mumsneedwine
Hiatt Baker and Wills both have rooms cheaper than Orchard. Not quite sure where your figures come from. Orchard is £7800. A better room with food in Wills is more but there are cheaper rooms. DD had one. Wills is catered and the others two are not.,

TizerorFizz · 19/03/2022 22:15

HB rooms are nearly all cheaper.

SeasonFinale · 19/03/2022 22:16

If they play team sports at all the Stoke Bishop is handy for the downs where it is played too.

mumsneedwine · 19/03/2022 22:39

@TizerorFizz ok then 🤷‍♀️. Why do you care quite so much ? Gave an opinion on a hall. Don't like it then just ignore it. I never paid that much for OH so maybe it's gone up a lot this year. Who knows. Who cares.

DD wanted to be in town. Nearer Uni. Others like SB. Nice they have a choice.

TizerorFizz · 19/03/2022 22:54

Why do you care so much that you don’t tell the truth?

mumsneedwine · 20/03/2022 07:32

@TizerorFizz 🥴 weird. Some people are just weird.
@AstroLoco not a clue why this all turned a bit when talking about halls. As an incredibly wealthy teacher (😂😂😂) I'm off to run a DofE session at school. Unpaid of course (because I'm already so incredibly rich).
Bristol is expensive but has some lovely halls and is a fantastic student city. Your DC will have a great time.

TizerorFizz · 20/03/2022 07:57

@AstroLoco
Just to put your mind at rest: I’m not wired. I just prefer statements to be not “economical with the truth”.

As you can see from my original post, I gave a decent resume of the three main areas to live in Bristol University halls. Stoke Bishop is further out but has the older more traditional halls. Sometimes this appeals snd sometimes the more modern blocks appeal in other areas. Catered or self catered is worthy of thought as well as location. What does DS want from his first year in Bristol? Vibrant city centre or more laid back Stoke Bishop? Going out in the city is obviously easier from city centre halls but not everyone needs this attribute every night of the well.

Do check on prices. They vary according to size of room and location. Goldney was always popular so if the university tells you halls are over subscribed, then take that as a lottery re getting a room. Good luck and have fun.

Xenia · 20/03/2022 10:02

Slight class divide at Bristol I suspect - Stoke Bishop halls v City centre but I may be totally wrong. 3 of my children were in Stoke Bishop halls (they chose catered), including those with graduations (delayed ones) next month so relatively recently but before covid.

Two were in Wills Hall (one in the old quad bit mentioned above which is lovely and was built to mirror an Oxbridge old college because the man who built it's son failed to get into Oxbridge all those years ago - they even have a chapel). and the other in Churchill which may son says is the hall in England with the most people from fee paying schools. This is anecdotal and may not be true!

They both liked catered halls and going to meals with your new friends and being in quite a nice bit near the Downs with hall playing fields etc but then in years 2 and 3 moved into shared houses with friends closer in which is the pattern for many in Bristol.

It would be a shame if Bristol ended up with social class apartheid based on Stoke bishop halls v city centre - I jest slightly and indeed when my son was at Wills they were trying very hard to mix people in - of his group of 9 boys only 3 of the 9 were from fee paying schools. My children went to day fee paying schools.

mumsneedwine · 20/03/2022 10:18

@Xenia mine seems to have friends from all over the country (& abroad) and from all backgrounds. Which is lovely. Not sure halls split by class - more by those who want to walk to Uni and those who don't mind the bus.
One her school friends was in Wills (comp), and one is in Churchill this year.
Not sure it really matters what hall they end up in. They'll have fun anyway.