Bristol university accommodation

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We are off to Bristol tomorrow to look at accommodation locations.

Does anyone have any recommendations?

DS is doing history and is very sporty (football).

Just be aware that a lot of the issues with Bristol accommodation is for the latter years as it's hard to get private let's. Further away from the university can be the answer, if you aren't into nightlife particularly the towns in n Somerset can offer another option, especially mature/postgrads. Clifton is right next to the city centre so it's not a case of choosing, you can socialise in both places. Just wherever you choose halls wise don't suggest your dc bring a car, it's a bit of a nightmare to park

@TizerorFizz actually I never mentioned you at all. Think you read it as if it's about you, when it's wasn't. But I agree, let's leave it here.

As you have to put 9 options down it's worth not getting too hooked on a favourite as might not get it. And just know they'll be happy wherever they get - students face a tendency to find fun.

Good luck with the upcoming exams.

I have just been going through the accom so this is helpful as DD has just been offered a place - She iwll be on a loan she / we have some savings but I am more worried about after the first year if they go into rental - anyone an idea on how expensive that is ?? I was looking at the West Village as it seems to be nearish to where she would be - She hasn[t decided exactly on which offer she will take but Bristol seems to be going up teh scale !

My DD is at Unite House…really central, next to the O2 and walking distance from all the main uni buildings including the SU/Gym/pool and a few independent gyms (she’s a power lifter).

Self catered en-suite iirc was about £7.5k for the year and the place was refurbished last summer so really lovely, bags of storage space, nice kitchen/diner/sitting room with a couple of sofas that have been well used by visiting mates if the residents since September!

There definitely isn’t a ‘no alcohol’ rule anymore 😂

@Rosa second year isn’t cheap. DD is moving into a 4 bed townhouse in Clifton with 3 other girls and it’s just under £3k a month.

That said, she made the choice of spending more on accom so she can walk everywhere rather than relying on public transport.

She’s on full loan and a couple of bursaries —thank God— and worked and saved her butt off last summer to supplement so hasn’t needed a term time job this year, but will have to get one from September.

Rent is expensive, my dd had a lovely house last year but it was huge and freezing as the ceilings were so high, about £600 pcm each. This year it's the same price but they are in a grotty smaller flat with a mould issue, but at least they are warm (avoid the agency Bristol Digs at all costs is the word on the street, sadly they didn't heed it!)

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See!

private renting is defo quite pricy. Dds place next year is £700 each a month. Saying that it is in a great location in Clifton opposite the SU and as Mintycedric says everything is walkable from there.

Two of my children were at Wills and loved it. My son had a block in the old quod and only he and 2 others had been to a fee paying school and all the others were state school by the way so I think is trying to have a lot of different teenagers in the hall. His twin was in Churchill next door (they didn't want the same halls as they are twins , not joined at the hip identicals, and wanted separation to an extent) but definitely wanted Stoke Bishop. I much prefer the Stoke Bishop space, tennis, grounds, chapel at Wills, atmosphere than City centre but everyone is different.

All 3 of mine who went to Bristol got first choice although the first one to go was told we could turn up on the day as people always drop out and it was possible she might have to room share in some kind of post grad room or something but definitely had a place. On the day of arrival quite a few had dropped out so she got her own room.
They all found year 2 accommodation with friends they made in halls in year 1 before Christmas holidays of term 1. They still see those friends for life by the way even now 6 years on for the twins.

DS has just received offer for Engineering, so pleased, still to firm. He is now clocking costs and accommodation issues at Bristol - we are from another part of the country completely and haven't been to Bristol nor any of the other Uni's he has offers from. Choice based purely on ranking for Mech Eng.

So my question is... If he puts Bristol first choice and selects the 9 least expensive Halls - assuming he gets the grades, do you think he would definitely get one of those Halls? The others are so eye wateringly expensive it would be a deal breaker. Commuting from Wales also a deal breaker as he is sporty, wants make the most of Uni and course already pretty full on.

He is sporty and eats accordingly
Catered accommodation perhaps more sociable - but do you think it will adaquately feed a boy in training? (This sounds so ridiculous, but yes, I'm actually asking this question, food very entwined with his general level of happiness😂!)

@NamechangeRugby DD was catered at Bristol. It’s a social time to meet others. Most catered halls cost money but some self catering can cost a lot too. Many students eat a bit extra if they want to and I don’t think lunch is provided. If he must have a certain diet, self catered might be better. DD had several friends doing Mech Eng and it’s a great choice. I’ve no idea about probability of getting a hall he doesn’t want. No one really knows but a timely application would be vital.

@NamechangeRugby When my DD filled in her accommodation application two years ago, I remember there being a question about your maximum budget. I believe that the uni weren't supposed to offer you a hall that is more expensive than this.

Also, Bristol halls are not allocated first come first served basis. You are ok as long as the application goes in before the deadline. This might be towards end of June? The halls will be allocated after the results day.

Thank you both so much @TizerorFizz & @Hattifatteners. This thread & your responses are really helpful & lovely to see lots of positive experiences of Halls.

Dd loved her time in wills. She was lucky to get her first choice. She would now always advocate catered for the first year even for hungry strapping lads so they obviously got enough food!
Her room and hall was very dated and compared to others not very swanky but the grounds were beautiful.

@MGO my ds currently has Bristol and Sheffield top for the same courses but for in a years time. Were the offers the same for both unis?

My son found the catering staff at Wills Hall were lovely. He had been vegan since he was about 14 and they went the extra mile to make sure he always had enough food and of the food he needed for a fit sporty young man. I accept the catered halls are expensive but you don't have to buy much food on top of that and those with a low family income get a much higher maximum loan and I think people from Wales receive even more student help than those of us in England (which is not at all fair but never mind...)

@NCTDN My DD was Wills back in the day and her sporty boyfriend at the time was Churchill. They do have snack making areas. DD felt she didn’t have to worry about food in y1 and that suited her. She liked eating with friends, making friends, and found it a social occasion. She thought the food wasn’t as good as school but perfectly ok.

Mines loves cooking and loves self catered. Bit fussy too. They'll love wherever they end up and think it's the the best 😊

My son is in Accommodation at 31. It’s so close to town and the uni. It’s really nice- he’s in a 12 bed flat- so as you can imagine communal areas get quite messy… but he’s got en suite. His own room is quite small but there is stacks of storage. There’s an additional social area as well but that doesn’t seem used much.

I think it’s 33. It’s advertised as being close to the best of Bristol nightlife so I imagine students are out sampling it and not staying in their social space? The only issue is that these city locations are noisier and don’t have green space. So choosing what suits your personality is a good idea and there’s something for everyone.

Orchard wasn't noisy ? V well insulated rooms. And off the main road. Woke up to birds singing.

Courtrooms was a bit noisy in her first year (for one weekend) as the riots were outside !

Ones advertised as handy for nightlife might well be in a noisy area. I have stayed in the area!

Which area ? Orchard, Courtrooms, Unite and Riverside are all v convenient for Uni and nightlife. But all quite far apart. Courtrooms is down a quiet side road, Orchard and Unite are tucked away behind the theatre in a v small road, and Riverside's biggest neighbour is called The Severn.
Really not noisy. Although no student hall of residence is going to be quiet all the time. 2am door slamming is the same everywhere.

33 says it’s got Bristol nightlife on the doorstep. I was just mentioning what Bristol say about this residence. From experience, the nightlife is lively in the city centre. Definitely not all students but it’s not the same as quieter SB.