Top recommendations for Student Accomodation!

The academic year has officially started, and we hope you’re all settled into your new digs and your new city. Bonus points if you’re staying in one of our Urban Creation student accommodation!

Onboarding at your new Uni can be overwhelming, so it’s important to take some time out and have fun! We’ve listed our top recommendations for your ultimate Bristol student checklist!

Spend a night at the theatre
This is one for those who love something creative; Bristol is certainly the place for it! West End productions, classic and contemporary plays, improv, emerging and established talent – it can all be found in Bristol’s theatres. Pick up tickets to performances at Bristol Old Vic, The Bristol Hippodrome, Tobacco Factory Theatres, Redgrave Theatre and more, many of which offer concessionary prices for students.

Garden tour at University of Bristol Botanic Gardens
Beautiful all year round, The Bristol Botanic Garden is the perfect place to relax and escape the city for a moment (even though Bristol is still gorgeously green!). These beautiful gardens are crammed with 4500 plant species from over 200 plant families – a little flower-filled oasis near Clifton Downs.

Go bowling, batting or beer ponging!
The perfect, fun-filled day out! More than just a bowling alley, Roxy Lanes on Union Street not only has 8 full size bowling lanes but also batting cages for baseball and tennis, shuffleboards, full-size pool tables, beer pong, ice-free curling, duck pin bowling, arcade games and a karaoke booth. Fuel up between games on pizza, or head to their bar for a range of soft drinks, beers, spirits, wines and cocktails.

Jump around
…literally! What could be better than a warehouse full of trampolines? I’ll wait…
Bounce around at the world’s biggest trampoline park, with over 140 interconnected trampolines that span right across the floor and up the walls! AirHop Bristol also has an obstacle course, Dodge Attack, Ninja Tag and Battle Beams. Students can get a 20% discount off a standard jump with your valid student ID using discount code STUDENT20.

Social darts
Darts have been all the rage recently for fun night out ideas – and we personally love it! Flight Club on Corn Street has a selection of games based around social darts, so it’s a fun way to practice your dart flinging while also competing against your friends!

Chance & Counters
Whilst we’re on the topic of games (can you tell we like them?) Chance and Counters, situated on the stunning Christmas Steps is a board game café. Get competitive over some delicious small plates and nibbles. There are over 850 games to choose from, plus fortnightly social gaming events, which are great for meeting new people.

Get your skates on
How good is your balance? Whether you’re a skating pro or likely to end up on your bum (us too – don’t worry!) Bump Rollerdisco caters for all! Have a fun evening skating around the glitzy arena, which has its very own DJ, then enjoy a drink or snack on their harbourside terrace once you’re done. Tickets are priced at £10 for students with skate hire, or £9 without skate hire. They also have regular rollerskating lessons and special events.

Find a Speakeasy
The perfect way to impress your mates is knowing where to find an exclusive Speakeasy bar in your new city. Semi-hidden behind mysterious doorways, search out Bristol’s speakeasies for a taste of the Prohibition era. You’ve got the Milk Thistle and sister bar Hyde & Co, plus The Wellhead tucked into a riverside location in Finzels Reach.

£7.50 lunch at Three Brothers Burgers
Looking for something a little more student budget friendly? Check out Three Brothers Burgers! Based on a boat on Welsh Back, conveniently close to the Unite Student halls in this part of town, tuck into Three Brothers Burgers’ lunchtime deal of a classic burger or veggie option with fries for only £7.50. The perfect post lecture treat!

Mrs Potts Chocolate House
Speaking of treats, there’s no place better place to satisfy a sweet tooth than Mrs Potts Chocolate House on Park Street, where hearty portions and the finest local ingredients are always on the menu. Dig in to a chocolate-flavoured feast! Dangerously close to student accommodation – you won’t ever want to leave!

Water sports on the Harbourside
So this might be more of summer activity… but it can be all year round if you’re willing to brace the cold! Team up with course mates or housemates for a group paddleboard adventure led by SUP Bristol, or hire a canoe from Adventurous Activity Company.

Spend time in the city parks
Bristol is blessed with beautiful green spaces that people flock to on sunny days, including four parks in the city centre – Brandon Hill, Queen Square, Castle Park and Clifton Downs.
These are really just the tip of the iceberg though, with all manner of parks and gardens squeezed into different corners of the city. Discover new ones as well as different neighbourhoods and nearby countryside by following our walking routes around the city.

Shopping!
There are a host of vintage and charity shops dotted around the city, but Gloucester Road and Park Street are your best bets for a second hand shopping spree. In Broadmead, sift through clothes dating from the 60s to the 00s at Beyond Retro, handpicked by their team of trend and vintage experts. Have a day of retail therapy shopping from brands like H&M, Monki, Zara, Harvey Nichols, The Body Shop and more under Cabot Circus’ huge roof.

For more updates on things happening in Bristol follow our Instagram and Facebook!

Published: Monday 25th September 2023 by Phoebe Clutton