A Relaxed Guide to Bristol
We may be biased, but we believe Bristol is one of the best cities in the world. Home to countless independent shops and world-class street art, Bristol continually excites. Our city constantly pushes boundaries with an effervescent personality. Bristol welcomes all. Just in time for Welcome Week, we have composed an area guide for exploring our city.
Clifton
Situated west of the city centre, Clifton is Bristol’s most fashionable neighbourhood. This historic suburb houses Brunel’s famous Suspension Bridge. Between handsome stone terraces, Clifton contains an impressive collection of bakeries, boutique shops and pubs. The area is celebrated for its artisan culture, providing some of Bristol’s best coffee shops for studying. A relaxing stroll around Clifton Village is the perfect escape from the city centre’s rush. The area is brimming with hidden gems, and the following are some of our absolute favourites.
Boyce’s Avenue
The beating heart of Clifton Village, this bustling side street is often filled with cultured Bristolians enjoying brunch or browsing shops. The street is home to Clifton Arcade, a quaint Victorian arcade that is an Instagram must. You will find yourself spoilt for choice here, but some of our favourite haunts include East Village Café, Sunday General, Saffron and Primrose Café. Boyce’s Avenue embodies Clifton’s cosmopolitanism and village atmosphere.
Bristol Fringe
Alongside coffee shops, Clifton also boasts some of the city’s best pubs. The Bristol Fringe is continually a standout, for its cosy surroundings yet vibrant atmosphere. The pub doubles as a live music venue, hosting jazz nights and local musicians, and even magic nights. The Fringe remains a beloved part of the community, offering a relaxed night out with great drinks, under ambient red lighting. The magic night is always a laugh, and Fringe’s jazz evenings are a great alternative night out when clubbing becomes too strenuous.
Hope and Anchor
Finally, we couldn’t discuss pubs in Clifton without mentioning the Hope and Anchor. A Bristol staple, you will almost certainly find yourself here during your time at university. One of Bristol’s most student-friendly pubs, this characterful establishment arguably has Bristol’s best beer garden. The weekly pub quiz never fails to amuse and the pub houses a plethora of board games and artworks adorning its walls. The pub is always thriving with young people, providing the perfect feel-good evening. We recommend trying the Apple and Pear cider under the warm heaters of the beer garden, surrounded by a large group of friends.
City Centre
Bristol’s sprawling city centre is home to some of the country’s best restaurants, shops and clubs. The city centre has seen remarkable changes over recent years and continually reinvents itself. The Triangle remains rite-of-passage for student nights out and Park Street thrives as the beating heart of our city. The Harbourside is home to countless restaurants, museums and live venues. Thekla remains a standout in Bristol’s nightlife scene, with Thekla Thursdays continually drawing crowds. We urge you to explore the city centre for yourself, with the following destinations being essential visits.
St Nicholas’ Market
Bristol’s answer to Camden Lock, St Nicholas’ Market is a buzzing indoor market located next to Baldwin Street and Mr Wolf’s. The market holds hundreds of hidden treasures, from “Gert Lush” t-shirts to salt lamps, and has some of the best street food in the city. We recommend Eat-A-Pitta (a Bristol essential) and WokyKo.
Arnolfini
Bristol’s premier art gallery, Arnolfini is an unmissable cultural day out. The gallery holds three floors of contemporary art, with a frequent exhibition rotation that gives the Tate a run for its money. The gallery has previously held exhibitions for Bridget Riley and Howard Hodgkin, as well as the late Paula Rego. Arnolfini currently features an enlightening exhibition of artists responding to the theme of the forest, including works from David Nash and Ai Weiwei. The Arnolfini also doubles as a café/bar, with its Harbourside location making it a perfect evening wind-down spot.
Pizzarova
Legendary amongst Bristol foodies, Pizzarova is the sourdough-based gift that keeps on giving. Providing some of the city’s best and most affordable pizzas, Pizzarova began in a Land Rover touring the pizza-famished pastures of Somerset. The restaurant has a welcoming atmosphere and never fails to impress. Located opposite College Green, we recommend enjoying a take-out Margherita on the grass with a few cans from Tesco.
Stokes Croft/Gloucester Road
Home of the hipster, Stokes Croft is Bristol at its grittiest. One of Bristol’s most vibrant neighbourhoods, the streets drip with the vivid spray paint of some of the country’s best street art. The renowned Gloucester Road is the longest street of independent shops in the UK, containing some of the city’s best vintage and charity shops. Dubbed the ‘People’s Republic of Stokes Croft’, the area embodies Bristol’s progressive spirit and open-mindedness.
The Crafty Egg
Eggs by name and eggs by nature, The Crafty Egg serves some of the best brunches in Bristol. Brimming with houseplants, this famous café will quench all your brunch-based needs. The café is popular with locals, with queues often extending down the street. With both vegan and vegetarian options, Crafty Egg is a prime location to chow down with your flatmates.
The Crofter’s Rights
Lastly but by no means least is Crofters Rights. An acclaimed live venue, Crofters remains at the epicentre of Bristol’s alternative nightlife scene. Playing indie, drum and bass, folk, and experimental, the venue welcomes almost every music genre imaginable. The venue also doubles as a pub, serving beers and artisan pizzas. Drawing crowds every week, Crofters is continually revered within Bristol’s distinguished clubbing scene.
We urge you to explore Bristol for yourself. With new spots emerging at every corner, it is impossible to condense the excitement of Bristol into a single blog post. Our city truly remains one of the world’s best student cities and a home for all.
Written by Tom Dance, Editor of the Aurora
Read our previous Welcome Week posts…
Ten Tips for Freshers Week from our Editor
https://www.theauroralibarts.com/blog/2021/09/21/tips-for-freshers-week
A Guide for Liberal Arts Freshers (with FAQs) by a Former Fresher
https://www.theauroralibarts.com/blog/2020/09/28/a-guide-for-freshers