5 Reasons Why You Should Study In Bristol

Known as the biggest city in the south-west of England, Bristol is one of the most exciting and multicultural places in the country. Not only has Bristol been named as the top vegan city in the UK for 2019, with Google Trends data declaring that the interest level for all things vegan was highest in Bristol. This is unsurprising given that three out of four Bristol MP’s saying that they are vegan or vegetarian, showing why you should study in Bristol if you are following a plant based diet. Bristol is also the birthplace of street art legend Banksy whose notable work can be found in Stokes Croft.

With its finger firmly on the pulse Bristol is bubbling with dynamism, a creative city that thrives in celebrating the talent of its locals. With a real community feel, there’s no denying that Bristol has star power, so is it any wonder that Bristol was also named as the top UK place to live in 2017? And if that doesent tickle your knackers, then perhaps finding out that Bristol invented Ribena, might have you booking a last minute trip in the middle of the night, as you dream of eating at vegan eateries and climbing aboard the fun express.With Bristol’s emphasis on expressionism, individuality and free spirited personalities, Bristol is not only the perfect city to visit, but is also a great place to study in, with its desire to cultivate creativity and relinquish mundane everyday living. Imagine the thrill of studying in a city that is proud to be and champion ‘difference’, where there is no such thing as normal and how each day brings a new reward to be grasped with warm open hands?With a range of attractions and career opportunities available, here are just five reasons why you should study in Bristol.

Street Art For The Win

If there should be any reason that would clinch you wanting to study in Bristol it would be its fantastic street art, where art and creativity dance in harmonic wander. Scour the streets of Bristol and you’ll struggle not to find a cutting-edge piece of graffiti art decorating the city’s walls. Along narrow alleys, down side-streets and through under-passages, across building walls and boldly displayed on bridges, a piece of graffiti art soon jumps out depicting wry humour and subversive displays of pop-culture, ranging from satirical murals to 3D illustrations conjuring magical surrealist narratives that are all indicative of Bristol’s love affair with art. No matter where you are in Bristol, you are bound to view some fantastic street art. At the heart of Bristol’s love affair with street art is Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road, with works by Banksy, Inkie and the collective ‘People’s Republic of Stokes Croft’ all contributing to the diversity of street art that Bristol has to offer. With street art representing people’s love for rebellion and rejection of traditional art forms, it should come as no surprise that Bristol- labelled as the eco-warrior, vegan friendly, creative city is so lovingly connected to the street art form.

As if that wasn’t enticing enough, did you know that See No Evil is the biggest permanent street art project in the UK, meaning you are never too far from an impressive piece of graffiti or a giant mural? What’s more, Banksy originates from the city, where a plethora of his work can be found scattered across Bristol. There is also a Banksy Walking Tour that you can partake in to get to know more about his displays.

It’s A Creative City: What’s Not To Love?

As one of the country’s largest media hubs outside of London, Bristol is home to a wide selection of creative companies. With an inspiring community full of designers, photographers, artists, writers and more, there are tons of opportunities where you can immerse yourself in the creative atmosphere that the city has to offer. Whether it be taking a trip to Arnolfini (one of the leading centres for contemporary arts in Europe), or viewing an independent movie at The Watershed, there are plenty of creative outlets to see in Bristol. In fact did you know that Bristol alongside Manchester have been named UNESCO Creative Cities, with Bristol being named as a UNESCO City of Film and a UNESCO Creative City Of Literature, making it ideal to study in Bristol if you are a creative or have an interest in the creative industry. For example as I love art – viewing as opposed to drawing- such as street art, have a strong interest in Literature and love colour, design and fashion, if I hadn’t of studied in Strawberry Hill, Bristol would have been a great alternative for me to explore.

What’s more it’s easy to fall in love with Bristol as you recount its creative history, celebrated for being the home of Aardman Animations, renowned for producing the Wallace and Gromit films, and having 11 community driven international film festivals, ten cinemas and 28 film related degrees making it the perfect place to study as a creative.

Bristol Has A Strong Music Scene

No matter what type of music you’re into, Bristol caters to every music taste, one of the most popular being ‘trip hop’, which combines electronic music with hip-hop. Since originating in the 1990s, the genre has gained a large following, deriving from later idioms of acid house and pioneered by acts like Massive Attack, Tricky and Portis Head. Common musical aesthetics include combining a bass heavy drumbeat, emulating slowed down breakout samples typical of hip hop in the 90’s which curates a psychedelic, post punk sound. Bristol is also the city that pioneered drum and bass music, emerging from the UK’s jungle scene in the early 90’s, as a musical paradigm of the breakbeat hardcore and rave scene. With its strong ties to music, Bristol becomes a breeding ground for burrowing underground talent, meaning that if you have an interest in music-whether that be from a passive listening point of view or actively creating music- Bristol is a great place to study the creative arts.

There are also tons of clubs that house some of the best DJs in the country from Thekla, a nightclub on a boat that became a club in the early 90’s hosting talent like Massive Attack, to Motion, regularly polled as one of the best in the world, when it comes to clubbing Bristol is second to none. All the more reason to ditch the dive bars of your fresher days and head into a city that never sleeps hey? Who wants to study in Bristol now?

Are You In The Festival Mood?

Speaking of music, if you want to study in Bristol but need more convincing then perhaps me telling you that Bristol is festival central might change your mind. Bristol hosts a range of music festivals throughout the year, including Bristol Sounds and the Bristol Harbour Festival. Famed for being a glorious five night midsummer gig series on Bristol’s iconic Harbourside, Bristol Sounds is organized by Crosstown Concerts, catering to different music tastes and genres including electronic, indie rock, pop and heritage, with artists such as Elbow, Madness and Bloc Party, as headliners in 2019. What’s more Bristol Sounds is hosted in an incredible amphitheater, which is the ideal setting for live music performances. And it’s not just limited to getting your freak on in Bristol either; with Glastonbury Festival taking place only 50 minutes away, you are never too far from some of the best festivals that the UK has to offer.

While music festivals are incredibly popular, there are a variety of other festivals that cover a range of interests in Bristol, including hot air balloons! The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta runs every August which attracts more than 130 balloons from across the globe and is hailed as Europe’s biggest hot air balloon event. With hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk, as well as the famous night glows, when the balloons light up the sky in time to music, this truly is a magical Bristol led festival.

Is Eco Warrior Your Middle Name?

If quirky music and hot air balloon festivals don’t make you want to study in Bristol, then perhaps it’s reputation as being eco-friendly and sustainable might be the catalyst to making you change your world. With Bristol being named the greenest city in the United Kingdom, students can be certain that they’re studying in an area that’s environmentally friendly. After all not only is 44% of Bristol’s household waste being recycled, but there are also over 400 magnificent parks and gardens to explore such as Clifton Down, which borders the Clifton Village, Clifton and Redland areas of Bristol. Alongside the neighboring Durdham down, together The Downs represent a large area of protected woodland where you can revel in greenery while still in walking distance to the city and other major attractions such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge. It’s clear that there are plenty of green areas to see when in Bristol, but did you also know that Bristol has the most Green Party seats, which makes sense given the beautiful open spaces, a flourishing low carbon sector and the renewable energy innovators drawn to the South West.

If that isn’t eco-friendly enough for you, you might be interested to learn that Bristol is home to Triodos the UK’s only ethical bank, and also hosts ‘Bristol’s Green Week’ which is a clear demonstration of the cities determination to lead the UK in green innovation and enterprise.

Great Student Accommodation 

Whether you’re interested in studying in Bristol for its eco-friendly nature, or you like the idea of the quirky and unique festivals that the city has to offer, it’s easy to see why so many students pick Bristol for their university experience. And while it’s reputation as a creative hub, gastronomic city and street art is unfounded, did you know that Bristol is also home to stunning student accommodation too? After all when you are searching for student accommodation in Bristol, you will want to find a place that is like a home away from home. Companies like Almero provide stunning student accommodation in some of the most sought-after locations in Bristol, with large insta-worthy studios, 2 bed flats and even 5 bedroom student houses which embodies reputation for modernity, creativity and stylish flair. So if you are looking for a touch of class and sophistication, just take a look at some of their available properties, for a student experience that will make you want to study in Bristol at the drop of a hat.

Would You Want To Study In Bristol?

*Collaborative Post