New to Bristol? Put down that freshers’ pack and take a look at these things to do and places to see.
Get a bite to eat at Bagel Boy
You’ll obviously have plenty of time to check out Bristol’s amazing food and drink scene, but make sure one of the first things you do is head to Bagel Boy – and you’ve come at a good time, because now there are two of them!
At both the original St Nicholas Street and its younger Gloucester Road brother, expect to pay £4-£6 for a bagel packed with everything from hot salt beef, pickles and American mustard (New York Boy) to homemade beef patty, bacon, cheddar, tomato, leaves and BBQ sauce (Party Boy).
Bagel Boy, 39-41 St Nicholas Street, Bristol, BS1 1TP
Soak up the view from Cabot Tower
Bristol’s hilly geography will soon lose its charm when it comes to lugging a week’s worth of groceries up Park Street, but one thing it will always give you is a hell of a view. Clamber up Brandon Hill to Cabot Tower, where 105ft up you’ll find stunning, unrivalled panoramas of the sprawling city below.
Cabot Tower, Brandon Hill Park, Great George St, Harbourside, Bristol BS1 5RR
Get the halves in at The Cori Tap
The Coronation Tap, known affectionately around these parts at The Cori, is a cider house, live music venue and, above all else, a Bristol institution. Here you can sink the locally famous, slightly deadly Exhibition Cider, which is produced exclusively for the Cori and sold in half pints due to its big-boy ABV.
Down at The Apple, you can also get a half pint of the equally knockout Old Bristolian, though if the term starts to eat away at your student loan (and you’re a little less precious about what you drink), opt instead for The White Harte’s ‘pound-a-pint’ night, where strong, quality ciders make way for cheap thrills.
The Coronation Tap, 8 Sion Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4AX
Chow down on an Eldon House roast
It’s easy to assume that the beginnings of university life are nothing but fun, fast-paced and carefree, but it won’t take long for the homesickness to kick in.
This is especially true when you find yourself on a Sunday afternoon without the normal aromas of a roast dinner wafting into your room, and for the first time in your life, you’ll have to do something about it yourself.
You can either fire up the oven or, better yet, get someone else to do it for you – the best and most comforting you’ll find in Bristol is at Eldon House, which sits not far from the Triangle on Lower Clifton Hill.
Eldon House, 6 Lower Clifton Hill, Bristol, BS8 1BT
Drink dutty wine at Cosies
Billed as a bistro, wine bar and club, Cosies is a late night gem that, despite its intimate size, is a big player of the Bristol clubbing scene. With a partying ethos that's firmly rooted in reggae, dubstep and basement, its underground vibes are Bristol through and through.
The weekly Reggae Sundays sessions have become something of a mainstay for the city's students and locals, so get involved for a taste of what Bristol's got to show for itself.
Cosies, 34 Portland Square, St Pauls, Bristol, BS2 8RG
Catch a flick at The Cube
Bristol’s cinema scene is buzzing with alternatives to your average multiplex, and perhaps the top dog is The Cube, where you’ll find everything from intriguing documentaries and cult classics to live stand up and short-film open mics.
If you’re after something more central, try Watershed, or look out for special screenings from the ever-playful Bristol Bad Film Club or Cannoli and Gun teams.
Cube Microplex, Dove Street South, Bristol, BS2 8JD
Take a stroll across the Clifton Suspension Bridge
This one’s good because it’s completely free, and will tick off one of the crucial things to do on the Bristol bucket list within a matter of seconds.
Best enjoyed at night when the lit-up bridge comes into its element, you’ll also get a good view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the vast outdoor terrace of the nearby White Lion pub.
Afterwards you can also go and check out the rock slide near Clifton Observatory, where years of people sliding down the rock face on their arses has created a slippery, shiny slide.
White Lion Bar, Avon Gorge Hotel, Sion Hill, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4LD
Shop at the independents on Gloucester Road
As you’d expect, Bristol’s got the independent vibe completely covered - and as the longest stretch of independent vendors in Europe, Gloucester Road is arguably our finest example of the local trading spirit.
We love colourful and friendly boutique Portabella, den of retro RePsycho, handmade emporium 7th Sea, second hand furniture store Another Time Around and the Oriental Market for cheap ingredients for Asian cooking - plus Atomic Burger, if you're in need of a bite to eat. Check out our favourite vintage hotspots elsewhere in the city here.
Atomic Burger, 189 Gloucester Road, Bristol, BS7 8BG
Grab a giant bap at Maximillions
Tucked away in the heart of Bristol's city centre on Broad Street, Maximillions is one of the city's most cherished little joints. Here, a little money goes a long way, and you can choose your bap or bread, pick the meat from a selection of roast joints like pork and gammon, plus any five salads to go in it – where salad means ANYTHING from cheese and coleslaw to scotch eggs and quiche.
Word of advice: ask them to cut into two and wrap one half up in anticipation of having to take it home... With an onion bhaji as a potential filling, you know that these really are giant baps.
Maximillions, 45 Broad Street, Bristol, BS1 2EP
Get your knickers in a twist at The Well
Gone are the days of throwing your dirty laundry into a pile for Mum. It's a sad time, to be sure, but celebrate your new-found independence with a trip to At The Well, a neat little laundrette in Stokes Croft that will help you out in the absence of a matriarch. Better still, it's also got a great cafe, so load the washing in and sit down to a slice of cake whilst your clothes go for a spin.
The Well, 145 Cheltenham Road, Bristol, BS6 5RR
If you've got plenty of studying to be getting on with, take a look at this list of laptop-friendly cafes and coffees in Bristol for students.