The largest city in the south-west of the UK, Bristol, has a vibe of its own. Often overlooked, Bristol has a serene but lively vibe which makes it my favourite in the UK. There are plenty of free things for students to do in Bristol. Being a student at the University of Exeter, a city only 2 hours from Bristol, I have spent plenty of my time in Bristol. Students are usually on a low budget and therefore prefer cheap or free things to do. Having travelled to 38 cities in the UK during one year to my study abroad, I have learnt to look for free things or cheap things to do which can be easily accommodated in the student budget. I have compiled a list of 15 free things for students to do in Bristol. Bristol offers plenty of free things for students to do and one wouldn’t be short of activities to opt for.

Free things for students to do in Bristol

Visiting the Temple Meads Station

The largest and the oldest railway station in Bristol, Temple Meads Station is a building to see. The medieval time architecture of this station stands proudly as the symbol of culture and arts that Bristol offers. Constructed in the 19^th century, Bristol Temple Meads station takes its name from a temple nearby which once dwelled and was then abolished during the world war. This railway station has been one of the touristy sightseeing places in the city, along with being the main transport hub that connects Bristol to the rest of the UK.

Address: Bristol Temple Meads Station, Station Approach, BS1 6QF, UK

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Walking across the Clifton Suspension Bridge

A walk across the Clifton Suspension Bridge adds to the list of free things for students to do in Bristol. Standing tall for years as the symbol of Bristol city, Clifton Suspension Bridge spans the picturesque area of Avon Gorge, a 1.5 mile gorge over the River Avon and connects Bristol with the North Somerset. For years, this bridge has attracted visitors from all around the country. It has a visitor centre also which is opened everyday 10am-5pm other than Christmas and New Year day. Cyclists and pedestrians can cross the bridge for free whereas cars need to pay £1.

There is an Observatory Hill across the bridge which presents beautiful views of the bridge. For a small price, one can visit the Camera Obscura and the Giant Cave at Clifton Observatory.

Tip: Be careful while visiting the cave as it has a small, congested staircase and isn’t very friendly to access.

Address: Bridge Rd, Leigh Woods, Bristol BS8 3PA, UK

A walk to the Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill

Climbing the stairs to the Cabot Tower through Brandon Hill makes to the free things for students to do in Bristol. Brandon Hill is the oldest park in Bristol and home to the gorgeous Cabot Tower which is 105ft tower constructed in the middle of the park and is made from red sandstone and cream Bath stone. While Brandon Hill offers beautiful pathways and a nature conservation area, Cabot Tower is the icon of the city’s skyline presenting spectacular views of the city. There are steep, twisted steps from the Brandon hill which leads to the top of the tower. This can be climbed any day of the week, free of charge.

Address: Brandon Hill Park, Park St, Bristol BS1 5RR, UK

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Exploring the Blaise Castle

A beautiful gothic style castle, Blaise Castle, is another attraction of the Bristol city and is free to visit. Built-in the 18^th century, Blaise Castle is a mansion set across 400 acres of land and features Victorian-style rooms and furniture and depicts a story of the people who once lived there. A walk through the castle takes you to the Georgian era. The castle has a museum, gift shop and restaurant facilities too. The castle has different opening and closing times throughout the year.

Address: Kings Weston Rd, Bristol BS10 7QS, UK

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Singing a choir at the Bristol Cathedral

Another incredible piece of architecture in Bristol city is the Bristol Cathedral. Standing for over a thousand years, this cathedral has been serving as the main church of the city and attracts many visitors. Having nave, choir and aisles all of the same sizes, Bristol Cathedral has a significance in the British and European architecture and is one of the finest church halls in the country. Visiting the cathedral is a must free thing for students to do in Bristol. It is open throughout the week and offers free guided tours on Saturdays.

Address: College Green, Bristol BS1 5TJ, UK

Getting indulge in Victorian-era feels at Ashton Court Estate

Located just 10 minutes from the city centre of Bristol, lies the Ashton Court, which was once a residence of Smyth family and is now an estate park. This gorgeous building was once a deer park and still, deer graze can be seen in the park. Beautiful oak trees decorate this incredible piece of architecture built over 850 acres which is a must-visit in Bristol.

Ashton Court is also a centre for golf in the city of Bristol and is home to the International Balloon Festival in Bristol. If you happen to visit Bristol during the month of August, look out for the balloon festival where hundreds of colourful hot air balloons are released from the Ashton Court. This is the largest annual meeting of hot air balloons in Europe and attracts around 130 hot air balloons from across the world.

Address: Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9JN, UK

Having a relaxed day at the Bristol harbourside

A visit the Bristol Harbourside is one of the not to miss free things for students to do in Bristol. This place offers tonnes of activities to do and one can easily spend an afternoon there. Many free museums are located near the harbour and this waterfront in the city offers a lively feel. Either you prefer watching boats, or having brunch in one of the cool cafes or visit a museum, Bristol harbourside has many free things to offer. Another jewel in the crown of Bristol harbourside is the colourful houses which overlook the harbourside, adding to the grace of this place.

Bristol harbourside is also the home to Bristol Aquarium and M-Shed which is an exciting museum with gallery space and a plethora of events scheduled. The aquarium is paid but M-Shed is free to visit.

Address: Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5TT, UK

Enjoying the sun at the Millennium Square

A perfect free thing for students to do in Bristol is to visit the Millennium Square, an outdoor space located at the Bristol Harbourside. Its vicinity to the Bristol city centre as well as the waterfront makes it a great location to visit easily using public transport. During the summer, this area provides a great place to enjoy a sunny day while enjoying the views of the harbour. During the winters, Millennium Square hosts ice rink and winter fair. Looking forward to enjoying a relaxed, outdoor day in Bristol, head over to the Millennium Square.

Address: Explore Ln, Bristol BS1 5SZ, UK

Learning about history at the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

A visit to the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery adds to the free things for students to do in Bristol. With a plethora of collections related to arts, nature and history, this museum is perfect for students who crave for informative places.  With tonnes of archaeological collection and fossils, the Bristol museum and art gallery takes you to Earth’s history and tell how people dwelt in the past. Open throughout the year, the Bristol museum and art gallery offer free guided tours with a variety of information about the fossils, religions and ancient Earth.

Address: Queens Rd, Bristol BS8 1RL, UK

Going back to the long-forgotten times at the Severn Beach

Often termed as the “Blackpool of the West”, Severn Beach is in outskirts of Bristol. Situated in a village, a visit to the Severn Beach takes you to the time long forgotten. This beach presents some incredible views of the nearby land, birdlife is in abundance and a beautiful riverside is present nearby. If you happen to visit the Severn Beach, don’t forget to visit one of the many heritage trails available there which are absolutely FREE to visit.

Address: BS35 4PL, Bristol, UK

Enjoying the graffiti around the city

Bristol is home to some mesmerizing graffiti in the UK. These captivating pieces of colourful art and murals have beautifully decorated the city walls all around. Whether it is a bridge, a building, an underpass or an alley, Bristol isn’t short of beautiful street arts. Some of the best artistic talent in the UK in the form of colourful sprayed figures can be found on the walls of Bristol. The best way to enjoy this art is to keep an eye around the walls of the city, whether you are walking or travelling in a car or bus. There are many walking tours available to explore the city art, however, they aren’t free.

Afternoon meditation at College’s Green

Another free thing for students to do in Bristol is to meditate at the College’s Green, which is a large, open, green area in Bristol. Guarded by the Bristol Cathedral from one side and the City Hall from another, groups of people can be seen meditating here. The lush green sight of the area presents a soothing atmosphere for meditation.

Address: St George’s Road Bristol BS1 5UA

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Exploring the University of Bristol

The University of Bristol is home to some gorgeous pieces of architecture which are definitely worth a visit. One of the iconic buildings in the university is the Wills Memorial Building which houses the university law school and Earth Sciences school along with hosting the graduation ceremonies and other public events. The view from the top of the tower, at a height of 68 metres is second to none. There are tours of the tower which run on Saturdays and first Wednesday of the month. These tours are, however, paid. One can also visit the university to enjoy the views of the tower from outside.

Address: Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RJ, UK

A day out at the Bristol City Centre

Bristol city centre is home to some great shopping and food places. This area of the city is always lively and offers a wonderful vibe. A number of wonderful cafes, shopping stores and cinemas can be found in Cabot Circus, a shopping mall in the city centre. There are some excellent cheap restaurants in the city centre, perfect was lunches on a student’s budget. Whether one is looking forward to a shopping spree, cheap food or a relaxed day out, Bristol city centre never disappoints.

Address: Glass House, 25 Penn St, Bristol BS1 3BX, UK

Cheap shopping in Bristol

Looking for some cheap shopping in Bristol on a student’s budget? Head over to the Abbey wood Retail Park. It is a shopping mall with many clearance stores including Next and Matalan, casual and cheap food options and a supermarket. Abbey Wood Retail Park also hosts Poundland, a perfect cheap shopping destination for students for causal items.

Address: Station Rd, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 7JL, UK

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Best time to visit Bristol

The south-west of the UK isn’t very prone to snowfall, however it pretty much rains there all the time. Winter isn’t the best time to enjoy the outdoor beauty of Bristol. As Bristol is rich in natural beauty, autumn and spring adds to it and is the perfect time to relax outdoor. Summer isn’t too bad in Bristol and the average temperature is around 27° C.

Getting to Bristol and moving around

Bristol is in close vicinity of London and is only 2 hours bus ride from the capital. There are two main railway stations in Bristol, Temple Meads station and Bristol Parkway which have direct trains from London. Also, there are cheap bus services available from London. Bristol is located at a perfect place in the country where accessing Wales and further south-western part of the country is quite easy from Bristol. Due to its location, some very popular tourist areas of the UK including Bath, Cardiff, Swansea, Salisbury, Devon and Cornwall can be easily visited for a day from Bristol.

Bristol has very convenient public transport with frequent services offered by First Group buses throughout the city. Tickets can be purchased onboard and no pre-payment is required.

Recently Bristol has initiated an express bus service called MetroBus which offers direct and faster commutes to some of the key destinations. Tickets need to be bought in advance, unlike the regular First Bus. Currently, three major routes are offered by MetroBus which can be found here.

Commuting tips for student

Public transport in the UK offers some great discounts for students with a small additional cost. Here are some tips to follow:

Tip: If you are looking forward to cheap travel, keep an eye on the fares well in advance and book as early as possible.

Do not let the low student budget stop you from travelling. Keep travelling, keep discovering.

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