By Carly Synnøve, Third Year Law
At the top of Gloucester Road, just a short 72 bus ride away from the University of Bristol's central campus, past The Arches, lies a mythical land: Bishopston. If you are brave enough to venture this far for a daytrip, or couldn’t get a house closer to uni and are freaking out about the commute, don’t panic - we got you.
If gazing upon category B prisons is your passion, you will be overjoyed to learn HMP Bristol lies in Bishopston. Besides that, there are lots of (albeit less thrilling) things to do.
If you’ve ever ordered from Fireaway on Deliveroo, it’s likely that it comes from the Bishopston store - replete with its own fleet of scooters, they have lots of options for takeaway pizza (and pizza-adjacent) lovers. Though if you’re in the area, go to Pizzarova - they have super fun flavours on sourdough bases. I think their vegan options in particular are excellent. Though Vegan India takes the crown for veg options, including a £15 banquet deal Sunday to Thursday. Hop on that!
In terms of other food recommendations, Fed is a highlight. They do excellent picnic-style treats: if you’re in the mood for cakes, nice sandwiches, or salads this is definitely the place. There is also a Better Food, which has some nice baked goods as well. I love their mixed vegetable samosa - shout out to the friendly beanie-clad barista who was giving me lore about Stoke Park Estate. There is an Eat-a-Pitta, but if you want to try somewhere a bit more niche, Jack The Falafel has some lovely options.
Talking nightlife, The Gallimaufry is a stand out - serving both pints and (sometimes) local music to enjoy whilst drinking them. Chance and Counters is also a fun evening activity if you’re in the mood for a board game night with competitive friends. Though there are tons of pubs in Bishopston; you will not be short of choices if out on a crawl.
I personally love the charity shops - I am convinced Gloucester Road does it better than Whiteladies Road in terms of second-hand clothing. In particular, the Shelter Charity Shop by Claremont Road seems to always have some great offerings. Though if you’re in the mood for an antique adventure, The Yard is a real gem. Jam-packed with ‘things’ (it seems to have everything…) - clothes, art, old furniture… really anything. Highly recommend.
I attended a peaceful introduction session at the Buddhist Centre - although when I was there, I fell asleep in the meditation section, which is really a testament to the comfortability of their establishment. If you’re in the market for mindfulness, you could alternatively take a nice stroll through St Andrew’s Park, which (although not massive) has lots of paths as well as a functional children’s play park.
Be warned: if you live in the suburbs here, your neighbours may be less 'undergrad-y' when compared with Redland, Cotham, or Kingsdown - Bishopston is rife with families and professionals. This makes the place feel more real, as well as a nice escape from the university bubble. It’s a bit closer for BIMM or UWE students also, so if your mates go there, it might be a nice location compromise for you all. Lots of University of Bristol students live further away from campus than you’re led to believe, so it really is not the end of the world to be a 40 minute walk from the Wills Memorial Building. There is even a library in Bishopston so you could go study there instead!
Hannah Corcoran
Head up to Bishopston if you fancy something a bit different, with plenty to do, and of course quintessentially 'Bristol'.
Featured image: Unsplash / Mikey Harris
When will you visit Bishopston?
