Staying in Bristol over the holidays: Epigram’s Top Tips to surviving winter away from home

By Lily Allott, Third Year, Politics and International Relations 

Many students will now be looking forward to going home for the winter period - more than ready for heated homes and evening meals that are not from a tupperware. However, lots of students will be staying in Bristol over Christmas - if this applies to you, rest assured that there are ample ways to make your Christmas in Bristol still the most wonderful time of the year.  

Firstly be prepared for a drastic change to the feel on campus, and Bristol in general. Bristol has a student population of over 30,000 so when the majority of them trundle back for the holidays, campus and student areas can feel significantly quieter. This means that it’s a great time to enjoy the city from a slower paced, local perspective. Perhaps you could visit a food spot you’ve avoided due to queues of students on study breaks, saunter into the library at 1 pm and be assured you’ll get a window seat. Taking in the city from a resident’s perspective can change your relationship with Bristol, from simply a place you study, to a place you can call home. 

'Once the sun goes down, it’s usually my cue to return back home from the library and have some time to myself.’

It might feel like everyone you’ve ever met at uni is going home, but Bristol has tons of international and UK-based students who also stay over the holidays. Epigram spoke to third-year Law student Chien Wen, about her experiences, struggles and top tips as she enters her third Christmas in Bristol, instead of returning home to Malaysia. She suggests finding a balance between studying, socialising and relaxing, explaining that she’d ‘squeeze in a couple hours’ work in the daytime. 'Once the sun goes down, it’s usually my cue to return back home from the library and have some time to myself.’

Establishing a routine is essential in adjusting to the quieter pace of campus, with studies consistently highlighting how structured routines can be helpful in aiding a range of mental health issues, from bipolar disorder to burnout and anxiety. Having a routine can provide a sense of stability or purpose, so organisation is key, plan out when you want to get on top of uni work, socialise, and explore Bristol.

There is so much available to do in the city over Christmas that most students going home never get to experience. And to make it that much more straightforward, alongside Chien Wen’s advice, we have compiled a neat list of things not to miss if you are here this December. 

To embrace the festive period at uni, Chien Wen recommended the Christmas markets, ‘there’s something truly special about overpriced hot chocolates topped with the most marshmallows you’ve seen in your life and seeing all kinds of trinkets being sold at the stalls’.

If you’ve not already walked past Santa’s Wonderland en route to buy socks from Primark, the Christmas markets in Bristol are a must-see if you’re staying here during the holidays. Combine your gift shopping in TKMaxx with Broadmead’s 40-stall market, or take a festive, mulled-wine-fuelled walk around the Harbourside or St Nick’s Market.

Only a 15-minute train ride away, Bath is magical at Christmas time. Use your empty timetable and enjoy a day trip to our limestone-walled neighbours. Between their famous Christmas markets, ice skating rink and all-round charming feel to the city, it’s a guaranteed festive-spirit lifter.  

Alternatively, the theatre is another ideal, festive activity that is sure to get you in the mood, and Bristol has a wide variety of theatres to choose from. This winter could be the chance to do something you probably wouldn’t normally do during the term time and go watch a performance at any of these magnificent theatres. Bristol Old Vic beautifully delivers that cosy Christmas feel, and is showing Christmas shows as well as non-seasonal, some with a Pay What You Can option so as to not dent the student budget. Or, If the theatre isn’t your scene, Bristol Film Festival is screening Christmas movies all throughout December. Epigram honourable mentions include Elf and Love Actually (December 2nd), The Holdovers (December 1st), and It’s a Wonderful Life (December 19th and 20th). 

December is the time of year that you can eat yourself silly and feel proud about it. Limits are off-limits. So in between bauble-flavoured crisps and yellow sticker mince pies from the Co-op, why not indulge in one of the many outstanding roast dinners Bristol has to offer? Our recommendations for those on budget include Vittoria on Whiteladies Road, or hidden gem Chris and Jo's Kitchen on St Michael’s Hill who offer enormous portions at a reasonable £15 - £17 price point. Perhaps you’d even like to visit the Kensington Arms in Redland for a more high-end lunch with 2 or 3 course set menus, or the award-winning food at The Grace on Gloucester Road. 

If you find yourself sick of busy Bristol city life, and fancy a festive visit into the wider realm of the South West, you could head to the Festival of Light at Longleat House. Their interactive and immersive lantern show runs until the 5th of January, alongside the grand illuminated tree and their estate home’s light show. Just outside of Frome and easy to reach from Bristol Temple Meads, it makes for a change of scenery for those in Bristol this holiday.

Although Bristol is a lively and bustling city all year round, Epigram spoke to Chien Wen about the difficulties of staying over the holidays, and how she manages them. ‘The hardest part is coming to terms with how quiet the city becomes when everyone’s gone home for the holidays’ she explained, ‘it doesn’t help that seasonal depression is very much something that I experience, so the early sundowns add a bit to the loneliness.’ This is a common experience many students will face over the winter term with 5 in 100 people in the UK experiencing S.A.D, and made more difficult for those who do not return home. 

To help address the mental effects of darker, shorter days, Chien Wen said ‘I think the holidays can be a lonely time for some, including myself, but I always try and turn it around by making sure my loved ones around me feel appreciated’ and sees staying at uni as a ‘nice reminder to reach out to friends and family, check in with them, and have a quick catch-up over a call or a meal.’

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Not going home for Christmas can be equally lovely and lonely, so knowing where to reach out and find help is important as the days get shorter and people start heading home. The University’s mental health support system can provide crucial aid, alternatively, third-party support is available through the Samaritans 24/7 helpline and Shout 24/7 hotline.

Ultimately, spending the holidays in Bristol as a student offers a unique opportunity to explore the city from a different perspective. While the quieter atmosphere may take some adjustment, use the extra time to lean into whatever sports, arts, or music you enjoy during the term. Take it easy, wack on the heated blanket and blast Wham! as much as humanly possible. Keep in contact with friends and family and make the most of the experience that Christmas in Bristol offers.

Featured Image: Epigram/Reuben Kerbes

How will you spend your Christmas holidays in Bristol?