By Ruby Smith, Third year, English.
‘Not my hometown but I know my way around.’
On TikTok, this caption has recently been accompanied with picturesque slideshows of people’s university cities. For Bristol students, it probably includes sunset snaps of the suspension bridge, fresh veg for sale on Cotham Hill and Park Street on a bright day.
But the radius of what makes up ‘Bristol’ for most university students is pretty limited; the majority of students look for housing in the Clifton, Redland, and Cotham region. Even those, like me, who venture up Gloucester Road, are rarely more than a 20-minute bus ride from city centre.
Compared to most university cities, Bristol students are somewhat spread-out. Other areas with large student populations often have single neighbourhoods overrun. The Guardian reported that the Lenton neighbourhood in Nottingham had as many as 90% of the houses being student households. This large proportion has created major tension between student and family homes in the area. So, by contrast, does this small dispersion of student households over a few more central neighbourhoods mean Bristol students are more engaged with their community?
When I moved into my second-year house, in the St Andrews neighbourhood, we were somewhat surprised to see our neighbours and their little children. First-year accommodation puts you in another world. Your life is spent in small flats, with only student neighbours. This was a bit of a change.
We got their phone numbers and were promptly added to a group-chat for our road. On it, people sent pictures of local cats gone missing, cars parked badly and dates of street parties. Our neighbours bought round a green recycling bin when they had a spare. It was all very quaint.
But this sense of community can be somewhat rare for students. Bristol City Council claims that areas with high levels of ‘Houses in Multiple Occupation’ (HMOs), specifically student housing, results in ‘reduced community engagement’ because of the transient population in the area. Certain roads or neighbourhoods are completely changed by the student presence.
The University gives out information directed at students living in these family neighbourhoods. You’ve probably come across the signs hung on lampposts in areas like Chandos Road, reminding students to keep quiet at night. On the University website, they encourage students to introduce themselves to their neighbours with an ‘introductory greeting template.’ It’s clear the university wants to encourage good relations between students and the community, even if it’s just to save their own backs if things get messy.
But how easy is it for students to get to know their neighbours? For us, in this second-year house, we had some great experiences with neighbours. But we also had another neighbour knock at the door with a list of rules and expectations before we had even said hello. It’s unsurprising that some households feel the need to go in so hard when they’ve most likely been scorned by noisy neighbours before, but does this tension between students and Bristol locals stop students from ever getting really involved in the community?
When we’re limited to our student neighbourhoods, and not befriending non-student households, our community engagement shrinks even smaller. Most of our food, pub or park recommendations come from other students, who most likely live in the same area as us.
I must admit, somewhat ashamedly, that this was largely my experience as well. I remember saying to a Bristol-born co-worker of mine what a walkable city Bristol was. She replied, “that’s because you’re only walking from one side of the centre to another.”
We can exist in such bubbles as university students. Not only are we limited in where we live, but also in who we interact with. Moving to a city for university should mean more than just walking between your house, lectures and campus coffee shops.
In my final year in Bristol, I’ve really wanted to take advantage of living in the city, beyond the borders of Whiteladies and Gloucester Road. To those following the same vein, I would recommend looking for local food festivals, market days or even just taking the bus outside of the city centre and having a stroll around charity shops. Bedminster is a 20-minute walk away from campus, yet I know so many people who have never set foot there.
For anyone who has a niche interest in local histories (or has finished their exams and has too much free time) I would really recommend a trip to M Shed. This harbourside museum has a great exhibit that documents the histories and cultures of loads of Bristol neighbourhoods. There’s also a giant aerial map of the city – so you can try and have as much fun as I did at spotting your uni house.
Bristol is a city rich in culture and history, and there’s so much to see and do in the little time we’re here. Knowing people from the area helps enrich our experience of living in a place (and I can promise you, neighbours who have lived here for 30+ probably have better restaurant recommendations then your fellow students).
Featured Image: Epigram / Ellen Jones
What are some of your favourite spots to explore in Bristol?
