Student Life in the South West
Providing the UK with some of its most beautiful natural scenery and coastlines, the South West of England offers students a relaxing and scenic setting to accompany their studies. The biggest university in the region is the University of Bristol, so most student socialising takes place in and around Bristol city centre, however, cultural, leisure and entertainment opportunities are on offer across the region.
Because of its rural environment, the South West is well known for its laid back atmosphere; the region’s two national parks, Dartmoor and Exmoor, are good examples of its famous countryside. These are two of the region’s most popular visitor locations, providing ideal locations for students interested in outdoor sports such as hiking, climbing, rowing and abseiling. Other popular sites in the area include the region’s four World Heritage Sites, spread across the South West, the most famous of which is Stonehenge. Located in Wiltshire, Stonehenge is one of the most famous prehistoric sites in the world, attracting hundreds of thousands of tourists year round and remaining one of the UK’s most internationally recognisable sites. Other world heritage sites in the South West region are the Cornwall & West Devon Mining landscape, the huge and ancient Jurassic Coast and the City of Bath, home of some of the UK’s most important and stunning architecture.
The warm climate in the South West (warmer than the rest of the UK at least!) makes the region a popular destination in the summer months, with places such as Somerset and Cornwall ever-popular weekend destinations. These areas enjoy a lively atmosphere throughout the summer, with numerous pubs, bars and beach areas for students to enjoy whilst on holiday.
The world famous Glastonbury festival is also hosted in the South West each year, attracting hundreds of thousands of spectators and world famous music acts. The festival is the UK’s most famous music event and is hugely popular with students from across the UK and Europe.
There are many universities in the South West, each offering their own atmosphere and amenities, so that no matter where you study you are always likely to find a lively student scene. However, as the host of the region’s most populated university, most student-focused social activity in the South West takes place in the city of Bristol. In 2004, a national Student Satisfaction Survey rated the social scene in Bristol as the best in the UK, and with so many bars, clubs, pubs, restaurants, cafés, shopping centres and sports facilities on offer, it is easy to see why. On campus, students have access to a lively student bar, which regularly offers cheap drinks in addition to entertainment facilities such as pool tables, live sports on the TV and a dance floor for ‘club nights’. Off campus, students have a wealth of bars and clubs to chose from, with the recently opened ‘Syndicate’ the most popular site in the city, offering a wide range of famous club nights, DJ sets and student nights.
Bristol also has a lot to offer in terms of culture, with art galleries and museums located all over the city, while the Old Vic and the Tobacco factory remain two of the country's most respected theatres. However, the city’s most defining feature still remains the Clifton Suspension Bridge that spans the Avon Gorge. The bridge is the first of its kind in the UK and was devised in the 19th century by engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
Because of the natural beauty and historical significance of the South West of England, the cost of living in the region is notoriously high, with students needing to stick to very strict budgets in order to avoid financial difficulty. This said, as most of the area’s cultural sites are areas of natural beauty, students will not have to worry too much about admission fees; also, most amenities in university cities offer good student discounts, so students should be able to live comfortably without spiralling debt. On a more positive note, the crime rate in the South West is the lowest in the country, with rates well below national averages. However, the crime rate in Bristol is still reasonably high and students should be careful with their personal safety and their possessions when living in the city.
Access to the South West is pretty easy, with the area well connected by major railway and road links. By train, The Great Western Main Line runs from London, through the South West, taking in Bristol, Exeter and Plymouth before finishing in Penzance. The South Western Main Line meanwhile connects the region to Southampton, Bournemouth and London. Major roads in the area include the M4, which connects Bristol to London and southern Wales, and the M5, which links the region to the Midlands. There are also numerous other motorways and A roads in the area, most of them connecting Bristol to coastal towns and cities.
