Stoke Bishop vs Clifton

which is better?
I don't mind the distance of Stoke Bishop from the uni precinct but have heard ppl suggest it is a pain?
which is better for nightlife/atmosphere/friendliness/socialising???

Reply 1

ciara

13

Well if you have a look at the post history on this sub forum you'll find numerous debates about this very thing! I'm in Clifton, and I love it because it's a 10 minute walk to lectures at most and we don't need to get taxis anywhere because it's within walking distance of clubs and shopping. Stoke Bishop would be a 40 minute walk for me to lectures, and while it's good exercise I really don't think I would bother if I only had the one lecture (which, as a Law student, I frequently do). It's even longer than that into town, and I think I'd feel a bit isolated. I also love Clifton village, it's just a really nice area to be based in. It's true that Stoke Bishop has more of a campus feel to it, it's greener and there are lots of halls in the one place. In Clifton there are 3 halls very close together but we all stay pretty separate. The hall bars generally aren't as buzzing just because we have a huge number of 'real' bars down the road, but I've found the social life generally to still be really good. To be honest I think the whole Stoke Bishop being more sociable thing is a bit of a myth.

Reply 2

Phil_D

I've seen it said in another topic by someone else and i've probably said it myself in the past... i.e. that you get used to the walk between Stoke Bishop and Uni/town.

But let's clear one thing up... This is NOT the case. The walk is a pain in a-hole and it gets no less annoying over the course of the year.

Yeah, for some people the walk is the only exercise they get, it does wake you up before lectures after a heavy night out beforehand and i do know of many cases in which people have got to know each other a lot better and become closer mates having walked the walk repeatedly together.... But this is not really much consilation. It's too much of a waste of time. At times when time is of the essense (with essay deadlines approaching and the such like) having to spend up to an hour and 20 minutes on top of lecture time is not helpful at all. I'm sure i would have got a lot more work done this year had the library been 10-20 mins away rather than 30-40 mins away.

I can't wait till next year when my journey time will be cut in half to just less than 20 mins. Even 20 mins is only borderline acceptable in my eyes. But after 20 weeks of crossing those bastard downs being able to live the right side of them will be heaven enough.

I personally think the myth about Stoke Bishop being more sociable comes largely from Badock and Hiatt Baker which are without doubt HUGELY sociable halls. I get the impression the others, despite having perfectly acceptable social scenes, are only as lively as the Clifton halls.

Yes, there are pros for certain halls in Stoke Bishop. I.e. Social side at Badock (with the bar), living like Harry Potter at Wills, your own bathroom at Durdham etc... but just think, are these pros enough to out way that b!tch of a walk. For me, they certainly aren't. The walk is certainly the worst aspect of living at Badock... even worse than the food.

Reply 3

Sian01

12

Phil_D

I've seen it said in another topic by someone else and i've probably said it myself in the past... i.e. that you get used to the walk between Stoke Bishop and Uni/town.

But let's clear one thing up... This is NOT the case. The walk is pain in a-hole and it gets no less annoying over the course of the year.

Yeah, for some people the walk is the only exercise they get, it does wake you up before lectures after a heavy night out beforehand and i do know of many cases in which people have got to know each other a lot better and become closer mates having walked the walk repeatedly together.... But this is not really much consilation. It's too much of a waste of time. At times when time is of the essense (with essay deadlines approaching and the such like) having to spend up to an hour and 20 minutes on top of lecture time is not helpful at all. I'm sure i would have got a lot more work done this year had the library been 10-20 mins away rather than 30-40 mins away.

I can't wait till next year when my journey time will be cut in half to just less than 20 mins. Even 20 mins is only borderline acceptable in my eyes. But after 20 weeks of crossing those bastard downs being able to live the right side of them will be heaven enough.

I personally think the myth about Stoke Bishop being more sociable comes largely from Badock and Hiatt Baker which are without doubt HUGELY sociable halls. I get the impression the others, despite having perfectly acceptable social scenes, are only as lively as the Clifton halls.

Yes, there are pros for certain halls in Stoke Bishop. I.e. Social side at Badock (with the bar), living like Harry Potter at Wills, your own bathroom at Durdham etc... but just think, are these pros enough to out way that b!tch of a walk. For me, they certainly aren't. The walk is certainly the worst aspect of living at Badock... even worse than the food.

Woah phil, you don't like the walk at all do you!!

I know this may seem weird, but I'm actually going to miss the walk next year when i'm living under 5 minutes from the dept (sorry had to slip that one in!). Ok, in the rain its horrible and I don't like it, but to be honest is it really that bad? It can be done in half an hour (by me..and i'm pretty lazy) and its just a really nice chance to have a chat, stop off for a croissant/coffee etc before lectures. If i had to apply again I would still apply for a Stoke Bishop Hall, and I really mean that!

Reply 4

Phil_D

Sian01

Woah phil, you don't like the walk at all do you!!

I know this may seem weird, but I'm actually going to miss the walk next year when i'm living under 5 minutes from the dept (sorry had to slip that one in!). Ok, in the rain its horrible and I don't like it, but to be honest is it really that bad? It can be done in half an hour (by me..and i'm pretty lazy) and its just a really nice chance to have a chat, stop off for a croissant/coffee etc before lectures. If i had to apply again I would still apply for a Stoke Bishop Hall, and I really mean that!

I certainly don't like it. Absolutely hate it. It's the main reason i've missed so many lectures this year. Wastes so much time. The downs are so exposed that even on a good day it's annoyingly windy and muddy. My room floor is often caked in mud after bringin' back half the downs with me to my room. On a hot day you get to your destination sweating like a zebra in a lions only sauna and on a cold day it feels as though an eskimo is rubbing ice cubes into your forehead.

As much as i love our bar and the beautiful people i know from Stoke Bishop, i DEFINATELY would apply to Clifton if i had my time again. I reckon Steve would probably say the same.

Think about it people - it's a massive issue.

Unless you're a croissant munching, snow loving hiker like Sian. :p:

Reply 5

Sian01

12

Phil_D

I certainly don't like it. Absolutely hate it. It's the main reason i've missed so many lectures this year. Wastes so much time. The downs are so exposed that even on a good day it's annoyingly windy and muddy. My room floor is often caked in mud after bringin' back half the downs with me to my room. On a hot day you get to your destination sweating like a zebra in a lions only sauna and on a cold day it feels as though an eskimo is rubbing ice cubes into your forehead.

As much as i love our bar and the beautiful people i know from Stoke Bishop, i DEFINATELY would apply to Clifton if i had my time again. I reckon Steve would probably say the same.

Think about it people - it's a massive issue.

Unless you're a croissant munching, snow loving hiker like Sian. :p:

But Steves like in love with Badock, he wouldn't not apply there!

Anyway you should walk down with me and Rosie sometime. Comedy Central.

Actually...you do walk with us sometimes..and you still don't like it?! Madness!!

Reply 6

ciara

13

I don't think I'd hate the walking or anything.. I like walking, especially when it's with friends. I know quite a few Stokey B people enjoy it. It's just a waste of time, like Phil said, that the ensuiteness/better social life that you might get don't make up for.

Reply 7

Phil_D

Sian01

But Steves like in love with Badock, he wouldn't not apply there!

Anyway you should walk down with me and Rosie sometime. Comedy Central.

Actually...you do walk with us sometimes..and you still don't like it?! Madness!!

Sian, the best walks down to Uni are with you lot. But 'comedy central' isn't always enough to make me jump out of bed or part from that wonderful essay i'm writing in favour of lectures. :biggrin:

Seriously, the whole of Team History should do the walk more often together - i find if me and Steve walk it together our conversation is as depressing as the sight of the stretching downs (usually about how much work we have and how Steve is heading towards essay deadline meltdown.) lol

Reply 8

flora

7

I'm not sure about the walk wasting time as such...i mean obviously you don't get much done while actually walking (though it's a nice switch off to chat to friends/listen to music or whatever), but i found that if i had just a one hour lecture that i'd trekked all the way into uni for, i would then stay in uni and do some work in the library rather than walking straight back to halls, so actually ended up getting more done througout the course of the day than if i lived close to uni as i'd probably have gone straight home and procrastinated. This probably doesn't apply to people with 9-5 lectures, but it might actually make some people more productive if the comforts of home are a long way from uni! It's a bit annoying yes, but i don't think many people dislike the walk quite as much as Phil_D!

Reply 9

Phil_D

flora

I'm not sure about the walk wasting time as such...i mean obviously you don't get much done while actually walking (though it's a nice switch off to chat to friends/listen to music or whatever), but i found that if i had just a one hour lecture that i'd trekked all the way into uni for, i would then stay in uni and do some work in the library rather than walking straight back to halls, so actually ended up getting more done througout the course of the day than if i lived close to uni as i'd probably have gone straight home and procrastinated. This probably doesn't apply to people with 9-5 lectures, but it might actually make some people more productive if the comforts of home are a long way from uni! It's a bit annoying yes, but i don't think many people dislike the walk quite as much as Phil_D!

Oh, i think you'd be surprised. It's probably less of a problem for people who have 9-5 lectures. They do the walk, stay all day, get all their work done, and then come home. But for someone like me who has a lot less contact time it makes managing your time more difficult.

For example, i have Wednesday off. I have no lectures to walk to or anything. The motivation to walk to the library to work is thus greatly reduced. If the library was over the road or 10 mins away i could nip over get some books and get down to work. Unless you've already got the books in your room, the distance of the walk puts me off working - not to mention the fact that an hour spent walking is an hour spent not reading. Or there's been many a time when i've finished an essay on a Friday afternoon which needs giving in by 5pm - I've missed all my lectures for that day by this point so i've had to walk all the way into town and back again just to give in an essay!! Now nobody can tell me that's not a pain in the a*se. But even for those 9-5 people it's not easy. A group of engineers on my floor sometimes don't go in at all if the guy that drives them in has overslept after a heavy night on the town. Many might just call that lazy - they are - but becoming a student does that to you. lol

Put it this way, if Badock was opposite the Arts & Social Sciences Library i'd be a very very happy bunny. When my mates from home came to visit me in Bristol they couldn't believe the distance they had to walk to get to Badock and furthermore they couldn't believe i had to do that walk everytime i had a lecture.

EDIT : Oh, and another thing that hasn't been mentioned about the walk. Hollybush Lane is uphill going to lectures (well, at least if you're leaving from Badock or University Hall) and Blackboy Hill is uphill on the way back! Oh, the hills, the hills! It's enough to make you want to cry.

Reply 10

Arminius

14

The walk was a shock at first but i got used to it. The first term i even started to like it.

As time has gone on, its got more annoying. Especially during the bad weather. hopefully i will be living closer to uni next year. (still not sorted that out...).

I would say the walk is the worst thing about life at bristol uni, which in a way shows how good everything else is.

The walk is the only exercise i do... so for that i'm glad. Its tought to feel like doing extra exercise though, if you get up at 7.30 have breakfast, walk to a 9am lecture, finish at 5 and get back at 5.30 for dinner. Getting to your room at 6... last thing i feel like is sport.

Reply 11

Special

Karl

which is better?
I don't mind the distance of Stoke Bishop from the uni precinct but have heard ppl suggest it is a pain?
which is better for nightlife/atmosphere/friendliness/socialising???

I do not believe that one is necessarily better than the other for nightlife/atmosphere/friendliness/socialising, as each hall is individual and it will also depend on the people you end up with. The distance is definitely an advantage of Clifton, as you can see from what the other people have wrote.

Reply 12

sandra.d

Do any students use bikes? Or is it really too hilly???

Reply 13

Phil_D

sandra.d

Do any students use bikes? Or is it really too hilly???

Some do. I suppse it depends how fit you are. I could never ride the bike back up the hills. I've seen many people pushing their bike home which seems a bit pointless to me. But equally there are people that power up those hills, there and back. It's probably best if you judge the hills for yourself.

Reply 14

wednesburywench

2

yes a lot of people use bikes, i dont think i could cope with that hill on one tho, and the traffic would scare me too much! I dont like the walk, but its really not all that bad, and on a nice sunny day its quite plesent, im thinking summer will be nice when its nice and warm. It does make dressing hard tho, cus u get so hot walking up the hill even on a cold rainy day! when its raining it isnt pleasent. Also, i back up the points above, when you only have 1 lecture its so tempting just to miss it. Im looking forward to bein 10 mins away next year altho i will miss the downs on a nice day. It is annoying though ultimatly, but not so bad you cant cope with it for a year! and its kept me in shape cus i need it lol.

I would still apply to stoke bishop, simply cus the social factor. It is very sociable, i dont actually know anyone who lives in clifton on my course, everyone lives in stoke b, which means taxis back from nights out are always possible, and you can easily pop round each others flats. i also like the tennis/netball courts, and the grounds are nice. Then theres also the campus shop nearby in stoke bishop, but then the union is closer to clifton.

i dont think it matters, but if i was u id apply to stoke bishop.

Reply 15

Penny1

Phil_D

I've seen it said in another topic by someone else and i've probably said it myself in the past... i.e. that you get used to the walk between Stoke Bishop and Uni/town.

But let's clear one thing up... This is NOT the case. The walk is a pain in a-hole and it gets no less annoying over the course of the year.

Is there a bus if things get reallty desperate?! :confused:

Reply 16

Phil_D

Penny1

Is there a bus if things get reallty desperate?! :confused:

There is a bus but it isn't really that helpful.1.50 single and it doesn't even take you all the way to the Uni departments. You still have another 10 minute walk, even after waiting for the bus and paying your money.

Reply 17

Draig

1

sandra.d

Do any students use bikes? Or is it really too hilly???

I use my bike. Ride in and out without getting off to push. The first time may seem very difficult but after a few goes you find it very quickly gets a lot easier. Depending on how fast you go it usually only takes about 15 mins to cycle in and out. If you're especially motivated I've known people to do it in less than 10 :P It certainly keeps you fit, and you’ll have legs like steel girders :P

It’s defiantly way more exiting than walking, and biking is easily the most effective way of getting around Bristol. It can take longer to get back even in a car depending on the traffic (and you don't need to worry about parking and petrol). The only bad thing is the bike thieves. I had my bike stolen within the first two weeks of having it there and I know a few people who have also had them stolen. It’s a good idea if you do bring a bike to buy a second hand one and try to make it look worse by covering it with duck tape and paint. A shiny new bike is begging to be taken.

Reply 18

wednesburywench

2

no there isnt really a bus, you would be late if you had a 9am and waited for that bus, cus its crap...and its also 2 quid for a single which is ridiculous. its easier to get the bus home than there, but basically...no there isnt!

Reply 19

midloon

Im glad im in stoke bishop this year simply because i couldnt stand living in such a confined area if i did live in town. you get to see more of the city and the downs are lovely providing its not windy or rainy (i dont think its been too bad this year, though after the fireworks was a nightmare.) The walk, although can be a pain some days, doesnt seem all that long and is a good way to wind down after lectures or wake you up in the morning. I have my bike with me but usually walk in because its more sociable. It has ment that i havnt been to the gym that much this year cos it is a bit of a mission dragging all your kit down there, working out then walking the 2 miles home!
But I think im gonna miss the walk in next year. Plus arnt SB halls cheaper than town ones?

Stoke Bishop vs Clifton

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