The Student Room Group

Is Bristol Dangerous?

Hey, not sure where to post this thread but i thought this would be the most appropriate place! I was hoping to go to UWE in Bristol in 2007, but recently everyone i have talked to says that Bristol is an extremely rough, dangerous place. I have honestly never ever heard that before until recently, with a couple of my friends saying they are allowed to go to Uni in London but not Bristol, and another saying that if i went into a night club in Bristol i would get killed (clearly over exagerating but still), i never realised that Bristol was so rough and i was wondering whether this was true or whether people are just making this up/have the wrong opinion. Any help will be greatly appreciated x

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Reply 1
I live in south-east London...parts of here are extremely rough (Brixton at 1 am anyone?) so I doubt it's as bad as here.

Probably wrong there, but we shall see.
Reply 2
It's a bit dodgy around some UWE halls in the centre but providing you don't go out at night and drink Pimms while asking locals, "Is it Pimms o'clock yet?" then you should be fine.
Reply 3
I'm sure there are some fairly rough places but on the whole it's fine. Not sure what the area around UWE is like though but I'm sure it's not that bad.
Reply 4
Never noticed anything myself, but then i tend to be in UoB areas, not sure what its like around UWE halls etc. Put it this way, Bristol is almost certainly safer than London.
I've got a mate who used to live in Bristol, and he said it's the same as any city. There are dangerous places, but that's not different to anywhere else. In general though, it's fine, so there's no need to worry (excessively) :smile:

St Pauls is the main area to avoid though I think. (Feel free to correct me if I've got it wrong Bristol people)
i dont find bristol dangerous atall, infact, ill quite happily walk around bristol at night on my own and not feel atall worried, which is more tha n i can say at home. In the centre of a saturday it might get a bit dodgy, and around uwe areas its a bit rough, but where bristol uni is is the nicest place iv ever seen and you only tend to see students really. and no the nightclubs arnt rough, iv never even seen a fight.
Reply 7
Oh right thanks everyone! I will still apply then! x
Reply 8
its like any other city, it has its rough parts and its lovley parts. as long as your sensible you wont get into any trouble etc.
Reply 9
Hmm, it can be a bit dodgy, but I would say it is a hell of a lot safer than London. It's the price you pay for living in a city really. I find most of the UoB areas are pretty alright, but Clifton village isn't very well lit at night and I do get a bit scared (not really relevant for you unless you decide to live there in 2nd year). The city centre is a bit rough but I haven't had any trouble, and nor has anyone I know. Nightclubs are fine, and pretty much the whole city is dominated by students, I've never seen a fight in a club or anything. It has to be said though, it isn't the safest place on earth. I have encountered fights in the street and have had to step over a pool of blood to get home once (a one off though), car crime is very high and you should never walk back on your own or even get a taxi on your own really - unfortunately there have been a few rapes recently. Still, I wouldn't say there is anything that makes Bristol rougher than any other city though.
Reply 10
ciara
you should never walk back on your own or even get a taxi on your own really


I've walked back three or four times on my own across the downs and have been fine, had to after my debates and following drinking finished.
Reply 11
IAJTHOMAS
I've walked back three or four times on my own across the downs and have been fine, had to after my debates and following drinking finished.


Well yes, odds are you will be fine, but since in the last term 2 girls have been raped in the area (one was a friend of a friend), I wouldn't think it was worth risking...?!
2 or 3 weeks back there were 2 stabbings in Bristol wasn't there?

There was that one where the father was followed home and stabbed with a kitchen knife. It was on the national news.
True. But since the media are manipulating coverage of stabbings, saying it was on the national news doesn't count for much imo.

It was still a despicable act though.
yep theres been 2 stabbings last week, but they r in areas far away from where u will be...knowle, its nowhere near bristol city i dont think, its on the outskirts if im correct. cliftons a very nice place
Reply 15
Oh great :frown: I'm scared now, lol. I don't know why people would do such things, it's disgusting! Why shouldn't you get a taxi alone in Bristol? Is that because of the rape or what? Scary, i always rely on taxi's if i don't want to walk home by myself! Thanks for the help everyone
The Mudman
True. But since the media are manipulating coverage of stabbings, saying it was on the national news doesn't count for much imo.
Well that may be...but a stabbing is still a stabbing, whether the resulting story is manipulated by the media or not.


The week I moved into my current house a man was killed with an axe in the car park of our local pub. Just thought I'd share that. :smile:
Reply 17
I was over seeing a friend in Bristol at the start of May for 3-4 days. was out most of those nights and I have to say I think that Belfast is a hell of a lot worse most of the times. since seeing this thread I texted him about it and he said 'Bristol rough? you're never going to be more than 5 minutes from somewhere dodgy' Maybe I'm just hardcore :p:
the victory james
Well that may be...but a stabbing is still a stabbing, whether the resulting story is manipulated by the media or not.


The week I moved into my current house a man was killed with an axe in the car park of our local pub. Just thought I'd share that. :smile:


I agree with you completely. It was a terrible act. All I meant was that it being national news doesn't make it any worse of a crime than it was.

Thanks for the extra info btw. :p:
Well I'm from Sunderland...so chances are Bristol's as dangerous as a children's play area in comparison....haha...