Bristol City Guide

Less than an hour from the coast, birthplace of and home to renowned street artist Banksy, a diverse and dynamic restaurant and café culture and a direct train line to London, Bristol simply oozes appeal. A green city with over 400 parks and gardens, Bristol is the home of an up-and-coming tech culture that attracts talent from all over the globe.

Housing in Bristol 

House prices in Bristol have soared in recent years with the average house now costing around £350,000, (up 2.4% from May 2023). However, the investment planned for Bristol means house prices are expected to continue to rise. 

Clifton is a pretty area of Bristol and is within walking distance from the city centre, making it a great place to base yourself. Close to the University, it’s loved by students and families alike. For slightly more modern (and less hilly) living, Bristol’s harbourside offers waterfront apartments, luxury developments and attractive townhouses, with spectacular views. More traditional suburban areas preferred by families include Cliftonwood, Redland and slightly further afield, Westbury-on-Trym and Westbury Park. 

Bristol truly caters for everyone - In early 2024 plans were approved for the 454-bedroom Bristol PBSA development. Just 300 metres from the University of Bristol’s £500M Temple Quarter Enterprise Campus, the new Bristol PBSA scheme will help to alleviate the lack of appropriate student accommodation in the South West of the city, also helping to free up current student accommodation.

If you're renting in Bristol you can expect to pay anywhere between £1,400 to £2,000 for a 900 sq.foot apartment.

UK’s visa requirements for working in Bristol 

If you’re an EU or overseas national, you are required to apply for a visa to work in the UK. Once you’ve secured a job, your employer can usually apply for a work visa on your behalf. You can read more about the UK work visa application process in our article ‘All you need to know about uk immigration visa changes ’.

The cost of living in Bristol

The cost of living in Bristol is substantially cheaper than living in London, and similar to that of Eindhoven, with rent, on average 47% lower, and living costs around 22% less expensive than the UK’s capital. 

Typical living costs for a family of four in Bristol can work out at around £2800 per month.

Dining out for two will cost you around £50, add another £5.50 for a beer, or £8.80 for a glass of wine. But a McDonalds can be picked up for anything from £7.50 upwards!.

Dining at home is also less expensive than in London, with a loaf of bread priced at £1.17 and a litre of milk priced around £1.12p.  

Commuting and Public Transport around Bristol    

In Bristol, it’s really easy to get around by bus, and if you want to explore the South of England, the rail network means you can get to London, or to Plymouth on the coast, within two hours.

There are also plenty of car parks in and around Bristol city centre, and even some out-of-town park and ride sites if you fancy avoiding the traffic. 

The City of Bristol announced plans for a £4bn investment into public transport with the creation of an underground and overground network to make getting around the city both greener and easier, but it’s likely to be a few more years before Bristol residents start to see the benefits of the plans. 

The Education system in Bristol 

In Bristol, schooling can be state, or private. Unless home-schooled, all children between the ages of 4 and 16 are obliged to attend school. State schools are free-of-charge, Primary Schools cater for children from Reception to Year 6 (age 4–11), Secondary Schools for Year 7 to Year 11 (age 11–16), and College or Sixth Forms for years 11 to 13 (age 16–18). At each of these levels, education follows the National Curriculum. Schools are assessed by Ofsted and the results of the assessments can be found on the Ofsted website.  

There are different types of state schools including:  

Grammar Schools – These are selective schools that are usually run by the local authority. These are selective schools which means students must pass a test to gain entry to a grammar school. Grammar schools are usually non-fee paying and follow the National Curriculum.  

Community schools – These are run by local authorities who get involved in everything from employing the staff, to owning the land and building, as well as determining admissions criteria.  

Foundation schools and Trust Schools – Often these are owned by a charitable trust with a third party and run by a governing body which determines their own admissions criteria and employs staff.  

Voluntary aided schools – Often linked to a faith or religion these, like a Foundation school, have an independent governing body that determines admissions and employs their own staff.  

Academies – Academies are independently managed schools that cater for students of all abilities. Academies are established with sponsorship from business, faith or voluntary groups in partnership with the Department for Education (DfE) and the local authority. 

Private schools are also available for students at a fee, which usually ranges from £15,000 to £40,000 per year.

Higher Education - The University of Bristol is ranked 54th in the world - QS World University Rankings 2025, 9th in the UK - QS World University Rankings 2025 (UK) and is one of the 5 most targeted by top UK recruiters - High Fliers Research 2024

Global technology companies in Bristol 

Bristol is home to many tech success stories including Codasip, Nordic Semiconductor, Graphcore, Ziylo, and Ultraleap. The University of Bristol has spawned many of these ambitious tech companies through SETsquared, a business incubator program currently incubating more than 80 different ventures. Companies who are part of SETsquared Bristol, created 300 new jobs in 2023. SETsquared Bristol supports the growth of over 100 technology startups, helping them move from initial ideas into commercial viability.

Bristol tech companies account for 36% of the city’s high-growth businesses. Collectively, these 216 tech startups and scaleups employ over 10k people and reported a combined turnover of £223m.

The tech sector is at the heart of Bristol’s startup ecosystem, with the region recently being named the UK’s fourth-best city for tech recruitment. 

Things to do in Bristol in your spare time 

Bristol has a multitude of museums and galleries such as Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and Aerospace Bristol, but it’s also only a twenty-minute drive to the spectacular city of Bath – the backdrop for many period dramas and movies, and is home to the Roman Baths, Bath Rugby and Bath Thermae Spa. 

Bristol also has thriving theatre scene, is home to the Bristol Zoo Project, and boasts an aquarium that’s well worth a visit. As the largest city in the South-West of England, there’s plenty to do in Bristol.  

If you would like more info on the roles we are currently recruiting for in Bristol, please contact me, Victoria.fellows@ic-resources.com

Additional sources 

Pros and cons of life in Bristol