10 Reasons to Move to Bristol

Bristol is an amazing place to live. But what makes it so special? Why should you move to this wonderful city? Here are 10 of the top reasons we can think of that you should move to Bristol.

1. Beautiful Outdoor Places

Bristol has some stunning outdoor places to enjoy when the weather is fine. From the lovely Waterfront, which is the perfect place to relax and unwind on a Sunday afternoon, to Castle Park and the top of the Clifton Suspension Bridge with its amazing views of Avon Gorge, there’s always somewhere to spend quality time outdoors.
Bristol Harbour and the Grain Barge
And that’s without even mentioning the picturesque countryside only a short drive outside of the city waiting to be explored.

2. Historic Attractions

Bristol is a city with a rich history, and you will find plenty of interesting historical attractions to explore here. From the world-famous Clifton Suspension Bridge to Bristol Cathedral, Clifton Observatory and the SS Great Britain (another Isambard Kingdom Brunel design), Bristol is packed with enough fascinating attractions that you’ll want to visit time and time again.
West front of Bristol Cathedral tilted up view

3. Shopping

Shopaholics will love Bristol. There are so many great places to shop that it’s difficult to know where to begin. There’s pretty much everything you could want from your shopping – minus the dense crowds you’ll get in London.

You’ve got all the big high-street stores, but also loads of independent shops to delve into. And because new stores are constantly opening, you’ll always have somewhere interesting to go at the weekend.
The Mall, Clifton Village, Bristol - DSC05768
Some of the best shops are found at Gloucester Road, Bristol Shopping Quarter, Clifton Village, Cabot Circus, The Galleries and Park Street to start. And don’t miss St Nicholas Indoor Market with the biggest collection of independent retailers in the city.

4. Food

Just like with the shopping, there is a whole lot of great food on offer in Bristol, and you could happily eat out at a different restaurant every night.

Cargo Bristol

Foodies will be in their element, with everything on offer from big chain names to independent restaurants offering specialist cuisine. Restaurants are located all over the city, but head to the Waterfront to find some of the best.

5. Art and Culture

Being home to such world-famous names from art and culture as Banksy and Wallace and Gromit, it’s hardly surprising that Bristol has a thriving art and cultural scene. From the stunning works of street art found on walls across the city to Bristol Museum & Art Gallery and the Royal West of England Academy, there is plenty of art to enjoy.

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Fancy a trip to the theatre? Then the first place to book a ticket is Bristol Old Vic, the UK’s longest-continually-running theatre that was recently redeveloped in a multi-million-pound project so it’s now better than ever.

6. Nightlife & Music

Clubbers and music lovers will be in their element in Bristol. There are plenty of bars and clubs for all tastes in the city, some of which – like Thekla and The Apple – are on boats. You also have famous clubs like O2 Academy, and the nightclub Motion was even voted one of the best 20 in the world in 2017.
Thekla.in.bristol.arp
And if you enjoy your live music, you’ll be spoilt for choice with some of the biggest names in music regularly performing at venues throughout the city.

7. Interesting Events

There are lots of interesting festivals and outdoor events in Bristol held throughout the year, and especially during the summer. Why not check out the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, an annual event that sees dozens of hot air balloons take off from Ashton Court? Or head to the new Downs Festival on Clifton Downs, which always attracts some big-name acts.
Bristol International Balloon Fiesta August 14 2004

8. Top Universities

If you’d like to move somewhere with a vibrant student scene, you can’t do much better than Bristol. This is mainly due to its two excellent universities, the University of Bristol and UWE Bristol. The University of Bristol especially is one of the best universities in the UK.

University of Bristol

9. Voted Best Place to Live in the UK

As if you needed more convincing, Bristol was voted the best city to live in Britain by the Sunday Times Best Places to Live Guide in 2017. Some of the reasons highlighted were its diversity, beautiful waterfront, low crime rates, vibrant atmosphere and great jobs, especially in the creative and IT sectors.

10. And the Rest…

There is just too much that makes Bristol a great place to live to pack into a top 10 article. However, some of the rest include:

Moving to Bristol?

Bristol is a rapidly developing city and there are a number of new developments going on across the city, from the redevelopment of Broadwalk Shopping Centre in the South to ongoing development around the old Filton Airfield in the north.

If you’re thinking of moving to Bristol, we’d be happy to help. We provide home removals in Bristol, providing a professional service at a great price. So if you’re thinking that Bristol is the place for you, give us a call.

For more information on Bristol, read our guides: