Nursing in Bristol - Studying, Working & Living Guide
Find out about nursing in Bristol - where nurses can find jobs, the hospitals they might work in, colleges & universities to study in, plus living information.
Bristol is the most populous city in the southwest of England and twice in recent years has been voted the best city to live in the UK.
Bristol is full of diverse neighbourhoods with beautiful architecture, historic landmarks, green spaces, and close-knit communities. It also has a wide variety of areas to live in, some of which remain affordable despite its growing popularity.
For nurses, Bristol could be an amazing place to live, work and study.
From cost of living and travel through to culture and nightlife, this is an end-to-end guide for nurses thinking about relocating to Bristol to study or work.
This page was updated in 2024.
Where do nurses work in Bristol?
There are of range of both NHS and private hospitals in Bristol. NHS services are provided by two trusts: University Hospitals Bristol NHS Foundation Trust and North Bristol NHS Trust.
Some of the major employers of nurses include:
South Bristol NHS Community Hospital
Bristol Royal Infirmary
Bristol Royal Hospital for Children
Southmead Hospital
There are also many care homes throughout Bristol specialising in support for the elderly as well as young people and younger adults. Beyond this, there are dozens of community health settings and other locations which actively employ Newly Qualified Nurses and those who are more experienced.
Combined with the large number of healthcare settings, Bristol has a high vacancy rate for nurses, so you’ll have no issue in finding work, either full time or part time.
Find nursing jobs in Bristol right here on Nurses.co.uk.
Where can aspiring nurses study in Bristol?
Anyone wishing to train to become a nurse in Bristol can study at the University of the West of England (UWE). As the main University in Bristol it offers various nursing degree options. You can choose a course specialising in mental health nursing or midwifery, for example.
It has three campuses across Bristol with a dedicated healthcare campus at Glenside. Courses start in September and February.
The University of the West of England Bristol is in the top 20 best universities in the UK according to The Times Higher Education University Ranking 2023. It has an excellent reputation with a high graduation and student satisfaction rates, and 98.5% of their Adult Nursing students are in employment or further study within 15 months of graduating (2020).
Find our nursing university guide here.
According to Zoopla, the average monthly rental costs for students in Bristol can be higher than £1000, making it one of the most expensive cities to be a student in the UK.
Where do nurses live in Bristol?
Nurses in Bristol live all over the city, as there are neighbourhoods all over the city and surrounding areas that can accommodate people from all walks and stages of life.
Here are some of the most popular locations in Bristol for nurses:
City Centre
For UWE students campuses are all 4-6 miles away but there are great bus links from the city centre
Clifton
A very desirable part of Bristol, due to its boutiques, bistros and bars which are popular with the locals and students
Redland and Cotham
A relaxed area for families, young professionals and students with all kinds of amenities and a community feel
Gloucester Road
Popular area due to its independent shops and vibrant culture
If you don’t mind being a little further from the city, there are lots more affordable areas such as Kingswood or Fishponds, which are easily commutable and have everything you might need, from schools to pubs.
Bristol is a city with so many great areas to call home, whether you’re a nurse with years of experience, or a Student Nurse attending the first year of your course.
What are the living costs for nurses in Bristol?
Overall, Bristol is one of the most vibrant places for nurses to live in the UK but also one of the most expensive.
Here’s a broad guide to some of the different costs of living in the city.
The average price for a home in Bristol is currently £388,242 – higher than the national average of £293,000.
The average rental price for a property in Bristol is £1,738 per month. But if you’re merely looking to rent a room in a shared house, the average cost is just over £650 per a month.
Council tax costs vary a lot across the city. But many people across Bristol are in a Band B property or similar, which currently means paying £1824 a year – or just over £152 a month.
Other bills like shopping and utilities are at a similar level to the rest of the UK.
While eating out and entertainment is a little more expensive overall, the variety and high-quality means there will be options to suit your taste and budget.
Is travel easy in Bristol?
Many people in Bristol choose to walk to work or home, whereas others choose cycle throughout the city, which boasts brilliant cycle routes.
The M4 runs from London to South Wales, while the M5 goes from West Bromwich near Birmingham to Exeter. This makes driving to and from Bristol relatively easy. Bristol is only a 2.5 hour drive away from London.
It’s just over a 90-minute train journey from London, or a 60-minute train ride from major cities like Bath, Cardiff and Exeter.
Bristol Airport is only 30 minutes’ drive from the city centre and has flights to over 100 destinations throughout the UK and Europe.
So, it’s fair to say Bristol is a well-connected city where you’ll never be too far from work, airports, or most of the country’s biggest cities.
What to do in Bristol: walks, culture, nightlife and eating out
Bristol is known for being a cultured, artistic city that caters to all tastes when it comes to your valuable free time, with an amazing selection of pubs, galleries, clubs, and restaurants.
And beyond that, there’s fabulous scenery and natural beauty in every corner of the surrounding countryside.
Culture and attractions
Bristol is regularly visited by tourists from all over the UK and beyond for its cultural attractions.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean liner, is a popular attraction to visit, as is the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge.
There’s also a famously vibrant music and arts scene. You can explore collections of art, nature and history at Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or see the world’s most famous street artist on the Banksy Walking Tour.
Or you can catch a show at the Hippodrome, Old Vic, or Redgrave Theatre. The Bristol Beacon, The Louisiana, The Fleece, and the 02 Academy Bristol are just a few places to visit for all your music and theatre needs.
Bristol has two league football clubs. Bristol City Football Club play at Ashton Gate, whereas Bristol Rovers plays its football matches at the Memorial Ground in North Bristol.
Nightlife and eating out
Bristol offers a wealth of options for nightlife, with lots of bars and clubs – all loved by students in particular.
In terms of eating out, you’re spoilt for choice. From high-end gastropubs in the countryside to upmarket eateries in the city centre, there is something for everyone.
Highlights include:
Root, known for its vegetable focused small plates, is a Michelin star restaurant
Coronation Curry House, rated the number one restaurant in Bristol on Trip Advisor
Bravas, known for its classic Spanish food served in an intimate, soft lit tapas bar
The Hobgoblin, an independent family run pub with a reputation for high quality comfort food
This barely scratches the surface – you can eat well all over Bristol.
What are the school options in Bristol?
If you’re also thinking about where you might need to send your children to school, Bristol offers a range of good options.
There are 101 primary schools, 43 secondary schools and 12 independent schools in Bristol.
As of 2024, Bristol has 20 Ofsted ‘outstanding’ school, covering nursery and pre-school up to secondary education. The majority of these are state-run.
All in all, it offers good options for the modern family.
Population and demographics in Bristol
Here are some of the stand-out population and demographic facts in Bristol:
Bristol is located 120 miles west of London and is the largest city in the south west of England
Bristol is known as the green city, with 400 parks and gardens
Bristol has a population of 472,000 according to the Office for National Statistics in 2024
Its population density is 3,893 people per square kilometre
In summary: is Bristol a good place to be a nurse?
Bristol is a fantastic place to live whether you’re a Student Nurse or experienced.
It’s got vibrant green spaces, and a fun, creative energy. It is a city with something for everyone and a genuine community feel. It’s beautiful, but it’s also got a ruggedness that newcomers quickly fall in love with.
It’s also very well connected and offers excellent opportunities to study or work.
However, it is an expensive city overall. The average nurse in Bristol earns a salary of around £39,820, well above the national average.
But for Newly Qualified Nurses, budgeting can be tricky.
Here are a couple of examples of what living in Bristol looks like in terms of affordability:
As a Newly Qualified Nurse on an NHS Band 5 salary, if you rented a room in a shared house, after bills you’d likely have a few hundred pounds left of disposable income. It isn’t ‘London’ expensive, but it is more expensive than most of the UK.
As a Band 6 Nurse, you’d be able to find pockets of the city in which you’d be able to afford a mortgage on an average-priced 2-bed flat – and perhaps even a house.
But it’s often said that in life you get what you pay for. And in Bristol, your money allows you to call this fantastic city home.
