Bristol city centre is as diverse and distinctive as its surrounding areas. Broadmead is the central shopping area which currently resembles a building sit due to its redevelopment.

Tucked away in the south of the city, Bedminster and Southville are popular with Bower Ashton students. Bedminster is just one of Bristol's up and coming areas seeing a surge of luxury flats springing up alongside trendy bars in recent years.

With its sky-high house prices, Clifton is undoubtedly the "posh end" of Bristol. For student life, Whiteladies Road is the centre of activity, with a host of upmarket bars, eateries and trendy nightclubs.

The areas are quiet themselves, with plenty of greenery and a few small parks, including Cotham Park and Redland Green at either end of Redland Road. While Redland and Cotham are relatively peaceful, they are situated between Gloucester Road, Clifton and the City Centre so they offer the convenience of all of the most lively student areas.

At first glance, with its massage parlours and derelict and vacant buildings, Stokes Croft may appear to be run-down and abandoned. However despite its appearance, Stokes Croft is a hotbed of DIY culture and underground music.

Although accommodation can be hard to find and pricey at times, Montpelier and St Werburgh's are popular student hangouts.

Easton is a bit of a mythical unknown land for the majority of UWE students. Perhaps this is because it is on the other side of the M32 from most of the usual student areas. Buses run from Easton to Fishponds, making it accessible to St Matts and Glenside students, but less accessible to the rest.

Due to their affordable accommodation and location - around halfway between the City Centre and the Frenchay campus - Ashley Down and Horfield are favourite student areas. The area is well served by the 70 bus route and is well within walking/cycling distance of the campus.

For those willing to pay a little more rent whilst still staying on the main bus routes to Frenchay, Bishopston and St Andrews are situated around some of the best bars and cafes in Bristol. On a summer day, many a student can be seen sprawled out in St Andrew's Park, tucked away behind Gloucester Road. The Independent newspaper recently declared Gloucester Road as the "last great British high street" for its eclectic mix of shops, cafes and bars, and unique atmosphere.

Fishponds, or 'The Ponds' as it is known fondly by its residents and rightly so, is home to many UWE students and a popular location for St.Matt's students because the campus is located just off Fishponds Road.

Although your first stop for what's happening in Bristol should always be our very own Western Eye, if you'd like to find out a little more, here are some recommendations for where to start.

Cycling Guide by the People and Planet Society.