Amazingly, over 4,500 species of plant are cultivated at these Botanic Gardens, that's a lot of…read moregreen and flowery stuff! If you're into your plants and flowers, or perhaps you're with a slightly older relative who is, this is a great place to take a look at all sorts of greenery that would wouldn't be able to find in your average flower bed. In the Amazon Rain forest section you can feel a bit transported, like you somehow left Bristol and went somewhere else without realising. They also run courses from here now and again so keep a look out for things like photography.

Disappointing…read more Tailored solely for horticultural experts. No hand-outs, no map, signs in Latin, no zones or regions with plants of similar heritage. Green houses were quite good actually. Even less signage but plants were more interesting. All-in-all it's definitely not worth an entrance fee!! Botanical gardens in most capital cities are free and typically four times bigger. Not recommended unless free entry!!

The University of Bristol is a city university, unlike the other big Uni in Bristol, UWE, which is…read morea campus university. The Bristol Uni buildings are located all around the centre of the city, and most are very old and pretty. The university is pretty large, with around 13000 students, and they, along with their UWE counterparts, mean that the city is buzzing with life. The university does pretty well for itself; it's high in the league table, and draws a very Clifton-esque student population every year.

Let's get straight to the point - I wish I'd gone to this university. No offence to Cardiff where I…read moredid choose to study, but Bristol is clearly better. Up there in the heady heights of the league tables with Oxford and Cambridge, Bristol Uni is an old-skool red brick institution with some of the most prestigious medical courses, English and history degrees in the world. It looks all towering and cool at the top of park street and has educated comedy genii such as David Walliams, Matt Lucas, Chris Morris, Simon Pegg and errr Lembit Olpik, plus the famed feminist author Angela Carter (I'm bowing down to her as I write this). Stunning architecture and a past that stems back to 1876 - this is the educational and philosophical pulse of Bristol in all its glory.

Am currently attending a silversmithing course with filton college. The course is great but…read moreover-subscribed, which obviously has its drawbacks. The tutor is excellent and I can't help feeling a bit sorry for her!! Overall am learning but not at quite the pace I expected.

City of Bristol College has city wide sites each offering different specialisms of study. At…read morecollege Green A levels and GCSE's are offered alongside diplomas in media studies, hairdressing and beautician, a wide range of computer literacy courses and many more. The college is accessible in terms of physical disability catering for wheelchair users, people with visual impairments and deaf people. If students have other learning support needs the learning services department will assess and offer appropriate support. Students range in age from 16 - 90. There are two on site cafes, a well equipped learning resource centre (library) a computer suite with PC's and macs. The site is situated very centrally, easily accessible by bus or on foot.

The City of Bristol College offers low cost hair and beauty treatments at several of its centres…read moreincluding College Green, Ashley Down and Bedminster. All treatments are carried out in their modern salons by the students who may take a little longer than a professional salon but offer an excellent service. The students are fully supervised and offer cutting, styling, colouring and perming. Students are trained in both men and women's hairdressing and also cater for Afro Caribbean hair as well as European. Some of the beauty services include waxing, massage, reflexology, manicures and facials and use quality products such as Dermalogica.

Having been interested in learning to make my own clothes for a while I was intrigued when I saw it…read morehad a part-time fashion design course. If you are looking to brush up on your sewing skills, then this isn't the course for you as its more about learning to think about designing your own clothes. There is a nice sewing room space although the machines are a bit rickety and problematic. The Ashley Down Centre also offers low cost hair and beauty treatments at its onsite salon. A lot of the holistic therapy training looks like it is being moved from here to the new South Bristol Academy, good news for me as the downside to me was the trek to the other side of the city. The courses themselves are good value but not necessarily cheap, a 1 year part time course can cost £400, double what I paid for similar courses at colleges in London. I've only been to this campus in the evenings but its a pleasant facility, there is a vending machine for hot and cold drinks in the evenings but otherwise you can't get food and there is ample parking here in the evenings. The No 70 bus stops right outside the college, otherwise its a pleasant walk from Gloucester Road.

The Faculty of Life Sciences is located in the Frenchay Campus of the University of the West of…read moreEngland. I have found the staff a bit mixed, but in general very good. I am reading BSc Psychology so I can only comment on this course. In my first year I think we were given the slightly worse lecturers as I don't remember really liking many of my lectures. However by second year they improved, and now in my third year I can honestly say I love all my teachers. I have been allocated an excellent supervisor for my dissertation who replies to emails within seconds and is always available for a meeting. The content taught obviously varies, however I was given a huge module choice in my third year, and the topics covered are all really interesting. The facilities are also all very good, with huge laboratories and lecture halls. There are always enough computer rooms and also experimental rooms to practice presentations/carry out work. In all, I am very impressed with the Faculty of Life Sciences.

Well this being my University for the past 3 years I can fairly say I know it pretty well. I'm…read moregeneral I can say I have had the best time of my life and being in Bristol can only be a plus. The Frenchay students union has served me well especially in my "skint" days. Mess times I assure you but some of my best times. The Life Sciences area is where I spend most of my time and the facilities there are great, the labs really look up to date with the latest science gadgets and equipment. The Faculty itself has been helpful and resourceful when I have needed help. Lectures can be long boring but sometimes interesting especially once you get to choose your own modules in the second year. The lecturers are generally good and easy going people but you get the odd lecturer who's as entertaining as a plank of wood so the trick is to go to the SU before you go to the lecture. Everything seems funnier then. The students are diverse and you are bound to meet new friends from different cultures and ways of thinking which is great. You are bound to meet people who you will be in contact with for the rest of your life. If I were to point out a flaw it would be that the main campus is far from the Centre but if you are in a group share a taxi bill or take a U link but before 7 or so and you'll save yourself some drinking money. ALSO THEY TOOK AWAY THE GUINNESS! DAMN YOU! Anyway if you choose this university I look forwards to having a drink with you in the SU.