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.

I took driving lessons in Bristol with Matt (A&M School of Motoring) and it was awesome. I'm an…read moreAmerican living in the UK and took driving lessons to learn how to drive a manual car and also to get familiar with driving laws in England. Matt paced the lessons perfectly so I never felt rushed or pressured. He's the calmest man on earth and none of my stupid mistakes ever phased him. I'd heard some horror stories from friends about being yelled at by their instructor, but Matt was always relaxed. He's friendly, too, so he's easy to chat to when driving around Bristol during driving lessons. Before I knew it, I felt like a confident driver and just this morning I passed my driving test with zero faults! I'm a very happy customer!

Simon was a great instructor, really patient, chilled and easy to talk to. I started as a very…read morenervous driver and he got me through my test first time! I got to know a good variation of routes around Bristol and he made sure we focused on the manoeuvres until I was comfortable with them. I'm now a confident driver enjoying new found freedom! Thank you!

I admit this is a *completely* biased review as I used to work at Clifton College as a secondary…read moreschool teacher (for nearly 17 years in fact!). With that said, it was a great place to be - the whole ethos of the school is friendly and helpful, and if you're looking for a "whole person" private education for your child, then you'd be hard-pushed to find a better place. The opportunities and experiences to be gained as a young adult are superb, and apart from the education benefits of the place, the actual location & grounds of Clifton College is an elevating experience in itself. If you're a parent, be aware that there are definitely less expensive places to send your child, but the enrichment your son or daughter will gain will as a result of being part of the College community will stand them in very good stead after they leave. Be aware though, both as parents & offspring - being part of that community is a real, long term commitment. But well worth it if your finances accommodate the School's fee structure.

Located high above most of Bristol, and just 10 minutes from Park Street, St Michael on the Mount…read moreis easily accessible for anyone using public transport or walking. The actual school is situated just behind a very attractive church, meaning it is off the main road and is very private. The school is divided into two main buildings - one for Key Stage 1 and the other for Key Stage 2. Classroom size is a little on the small side, especially for KS2's, however there doesn't seem to be a feel of overcrowding. The teachers are all wonderful. There is a clear sense of dedication and it feels that every teacher really cares for each student. Children come from all backgrounds, with many having English as their 2nd language. There is a number of extra support staff who regularly takes small groups off to another room for extra help which is a very positive point. The school also benefits from the Outreach Scheme, which is a government funded organisation which places students from the University of the West of England into schools to aid the teachers. After speaking to a number of staff at St Michaels, it is apparent that they are extremely grateful for the additional help that the Outreach Scheme provides. There are morning and after school clubs offered, and also an option for school dinners or packed lunches. All young children are given milk and fruit for snacks and regularly encouraged to run around outdoors. A word of warning though, if driving, the lane leading into the schools car park is very long and narrow meaning only one car can fit down it resulting in a lot of congestion in the mornings and after school.

I did one of James's courses a few months back, so it's good to see him expand his service as he is…read morea very capable workshop facilitator with a warm and welcoming approach to working with people. I found the course helped me remain calm and centred in groups and when giving presentations. If you want to be a more confident, more relaxed communicator then get in contact with James!

This is the most recent addition to the impeccable portfolio of schools in the Redland area of…read moreBristol. There was much controversy surrounding the building of this school but now it is here it is one of the most sought after in the region. So much so that estate agents actually list 'in the catchment area for Redland Green School' in their blurb when trying to sell family homes. Hell, some even make a not if it is on the priority list for Redland Green School, ie. It's not quite in the catchment area but they will get your kid in if they can. Blimey. And looking at the exam results it's clear to see why. Redland Green in the few years it has been going has a fantastic record of getting good exam results, but this focus on exams always makes me a little uneasy. Come on, what happened to creative learning?

This is the campus for the arts community of UWE. Rather smaller than the main campus of Frenchay,…read moreBower ashton offers all the best facilities for those studying art and design, like the free life drawing sessions that have became so popular. In addition to this, like most university campus there is cheap food and drink available for those who prefer the more relaxed side of being a student.

When a whole wave of former polytechnics gained full university status in the 90s, cities and towns…read morewere divided. The snobby redbrick Unis were quick to slam their potential rivals (which let's face it weren't actually going to be appealing to the others' customers). Fast forward a couple of decades and while these Unis have made massive headway in terms of courses on offer, results and research developments there is some snobbery which persists in dubbing these second rate universities. Think Bath v Bath Spa, Cardiff v UWIC, Southampton v Solent, Oxford v Oxford Brookes and Bristol v UWE. I have to say though, UWE is a fantastic Uni. Some of the cleverest people I know have graduated from UWE and some of the dumbest from Bristol University. UWE is much more creative than Bristol Uni and in a way is seen as the cooler younger sister. The students tend to be more fun and less stuck up and if I had my choice again, I'd probably opt for UWE (NB Bristol Uni rejected me).