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Please see Bristol for other available Bristol hostels and accommodations.
Please see Bristol for other available Bristol hostels and accommodations.
The Hostelz.com Review
The Bristol Backpackers has a homey atmosphere. As soon as you walk in you are warmly greeted by the Antipodean staff and you will see a sprawling group of travelers watching TV or hanging out in the lounge. Just as well it is friendly, though, because some of the décor could do with a face-lift. However they have obviously realised this and are in the midst of doing renovations. Walls are being knocked out here and there so for the next few months do be patient and come expecting a little bit of mess. It's certainly not an eyesore and is expected to be finished soon -- and apparently they will make more twin and private rooms.
They have some good facilities -- free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate all day (great in the winter), a bar open from 9 a.m. every day, internet, commercial TV, hot water twenty-four hours of the day (essential for the U.K.) and discounts on long term stays. If you come in the winter they give lots of specials like four nights for the price of three, or stay five nights and get two free, or in one month get eleven days free.
They encourage long term stays -- if you want to work and find a cheap place to stay, this might suit you. Or if you just want to relax for a couple of days it might suit because Bristol is not really big anyway and there is not a lot of sightseeing to do unless you venture outside of the city. It might be a good place to chill before your next travel onslaught.
In terms of location it is also pretty good, just five minutes' walk from the main bus station and only a few minutes to the waterfront. To get there you exit from the National Express Info kiosk and turn left down the hill. There are pedestrian signs but most of them get a bit confusing as they lead to the other hostel. Follow signs for "The Centre Promenade," then turn right at the Bay Horse Pub. St. Stephen's Street is behind the White Lion Hotel and the hostel is opposite Bar Latino. If you are coming from the train station it is the opposite direction. It's a slightly longer walk. Turn right from the station and follow signs to the Old City. Cross the Bridge and turn left into Baldwin Street. St. Stephen's Street is the first on the right.
They have some good facilities -- free tea, coffee, and hot chocolate all day (great in the winter), a bar open from 9 a.m. every day, internet, commercial TV, hot water twenty-four hours of the day (essential for the U.K.) and discounts on long term stays. If you come in the winter they give lots of specials like four nights for the price of three, or stay five nights and get two free, or in one month get eleven days free.
They encourage long term stays -- if you want to work and find a cheap place to stay, this might suit you. Or if you just want to relax for a couple of days it might suit because Bristol is not really big anyway and there is not a lot of sightseeing to do unless you venture outside of the city. It might be a good place to chill before your next travel onslaught.
In terms of location it is also pretty good, just five minutes' walk from the main bus station and only a few minutes to the waterfront. To get there you exit from the National Express Info kiosk and turn left down the hill. There are pedestrian signs but most of them get a bit confusing as they lead to the other hostel. Follow signs for "The Centre Promenade," then turn right at the Bay Horse Pub. St. Stephen's Street is behind the White Lion Hotel and the hostel is opposite Bar Latino. If you are coming from the train station it is the opposite direction. It's a slightly longer walk. Turn right from the station and follow signs to the Old City. Cross the Bridge and turn left into Baldwin Street. St. Stephen's Street is the first on the right.
— Exclusive Hostelz.com Review
April 2004
Bristol Backpackers Details
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Map
Location/Contact| Address | 17 St. Stephens Street, Bristol, Somerset, England |
| Location | The most central backpackers hostel in Bristol. |
| Website | www.bristolbackpackers.co.uk/ |
| Telephone | +44 1179 257900 |
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Hostelz.com Guest Reviews
Avoid! Unfriendly and dirty Rude, unwelcoming staff on arrival. Even basic manners were hard to come by. I was ignored for a good 5-6 minutes, stood like an idiot waiting for the reception girl to stop tapping on the computer and chatting with a fellow member of staff. Only then it was "Passport", no "Hello" or "Welcome". She snapped at a fellow hostel-stayer for not paying attention (he was paying attention, he was just struggling as his English wasn't great). Graffiti (scribbles, not art) on most walls, including by beds and in the toilets. Shower rooms with no doors!!! No locks on bedroom doors. A hostel that welcomed groups of silly drunken girls who were only staying as they didn't want to pay for a taxi back to their Bristol-outskirts homes. Which meant their coming into the girls dorm at 4am, turning lights on and speaking at full volume with no respect for the other occupants. I don't enjoy having to tell people to shut-up, but felt I had to (3 times!) in order to get even a fraction of decent sleep. I've staying in hostels all around the world and this is the WORST I have ever experienced. DO NOT STAY HERE!! — Jen , UK (2011-05-07) Horrible My room's window was facing a nightclub (there's a club in the other side of the road!) and I had to listen the noise coming from outside until 6:30 a.m.! I couldn't sleep at all. Pillow and mattress were very uncomfortable and bathrooms disgusting. Do not stay there! — Andre , Brazil (2009-04-15) Not very social The bed was fine, the shower was great, kitchen facilities were fine, but most of the guests seemed to be long-term visitors who all had their own groups and weren't interested in socialising with new people (all the couches in the common room were taken up by people with laptops). Didn't feel very secure -- there's a code on the front door, but no locks on the actual rooms. Also, breakfast isn't included! — Nathan , Australia (2009-04-08) Too many long term guests The building is old, dump, and the carpet very dirty. Showers and toilet are clean. Most of guest are not really traveling, but people who decided to make the place their own home. In fact they make a large group that do not socialise with the real guests. During my short stay I saw people having their laptops stolen (two of them). Be aware! — Geoff Harms , US (2008-10-27) This is overall a very good hostel in a great location. It has doubled the capacity since I last visited the place several years ago and a lot of aesthetic improvements have been made, namely to the kitchen. There is free tea, hot chocolate, and coffee (not the cheap stuff either). The internet access is very good and there are lots of information regarding things to do in Bristol. They also store your bags free too. There were a couple of minor grievances though -- the room I was in was a bit tight with very little space and I was not overly impressed with the manners of the duty manager (who I will not name) whose customer service skills could do with some work. I thought he was a bit abrupt although he always kept the place clean and tidy. The hostel had far too many long termers some of which had been there well over a year, so the place was really cliquey. However this is a good hostel overall and check out the website which is very informative. — BUCKSBY , UK (2007-04-02) I stayed a bit in this hostel, during the summer and the winter. Everything is very good! Clean, good atmosphere, very helpful staff, cheap beer at the bar downstairs, and the people met were awesome! Best advice ever: Go there! — Maëliss (2007-03-06) I have stayed here and have had an awesome time. With great communal areas and a great kitchen, as well as clean rooms with solid bunkbeds (no creaking!), and nice strong hot showers, you can't go wrong. It is also smack bang in the centre of Bristol, and if you have to stumble home from the pub, you don't have to stumble far!!! — Anonymous (2004-09-03)