3 reviewed party hostels · from €24.78/night · Hostelworld rated
Bristol's nightlife punches well above its weight for a city this size. Stokes Croft is the spiritual home of late-night Bristol, lined with independent bars, street art, and the kind of crowds that keep going until the early hours. King Street in the old city is where you'll find some of the oldest pubs in the country, all timber beams and real ale, but still perfectly capable of a big night out. The hostel scene here is small but solid. The Full Moon Backpackers runs its own pub on-site, which means the party starts before you've even found your shoes. The Wing Bristol caters to a broader crowd but keeps the social energy going. Bristol also draws a serious music crowd, with live gigs happening almost every night of the week, so you're rarely short of somewhere to be.
Rated by Hostelworld score · Prices per dorm bed per night
Bristol's only hostel with an integrated bar and live music venue, The Full Moon Backpackers guarantees social atmosphere in Stokes Croft's creative heart. Weekly events run until 2am Thursday-Saturday, from quiz nights to live DJs, whilst the on-site Attic Bar, wood-fired pizza, and strict 18+ policy create consistent party energy. Located directly in Bristol's bohemian quarter with immediate access to street art, independent bars, and alternative nightlife venues.
This boutique hostel in a restored Victorian police headquarters combines sophisticated aesthetics with central location advantages for party travellers. Artist murals, velvet sofas, and complimentary breakfast create organic social opportunities, whilst the Bridewell Street location puts you walking distance from Cabot Circus, St Nick's Market, and multiple nightlife districts. The mature atmosphere attracts 25+ travellers who prefer external party exploration over hostel-organised chaos.
Professional four-star hostel in a restored waterfront grain house on Bristol's Harbourside, directly opposite clubs and waterfront bars. The established YHA brand provides reliable service and 24-hour reception, whilst the café bar and harbourside views create comfortable social spaces. However, the all-ages policy and institutional atmosphere mean less concentrated party energy than dedicated backpacker hostels—better for mature travellers seeking external nightlife access.
How Bristol's nightlife zones break down
The creative and counter-cultural heart of Bristol nightlife, running north from the city centre along Cheltenham Road. The street is covered in murals, independent cafés, and bars, and it's where you'll find clubs like Lakota and a string of late-night spots. It's lively most nights of the week, not just weekends.
One of the best-preserved old streets in Bristol, lined with historic pubs including the Llandoger Trow, which dates back to 1664. It sits just back from the floating harbour, about a 10-minute walk from the city centre shopping area. The area is great for a relaxed early evening pint before moving on to somewhere louder.
Bristol's floating harbour area is the most scenic part of the city, with bars and restaurants stretching along the water on both sides. Thekla is moored here, and there are several outdoor bar terraces that fill up fast in warm weather. It's about a 15-minute walk from Temple Meads station and central to most of Bristol's key attractions.
Where the hostel pub crawls end up, and where to go on your own
The pub attached to The Full Moon Backpackers hostel, and easily the most sociable spot in Bristol for backpackers. Thursday nights bring a Funk and Soul Jam Session that runs until 2am, Fridays have live music and DJs, and Saturdays host various club nights. The hostel runs a Pint and Social on some weekends where guests get a free pint, which is a great way to meet people before heading out.
A converted ship moored in Bristol's floating harbour that hosts club nights and live gigs on most weekends. The low ceilings and intimate layout make it one of the best small venues in the city, and the crowd is reliably good. Tickets for club nights typically run from £8 to £15, and it sells out fast for bigger acts.
Bristol's biggest and most respected club, sitting in a railway arch complex near Temple Meads. Motion runs across multiple rooms and regularly books internationally recognised DJs, with a strong focus on techno, drum and bass, and house. Doors usually open at 10pm and it runs through to 6am or later on weekends.
A large live music and club venue in the city centre that covers everything from rock and indie to pop and club nights. It holds around 1,500 people and regularly features touring artists as well as local acts. Worth checking their schedule on arrival as the programme changes weekly.
A long-standing indie and alternative music pub and venue that has been part of Bristol's music scene since the 1990s. It hosts live bands almost every night, with a standing area downstairs and a bar up top. Entry is usually between £5 and £12, and the atmosphere is reliably electric for guitar-led nights.
A tiny basement bar on Portland Square that has been a Bristol institution for decades. It's dark, sticky-floored, and absolutely brilliant, with a mixed crowd and cheap drinks by Bristol standards. Gets very busy after midnight on weekends, so arrive before 11pm if you want to get in.
A multi-room club on Stokes Croft that has hosted Bristol's underground scene for years. It has an outdoor garden area which is a rare luxury for a city-centre club, and the music policy spans house, techno, and garage. Club nights here regularly run until 4am or 5am on weekends.
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