The Bristol Wing
Bristol's best-rated hostel — and your bunk pays for someone else's bed
Ex-police-station hostel on Bridewell Street that funnels its profits into a Bristol homelessness charity. Five-minute walk to the Thekla and the King Street pubs, ten to Temple Meads via Uber. Bristol's highest-rated hostel with free breakfast and a kitchen that actually works.
The Bristol Wing occupies the old Bridewell Police Station, a Victorian brick building two minutes off Broadmead and a five-minute walk from the Thekla. The hostel is run by a social enterprise that pours its profits into a homelessness charity active across the city, which would be admirable even if the rooms were average. They are not. This is the highest-rated hostel in Bristol on Booking, full stop.
What you actually get: card-locked corridors that make solo travel feel safer than most UK hostels, a proper shared kitchen with two ovens and enough hobs that you don't have to queue for breakfast, and a lounge that's social without being a frat house. Free WiFi works, free tea and coffee runs all day, and the morning breakfast is a real spread of cereals, breads, and hot drinks rather than a token gesture.
Location is the killer feature. You're 13 minutes' walk from Bristol Cathedral, 10 from Cabot Circus shops, 7 from the Thekla and the O2 Academy. Temple Meads is a 19-minute walk or a £7 Uber. King Street's pubs are a five-minute stagger.
Dorms have parquet floors, work desks, and the kind of fans that make summer survivable. There's a lift to every floor — rare in Bristol's older buildings, and a real selling point if you're carrying a heavy pack or have mobility issues. Book the inner-courtyard rooms over the Bridewell Street side: same price, noticeably quieter at 2am when the King Street crowd is heading home.
- 01The social enterprise model is real, not greenwashing — accounts are public.
- 02Free breakfast actually fills you up, with proper coffee and a hot option.
- 03Lift to every floor is a quiet superpower for anyone with a big bag.
- 04Card-locked corridors split the dorms from the common areas — it just feels safer.
- 05Walking distance to Thekla, the Beacon, the Hippodrome, and King Street.
- Ex-police-station building
- Profits fund a homelessness charity
- Free breakfast included
- Lift to all floors
“I love staying at the wing. The staff are absolutely brilliant. Rooms and bathrooms are spotless. Comfortable beds, fans for summer, the kitchen and lounge have a great vibe. Free tea, coffee and breakfast is a real bonus. Card-operated doors between common areas and rooms make it feel safer than most hostels.”
“Everything was great during our stay. Staff were very friendly and welcoming, the location is excellent for the city centre, and the room was spotless. Loved that the breakfast was actually substantial and the kitchen had everything we needed for an evening meal too.”
“Great hostel in the very city center, close to shops, cafes, and bus station. Comfortable beds, clean bathrooms, and the staff went out of their way to give us local recommendations. Bonus: it's a social enterprise, so you're supporting a good cause by staying.”
- Bristol Cathedral13 min walk
- Cabot Circus shopping5 min walk
- The Thekla (boat-club)5 min walk
- King Street pubs5 min walk
- O2 Academy / Beacon7 min walk
- Bristol Temple Meads19 min walk
