News / Time Out
Bristol neighbourhood named one of UK’s coolest
A Bristol neighbourhood has been named one of the coolest in the UK in Time Out’s annual list.
Cotham ranked fifth in the “Coolest Neighbourhoods in the UK” list , outperforming several other top contenders for the title.
The list was topped by Camberwell in London, with Digbeth (Birmingham), Canton (Cardiff), London Road (Brighton), Ancoats (Manchester) and Finnieston (Glasgow) also making the cut.
Despite its small size and high concentration of students, Time Out heaped praise on Cotham saying, “its community may be small and chock-full of students, but it has more character oozing out of its few streets than some entire cities.”
Time Out singled out Bravas in its coolest neighbourhoods list – photo: Martin Booth
The publication highlighted Cotham’s mix of independent shops, charity shops, antique boutiques, cafes, eateries and its microbrewery.
Particular mention went to Bravas, described as one of the best spots in Bristol for tapas and Rubicon Too, recognised for its Middle Eastern and British fusion.
Bravas was the talk of the town lately as there was an outpouring of public support to save its outside seating areas that were under threat from the city council.
Cotham Antiques, which has been around for 40 years on Cotham Hill, is a cornucopia of delights – photo: Milan Perera
Cotham Hill has been a hub of independent businesses over the years, including award-winning businesses such as Achari, crowned the best curry house in South West at the National Curry Awards and Panunzio’s Kitchen Gelati Italiani, winner of the city’s best dessert shop for two years in a row.
Long-standing independents such as Cotham Antiques, trading for four decades, and Cotham Hardware, first opened in 1915, have also been mainstays of the area.
Cotham has been named one of the coolest in the UK in Time Out’s annual list – photo: Milan Perera
Situated next to the University of Bristol’s Clifton campus, Cotham is a focal point for both students and its long-term residents.
Ben Hann is the current owner of Cotham Hardware, which was founded in 1915 on Cotham Hill – photo: Milan Perera
It is also home to some of the city’s popular cafes, including One B Coffee House, Coffee + Beer, Cotham Coffee House and FED Cafe.
The neighbourhood also earned praise for its annual Cotham Hill Street Party, set to return in May 2026. The event sees the road closed off to businesses selling everything from burgers to beady bangles.
Cotham also earned praise for its annual street party – photo: Rob Browne
Main photo: Milan Perera
Read next:
Our newsletters emailed directly to you
