Bristol beat off stiff competition from Cardiff, Liverpool, Newcastle, Northumbria, Nottingham, Glasgow, Leeds, Manchester and Sussex to win the top accolade.
The Whatuni Student Rankings are based on 20,000 student reviews collected over the last 12 months. It asked reviewers to rate a wide range of categories, including city life.
Charlotte Wilson, Head of Customer Relations and Student Marketing, collected the award at The Brewery, London, from comedian Hugh Dennis.
She said: “To receive this vote of confidence from our students is just fantastic. City life is a huge part of university life and we know that our students love all the opportunities on their doorstep.
“It’s not just the nightlife which ticks the boxes, it’s the rich culture, vibrant music scene, countless festivals, free activities, beautiful green spaces and independent shops and cafes.
“Students also play a big role in the city and have made such a positive impact, contributing 100,000 hours a volunteering time a year to support local charities. Indeed, we know many of our students decide to stay in Bristol after they’ve graduated.”
The award comes a year after The Sunday Times crowned Bristol the best city in Britain. It’s currently European Green Capital 2015 – the first UK city to win this title, awarded in recognition of its commitment to the environment.
Simon Emmett, Managing Director of Whatuni.com, said: "The University of Bristol has won best university for City Life, improving on a strong second place finish in 2014. Students regularly tell us that city life contributes substantially to their overall university experience. This win is a strong indicator that the University of Bristol is positioned to provide more than a degree to their students."
One of the reviews submitted, from a student called Hayley, said: “I am totally in love with the city, there are lots of things to do apart from studying and preparing for exams.”
Another Bristol University student, Katherine, said: “The city is fabulous, it has everything you could wish for. A great student life, clubs, pubs, jobs and unlimited shopping. It is definitely a great city to live in and I am so happy with my choice.”