The UK’s Number 1 English Language School *
* Joint number 1 UK English language school, according to the El Gazette rankings based on British Council inspectors’ publishable statements
General English and Exam Preparation
Find the best English course for you, run by experienced teachers with an average of over 21 years' experience
Learn English in a lively student city
Discover more about the vibrant city of Bristol, the second largest city in the South of England


“English language courses in Bristol have been our speciality for the last 50 years and we would love to welcome you to our school. ELC Bristol is a family-run school which prides itself on caring for each individual student. Our team of dedicated teachers and staff will do everything they can to ensure that you have one of the most enjoyable and productive times of your life.”
John and Margaret Duncan
ELC Bristol Directors
Full-time intensive English courses in a lively university city.
General English Course
Boost your confidence and improve your English skills in speaking, listening, reading and writing.
Learn moreIELTS Exam Preparation Course
If you’re planning to study in the UK, get ready to take the IELTS exam with our intensive preparation course.
Learn moreCambridge B2 First FCE Examination Course
Prepare for the world-renowned Cambridge B2 First Exam with support and tuition from our experienced teachers.
Learn moreCambridge C1 Advanced CAE Examination Course
Prepare for the world-renowned Cambridge C1 Advanced Exam with support and tuition from our experienced teachers.
Learn moreCambridge C2 Proficiency CPE Examination Course
Prepare for the world-renowned Cambridge C2 Proficiency Exam with support and tuition from our experienced teachers.
Learn moreEnglish Summer Courses
Summer English language courses at ELC Bristol are from the middle of June to the middle of September. We organise the summer English courses at ELC Bristol in the same way we run our courses the rest of the year.
Learn moreCambridge LINGUASKILL
ELC Bristol offers the Cambridge English Linguaskill test. Students at any level can take the test during their time at ELC. The Linguaskill test has replaced what used to be the BULATS examination.
Learn moreNeed help to decide which course is best for you? Get in touch.
Get in touchLearn about Bristol, the UK’s coolest city **
** According to the National Geographic Cool List 2018
We’re much more than a language school.
Accommodation
Whether you want to learn more about British culture with a local family, be more independent in self-catering accommodation or find a hotel in Bristol, we’ll help find the best accommodation for you.
Learn moreSocial Programme
From school parties to day trips to other places in the UK, there’s always lots going on in and around Bristol for our students to enjoy.
What’s new?
22 hours ago
Bristol in the snow ❄️ Scroll for our resident snowman! ⛄️
Yesterday we woke up to a winter wonderland 🤍
This beautiful snowy shot of the Clifton Suspension Bridge was taken by the talented @lottiecrippsvideo and the selfie was taken by our own John Duncan! 📷
We’re not sure who is more excited for the snow, our students, or John!
How many of you were lucky enough to see Bristol in the snow? Share your memories in the comments and tag your ELC Bristol classmates! ... See MoreSee Less
- Likes: 71
- Shares: 0
- Comments: 2
Comment on Facebook 174310422731953_1880979642065014
i had the same experience in 2012. i still remember that that the student were totally not in the mood to study English and even not to stay inside the classroom. wonderful time... i am in love with ELC
Beautiful! Christmas 1979 I saw snow in Bristol...a longo time ago.❤
5 days ago
Music is the universal language...it brings people closer together 💙 (Ella Fitzgerald)
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We wanted to bring you closer to us by sharing a special ELC Bristol ‘behind the scenes’ moment from last month ✨
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The talented Celine (from Switzerland 🇨🇭) and Otto (from the Netherlands 🇳🇱) both happen to be skilled linguists and musicians!
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They both recently took their Cambridge Proficiency exam and sounds like they’d ace their music exams too!
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It’s never been a better time to take up a new hobby like music 🎵
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Why not learn to play the piano like our students, or simply start by singing a song? (Try singing one with English lyrics, so you can practice your pronunciation at the same time) 😉
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We hope this post makes you feel close to us and inspires you too ♥️ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook 1877868545709457
Yes, and Always brings back Good memories❤
2 weeks ago
What a week!
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Monday - First day of our new term and 50 students arrive at ELC Bristol and start classes.
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Tuesday - The UK government announces the lockdown and we are to told to teach online.
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Wednesday - We still have 40 students studying full-time online in 5 classes with their normal teachers and classmates. Some of our students are in homestays, others in their own accommodation and some students are in a ‘bubble’ in St John’s where there is a wonderful, friendly, international atmosphere!
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Thursday - Online classes are going well and our students are making excellent progress!
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Friday - Our teachers are getting top reviews from students and have been making sure everything goes smoothly. Some might say we have the best teachers in the world!
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The future - We will wait until mid February when we hope to be able to resume face-to-face teaching, but until then our fantastic teachers will continue to bring the best experience possible online to our awesome students.
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Our message to you: Together we are stronger - we will all get through this, and are grateful for the support of our ELC Bristol family around the world - thank you! 💙
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Don’t hesitate to email us info@elcbristol.co.uk or send us a message if you have any questions 😊 ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook What a week! . ...
Hi Nick Clark
It's Nick!!😄😄
You will always be there for your students - you are the BEST- we all just have to keep going and we will all survive and be even stronger!!
Stay safe and healthy 💪🏻
Stay safe and healthy 💪🏻
👏👏👏👏👏❤
🇨🇭🇬🇧
Nick!!! Miss you 🙏😍
4 weeks ago
Farewell 2020, hello 2021!
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A big thank you to our students past and present, agents, teachers, staff, homestay families and friends for all your support.
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School starts again on Monday 4th January. We’re excited to be back teaching English at the joint top school in the UK, to the best students in the world!
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2020 has taught us how much love there is out there for ELC Bristol 💙 and how wonderful our students are.
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Wishing everyone a healthy and happy new year from the ELC Bristol family. See you in Bristol soon! ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook Farewell 2020, hello...
Happy New Year to you all!
Happy New Year 2021
Happy New Year !
Best wishes from Kiki and Owen in Taiwan ! 🎊🎉
Happy New Year! 🥳
#HappyNewYear
A lovely New Year to you all !!!🎊🥂😊❤
ELC Bristol is in Clifton Village, Bristol.
1 month ago
Merry Bris-mass!
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Bristol is looking beautiful in what is a very different Christmas for all of us this year 🎄
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This is one of our favourite spots in Clifton Village, just a short walk from the school.
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Sending light and love to all our students and ELC Bristol family ✨ ... See MoreSee Less
Comment on Facebook Merry Bris-mass! . ...
Merry Christmas! ❤️
Merry Christmas from Argentina!!! Love you all !!!! Miss you a lot. I'm serious.
Merry Christmas!! A view from Rio 😊
Merry Christmas to all the team at ELC Bristol!
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas ELC Bristol And Happy New Year 🎄
Merry Christmas to ELC Bristol all ~
Merry Christmas ELC !! I saw that lovely tree 2 weeks ago ! Cheers for a better year next year.
Merry Christmas from Birmingham ❤️
👏🎄🇨🇭🇬🇧✌️
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On the first day of school, the Principal told us that ELC would be our family in Bristol. I realized, after a while, that all the ELC staff make you feel at home. ELC is like a big door which opens up the world. We come here to learn English, but ELC is more than that because you can experience many different cultures and make beautiful friendships, especially on the social programme excursions.
Naif
from Saudi Arabia
“I was at ELC for nine months and it was the time of my life. I wish I could go back in time to be at the school, taking part in the social programme activities, school parties.
Thanks to ELC for teaching me so much during the nine months I was there. It wasn’t a matter of learning English because at ELC I learned about life. And of course, thank you for giving me amazing lifelong friends.”
Marta
from Spain
“ELC Bristol is simply the best place if you want to really learn English in an innovative way. You’ll meet amazing people from all around the world.
It’s a learning journey that will change you forever.”
Alberto
from Italy
“Learning English at ELC gave me a fantastic experience. I arrived here completely without English and ELC improved my English. I made a lot of different friends and all my time here was amazing.”
Otavio
from Brazil
“I am happy to be learning English at ELC. The teachers are really friendly and good natured. I like social programme activities because I can make new friends.
I also think Bristol is a perfect place for studying because there are a lot of things to enjoy.”
Mayuko
from Japan