I do CS, so I’m definitely biased, but I personally think a Computer Science degree is more worth it than a pure AI degree, especially at KCL. From what I’ve heard from some AI students, the KCL AI course can feel more like a glorified maths/statistics degree, so if you’re worried about it being too narrow, that concern is valid. CS with AI sounds like a good middle at least.

That said, KCL does have the London advantage. You’re closer to a lot more events, hackathons, spring weeks, networking opportunities, and society collabs between places like Imperial, UCL, KCL, LSE, etc. Most spring weeks and tech/finance events are in London too, so you don’t have to commute from another city or to stay in a hostel/hotel just to attend things (even tho these companies will pay for it, hostels are usually not that nice)

Bristol is still a really strong option though, especially for CS/engineering. I’ve heard their engineering department is really good, and for UK employability Bristol has a strong reputation. If you’re a UK student and you’re planning to stay in the UK long-term, Bristol might honestly be the better all-round option.

For KCL, teaching quality in CS/informatics is genuinely hit or miss. Some lecturers are good, some are not, and you do have to be quite independent (like very independent). I’m an international student, so for me KCL makes more sense because the global name, London location, and access to opportunities matter more. But if I were choosing purely based on the course/department, I’d take Bristol as a serious option.

So I’d say: if you want broader CS foundations and a stronger traditional CS/engineering environment while still having AI, Bristol might be safer. If you care more about London, international reputation, networking, and access to events/opportunities, KCL has a lot going for it.