With a population of around 400,000, Bristol is the largest city in the south of England after London and the largest shipping port in England. Although Bristol suffered from extensive bombing during World War II and more recently, a steep decline in its manufacturing industry, it has remained a prosperous city thanks to an influx of commercial investment.
The port of Bristol grew up in mediaeval times around the confluence of the rivers Avon and Frome, requiring ships to navigate the tidal and precipitous Avon Gorge that flows out into the Severn Estuary at Avonmouth.
At the beginning of the nineteenth century, this tidal port was turned into the enclosed Floating Harbour by the construction of locks and the New Cut (an overflow channel for the River Avon). Because of the way this was done, the floating harbour winds its way through the city centre in quite a different manner to the way most enclosed docks turn their backs on their host city.
With the advent of larger ships the tricky passage of the Avon Gorge became too much of a liability and Bristol's commercial shipping long since moved downstream to modern docks at Avonmouth and Portbury. But the floating harbour lives on as a real unique selling point for Bristol, providing mooring for leisure craft and preserved ships, a home for the city's industrial museum and a setting for numerous bars, restaurants, apartment complexes and offices.
Although it's often overlooked as a tourist destination, Bristol has a lot to offer of its own and is also an excellent base for exploring the West Country, with relatively inexpensive accommodation compared to some of the main 'tourist traps' (such as nearby Bath) and a huge choice of bars, restaurants and shops. It is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the South of England, hosting a wide variety of visual arts, theatre, speciality shopping and live music.
PLACE TO VISIT
The Empire and Commonwealth Museum, Located in Brunel's historic railway terminus building adjacent to the current rail station at Bristol Temple Meads. The museum is moving to London and the main galleries closed 6th October 2008.
SS Great Britain, The world's first iron hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner, built by Brunel in 1843 and now preserved in a dry-dock alongside the floating harbour. The preservation works are still underway (as of December 2004) and only small parts are publicly accessible. Winner of the Gulbenkian Prize for Museum of the Year 2006 - the Biggest Arts Prize in the U.K. Open every day Apr-Oct 10am-5:30pm; every day Nov-Mar 10am-4:30pm; closed Dec 25/26. £8.95 (adults); £6.95 (senior citizens); £4.95 (children).
Bristol Scheduled to open in 2009. It will be located in the L-Shed at Princes Wharf, the former site of the Bristol Industrial Museum that closed in October 2006.
Bristol, Harbourside, Explore (science and technology displays), (Wildscreen and IMAX Cinema are now closed). Explore science centre and planetarium with interactive displays covering the brain, inventions and unexplained mysteries. Open every day 10am-6pm; closed Dec 25. £9.00 (adults); £7 (students & senior citizens); £7 (children).
Brandon Hill & The Cabot Tower, This attractive and hilly park is worth visiting, if only for the views over Bristol from the hill-top. Even better views can be gained by climbing the narrow spiral staircase within the Cabot Tower atop the hill. Open every day from 8am to 30mins before dusk. The tower is currently closed for significant structural maintenance and will reopen in summer 2009.
Corn Exchange & The Nails, Corn Street. The Palladian Corn Exchange, built in 1743, boasts a clock on its frontage that ingeniously tells time both in the new-fangled GMT and the old Bristol time. In front are nails (in reality Bronze pillars) over which the local merchants did business; from these come the expression 'paid on the nail'. Exterior always open. Free.
Castle Park & St Peters Church. It is difficult to imagine now, but this large harbour-side park was a network of busy streets and shops until it was bombed out during the second world war. Within the park are the excavated ruins of Bristol Castle, and the ruined St Peters Church preserved as it stood after the bombing as a memorial to those killed. Open during daylight hours. Free.
King Street. King Street is now the heart of Bristol's theatre-land but it once lead down to the docks at Welsh Back, where the old sailing trows (a type of sailing barge) used to dock after their journeys from South Wales. The street has changed little since those days, and the Llandoger Trow pub dates back to 1663. It is rumoured to have been patronised by pirates of old, not to mention Robert Louis Stevenson whilst writing Treasure Island
Clifton Suspension Bridge. Possibly the city's most famous landmark, Brunel's 19th century suspension bridge spans the spectacular Avon Gorge at a height of 75m. Always open. Free to walk across, 50 pence to drive over. Daily tours operate at 3pm during the summer (Free). There is also an observatory tower next to it. There is a small charge to go in.
Clifton Downs and Observatory. The Downs provide a huge open space within Bristol, with great overlook views over the Avon Gorge and the suspension bridge. Atop the Downs closest to the bridge is the Observatory, housing a camera obscura and a tunnel to an observation point in a cave within the 250-foot sheer cliff face of the gorge.
Montpelier (pronounced Mont-pelly-err, rather than the French-accented Mon-pell-ee-ay!). The bohemian heart of Bristol and home to artists and musicians of all descriptions. The streets are often canvases themselves and you'll find work by famous graffiti artists around every corner. great music, cafes, an independent cinema, and a treasure trove of vintage clothing.
St Pauls. Is the Afro-Caribbean centre of Bristol and home to the world famous St Pauls Carnival. It still suffers from the negative reputation of having been home of the St Pauls riots over 25 years ago but visitors today will find it a colourful, friendly area with fantastic reggae pubs and clubs and a great street art scene. Host to an Asian supermarket on Ashley Road next door to Teoh's pan-Asian cafe.
St Werburghs. Is the alternative quarter and a green oasis in the heart of the city. Filled with allotments, a city farm, eco-housing and lively pubs including the award-winning The Duke of York in Jubilee Road and The Miner's Arms in Mina Road . The most recent addition to the area is the multi-million pound Eastgate Oriental City complex which features a large Chinese supermarket and Chinese restaurant.
Easton. Is possibly the most multicultural area in Bristol where people of all nationalities rub shoulders. Here you can find anything from anywhere in the world - black hair and beauty, saris, Moroccan and Somalian cafes...You name it, you'll find it in Easton! This area is quite rightly home to the World On Your Doorstep festival held every June on Stapleton Road. For fantastic cafes and specialist shops (including the locally-famed Bristol Sweet Mart selling a large range of south-Asian foods and ingredients) head to St Marks Road.
HOW TO REACH
By plane - Bristol International Airport is situated 8 miles south-west of Bristol city centre and offers scheduled flights from major European cities, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Paris and Prague (but not London), and as of May 2005 a daily flight from New York. There is no train link between the airport and the city, but there is a 'Flyer' bus service that takes 30-45 minutes and has a peak-daytime frequency of every 20-30 minutes, costs are £8 for a day-return ticket, £6 for a one-way.
By train - Bristol Temple Meads station is located approximately 15 minutes walk from the city centre and has regular inter-city and regional train services from Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, London, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea and York.
Bristol has a second main railway station in Bristol Parkway, which is located several miles north of the city centre. Although this station also has frequent services to many of the same locations as Temple Meads, it is principally aimed at suburban residents and is unlikely to be useful to visitors.
By bus - National Express operate services to Marlborough St Coach station, located in the city centre, from cities throughout the UK including London. The journey from London to Bristol takes about 2h30min. Tickets are much cheaper if booked in advance online.
MegaBus also operate budget coach services from London to a stop outside the Colston Hall in Colston Street (Behind Yates Winelodge City Centre). Tickets must be booked online and fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance). The journey to London takes about 30 min longer than by National Express.
By car - The M5 and M4 motorways intersect near Bristol and the M32, a motorway 'spur', brings traffic directly into the city centre. The M4 links London with Bristol with a driving time of some two hours.
The city also has 3 Park and Ride facilities, A4 Portway, Long Ashton and A4 Bath Road sites, for more information see National Park and Ride Directory
Parkopedia.com is a free service that allows users to search and compare parking rates and locations for commercial and private parking facilities in Bristol.
