Final Up to date: 3/2/23 | March 2nd, 2023
Whereas most vacationers who go to England solely go to London, there are literally a whole lot of different gems within the nation value exploring.
One such place is Bristol.
“Bristol? There’s not a lot there.”
That was the usual reply from locals at any time when I discussed I used to be heading to Bristol.
Evidently, I had low expectations. However I visited anyway. In any case, there’s no such factor as “must-see” — and meaning there’s no such factor as “should skip” both.
On arrival, I discovered a hip school city with superb eateries, great issues to see, and loads of inexperienced area.
Bristol is just like the English model of Seattle. Most vacationers appear to make use of it as a base for journeys to Bathtub however by no means totally discover this metropolis, giving it solely a short look earlier than heading again to London.
It is a mistake.
With a inhabitants of round 500,000, Bristol is the most important metropolis in southern England (after London) and can be one of many largest delivery ports in England. It obtained a royal constitution in 1155 and, till the rise of Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester throughout the Industrial Revolution, was considered one of England’s largest cities.
Bristol suffered in depth bombing throughout World Struggle II and a subsequent decline in its manufacturing business. Right this moment, town is a vibrant school city. The College of Bristol dominates town, and the scholars present a whole lot of revenue and jobs for the group.
That will help you take advantage of out of your go to, right here’s an inventory of my favourite issues to see and do in Bristol:
1. Bristol Cathedral
This stunning cathedral was consecrated in 1148 and was constructed within the Romanesque type (and has the same design to Notre Dame in Paris). Initially named St. Augustine’s Abbey, the cathedral stretches over 300 toes and whereas a lot of it has been rebuilt, a number of the authentic constructing stays.
Faculty Inexperienced, West Finish, +44 117 926 4879, bristol-cathedral.co.uk. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-4pm and 11:30am-3pm on Sundays. Costume respectfully as it is a place of worship. Admission is free. Excursions can be found on most Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11:30am and a couple of:15pm for five GBP.
2. Wander King Road
Initially specified by 1650, King Road is a captivating, historic a part of Bristol. It was the place the previous crusing barges docked after their journeys from South Wales. Now the world is the center of the theatrical district and options excellent bars and eating places. There are even some pubs from the seventeenth century which are nonetheless standing, reminiscent of The Hatchet Inn which was constructed within the Tudor type in 1606!
3. See the Clifton Suspension Bridge
That is Bristol’s most well-known landmark. Suspended excessive above the Avon Gorge and River Avon, the bridge opened in 1864 and offers sweeping views of the river and surrounding parks and buildings. It was additionally the place one of many early bungee jumps within the UK was held within the Nineteen Seventies. The bridge stretches 412 meters (1,352 toes) and handles virtually 10,000 autos per day. There’s a small customer heart close by the place you’ll be able to be taught extra in regards to the bridge and its historical past too (it’s open day by day from 10am-5pm).
4. Try St. Nicholas Market
It is a vigorous, bustling market with extra retailers than you might undergo in a day. There appears to be an infinite variety of farmers’ stalls with superb native produce, second-hand bookshops, and classic clothes shops. The market dates again to 1743 and is the right place to wander, discover, and other people watch.
Corn St, +44 117 922 4014, bristol.gov.uk/net/st-nicholas-markets. Open Monday-Saturday from 9:30am-5pm.
5. Go to the Bristol Museum and Artwork Gallery
Established in 1823, this museum covers somewhat little bit of every little thing — from archaeology to dinosaurs to English historical past to artwork. The expansive selection retains issues fascinating so even non-history buffs will get pleasure from it. It’s the world’s largest museum and considered one of my private favorites. Whereas there are tens of hundreds of things within the museum’s assortment, it’s not too overwhelming and straightforward to see in just a few hours. Plus, like all public museums in England, it’s free!
Queens Highway, +44 117 922 3571, bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is free however donations are inspired.
6. Take a Strolling Tour
Bristol is an previous metropolis and has been an vital port for nearly a thousand years. With a lot historical past, it ought to come as no shock that town has collected its fair proportion of ghost tales. To listen to a number of the tales as you discover town, take a haunted strolling tour with Haunted and Hidden Ghost Walks. Their tour begins nightly at 8pm, lasts 90 minutes, and is effectively definitely worth the 7 GBP!
If haunted walks aren’t your cup of tea, take a avenue artwork tour. Bristol is dwelling to a number of works by Banksy in addition to tons of different murals. Bristol was Banksy’s street-art dwelling, and you may uncover over 30 years of avenue artwork by artists from everywhere in the world.
Excursions from The place the Wall final 2 hours and canopy town’s greatest works of public artwork. Excursions begin at 7.50 GBP and run most Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Bristol Pirate Walks are one other enjoyable possibility, particularly for historical past buffs. These brief strolling excursions can help you expertise a few of Bristol’s oldest neighborhoods and can train you in regards to the early historical past of town throughout the sixteenth, seventeenth, and 18th centuries. You’ll additionally get to see websites related to legendary pirates like Lengthy John Silver and Blackbeard. Excursions final 1 hour and price 12.50 GBP.
7. See the S.S. Nice Britain
Positioned within the harbor, the S.S Nice Britain was the world’s first steam-powered passenger liner. It took its maiden voyage in 1845 and was really the longest ship on the earth for nearly a decade. (It’s 322 toes lengthy).
Sadly, because it was so huge it took a very long time to construct (it took 6 years to finish) and the homeowners went bankrupt not lengthy after it was launched. It ran aground not lengthy after and was offered for salvage. After being repaired, the ship was used to ferry passengers to Australia from 1852-1881 when the ship was transformed to all-sail. It was scuttled and sunk within the Falkland Islands in 1937 the place it stayed for 33 years till it was recovered, hauled again to the UK, and became a vacationer attraction.
Nice Western Dockyard, +44 0117 926 0680, ssgreatbritain.org. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm. Admission is 22 GBP.
8. Have Enjoyable at WetheCurious
This science and artwork heart is an academic charity devoted to cultivating curiosity. Opened in 2000, it’s dwelling to over 250 interactive reveals, making it a enjoyable and academic place to go to should you’re touring with children. They’ve a planetarium, 3D printers, and reveals protecting the human physique, magnets, animation, and extra! The constructing is at present closed for repairs after a hearth however plans to reopen someday in 2023.
1 Millennium Sq., +44 0117 915 1000, wethecurious.org. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is 16.50 GBP.
9. Loosen up on the Downs
The Downs (Clifton Down and Durdham Down) are a protected parkland on the sting of town. Spanning over 400 acres, they’re inside strolling distance of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge and make for a pleasant place to chill out, stroll, and watch the locals play sports activities. The realm referred to as the Sea Wall is the right place to absorb the views, and there may be loads of area to unfold out and luxuriate in a pure retreat with out straying too removed from town.
10. See Cabot Tower
The tower, which stands 32 meters (105 toes), was constructed within the Nineties to have a good time the four-hundredth anniversary of the Italian explorer John Cabot’s departure from Bristol and his final “discovery” of North America (he was the primary European to go to North America for the reason that Norse Vikings in 1000 CE). The tower is constructed from sandstone and has a slender staircase inside which you can climb to absorb the sweeping view.
Brandon Hill Park, +44 0117 922 3719, bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/brandon-hill. Open day by day from 8:00am-5:15pm. Admission is free.
11. Go to Blaise Fort
In-built 1798 within the Gothic Revival type, this “fortress” is definitely a sham — it’s not an actual fortress however reasonably a look-alike constructed by a rich household only for the enjoyable of it. It’s basically a decorative constructing, providing sweeping views over the encircling 650 acres and the Avon Gorge. There may be additionally a close-by historic dwelling that has been transformed right into a museum the place you’ll be able to be taught extra in regards to the fortress and its quirky historical past.
Kings Weston Rd, +44 117 922 2000, bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/blaise-castle-estate. Open day by day from 7:30am–5:15pm (5:15pm within the winter). Admission is free.
12. Experience the Avon Valley Railway
This railway, which dates again to the 1860s, as soon as related Bristol to Bathtub. Right this moment it’s a three-mile heritage railway the place you’ll be able to journey a steam-powered practice. There’s additionally a completely restored Victorian practice station the place you will get a way of what touring was like on the flip of the final century. For mountaineering fans, there’s a strolling path beside the tracks should you’d reasonably discover on foot.
Bitton Station, +44 117 932 5538, avonvalleyrailway.org. Open day by day from 9:00am-5:00pm. Steam practice tickets are 11 GBP whereas diesel practice tickets are 10 GBP.
13. Go to the Wookey Gap Caves
In the event you’re in search of an journey exterior of town, go to the Wookey Gap Caves. This distinctive geological space is a fast and straightforward day journey from Bristol (it’s simply an hour away by automotive). The limestone caves had been created from an underground river and you may discover them by way of a 35-minute tour. There may be additionally a museum that shows artifacts found inside the caves. In the event you’re feeling adventurous, think about taking a ship journey via the waters contained in the cave the place you’ll study spelunking.
The Mill, Excessive St, Wookey Gap, +44 1749 672243, wookey.co.uk. Opening hours range based mostly on holidays and seasons however are typically 9:40am-4:30pm. Examine the web site for particular occasions. Admission is 21.45 GBP.
14. Discover Gloucester Highway
Bristol’s Gloucester Highway options Europe’s largest stretch of impartial retailers. The entire avenue is walkable, and also you’ll discover loads of locations to cease and people-watch. You’ll discover distinctive one-of-a-kind retailers and boutiques each few steps, and it’s an incredible place to get pleasure from some tasty native meals. There are additionally loads of hip cafes and vigorous pubs on this space as effectively.
I believed Bristol, with its previous industrial-turned-Bohemian allure, made for an incredible place to spend just a few days. There have been historic homes to go to, just a few good museums, and a few great parks. Its picture as an industrial heart nonetheless lingers on in most of England, making it a spot few go or wish to discover.
However that works out for the remainder of us. For whereas everybody else heads off to Bathtub, we are able to have town of Bristol to ourselves.
I think the phrase will get out, however for now, Bristol stays a hidden gem and a metropolis that’s effectively value a go to.
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