Final Up to date: 5/22/23 | Could twenty second, 2023
Whereas most vacationers who go to England solely go to London, there are literally a variety of different gems within the nation price exploring.
One such place is Bristol.
“Bristol? There’s not a lot there.”
That was the usual reply from locals every time I discussed I used to be heading to Bristol.
For sure, I had low expectations. However I visited anyway. In spite of everything, 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 faculty city with wonderful eateries, great issues to see, and loads of inexperienced house.
Bristol is just like the English model of Seattle. Most vacationers appear to make use of it as a base for journeys to Tub however by no means absolutely discover this metropolis, giving it solely a quick 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 also be one of many largest delivery ports in England. It acquired a royal constitution in 1155 and, till the rise of Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester in the course of the Industrial Revolution, was certainly one of England’s largest cities.
Bristol suffered intensive bombing throughout World Warfare II and a subsequent decline in its manufacturing business. Right now, the town is a vibrant faculty city. The College of Bristol dominates the town, and the scholars present a variety of revenue and jobs for the neighborhood.
That will help you take advantage of out of your go to, right here’s a listing of my favourite issues to see and do in Bristol:
1. Bristol Cathedral
This lovely cathedral was consecrated in 1148 and was constructed within the Romanesque type (and has an analogous design to Notre Dame in Paris). Initially named St. Augustine’s Abbey, the cathedral stretches over 300 ft and whereas a lot of it has been rebuilt, a few 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 It was the place the outdated crusing barges docked after their journeys from South Wales. Now the realm is the guts of the theatrical district and options excellent bars and eating places. There are even some pubs from the seventeenth century which might be nonetheless standing, akin to 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 supplies 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 ft) and handles virtually 10,000 autos per day. There’s a small customer heart close by the place you may be taught extra concerning the bridge and its historical past too (it’s open each day from 10am-5pm).
4. Take a look at St. Nicholas Market
It is a full of life, bustling market with extra outlets than you possibly can undergo in a day. There appears to be an infinite variety of farmers’ stalls with wonderful 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/internet/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 a little bit little bit of every part — from archaeology to dinosaurs to English historical past to artwork. The expansive selection retains issues attention-grabbing so even non-history buffs will take pleasure in it. It’s the realm’s largest museum and certainly one of my private favorites. Whereas there are tens of 1000’s of things within the museum’s assortment, it’s not too overwhelming and simple to see in a number of 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 outdated metropolis and has been an necessary port for nearly a thousand years. With a lot historical past, it ought to come as no shock that the town has collected its fair proportion of ghost tales. To listen to a few of the tales as you discover the 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 residence to a number of works by Banksy in addition to tons of different murals. Bristol was Banksy’s street-art residence, and you may uncover over 30 years of avenue artwork by artists from all around the world.
Excursions from The place the Wall final 2 hours and canopy the town’s finest 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 quick strolling excursions will let you expertise a few of Bristol’s oldest neighborhoods and can educate you concerning the early historical past of the town in the course of 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 value 12.50 GBP.
7. See the S.S. Nice Britain
Situated 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 truly the longest ship on this planet for nearly a decade. (It’s 322 ft 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 become 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 residence to over 250 interactive displays, making it a enjoyable and academic place to go to if you happen to’re touring with children. They’ve a planetarium, 3D printers, and displays masking 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. Calm down on the Downs
The Downs (Clifton Down and Durdham Down) are a protected parkland on the sting of the 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 loosen up, stroll, and watch the locals play sports activities. The realm generally known as the Sea Wall is the right place to absorb the views, and there’s loads of house to unfold out and luxuriate in a pure retreat with out straying too removed from the town.
10. See Cabot Tower
The tower, which stands 32 meters (105 ft), 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 slim 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 each day from 8:00am-5:15pm. Admission is free.
11. Go to Blaise Citadel
In-built 1798 within the Gothic Revival type, this “fort” is definitely a sham — it’s not an actual fort 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 encompassing 650 acres and the Avon Gorge. There’s additionally a close-by historic residence that has been transformed right into a museum the place you may be taught extra concerning the fort and its quirky historical past.
Kings Weston Rd, +44 117 922 2000, bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/blaise-castle-estate. Open each day from 7:30am–5:15pm (5:15pm within the winter). Admission is free.
12. Journey the Avon Valley Railway
This railway, which dates again to the 1860s, as soon as linked Bristol to Tub. Right now it’s a three-mile heritage railway the place you may trip 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 climbing fanatics, there’s a strolling path beside the tracks if you happen to’d reasonably discover on foot.
Bitton Station, +44 117 932 5538, avonvalleyrailway.org. Open each 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 on the lookout for an journey exterior of the town, go to the Wookey Gap Caves. This distinctive geological space is a fast and simple day journey from Bristol (it’s simply an hour away by automobile). The limestone caves have been created from an underground river and you may discover them through a 35-minute tour. There’s additionally a museum that shows artifacts found throughout the caves. In the event you’re feeling adventurous, think about taking a ship trip by way of the waters contained in the cave the place you’ll find out about spelunking.
The Mill, Excessive St, Wookey Gap, +44 1749 672243, wookey.co.uk. Opening hours differ 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 outlets. 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 outlets and boutiques each few steps, and it’s an incredible place to take pleasure in some tasty native meals. There are additionally loads of hip cafes and full of life pubs on this space as effectively.
I assumed Bristol, with its outdated industrial-turned-Bohemian appeal, made for an incredible place to spend a number of days. There have been historic homes to go to, a number of 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 Tub, we will have the 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 price a go to.
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