Bristol Attractions: Tourism Profile

Bristol Harbourside

Much of Bristol’s history is defined by the part the city’s port played in the slave trade of the 17^th and 18^th century. Visitors to the city should put some time aside to visit the regenerated Bristol Harbour to learn more about this defining era of history. Popular attractions that tend to pull in tourists at the Harbourside include the Museum of Bristol, the At-Bristol science centre, Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain ocean liner, and a replica of John Cabot’s celebrated 15^th century liner, Matthew,

Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery

Culture vultures keen to expand their horizons can wile away a couple of hours examining the exhibitions on display at the versatile Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery. Split into numerous zones, this museum is particularly renowned for its natural history, architecture and industry exhibitions, but the Art Gallery is also notable for a collection of ornaments from the Chinese Tang dynasty.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

It’s arguably Bristol’s most famous landmark, and it’s free for Bristol visitors to enjoy. Walk along the Clifton Suspension Bridge to enjoy unrivalled views of Avon Gorge and panoramic vistas of the city itself. Completed in the mid 19th century, it’s one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s stand out achievements.

Bristol Zoo

Enjoy a fun day out with all the family at Bristol Zoo, consistently rated amongst the city’s top attractions. The oldest provincial zoo in the world, bring your camera to photograph monkeys, lions, seals, penguins, gorillas, flamingos and butterflies.

Cabot Circus

Opened only in the last decade. Cabot Circus is the largest shopping centre in the south west of England, offering over 120 shops, a cinema, several restaurants and even an adventure golf centre. So if retail therapy isn’t your thing, you should at least find something of interest at this multipurpose venue.

And finally

With so much to enjoy in Bristol, it’s little surprise that the local property market remains in a relatively healthy state in comparison with the rest of the UK, and rooms for rent in Bristol city centre remain particularly popular.

Famous for its long standing heritage as a trading port, 21st century Bristol is extremely versatile as a travel destination, whether it’s historical intrigue or the city’s enticing mix of shops, bars and restaurants that most catches your eye.

Things to Do in Bristol: City Highlights

As touched on previously, the history enthusiast will find plenty to keep himself occupied in Bristol, which expanded rapidly from its port origins in the 11^th century to become one of the leading settlements in the UK four centuries later. It was perhaps during the 15^th century that Bristol began to develop a global reputation as a hotbed of trade.

The city became the starting point for a several major voyages as trading links expanded into the Atlantic. As the popularity of the port surged, the city became a centre for smuggling and piracy, a topic that still piques the interest of tourists to the city to this day, many whom relish the chance to undergo Pirate Walks or visit the Hole in the Wall pub, the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s classic tale Treasure Island.

Aside from its trading roots, Bristol is perhaps most famous for its feats of engineering, predominantly influenced by the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Brunel, is one of the city’s most famous sights, which has arguably become the symbol of the city since first opening in the mid 19th century. Brunel’s finest achievement was the Great Western Railway, which for the first time linked London with the South West of England by rail.

For those keen to enjoy a broader mix of history, the Bristol Museum is a must-visit, famous for its extensive collection of Egyptian artefacts, and for nature lovers, Bristol Zoo Gardens and the Blue Reef Aquarium often prove popular attractions.

For those looking to enjoy some serious retail therapy, Bristol has a number of major shopping centres and a strong cafe culture. Standing adjacent to Broadmead, another popular Bristol shopping district, and opened in 2008, Cabot Circus is the city’s premier shopping destination, with over 120 shops, 2 department stores and a cinema.

Finally, after a day enjoying the city’s many sights, the evening brings even more opportunities to savour Bristol’s culture, with this city highly-rated for its underground music and clubbing scene. Considering all the above, it’s perhaps no surprise that average prices remain fairly steady when it comes to houses for sale in Bristol, even taking into consideration the challenging economic climate.

However, it was as a trading post and a port that this city really began to develop its reputation. Initially, this city had major trading relationships with Ireland and the ports of Wales, but the population of Bristol began to explode as it forged an international reputation as a strategic port city. In fact, Bristol was the launchpad for many famous voyages, including John Cabot’s 1497 expedition to North America.

The 14^th century was to become one of the defining moments in the city’s history, as it became firmly established as England’s third largest medieval town. Further growth encouraged the city’s continued development in the 17^th and 18th century, when Bristol’s port became a key player in the triangular trade, with voyages traversing the Atlantic via Western Africa. Sugar, tobacco, cotton and rum were the leading commodities exchanged via the Bristol ports, but at this time the city also became forever aligned with the slave trade.

And it was the abolition of the slave trade, as well as competition from Liverpool and other UK ports, that eventually saw Bristol quickly lose ground with emerging cities in the Midlands and the North of England reinvigorated by the Industrial Revolution. However, growth remained consistent in the city during the 19^th century, with celebrated engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel a principal figure in Bristol’s development, overseeing the construction of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Great Western Railway.

Bristol was one of the cities that beared the brunt of Luftwaffe bombing during the Second World War, and between November 1940 and April 1941, almost 90,000 buildings were damaged in Bristol, with much of the city centre damaged beyond repair during the Bristol Blitz.

Major rebuilding work during the 1960′s helped Bristol back on the road to recovery, and today, it remains one of the most intriguing cities in the UK. It’s gradually moved away from its seafaring past, and nowadays nearly 60,000 jobs in Bristol are based in the financial services sector, whilst the opening of several major shopping centres has also broadened Bristol’s appeal to the wider world.

With the majority of city breaks aimed at the London, Birmingham and Manchester markets, there are other options that can bring a welcome change to the usual overcrowded tourist hotspots.

Bristol is a great example, being the largest city in the south west of England and located between Somerset and Gloucestershire.

Places to Visit

Bristol has as many places of interest as any other major city. Some that should be added to any short list are the Bristol Zoo Gardens, Blue Reef Aquarium, Cheddar Caves & Gorge, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Berkeley Castle.

Places to Eat

As with any large city, Bristol has a wide and varied selection of restaurants and other places to eat. From fast food to something a little more special, Bristol has a wide range of options that vary from international cuisine to the best locally grown and cooked food that the West Country has to offer.

Some of the places worth considering include The Glassboat restaurants, Browns and Aqua Italia.

Getting about in Bristol and Parking

Bristol has an excellent public transport system with regular bus services and rail networks. Driving in and around the city isn’t as daunting as London or Manchester and there are ample city centre car parking options in and around the city.

If you’re journeying from farther away and prefer to fly than drive, Bristol airport is located approximately 8 miles from the city centre and is easily accessible by car and public transport. The airport offers good facilities for those flying in and out of the city including Bristol Airport parking and regular connections to and from the city. For those that want accommodation near to the airport, there is a good range of Bristol Airport hotels located near to the airport.

So if you’re looking for a Christmas shopping weekend break, a romantic weekend away or just feel the need for a change of scenery, why not visit Bristol and enjoy the wealth of history, places to visit and interesting things to do.

Bristol, the premier city for the South West of England, serves as the entrance to some of the country’s most scenic locations. Having the fifth largest population in England, as well as a rich and colorful history, it has recently transformed into a modern, vibrant European city packed with attractions to suit every kind of visitor .

The original town was 10th century trading port and the city’s maritime heritage is highlighted by the achievements of Bristol’s most famous son, the great Victorian inventor Kingdom Brunel. He was responsible for the SS Great Britain, which became the first iron-hulled, propeller-driven ship to pass between the UK and America and, of course, the world famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, which offers breathtaking views over Bristol.

One of the most important changes to Bristol over recent years has been the transformation of the city’s harborside from a bustling commercial dock to an attractive development filled with restaurants, bars, shops and a range of hotels to suit every visitors pocket. Attractions to look out for include The Hippodrome, Explore-At-Bristol, and Bristol City Football Club. Jumping on a ferry is an ideal way to see the area from a different perspective, with stops at key points along the waters’ edge.

For the dedicated shopaholic, the new Cabot Circus shopping complex has propelled Bristol into the top 10 list of UK shopping destinations. With over 100 new shops, including major flagship stores, restaurants, cafes and delis, and a state-of-the-art 13-screen cinema, this impressive site guarantees that shoppers will not leave Bristol disappointed.

Walk a short distance from the central shopping areas and you will find yourself surrounded by the enchanting old buildings and relics of the past in Bristol’s original Old City. The cobbled streets of Corn Street, Broad Street, King Street and St Nicholas Market remain much the same today as they were hundreds of years ago. Do not miss the majestic Corn Exchange or the quirky old Llandoger Trow pub on King Street.

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