About

Brash, trendy and carefree, Bristol is an English city that is full of energy and passion for informality and laid-backness. The largest city in the southwest of England has much to offer in the realm of culture, tradition and entertainment. Come visit the spectacular Clifton Suspension Bridge, a fabulous balloon fiesta and a wonderful array of museums surrounded by pristine countryside. Serving as the country's leading port in the 18th-19th centuries, Bristol accordingly has an illustrious history to unfold to the world. This is definitely a city of contrast between the historic and the modern. To travel to Bristol is to visit a highly stylized city with an outstanding attitude that distinguishes it from the rest of Britain.

History

Bristol was once known as Brigstow - "place of a bridge" - in Anglo-Saxon times, but its history dates back to the Stone Age. Trading goods between the residents was big, and by the 14th century Bristol became a major import/export town. Its proximity to the sea enabled the development of sea-faring that it was from here that a ship was sent to discover the American continent. Bristol became a boom port in the 18th century as a result of the lucrative slave trade and later the coal industry that helped propel the brass and glass industry. Bristol also gave the world the first iron, propeller-driven ship, the SS Great Britain which accomplished numerous journeys across the Atlantic. As slavery was abolished, the city's wealth also began to subside and it lost the title as a number one port to Liverpool. Its aerial industry induced air raid during WWII, but Bristol managed to recover. Today, the city has matured into a thriving city that looks toward the future with a laid-back attitude.

The Harbour

Against the backdrop of the harbour are bars, restaurants, cinemas and art galleries (including The Arnolfini and Watershed), making this a great place for a stroll. It's also home to the award-winning attractions of the At-Bristol complex and is where you'll find Bristol Tourist Information Centre as well. Visible across the water is Bristol Industrial Museum and slightly further along the water's edge, are the city's two famous ships - The Matthew and SS Great Britain. In the summer, this area really comes alive and Bristolians like nothing better than to sit on the quayside, legs dangling over the edge of the water, enjoying a pint or a coffee. Take a trip around the water on one of the small ferries for the best view of it all.

Park Street

Park Street, home to the historic Cathedral (usually surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic skateboarders) is possibly the trendiest street in the city and is lined with shops, bars and cafes, all with a certain student-flavour - perfect if you're looking for an alternative to all the usual high-street stores. If you're heading up to the top (be warned, it's steep), take a look at The Georgian House and Cabot Tower, both off Great George Street. Also nearby are The Red Lodge and The City Art Gallery and Museum—great for a rainy day.

Ancient City/Modern Shopping

Corn Street, one of Bristol's oldest and most historic streets, was once the meeting place for the city's wealthy merchants, hence the ornate and grand buildings. These now house numerous bars and restaurants - some are rather mass-produced but others offer superb and refined dining, such as Markwicks and San Carlo. Halfway up is the fascinating St Nicholas Market - a sprawling grid of alleys and stalls selling all kinds of gifts and produce. After you've had your fill of history, follow the crowds to what is the city's busiest shopping area, Broadmead - a criss-cross of pedestrianized streets packed with all the leading chain stores, in the middle of which is an indoor shopping mall, The Galleries Shopping Centre. It's brash, not particularly pretty and only worth a visit if money is burning a hole in your pocket, in which case it's perfect.

Cotham and Redland

Travel up Christmas Steps and onto St. Michael's Hill, both well worth a look for their classic old boozers such as The Highbury Vaults and lively cafes such as St. Michael's Cafe is the students' choice for a fry-up and you'll reach the Cotham and Redland areas. Mainly residential, with beautiful old houses and leafy streets, they're still worth a visit for their cafes, pubs and restaurants - Red Snapper and Blue Juice to name just a few - and shops! There are masses of charity shops for those after a bargain, plus speciality shops selling, amongst other things, kites and vintage clothes. You'll notice a definite hippie, studenty, eco-conscious feel in the air around here.

Clifton

Clifton contains the grandest architecture and atmosphere in the whole city and to leave Bristol without seeing all it offers would be a crime! It's an absolutely gorgeous place and a wander round here leaves you with the impression that you've somehow stepped back into time. You can visit all its attractions - Clifton Suspension Bridge, Clifton Observatory and Caves, and Bristol Zoo Gardens for example - or just stroll around, taking in all the marvellous Georgian terraces with their iron balconies. Clifton Village is perhaps THE most sought after place to live in the whole city - it's rich and it shows. All of which makes it a great (if slightly expensive) place for shopping - don't miss Clifton Arcade, full of small, independent, antique stores. As expected, there's an equally good number of restaurants, pubs and cafes - mostly full of the city's rich students and well-off professionals. Whiteladies Road is also part of Clifton and apparently the name is nothing to do with Bristol's slave-trading past, but refers to an old nunnery here, whose inhabitants wore white habits. Known as "The Strip" there are masses of lively, funky bars, pubs and restaurants here, making it the main drag for those young, pretty and with money in their pockets. Perfect if you want a night out but don't want to trail all over the city. Don't miss out on the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta at Ashton Court this 9-12 August 2007!

Easton

This area is characterised by its multi-culturalism and even has its own festival—Respect in the West—which celebrates its diversity. Home to a large number of Bristol's Indian, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean and Somalian communities, it's a somewhat neglected area but well worth exploring. It houses Bristol Sweet Mart, the largest stock of Indian foods in the South West and is an excellent choice for a those wanting to dine out cheaply: try The Eastern Taste or Old Casbah Cafe on busy St. Mark's Road.

Getting around Bristol

Bristol is a beautiful city to explore on foot during the summer.
There is a good bus network that can take you to the major tourist sites.
Should you require a taxi, you can book one on the following numbers:

Streamline Taxis: +44 (0)117 926 4001
Swiftline Taxis: +44 (0)117 925 2626