In the southwest of England, around the River Avon, is Bristol, a beautiful city Englishwoman that you can visit if you go on a trip to the United Kingdom.
Bristol is a very old city, so here history and culture go hand in hand, offering us simply great attractions. Let's discover them in today's article.
Bristol
If we go back in history we will see that around the 11th century a settlement known in Old English as "the place on the bridge". Keep in mind that There had already been forts before, in the Iron Age, and even some Roman villas.
The truth is that over the centuries it grew in size and importance, and thus was among the three most important cities in terms of taxes, just behind London. And Bristol had and has port.
From the port of this beautiful English city many of the exploring ships of the New World have departed, especially from North America. Well, explorers and slavers, it must be said. However, today the port is much calmer.
Old port buildings have been rebuilt as cultural and heritage centers, and today Bristol's economic activities focus more on means of communication, electronic and aerospace industry.
Bristol Tourism
Bristol, a beautiful English city, it is a great destination to go for a weekend, explore it and use it as base to discover and enjoy the beautiful southwest of England.
For me, the synonym of the United Kingdom is history, so in places like this you have to first know the historical attractions.
We can start with the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a true symbol of Bristol. You can't miss it, especially if it's your first time here. It is a project of Isambard Kingdom Brunel and was important in 19th century engineering.
The bridge has Meters long 414, opens 24 hours a day, every day of the year and only one pound is charged tolls for motorcycles and cars, although It is free for cyclists and pedestrians.
There is a visitor center open from 10 am to 5 pm, also free, where the history, construction and maintenance of this famous bridge is explained. Tours are on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays at 2 pm.
It is followed by Bristol Cathedral, a temple consecrated in 1148, built in Romanesque style and quite similar to the Notre Dam Cathedral in Paris.
It has been rebuilt many times, especially after bomb damage in World War II. The cathedral is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm and from 11:30 to 3 pm on Sundays. Admission is free.
A walk through the king street It can't be missed either. This street was originally laid out in 1650, and is part of the soul of Bristol as the old barges docked here after their journey from South Wales. Now the same area has been filled with bars and restaurants and even a surviving 17th-century pub, such as the charming The Hatchet Inn, with its Tudor style.
El St. Nicholas Market It is a lovely, lively and colorful place with many shops and stalls. There are plenty of local farmers stands, vintage clothing, used books…
The market dates from 1743 and it's a great place to hang around, explore and watch the locals move around. And there is also a WWII air raid shelter that can be visited, which adds charm.
Gloucester Road It is another street that you should visit. It is the longest street with independent shops in all of Europe. Is all pedestrian and you will find all kinds of shops, cafes and pubs.
For those who cannot stop visiting museums, the city has the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. It was established in 1832 and covers everything that has to do with English history, from archeology to dinosaurs to art.
The museum, like British museums in general, It is free entry, and you can not be a fan of museums and still enjoy the visit. You find it on Queens Street. Open Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 5 pm.
El SS Great Britain, anchored in the port, It is the first passenger line steamship. She made her first voyage in 1845 and was the longest ship in the world for almost an entire decade.
Its construction lasted six long years and bankrupted its owners. Not long after it was launched it must have been sold. She was later used as a passenger ferry in distant Australia, and later converted into a sailing ship.
It was sunk in the Falkland Islands, South Atlantic, in 1937, and remained there for 33 years until it was recovered and taken to the United Kingdom to become tourist attraction. You can visit it from Tuesday to Sunday from 10 am to 4 pm, in autumn and winter, and until 5 pm the rest of the year. Entry costs £22.
If you like nature and go in good weather, then you should walk and explore The Downs, a park protected area located on the city limits. It is not far from Clifton Bridge and Avon Canyon.
There is an area known as Sea Wall which has great views and has become a good recreational spot for the people of Bristol, not far from the city.
La Cabot Tower It is 32 meters high and was built in 1890 to commemorate the 400th anniversary of the departure of explorer Juan Cabot from Bristol on his voyage of "discovery" of North America. He was the first European to visit this part of America following the previous Viking visits.
The tower is made of limestone and has a narrow staircase inside which can be used to reach the top and enjoy the great views of Bristol and the surrounding area. Open every day from 8 am to 5:15 pm, and admission is free.
El Castle Blaise It was built in 1798 in the Gothic revival style. It's not real, it's a building built by a wealthy family that wanted a little castle, but it's nice and offers good views of the Avon Canyon. And it has an old house that has become a museum.
Speaking of the Avon, what you can do is take a walk through the valley using the train. El Avon Valley Railway It dates back to the second half of the 19th century and once connected Bristol to Bath. It is only three miles of historic route but the train it's steam so that's great.
You will also see a typical Victorian station, fully restored, so you can feel like you're in a Jane Austen novel. The train journey departs from Britton Station, every day from 9am to 5pm, and tickets cost 11 GPB.
Finally, if you like underground treasures there are the Wookey Hole Caves. It is located outside the city, but it is a very beautiful geological area that you can turn into a day trip ideal. They are an hour away by car.
These are limestone caves that were created by an underground river and can be visited in a 35 minute tour. There is also a museum with artifacts that were found inside, and you can even take a boat ride through the waters inside the cave to learn about speology. They cost £22,95.
How to get to Bristol, a beautiful English city? You can arrive in train, bus, car or plane from many corners of the country and Europe.