Bristol

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Bristol is the unofficial capital of the West Country of England.

bristol Travel Guide : 1 Understand 2 Get in 2.1 By plane 2.2 By train 2.3 By bus 2.4 By car 3 Get around 4 See 4.1 Temple Meads Area 4.2 Harbourside 4.3 Old Bristol 4.4 Clifton 5 Do 5.1 Cinema 5.2 Theatre 5.3 Music 6 Learn 6.1 Higher education 7 Work 8 Buy 9 Eat 9.1 Budget 9.2 Mid Range 9.3 Splurge 10 Drink 11 Sleep 11.1 Budget 11.2 Mid-range 11.3 Splurge 12 Contact 12.1 Phone 12.2 Internet 13 Stay safe 14 Cope 15 Get out 15.1 Towns and cities 15.2 Outdoor activities 15.3 The Bristol to Bath cycle path 16 External links

Understand

With a population of around 400,000, Bristol is the largest city in the south of England after London and the largest shipping port in England. Although Bristol suffered from extensive bombing during World War II and more recently, a steep decline in its manufacturing industry, it has remained a prosperous and attractive city thanks to an influx of commercial investment.

The port of Bristol grew up in mediaeval times around the confluence of the rivers Avon and Frome, requiring ships to navigate the tidal and precipitous Avon Gorge that flows out into the Severn Estuary at Avonmounth. It was from this tidal harbour that John Cabot set off in 1497 in his ship Mathew and became the first European to discover America.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century, this tidal port was turned into the enclosed Floating Harbour by the construction of locks and the New Cut (an overflow channel for the River Avon). Because of way this was done, the floating harbour winds its way through the city center in quite a different manner to the way most enclosed docks turn their backs on their host city.

With the advent of larger ships the tricky passage of the Avon Gorge became too much of a liability and Bristol's commercial shipping long since moved downstream to modern docks at Avonmouth and Portbury. But the floating harbour lives on as a real unique selling point for Bristol, providing mooring for leisure craft and preserved ships, a home for the city's industrial museum and a setting for numerous bars, restaurants, apartment complexes and offices.

Although it's often overlooked as a tourist destination, Bristol has a lot to offer of its own and is also an excellent base for exploring the West Country, with relatively inexpensive accommodation compared to some of the main 'tourist traps' (such as nearby Bath) and a huge choice of bars, restaurants and shops.

Get in

By plane

Bristol International Airport (http://www.bristolairport.co.uk) is situated 8 miles south-west of Bristol city centre and boasts scheduled flights from major European cities, including Amsterdam, Barcelona, Berlin, Brussels, Copenhagen, Edinburgh, Frankfurt, Glasgow, Paris and Prague (but not London), and as of May 2005 several daily flights from New York. There is currently no train link between the airport and the city, but there is a 'Flyer' bus service which takes 30 minutes and has a peak-daytime frequency of every 20-30 minutes, costing around £7.

The alternative is to use one of the London airports or Birmingham airport and travel on to Bristol by train, car or bus. The most convenient are:

• Heathrow Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/heathrow/) is about two hours drive straight down the M4 (westbound) motorway. Alternatively the RailAir express bus service (running every 20 minutes) connects with the main London to Bristol rail service at Reading rail station; expect the total journey to take slightly over two hours.
• Birmingham International (http://www.bhx.co.uk/) is within quicker (and cheaper) reach of Bristol than London's two other airports, Gatwick and Stansted. By car it takes about 1h45min and you'll be avoiding the congestion-prone M25. Rail services connect Birmingham International to Bristol every 30 min at peak times with a change in Birmingham New Street. The journey takes between two and two and a half hours.
• Gatwick Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/gatwick/) is about three hours drive away via the M23 (northbound), M25 (clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. Alternatively a half-hourly rail service from Gatwick connects with the main London to Bristol rail service at Reading rail station; expect the total journey to take slightly over two hours.
• Stansted Airport (http://www.baa.co.uk/main/airports/stansted/) is about three hours drive away via the M11 (southbound), M25 (anti-clockwise) and M4 (westbound) motorways. By train you will need to catch a Stanstead Express train to London Liverpool Street station, the tube to London Paddington station, then follow the directions below; expect the total journey to take around three and a half hours.

By train

Bristol Temple Meads station is located approximately 20 minutes walk from the city centre and has regular inter-city and regional train services from Bath, Birmingham, Cardiff, Edinburgh, Exeter, Glasgow, London, Manchester, Plymouth, Southampton, Swansea and York.

Bristol has a second main railway station in Bristol Parkway, which is located several miles north of the city center. Although this station also has frequent services to many of the same locations as Temple Meads, it is principally aimed at suburban residents and is unlikely to be useful to visitors.

From London, you should travel from London Paddington station. There are several through trains an hour, the fastest of which take under an hour for the journey. Train times (from any location) can be found on the National Rail Planner (http://www.nationalrail.co.uk/planmyjourney/) or by calling 0845-748-4950 from anywhere in the UK.

By bus

National Express (http://www.nationalexpress.com) operate services to Marlborough St Coach station, located on the edge of the city centre, from cities throughout the UK including London.

MegaBus (http://www.megabus.com) also operate budget coach services from London to a stop outside the Hippodrome theatre. Tickets must be booked online and fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£1.50 if you book far enough in advance).

By car

The M5 and M4 motorways intersect near Bristol and the M32, a motorway 'spur', brings traffic directly into the city centre. The M4 links London with Bristol with a driving time of some two hours.

Get around

Most locations in central Bristol (the Harbourside and Old City areas) are reasonable easily walkable, and there are plenty of attractive walking routes along the quaysides and in the pedestrianised central streets. The main station (Bristol Temple Meads) is a little further (about 20 mins walk) but still accessible by harbourside walkways or by bus. Clifton on the other hand is about two, very hilly, miles away from the centre and using a bus is advisable.

Most bus services in Bristol are operated by First Bristol (http://www.firstgroup.com/ukbus/southwest/bristol/home/). As most of Bristol's hotels and places to visit are located near the city centre or are in the upmarket suburb of Clifton, First Bristol's number 8 and 9 buses are probably the most useful for visitors. They follow a route from Temple Meads station to Clifton, passing through the main shopping area (Broadmead), the city centre (also handy for the harbourside) and the West End on the way. Single-trip tickets are a flat rate of £1.20.

Because of the way the city center is intimately interwoven with the old 'floating harbour', a boat is a good way of getting around as well as seeing a lot of interesting sights. Bristol Ferry Boat (http://www.bristolferryboat.co.uk/) runs several ferry services around the harbour, stopping at various quays on route, and even providing a commuter service between the city centre and the main rail station.

Bristol City Council offers a useful walking and public transport journey planner at http://www.travelbristol.org/.

Bristol roads can be quite congested, although the congestion is not of the same order as is found in, say, London. Driving is not particularly to be recommended for local journeys, but is probably the best way of seeing the surrounding region.

See

Temple Meads Area

This is the area surrounding Bristol's main rail station. Whilst certainly not the most attractive part of Bristol, there are a couple of attractions worth seeing before moving on:

• St Mary Redcliffe Church. Described by Queen Elizabeth I as "the goodliest, fairest and most famous parish church in England"
• The Empire and Commonwealth Museum (http://www.empiremuseum.co.uk/), tel . Located in Brunel's historic railway terminus building adjacent to the current rail station at Bristol Temple Meads. Not really big or rich exposition but very educational. Open every day 10am-5pm; closed Dec 25/26. £6.50 (adults); £5.50 (students & senior citizens; £3.95 (children).

Harbourside

In many ways the floating harbour is the jewel in Bristol's crown, and many of its attractions are on or close to the harbour:

• SS Great Britain (http://www.ss-great-britain.com/), Gas Ferry Road, tel 926 0680. The world's first iron hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner, built by Brunel in 1843 and now preserved in a dry-dock alongside the floating harbour. The preservation works are still underway (as of December 2004) and only small parts are publicly accessible. Open every day Apr-Oct 10am-5:30pm; every day Nov-Mar 10am-4:30pm; closed Dec 25/26. £6.25 (adults); £5.25 (senior citizens); £3.75 (children).
• Bristol Industrial Museum (http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/mus/bim.htm), Princes Wharf, tel 903 1569. A good old-fashioned industrial museum, housed in one of the old harbour transit sheds with a good selection of working and static exhibits. On a typical weekend in summer you can expect at least one of their preserved vessels to be running trips around the harbour or one of their old dockyard rail locomotives to be in steam. Open Sa-W 10am-5pm. Free admission; charges for boat or train trips vary.
• @Bristol (http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/), Harbourside, tel 0845 345 1235 (within UK only). Exploratory (science and technology displays), Wildscreen World and IMAX Cinema. A good counter-point to the industrial museum, modern buildings, lots of high-tech and full of multi-media high design. Open every day 10am-6pm; closed Dec 25. £6.50 (adults); £5.50 (students & senior citizens); £3.95 (children). £4.50-£16.50 (depending on age and attractions visited).
• Brandon Hill & The Cabot Tower, off Park Street (about 10 mins walk up a steep hill from the center of Bristol). This attractive and hilly park is worth visiting, if only for the views over Bristol from the hill-top. Even better views can be gained by climbing the narrow spiral staircase within the Cabot Tower atop the hill. Open every day from 8am to 30mins before dusk.

Old Bristol

Between the Frome and Avon branches of the harbour, and rising up the ridge that separated these two rivers, are the remains of medieaval Bristol most of which is of some historical interest. Here are some of the highlights:

• Corn Exchange & The Nails, Corn Street. The Palladian Corn Exchange, built in 1743, boasts a clock on its frontage that ingeniously tells time both in the new-fangled GMT and the old Bristol time. In front are nails (in reality Bronze pillars) over which the local merchants did business; from these come the expression 'paid on the nail'. Exterior always open. Free.
• Castle Park & St Peters Church. It is difficult to imagine now, but this large harbour-side park was a network of busy streets and shops until it was bombed out during the second world war. Within the park are the excavated ruins of Bristol Castle, and the ruined St Peters Church preserved as it stood after the bombing as a memorial to those killed. Open during daylight hours. Free.
• King Street. King Street is now the heart of Bristol's theatreland (see 'Old Vic' below) but it once lead down to the docks at Welsh Back, where the old sailing trows (a type of sailing barge) used to dock after their journeys from South Wales. The street has changed little since those days, and the Llandoger Trow (http://www.beerintheevening.com/pubs/s/38/3805/Llandoger_Trow/Bristol/) pub dates back to 1663. It is rumoured to have been patronised by pirates of old, not to mention Robert Louis Stevenson whilst writing Treasure Island.

Clifton

The old and up-market suburb of Clifton contains several more places of interest:

• Bristol Zoo (http://www.bristolzoo.org.uk/). Open summer 9am-5:30pm; winter 9am-4:30pm; closed Dec 25. £9.50 (adults); £8.50 (students & senior citizens; £6 (children).
• Clifton Suspension Bridge. Possibly the city's most famous landmark, Brunel's 19th century suspension bridge spans the spectacular Avon Gorge at a height of 75m. Always open. Free. Daily tours operate at 3pm during the summer (Free).
• Clifton Downs and Observatory. The downs provide a huge open space within Bristol, with great overlook views over the Avon Gorge and the suspension bridge. Atop the downs closest to the bridge is the Observatory, housing a camera obscura and a tunnel to a observation point housed in a cave in the 250 foot sheer cliff face of the gorge.

Do

Cinema

• Watershed (http://www.watershed.co.uk), Canon's Road, tel 927 5100. The primary hub for art-house film in the city centre and has a lovely (WiFi enabled) cafe too.
• Cube Microplex (http://www.cubecinema.com), King's Square. An artist run venue which specialises in more experimental film and music.
• Vue Cinema's (http://www.myvue.com), There are two of these Warner Village cinemas in Bristol, one near the Mall out of town Shopping and the other in Longwell Green. Both are modern multiplex type cinemas with approx 10 screens.
• Showcase Cinema (http://www.showcasecinemas.co.uk), This is basically an older version of the Warner Village type cinemas. This one is near the bottom of the M32 Motorway in St. Phillips Causeway.

Theatre

• Tobacco Factory Theatre (http://www.tobaccofactory.com), North Street, tel 902 0345. A hidden gem outside the city centre, in the Southville area of town. Well known for being involved in some of the most cutting-edge theatre in the city.
• Bristol Old Vic (http://www.bristol-old-vic.co.uk/), King Street, tel 987 7877. Bristol's main repertory theatre, located in the city center.
• Bristol Hippodrome (http://www.bristol-hippodrome.co.uk/), St Augustines Parade, tel 0870 607 7500. Showing large West End-style shows.

Music

• Colston Hall (http://www.bristol-city.gov.uk/colstonhall), Colston Street, tel 0117 922 3682. Wide variety of concerts, gigs and perfomances.
• Bristol (Carling) Academy (http://www.bristol-academy.co.uk), Frogmore Street. Large gigs and club nights.
• Anson Rooms (University Union) (http://www.ansonrooms.co.uk/), Queens Road.
• The Fleece (http://www.gigs.demon.co.uk), St Thomas Street.
• Bristol Bierkeller (http://www.bristolbierkeller.co.uk/), All Saints St. Rock, Metal, Punk, Goth, Alternative.
• Full Moon & Eclipse (http://www.ents24.com/web/venue/16442/Bristol/Full_Moon_&_The_Eclipse.html), North St. Rock, Metal, Punk.
• The Croft (http://www.the-croft.com/), Stokes Croft.

Learn

Higher education

Bristol is home to two universities: University of Bristol (http://www.bris.ac.uk/) and University of the West of England (http://www.uwe.ac.uk/).

Work

Buy

Broadmead is the cities central shopping district, and while awaiting renovation and rebranding as the 'Merchants Quarter' it remains a pretty dire indictment of post war planning and architecture. It contains the Galleries, Bristol's city centre mall. It is large and has a good range of shops. Most of the major department stores can be found in the streets outside. It is in no way a good place to be after the shops shut.

There is also an out of town mall, The Mall Cribs Causeway (http://www.mallcribbs.com/), off junction 11 of the M5. This has a large John Lewis and Marks and Spencer as well as lots of other fashionable shops. It has been accused of being sterile and homogenous.

The area between the docks and the triangle centred around Park Street has a good range of fashionable clothes shop and smaller record shops.

Clifton village contains a wide variety of smaller, more expensive boutique style shops, as well as some nice cafes and restaurants. This continues down Whiteladies Road to the Triangle.

Bristol also has quite vibrant district shopping centres. The best of these are probably:

-North St and East St, in Bedminster in the south of the city,

-Gloucester Rd/Cheltenham Rd in the North, which contains family run business' as well as lively nightlife, and arguably the best burgers in town at Ciao's

-Fishponds Rd and Staple Hill in the East,

-St Mark's Rd in Easton, in the east of the inner city.

These areas provide the antidote to 'clone town' shopping malls.

There are also a number of markets around the city. St Nicholas Market in the centre, near Corn St. is a permanent fixture and has stalls selling jewelry, books, CDs and fresh food. There is also a small farmers market in Corn St. on Wednesday mornings, and occasionally French and Christmas markets at various times throughout the year.

Eat

Bristol has a huge choice of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. They are mainly centred around the Harbourside and The West End's Park Street and Whiteladies Road.

Budget

• One Stop Thali Cafe (http://www.onestopthali.com/), York Road, Montpelier, tel 942 6687. Tiny and always packed, a different menu every day, the Thali specialises in Asian style street food and in terms of volume of food, must be one of the best bargains in the city! Loads of courses for very little outlay.
• Los Iguanos, Whiteladies Road (opposite Clifton Down Shopping Centre), Clifton. Delicious South American food with the fresh flavours of lime, salsa and chillis. Two course lunch is a bargain at £8.
• Wagamama (http://www.wagamama.com/) (Queen's Road) is a professionally run, good value asian noodle bar. Main courses are filling, of consistent quality and cost £5-8.
• The canteen in the Fresh and Wild (http://www.freshandwild.com/) deli (Queen's Road, The Triangle) is not the most atmopheric of restaurants but the food is superb and good value. At the counter you can pick and choose from a big choice of salads, soups, warm dishes and desserts. You pay by weight. Expect to pay about £10-12 For a main course + small salad + freshly squeezed juice + dessert, perhaps a bit less if you eat small portions. £3-6 main course only.

Mid Range

• Severnshed (http://www.severnshed.co.uk), The Grove, tel 925 1212. The famous eatery with a bar that moves (using compressed air). They serve modern cuisine, and prices can be reasonable (especially at lunch time / early evening when they do a number of meals for £7.77). Right in the heart of the city centre, on the water front. Open every day noon-late. £8-£30.
• The River, 1 The Watershed, Canons Road, tel 930 0498. A newcomer to the bar scene and an opportunity to get a decent drink on the waterfront in decent company (at last!), they serve excellent good value food, including various sausages and mash and incredible pies. Open every day 11am?late. £3-£15.

Splurge

• Bell's Diner (http://www.bellsdiner.co.uk/), 1-3 York Road, Montpelier, tel 924 0357. A very well respected Bristol institution for those who know, Bell's serves up some of the most unique menus in the city, including their 'taster' menu where you get to work your way around everything. Open Tu-F noon-3pm (lunch); M-Sa 7pm-10:30pm. £18-£35.
• Hotel du Vin (http://www.hotelduvin.com/), The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead, tel 0117 925 5577. This hotel has a wonderful Bistro which has a great atmosphere. Food and service is of good quality. Starters about £7, main course £15 and dessert around £7.

Drink

The fact that it's the home to around 30,000 students probably says a lot for the quality of the city's nightlife. Surprisingly, though, it's relatively expensive, with prices similar to those in London. The nightlife centres on Corn Street in the 'old city', the Harbourside and Whiteladies Road, which is a particularly popular student haunt.

Notable Pubs include;

• The Highbury Vaults, on St Michael's hill, about 10 minutes from the Triangle. Winner of the CAMRA Bristol pub of the year in 2003, the Highbury Vaults is a classic traditional pub with 8 real ales available on cask. Popular with students and older customers alike, and with a large heated garden. Open until midnight.

Sleep

There are a large number of hotels and guest houses in the Bristol area. A selection is listed below. For any mid-priced or up-market hotels, your best bet is to use one of the online booking services, such as Expedia (http://www.expedia.co.uk/).

Budget

• Youth Hostel (http://www.yha.org.uk/hostel/hostelpages/81.html), 14 Narrow Quay, tel 922 1659. A modern, clean and very central YHA (http://www.yha.org.uk/) youth hostel located in the Harbourside area; now with a newly revamped cafe on the quayside. Open every day all hours (reception 7am-10pm). £17 (adult); £13 (under 18).

• Bristol Backpackers (http://www.bristolbackpackers.co.uk/), 17 Saint Stephen's Street, located in Old City close to many night venues, tel. +44 117 925 7900. Reception hours 09:00 to 23:30. Dorm Rate £14 per person per night

Mid-range

• Travel Inn (http://www.travelinn.co.uk/TI/index.jsp?page=inn&id=256), The Haymarket (near the Bus Station), tel 0870 238 3307 (within UK only). £50-£57.
• City Inn (http://www.cityinn.co.uk/bristol/index.htm), Temple Way (near Temple Meads), tel 925 1001. £65-£120.

Splurge

• Marriot Royal (http://marriott.co.uk/Channels/UK/property/BRSRY/propertyPage.mi), College Green, tel 925 5100. A magnificent 4* hotel and the most famous in the city. £75-£300.
• The Brigstow (http://www.fullershotels.com/frames/1012), Welsh Back, tel 929 1030. A modern, contemporary hotel in the centre of all the action, near Broadmead/Corn Street. Overlooks a very attractive stretch of the floating harbour. £89-£250.
• The Berkeley Square (http://www.cliftonhotels.com/html/business/berkeley/berkeleysquare.htm), 15 Berkeley Square, Clifton, tel 925 4000. If your visit takes you nearer to Clifton, this could be useful, just off Park Street (where all the best independent shops in the city are). The hotel is a lovely old 3*; staying here also gains you access to the exclusive members-only bar in the basement. £54-£127.

Contact

Phone

Bristols's area code (for landline numbers) is 0117 when dialed from within the UK or +44117 from outside the UK.

Internet

Bristol has easy internet access like most cities, and as a city, has the advantage of broadband being easily accessible both to install and use. Bristol also boasts an abundance of internet cafes available for all to use. The council has also recently installed the internet in most of the main libraries in Bristol, so once you join for a small fee you are given a username and password and are free to surf. A network of free wi-fi hotspots called StreetNet is being deploying in central Bristol. It is currently available around the Watershed and along Queen's Road.

Many small "i" stations can be found in and around the centre which allow you to surf certain approved sites such as the job search pages nd the entertainment guide for the local clubs and venues. You can also send emails with media attachments: for example you are able to film a message for someone to send alongside your regular email.

Stay safe

Like many larger cities in the UK, Bristol has its rough areas. The general advice seems to be that you have to use your common sense while getting around; just as you would in your own home town. After pubs and clubs close on Friday and Saturday nights it is wise to get yourself home (taxis are in abundance), as in the center of town, especially near the water front, there are often brawls which are best to stay right out the way of.

There are also specific areas which do have a reputation after dark (and some in the day...). The ones which immediately spring to mind are St Pauls, Southmead, Horfield, Eastville and Fishponds.

Cope

Get out

Towns and cities

• Bath, with its famous Regency terraces, Roman remains and spa facilities, is only some 12 miles drive or 15 minutes train journey away, and makes an excellent day trip from Bristol.

• Wells, with its beautiful cathedral, is a hour's coach ride from Bristol.

Outdoor activities

• The Cotswolds and the Mendips, two popular rural tourist destinations are both a just outside Bristol. Exmoor National Park, Dorset, Devon, the Forest of Dean and the Brecon Beacons are also close to the city.

The Bristol to Bath cycle path

This showcase cycle path runs on a disused railway line from central Bristol to Bath. With its traffic free tarmac, gentle gradients, and only two minor road crossings on its 22km stretch, it is ideal for cycling. At a leisurely pace the journey to Bath takes a good 2h through green suburbs and some attractive countryside. If you are too tired to cycle back , you can take your bicycle free of charge on one of the frequent trains from Bath Spa to Bristol temple meads station. The journey takes 10-15 min.

From Bath, you can continue cycling along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal all the way to Bradford upon Avon, taking another hour or so. Though not paved and somewhat narrower than the Bristol to Bath cycle path, the towpath is still traffic free and the scenery even more beautiful. There are two or three places to stop and eat or drink on the way. The Aqueduct at Avoncliff is worth seing. From Bradford too there are direct trains back to Bristol that carry bicycles.

External links

• Bristol Tourist Information (http://www.visitbristol.co.uk/)