Travel guideHistorySightsNightlifeMap

Bristol Travel Guide, United Kingdom

Overview

A few kilometers away from the Georgian city of Bath, Bristol enchants its visitors with countless attractions and a beautiful harbor life.

Bristol was a major maritime city in the Middle Ages and a starting point for numerous expeditions including the one of John Cabot. Bristol has been a port for about a thousand years and its rich history mixes in a perfect blend with the new. It is a dynamic city offering plenty of activity, but it can also be vary laid back, a perfect destination for relaxation.

Besides discovering the city you can go beyond and discover the whole western part of the country. There’s the magnificent gorge of Cheddar, the beautiful walking countryside of the Mendips and the Cotswolds, the wildlife reserves and historic castles of South Gloucestershire, Victorian seaside resorts like Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare.

Visiting the city

You can easily find information about all the attractions in and around the city at the Tourist Information Centre opened 7 days a week. Here you can get maps, guidebooks, postcards and advice. Another great way to get informed is the full listings and printable maps at the VisitBristol on the i-plus point touch-screen information kiosks all around the city. The Welcome Host taxis are ideal for tourists as the drivers can provide city tours and information.

Another excellent way to visit the city is with the City Sightseeing Open Top Bus that will take you to all the major attractions and it has excellent local tour guides. What is great about the tour is that you can buy a 24 hour ticket that allows you to get on and off the bus whenever you want.

Want to see the waterside? Hop on the Bristol Ferry to give you the most exciting tour of the historic harbor. You’ll see a variety of vessels, converted warehouses all set on a beautiful backdrop. For more history you have the chance to climb aboard a Victorian steamship called S.S. Great Britain and learn about the history of shipbuilding in Bristol.

The list of attractions include: the zoo, City Museum and Art Gallery, St Mary Redcliffe Church, John Wesley’s Chapel, Bristol Cathedral, Glastonbury Abbey, The Environment Centre, Avon Valley Country Park, Dyrham Park, Barley Wood Walled Garden and more.

Among all attractions people have chosen Clifton Suspension Bridge to be its symbol. Famous for its bridges, Bristol has a Severn Bridges Visitor centre.

Children have plenty of places to go and have fun. One of them is the Horseworld where they have the chance to touch ponies, donkeys and play in the “Noah’s Ark” play area. At Bristol Zoo they can see 300 spices of wildlife the great “Seal & Penguin Coasts” with water viewing, Monkey House, Reptile House, Bug World and they can touch some of the animals. At the Avon Country Park they can have another encounter with the animals in the pets corner, have a great day out on the side of the river in a park containing a large adventure play-ground with drop slide or go on a mini train ride. Great fun is guaranteed at the greatest family attraction in the city: @t Bristol, where science meets nature. Life on earth is praised at Wildwalk full of botanical gardens, small animals and interactive exhibits.

Bristol and area is a year round attraction offering even in the cold season great skiing and snowboarding opportunities at the Avon Ski Centre on the edge of Mendip Hills where 165 meter main dry slope keeps the action going.

Shopping in Bristol can’t get better, the great number of shops and shopping areas including the Mall, Clifton Down Shopping Centre, St Mary Shopping Centre and last but definitely not least the Broadmed, the biggest and best shopping centre with over 400 stores.

Eating in style in one of the many classy restaurants is one of the favorite pastimes of the rich and not only. From formal to relaxed settings you can choose any type of café or restaurant you want.

Bristol is the city where you can take a trip through a limestone gorge, pass under a bridge with horns, explore an ancient harbor, visit great museums and have a lot of fun. You just have to be there and you’ll go with the flow.

email to a friendAsk our travel experts a question about Bristol