This year is the 150th anniversary of Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. To celebrate Your-Hols.com brings you the Top 10 things to do in Bristol.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Walk across the across the 26-metre high Clifton Suspension Bridge to get spectacular views across the city and of the magnificent Avon Gorge. Free guided tours of the bridge are available every Saturday and Sunday afternoon and Bank Holidays from Easter to October half-term. A new visitor centre opens in December.
See cliftonbridge.co.uk
Harbourside
Take a tour of Bristol’s vibrant and popular Harbourside by boat. Bristol Packet, Number Seven Boat Trips and Bristol Ferry Boats all operate around the harbour and River Avon. Bristol Ferry Boats also runs a regular daily ferry service between the harbour attractions and Bristol Temple Meads, the main railway station for the city. Or visit The Matthew of Bristol, a replica of the English ship that discovered North America in 1497. Take a look around at its home moored outside M Shed or take a cream tea sailing, fish and chip trip or a four-hour trip along the Avon Gorge to Pill.
See visitbristol.co.uk
Museums
Head to one of Bristol’s many museums and art galleries including contemporary art centre Arnolfini on the Harbourside, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or M Shed, Bristol’s flagship museum telling the city’s history through the stories of the people that have lived here. A new Wallace and Gromit exhibition opens at M Shed from the end of May to early September.
See mshed.org
Old City
Explore Bristol’s Old City, home to the colourful and lively St Nicholas Market, an award-winning market that is home to an intriguing mix of stalls and at lunch time it is alive with people eating from Bristol favourites like Pieminister and Grillstock. Regular street markets like the Weekly Farmers Market and monthly Slow Food market take place just outside the market hall on Corn Street.
See visitbristol.co.uk
Theatre
Enjoy a theatre show. West End shows come to Bristol Hippodrome, whilst Bristol Old Vic (above) is the longest continuously-working theatre in the UK. There is also a diverse mix of award-winning and alternative shows at Tobacco Factory Theatres and Little Black Box Theatre.
See bristololdvic.org.uk tobaccofactorytheatres.com and thelittleblackbox.net
Banksy
Find cutting-edge pieces of graffiti and street art around the city, including original Banksy murals on Park Street and in Stokes Croft, and See No Evil on Nelson Street. ‘Where the Wall’ runs guided walking street art tours every Saturday throughout the spring and summer months.
See wherethewall.com
Cycling
Bike around the city, it’s the best way to get around and see the sights. Bike hire and guided bike rides are available at Cycle the City, based at Number 1 Harbourside. There is also a folding bike hire dock at Bristol Temple meads Railway Station. Great local cycling routes include the Bristol and Bath Railway Path and the Festival Way, which leads cyclists through the beautiful parkland of Ashton Court Estate, a popular spot for mountain biking and home to a new mountain bike hire centre.
See cyclethecity.org
Glass-making
Discover Bristol Blue Glass. Bristol was once one of the most important glass making centres in Europe, and the team at Bristol Blue Glass are carrying on the tradition making glass the same way it was made 300 years ago. Visit the Studio Shop on Bath Road to try glass blowing and pick out truly Bristolian gifts all in the distinctively blue hue.
See bristol-glass.co.uk
Family fun
Family-friendly attractions abound in Bristol. Visit At-Bristol Science Centre, which has more than 300 hands-on exhibits, live science shows and a Planetarium, or Brunel’s ss Great Britain (above), moored in the dock where she was originally built. Here, visitors can experience the sights, sounds and even the smells of life on board the world’s first great ocean liner. From April 5,visitors can have the unique experience of climbing the mainmast of the ship and seeing Bristol from almost 30 metres above ground.
See at-bristol.org.uk & ssgreatbritain.org
Bristol Zoo Gardens
One of the world’s oldest zoos and is in Bristol’s exclusive Clifton district just moments from the vast green space of the Downs and the chic shops and cafés of Clifton Village. As well as seeing the Asiatic lions, gorillas, pygmy hippos and more, visitors can stroll among colourful displays in the fabulous gardens.
See bristolzoo.org.uk
Tourist Boards: VisitBristol.co.uk VisitEngland.co.uk
