Bristol in a nutshell (Bristol in General)

Member Name: ps8sjk

Product:	Bristol in General
Date:	04/04/09 (265 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Diversity, culture and entertainment (and a bookbarn!)

Disadvantages: No major venue

I was born in Bristol and have lived here for most of my life so may be a bit biased but think this is a City that has a lot to offer and well worth a visit. I will try to summarise the best places to go and see as well as some local insider information!


History / Culture
One of the most famous attractions in Bristol is the SS Great Britain. Built and launched in Bristol by Brunel this is well worth a visit. Tickets allow you to see the museum and the dry dock and allow unlimited access for the year. The harbour itself is also worth wandering around, especially on a sunny day and there are regular boat tours as well, which is a relaxing way to see what Bristol has to offer. Another Brunel landmark and a symbol for Bristol is the Suspension Bridge - you can walk over it for fantastic views over Bristol and the Avon Gorge. Perhaps not for those who are scared of heights though!

Bristol Museum (at the top of Park Street - well worth a bit of shopping on the way!) is also a good way to spend a few hours. It has collections of art and archaeology, geology and natural history - my favourite is the wildlife gallery which has examples of endangered and extinct animals. It can be a bit grotesque but it is fascinating and it also has the much-loved Alfred - a gorilla which was at Bristol Zoo for many years. Obviously if you are on a budget then the free entry is also a bonus and will keep kids occupied for a while!

Just off Park Street - In Brandon Hill Park is Cabot Tower. This is over 100 feet tall and worth climbing the spiral staircase to see far reaching views of the City and harbour.

Both Bristol Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe's Church are also worth a visit as both are wonderful buildings. Bristol Cathedral is situated just from College Green (at the bottom of Park Street) and is a lovely place to sit and relax in the summer and is often packed with students.


Families / Children
I don't actually have any children but I still like visiting these places each year anyway but these are particularly aimed at families!

Bristol Zoo - A short bus ride from the centre (Parking can be difficult at busy times) - this zoo has really improved over the years and really is a lovely place to visit. I recommend a whole day here though really so you can see everything. It has hundreds of different species but my highlights are the Gorilla Island - they currently have young gorillas there who are always amusing to watch and the Seal and Penguin Coast where you can walk underneath and watch them swim underwater. It is worth going to the feeding times, although they can get busy. Food can be expensive so it is worth taking food along but there are many places to stop and eat.

Noah's Ark Zoo Farm - This is a beautiful site and has animals from the very small such as gerbils to the very big - Giraffes! It is a short drive from Bristol (about 15 minutes) but worth seeing. This has lots of play areas for children and they are meant to be getting a new Tiger enclosure this summer so that is sure to be popular.

Explore@Bristol - This is definitely one for the kids! This is an interactive Science centre and will keep them busy for a long time.


Parks
Blaise Castle is an estate with amazing views and riverside walks. Great for a picnic but there is a good café here as well. Ashton Court estate is closer to the city and also has two golf courses with stunning views across the city.

My favourite is the Oldbury Court Park (Fishponds and Frenchay). You can walk alongside the River Frome and has many woodland areas to explore as well. This also has play and picnic areas and car parks at either end.


Film / Theatre / Entertainment
If you here for a longer visit it is worth booking to see some shows. The Hippodrome often has musicals, plays, ballets and the obligatory Panto's every year and is quite mainstream but it is a lovely building and it is right in the centre of Bristol so easy to get to. The Bristol Old Vic has recently been refurbished and is a fantastic venue to see plays. For something a bit different, the Tobacco Factory in Bedminster (just South of Bristol) has a café bar and has a range of productions - including more recently Shakespeare.

The Colston Hall is the main venue for comics and music arts. It is worth keeping an eye on who is there but is not a huge venue so it doesn't attract he biggest stars - in fact I think that is really what is lacking in Bristol - I would love a large music venue, something to rival Cardiff or Birmingham where I usually have to travel to. Occasionally bigger stars play at Ashton City football ground. There are many good smaller venues to see local talent / bands though such as the Thekla, Louisana, The Bierkeller The Fleece and Firkin pub.

As well as all the usual cinemas such as Vue, Showcase and Cineworld, it is worth going to the Watershed cinema. This shows independent films and has a lovely café / bar on the Waterfront for a break from all the sightseeing.


Shopping
For me, it has the best shopping in the South West! For big shopping developments it has a huge choice. Cabot Circus is a new development with many big department (Harvey Nichols included) and high street stores. It has a huge Car Park and many nice places to eat as well - including a Raymond Blanc restaurant. It is also next to Broadmead - which used to be the main shopping centre in Bristol but has some cheaper shops and a smaller mall called the Galleries.

The most convenient place to shop is the Mall at Cribbs Causeway in North Bristol. (off the M5) It is always easy to park and has everything you need under one roof so this is a great way to spend a rainy afternoon. It doesn't get too busy now since Cabot Circus has opened so find this a bit easier. It also has a cinema multiplex, a retail centre with huge superstores including a huge Asda, a bowling alley and many chain restaurants nearby.

Park Street and Clifton has many 'trendy' shops but can be expensive. For quirkier and also second-hand shops and charity shops I like to either go to Gloucester Road (North Bristol) which also has many interesting cafes and bars or North Road in Southville. Great places to hunt out bargains.

It also has a large IKEA in Eastville!

Since I always talk about books is also worth mentioning that just outside Bristol is the UK's largest second-hand book warehouse - The Bookbarn. It really is huge (it apparently has over 5 million titles and you could spend all day there and still not look at everything so go with a wishlist in hand.


Food / Drink
Bristol has all the usual chain restaurants. However my favourite places to eat are: The Mud Dock Café - this is a unique place to eat, it is over a bike shop and looks out over the harbour. This is perfect on a sunny day to eat on one of the terraces and the food is delicious - very fresh ingredients and home made food, a real must if you come to Bristol. I love their fresh salads when I am feeling healthy.

The Severn Shed is a lovely restaurant and next door to the Mud Dock café. This is a bit more expensive but worth it. They specialise in fish dishes and I would highly recommend the lobster risotto.

The Bridge Café is also a recommendation from me, the food is great but the views are even better!

For a night out, generally the best places to go to are the Harbourside, Park Street or Whiteladies Road in Clifton for a whole range of pubs, bars and clubs. There is plenty of choice and Bristol is always a vibrant place in the evening.


Overall
I love Bristol - it has so much to offer and I never tire of the place. It has a lot of diversity which keeps it interesting and I would say that us Bristolians are a friendly bunch as well! Driving around Bristol can be a pain - especially in the centre with the one way system but that is probably true of most city centres. The public transport is generally very good and Temple Meads has direct trains to many major cities and we have an international airport as well. All we need is a big music venue! No, it's not perfect but it's home.

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