How to get there
There are about 54 trains that go from London to Bristol everyday. This can cost around £20.00 and takes around 1.5 hours. Or if you don't want to spend that much, you could take a coach, which can be significantly cheaper, costing as little as £3.80 one way and taking 2.5 hours to complete the journey. The earlier you book, the cheaper the tickets are likely to be.
Or, you could drive to Bristol, making a fun road trip out of it. Bristol is about 2hours and 15minutes by car and you can get there by joining the M32.
What's so special about Bristol?
Bristol is a port-city that lies on the south-west of the country, making it closer to Wales than to London. It has a strong history of trade; the main imports being slavery, tobacco and sugar. Currently the 8th largest city in the UK, with a population total of over 700,000.
Things to do
To take advantage of everything Bristol has to offer, it's best to get there as early as possible. Even then, it is very likely there may be a few things remaining on your Bristol list. So best to be prepared for some flexibility when coming to this city.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel but erected after his death by William Henry Barlow and John Hawkshaw. The bridge was considered to be an engineering masterpiece at the time. Several engineers submitted design ideas for the bridge, eventually settling on Brunel's idea. There was delay in the bridge being built, some due to political reasons, some financial. Working on the bridge construction plan took a toll on Brunel and he ended up getting a stroke. The bridge that goes over the Avon Gorge is a well-known place for people to come to end their lives. Barriers have been put up to address this.
SS Great Britain
Now a museum, but the SS Great Britain is worth checking out, even if from the outside. This is the first iron ship that did the transatlantic journey from England to America. This is now a museum, sitting on the harbourside. This is also another one of Brunel's designs. The SS Great Britain used to ship emigrants to Australia in the 1850s.
M Shed
Along the Harbourside, there is a bunch of shipping containers turned into a commercial estate. The containers are named by the letters of the alphabet. The M-Shed is one to check out. This is a museum that houses the artefacts of all things to do with Bristol's history.
Pieminster
If you want to stop for a meal and want something that's truly Bristolian than look no further the Pieminster. It seems to be a bit of an institution here. Their menu has lots to choose from, catering to their vegie and meat-eating customers. I tried the shroom pie with mash potato and gravy and it was tasty and filling. I read a lot of reviews saying the pies are really hot and needs time to cool down, but I didn't find that to be the case. And even if it were really hot, the mash is a great way to cool down the pie.
Banksy and street art
Bristol being the birthplace of street artist, Banksy, it really celebrates street art. You can walk along the city and take in all the murals on the walls. You can explore work by various artists or you can do a Banksy walking tour.
The main Banksy pieces to look out for are (including their post codes for easy find):
- Girl with the pierced eardrum (BS1 6UU)
- Well hung lover (BS1 5HR)
- You don't need planning permission (BS1 5QR)
- Mild, mild west (BS1 3QY)
- Mousetrap (BS2 8LX)
- The Grim Reaper (BS1 4RN)
- Cat and Dog (BS5 6JY)
- Take your money and run (BS6 5EH)
The art pieces are all located quite near each other and it's best to do by foot. You can book yourself into a guided tour but I think it's far better (and cheaper) to do on your own.
Five fun facts about Bristol
Bristol has its own local currency called the Bristol Pound, which can be used with local, independent businesses. The Bristol pound is valid for 3 months on issue. It changes in appearance often as the design of this is based on a competition where artists have to submit their entry for consideration.
Bristol is the home place for street artist, Banksy. Banksy has kept his identity hidden. All we know about him is that he was born in the mid-1970s in Bristol. His art is all about going against a capitalist society.
Bristolians are recognised as the kindest people in UK. This is based on things such as donating money to charity, donating blood, giving up seats to elderly people, etc..
The British TV series Skins was filmed in Bristol.
Bristol is the largest manufacturer of hot air balloons. Bristol hosts annual balloon fiesta in which they close the Clifton suspension bridge due to the amount of spectators gathering there and causing strain on the bridge.
Comments