Bristol is the unofficial capital of the West Country of England, with a ballpark population of 433,100 (2009) and a greater urban area of 1,070,000 (2007), it is the 8th largest city in the UK. The Royal Charter was given in the year 1155, plus in 1373 county status was given. Bristol’s closest cities are historic Gloucester, Bath and Cardiff, with bordering counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. There has been a living group of people in the Bristol area dating back around 60,000 years, the Paleolithic time. This has been proved by archaeological finds.
The city of Bristol was constructed around the short coastline of the River Severn Estuary and the River Avon. This thus created a large boating and shippinglegacy. By the thirteenth century, the city was trading in manufacturing and shipbuilding, which unfolded to Ireland and Iceland by the fifteenth century. Any by the sixteenth century, Bristol was trading with Spain and the Americas.
Bristol has a cathedral, once the Abbey of St Augustine, dating back to 1140. Trading in slavery amongst UK and the Americas was established in the seventeenth century. Slave trading was abolished in 1807. The Victorian engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel and the city have a strong link because Brunel designed and made the Bristol Temple Meads Station and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Later, in 2002, Brunel was voted as one of the most foremost men in British history.
In 1909, the University of Bristol was created and then in 1992, the city’s polytechnic became the Unversity of the West of England. The latter now one of the country’s best learning centres for media studies and design.
Violent bombing was incurred during in World War II in the city centre, by the German Luftwaffe. It was an attempt to lame England’s shipping routes in the country’s south-west. Remodeling of Bristol city took place in the 60s. Its remake had road expansion and tower blocks.
Bristol is an great foundation for visiting the West Country and is a culturally vivacious city, with a wide variety of attractions and events.
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* At-Bristol looks through how our world works. Plus explores is a programme of particular exhibitions – from animation to flight, illusions and sport!
* Bristol Zoo Gardens is the world’s 5th oldest zoo and the oldest zoo external to a capital city.
* Blue Reef Aquarium contains living corals, seahorse, puffer fish, and amongst other flora and fauna, tropical sharks.
* Brunel’s SS Great Britain is the world’s first steam-powered, iron hulled, screw propeller-driven passenger liner. Made by Brunel in 1843, the ship is now preserved in a dry-dock alongside the city’s floating harbour.
* Clifton Suspension Bridge – perhaps Bristol’s most famous landmark. The 19th century suspension bridge, built by Brunel, strings the spectacular Avon Gorge at a height of 75m.
* Cabot Circus – Tourists going to to the centre of Bristol are provided with over 120 shops, which includes 15 major flagship stores.
* Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is the principal museum in the city.
* Ferry Boat Company During the day a circular trip tour, hop-on and hop-off, or getting from A to B; and to many harbour-side attractions.
* Pirate Walks is a guided walking journey of Bristol’s historic harbour-side and takes one hour. There are tours on foot of Bristol’s Maritime History through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.
* Clifton Downs and Observatory is in The Downs, which is a large open spot inside Bristol, with views over the suspension bridge and the Avon Gorge. On top of the Downs is the Observatory, housing a camera obscura and a cave leading downwardly to an observation point within a perpendicular cliff face.
*Bristol to Bath Railway cycle path runs on a disused railway line from central Bristol to Bath.
Things Happening in Bristol:
- Bristol Balloon Festival
* St Pauls Carnival
Bristol Balloon Fiesta
* Bristol Open Doors Day
: Venn Festival
Mayfest
: Festival of Ideas
: Bristol Harbour Festival
Soil Association Organic Food Festival
- Bristol International Kite Festival
Visit Bristol We want you to get out there and enjoy everything Bristol. This is our online video guide to whats waiting for you…. now do it! Things to do Bristol.