Bristol

Bristol is considered to be the capital of the South West of England. It is a city which prides itself on its diverse music scene and laid-back living. The city is also rich in maritime history and has plenty of cultural sites and museums of this vein. It is also the most populated city in the South West, and is home to many of the regions commercial offices.

Visitor Attractions

Bristol Zoo Gardens 

This one of the most popular destinations for a family day-out. The oldest provincial zoo in the UK, this Victorian walled zoo is not only packed with different animals, it also has a historic edge to it. The zoo is divide into 8 sections which include; the Reptile House, Aquarium, Bug World, Zota Brazil, Monkey Jungle, the Butterfly House, Zoo ropia.  

Brunel's Great Britain,

For maritime history enthusiasts, or simply for those who are curious, this is a brilliant cultural site. This steam powered passenger liner was built by the famous engineer Isambard  Kingdom Brunel in 1843, and now is preserved on the city’s habourside.

Clifton and Durdham Downs

On a summer’s day there is nothing like the laid back atmosphere on Clifton and Durdham downs. So well-loved is this leafy area, that musical artists have written profoundly about their experience here. Perfect for picnics and leisurely strolls, visitors can are guaranteed to relax in this beautiful area of the city.

Shopping

Cabot’s Circus is a fantastic shopping centre based in the centre of Bristol. Built in 2008 this new site is host to hundreds of shops as well as restaurants, cafés, and a cinema. The centre has its own designated car park with over 2,500 parking spaces.  Cribbs Causeway is also worth a visit, with over 135 shops, and an expansive food court known as ‘The Avenue’.  Located to the North of the city, visitors are able to access it via car, travelling on the A4018 from Bristol.

Eating Out

Most of the main restaurants are located around the Habourside, The West End’s Park Street, and Whiteland’s Road. One of the best restaurants in the city is the Thali Café, which specialises in vegetarian Indian food, and is very reasonably priced.  Situated on Colston Street Zero-Degrees is also well worth a visit. The restaurants serves Californian-style gourmet pizzas, as well as pasta dishes and delicious salads. It also has its own on-site brewery which serves-up excellent fruit flavoured beers.  If you’re looking for somewhere special, try Bell’s Diner on York Road, this a high-end establishment which offers a unique ‘taster menu’, perfect for those who want to try something a little bit different.

Nightlife

Cornstreet, Pakstreet, and the Habourside are the busiest areas for Bristol’s nightlife. On Cornstreet, visitors will find all of the main chain bars; Wetherspoon’s Commercial Rooms and the Vodka Revolutions, to name but a few.  The Habourside is a great place for a leisurely drink, the Old Duke Jazz pub is immensely popular, and well worth the visit. The Llandoger Trow on King’s Street provides a cultural insight into historical Bristol. A grade 2 listed building, it is said to be the old meeting place of Daniel Defoe and the real life ‘Robinson Crusoe’ Alexander Selkirk.