Bristol is a ceremonial county located in the south-west of England, 190 km from London. It is considered a large commercial center, seaport and a real Mecca for artists, musicians and anyone who likes a tasty meal, wander around the shops and see various sights. He is also home to such famous people as Hannah Murray, Macy Williams (from Game of Thrones), Ben Collins and Joan Rowling.
Territory
The city of Bristol is built around the Avon River and has a short coastline at the mouth of the Severn River - in the very place where it flows into the Bristol Canal. In the south, the Mendip-Gills hills form its border, in the northeast - the Cotswolds. In the west is the Avon Gorge gorge along with one of the most beloved places of the townspeople - Lee Woods conservation area. The highest point in Bristol is Brandon Hill (80 m). Nearby is a city with two counties - Gloucestershire and Somerset. Its area is about 110 square meters. km
Climate
Bristol is a warm city in England. The average annual temperature does not fall below 0 degrees Celsius. Even in January, it is kept at 2-5 degrees with a plus sign. However, the weather here is mostly cloudy - due to the proximity of the Mendip-Gills hills, which prevent the Azores anticyclone from penetrating into the city. The annual rainfall is from about 740 to 1062 mm. The largest number of them falls in the autumn-winter period. It can snow between November and April, but usually not much.
Population
The city of Bristol is considered one of the largest in the south-west of Great Britain. The population in 2007 was about 450 thousand people. It is expected that by 2027 it will reach half a million. Interestingly, there are more children and youth than pensioners, and they love their city, are not going to leave here. Some scholars say a population explosion is possible here. It is not known whether this is true, but at least in the Sunday Times magazine in 2009 Bristol was described as the best city in England due to the large number of supermarkets and other public institutions, as well as the high culture of its inhabitants.
A bit of history
The city of Bristol was founded in 1155. During the reign of Edward III (1327–1377), its inhabitants produced woolen fabric from material brought from Ireland and sold it to Spain and Portugal in exchange for port and sherry. In the 16th century, the city became a major industrial port. In 1552, the Trade Society was established here. The hall in which its members gathered was destroyed by the Germans during World War II.
Until 1645, the city was a stronghold for the royal family, hiding during the civil wars, after which it was captured by parliamentarians. In the late XVII-early XVIII centuries, the city flourished as a major center for processing sugarcane and tobacco imported from the British colonies in America, where he sent various industrial goods: glass, textiles, ceramics and so on. In 1809, the first UK floating harbor was built here.
In 1838, the city of Bristol became the starting point for Great Western - the second ship that crossed the Atlantic Ocean. In 1841, thanks to the railway, it became a lively commercial English center. The construction of the suspension bridge, stretching across the Avon Gorge, only helped to improve the situation.
Modern city
During World War II, a significant part of Bristol was destroyed. However, this was only an impetus to its reconstruction. Here at that time the House of Soviets was built (1956), other public institutions and new shopping centers, designed to improve the life of the population. Only the church of St. Mary Radcliffe (buildings of the XIV century), the Cathedral of Bristol (1141), the chapel of St. Mark, the Baptist chapel associated with the early non-conformist movement, and the Royal Theater, which was built in 1776, remained in their places. .
The construction of a bridge in the north of the city and the completion of the M4 highway in South Wales strengthened Bristol's position as the main shopping center in southwest England. Today, city residents import petroleum products, livestock products and non-timber forest resources. They mainly export automobiles, tractors, and other manufactured goods from the West Midlands. They produce sugar, cocoa, chocolate, thin glass, ceramics and porcelain.
Bristol: city coat of arms
The coat of arms of Bristol is very symbolic. For example, the unicorns that hold him mark the supporters of England. Hands above their heads - the Devil himself. If you look closely, in one of them is a wriggling snake, which caused the fall of Adam and Eve, and in the other - scales. This plot, as it were, recalls the possibility of the fall. The building is the castle of St. George on Mount Werth, which in ancient times served as protection for the inhabitants of England. The inscription below Virtue et Industrie translates as "Virtue and Industry" - this is the main motto of all the inhabitants of the city.
Culture
Bristol City is an important cultural center of England. There are many theaters, museums, art galleries and other similar institutions. In 2010, the city was also named the most musical settlement thanks to the founders of the trip-hop genre - groups Massive Attack and Portishead. The style of the works of these artists today is called the Bristol sound. And although now it is not so popular, however, many other musical directions have been created on its basis.
It is noteworthy that on the streets of the city, especially on Nelson Street or Stokes Croft, you can see works of street art. Only they are very ephemeral: appearing literally an hour ago, in a second they can disappear. The most famous graffiti artist on the walls is Banksy. This person is also the creator of the movie “Exit through the Souvenir Shop,” which in 2011 was nominated for an Academy Award by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
sights
If you look at England on a map in more detail, Bristol will not be so noticeable. But it is really unique. What is only the local zoo, one of the five oldest in the world. It has more than 400 species of animals. Particularly noteworthy among them are black rhinos, squirrel monkeys, sand dunes, blind fish, sloths, possums and other interesting animals. There are also rare rattlesnakes, butterflies, scorpions, beetles and exotic fish.
Other interesting sights that are definitely worth a visit include the United Kingdom liner museum, once created by IK Brunel’s project, as well as:
- a copy of the Matthew ship, on which John Cabot sailed to America in the 15th century;
- Clifton Suspension Bridge, favored by extremals and suicides;
- It-Bristol's Science Center, which hosts seminars, interactive exhibits and discussions.
In addition, you should go to the planetarium or visit the local caves to take beautiful photographs on their background. Well, if you want to have a bite to eat, you should go to a cafe, restaurant or St. Nicholas Market, which sells deliciously different and inexpensive food, created according to Portuguese, Turkish, American, Italian, Moroccan and Turkish recipes.
Sacred places
The study of the culture of Bristol is impossible to imagine without visiting places sacred to its inhabitants. They are few, but they are. It:
- St. Mary's Church is the tallest building in the city, elegant on the outside and cozy on the inside. It is recommended for visiting to everyone who is interested in medieval architecture and the Gothic direction in painting.
- The Cathedral is a beautiful large building made in the Anglo-Saxon style. To go around all its premises completely, it will take several hours.
- John Wesley Chapel is an amazing place with an interesting history that is definitely worth a visit. A real oasis of calm and silence.
- Leaning tower - the ruins of the church, built by the Templars. Today it can only be walked around; no entry is allowed.
The British themselves include St. Mark's Chapel, Jamie Mosque (now closed) and St. Peter's Church, which today is a monument to those who died during World War II, as equally interesting religious sights.
Best restaurants
Local restaurants serving Chinese, Indian, English, Thai, Tibetan and other cuisines are among the sights of Bristol. Judging by the reviews, the most popular of them are:
- Bulrush. It is famous for its rich menu, pleasant atmosphere and excellent service.
- Casamia is a great diner for business people. It has a great atmosphere, attentive staff, a rich menu, but the dishes are a little expensive.
- Urban Tandoor - Indian Restaurant. Delicious food for every taste and budget, and attentive waiters who are ready to help with the choice of dishes make this place truly special.
In any of these restaurants, townspeople and tourists are equally friendly. Therefore, when traveling to Bristol, you can visit them.
The best cheap hotels
In Bristol, there are many different places where you can stay alone or together with your loved one. Hotels delight with their variety and fairly reasonable prices. The most inexpensive and at the same time good - three-star. Rooms are often rented by travelers who come from other countries. Among the most popular establishments for recreation include:
- The Berkeley Square is a comfortable little hotel in a quiet location. The staff serves well, the rooms are clean, the prices are quite reasonable. However, there are no air conditioners, only fans, but they do not save from the heat.
- The Bristol Hotel is a great place to relax. Nice, clean, nice, there is where to drink and eat. Many Russian tourists most often stay here.
- Washington is a hotel located next to the University of Bristol. The rooms are nice, clean, with high ceilings. There is a large selection of drinks and snacks served in the room, parking. The staff is friendly, friendly.
If you want to stay in one of these hotels, you should book a room in advance, as the queue is large, especially on holidays.
Finally
Bristol City is an amazing English city with its unique life, culture, attractions and parks. It’s worth coming here if only because it is the birthplace of many famous people, for example, “Harry Potter's mom” - Joan Rowling. Another possible reason is a visit to the zoos, where you can see rare animals. You can invent others yourself by looking at England on a map and looking for this amazing town on it. Have a nice trip!