Bristol: A City Built To Last
Bristol, the largest city in south west England, is well populated (half a million and rising), and is neatly tucked between Somerset and Gloucestershire along the coast. Its accomplished structures are steeped in history and provide an insight into the past and a visit here will see you depart more informed than when you arrived!
Although tarnished by wartime and post-war year indifference, many of Bristol’s buildings stubbornly cling to the past and make for unusual and satisfying city views, if you know where to observe from. Churches, cemeteries and bridges feature strongly in this ancient city which still attracts many visitors despite more illustrious tourist fare in the surrounding areas. Bristol has its own unique style and charm and is a fine starting point for those looking to explore the south west of England.
It’s most famous piece of eye catching architecture has got to be the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a distinctive landmark regularly used as a symbol of Bristol and appearing on a variety of postcards and other promotional material. This robust feat of engineering was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel and weighs a staggering 1,500 tons. It is not an exaggeration to say the bridge has really put Bristol on the map — the bridge has featured in numerous scenes of the BBC1 hospital drama ‘Casualty’, which is filmed on location in Bristol, and interestingly, in November 2003, the last ever Concorde flight (Concorde 216) flew over the bridge before landing at Filton Airfield; a symbolic moment and a source of pride for many native Bristolians.
Some other of Bristol’s fine vintage structures also have some not-so widely known facts associated with them, raising many an eyebrow among those who venture off the beaten track a little! Bristol is the home of the oldest Methodist chapel in the world — John Wesley’s New Room in Broadmead. Also, Clifton College buildings were used as the headquarters of the US 1st Army during World War II from 1943-1945 and the University of Bristol was the first higher education institution to admit women on an equal basis to men.
Those with a thirst for knowledge are well catered for in Bristol and can bask in the glory of knowing that Harry Potter was based on a boy that author J K Rowling met in Bristol as a child. As for the rest, well, they can admire the spectacle of its historic architecture and picturesque landscape.
Bristol has plenty to offer those looking for something a little different and a good range of budget hotels in Bristol offer excellent value for those making an unplanned detour here on their way around England.
Adam Singleton writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.
