Special places to stay, things to do and see in Bristol, England.

The county of Bristol, England

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Bristol’s history is both long and varied. Roman harbour remains can be seen at Sea Mills and traces of Bristol’s once mighty castle can be found in Castle Park. Two splendid examples of medieval architecture remain. Bristol Cathedral dates from 1140, and St Mary Redcliffe was described by Queen Elizabeth I as “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England”. John Cabot sailed from Bristol in 1497 on his voyage of discovery to Newfoundland. The Cabot Tower, on Brandon Hill, was raised in celebration of his voyage. The city’s character really formed in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Hotwells and Clifton were promoted as Spa’s and the city became a centre for arts and literature. Another famous inhabitant was Isambard Kingdom Brunel, great genius of the Industrial Age and designer of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the S.S. Great Britain, (which can be visited in her original dry dock), and the old Temple Meads station. Bristol hosts the world famous annual International Balloon Fiesta every August, the International Kite Festival every September and many other distinctive events such as the Harbour Regatta in June and Nightglow in July.

Where to stay and things to do in Bristol

Selected Bristol hotels - Please Refresh for another random Hotel list

Holiday Inn Bristol Airport, Bristol
Hanover International Conference & TrainingChewton Place Bristol, Bristol
Holland House Hotel Bristol, Bristol
Holiday Inn Bristol Filton, Bristol
Grange Ramada, Bristol
Bridge Inn New Lodge, Bristol
City Inn Bristol, Bristol
Thornbury Castle Hotel, Thornbury
Avon Gorge, Clifton
Brigstow Hotel, Bristol

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Explore Bristol Towns

Bristol Tourist Information Centres

Bristol Tourist Information Centre
The Annexe Wildscreen Walk
Bristol, BS1 5DB
Tel: +44 (0) 845 4080474

Cheddar Gorge T.I.C Tourist Information Centre
Cheddar Gorge The Cliffs
Cheddar,
BS27 3QE
Tel: +44 (0) 1291 623772

Bath & North East Somerset T.I.C Tourist Information Centre
Riverside Temple St
Bristol
BS31 1LA
Tel: +44 (0) 1225 477000

Chipping Sodbury Tourist Information Tourist Information Centre
The Clock Tower
High Street
Chipping Sodbury
South Gloucestershire, BS37 6AH
Tel: +44 (0) 1454 888686
email: click here
Website: click here

Famous people born, lived or buried in Bristol

Blackbeard the Pirate (1680 -1718)
Bristol-born pirate whose real name was either Edward Drummond or Teach.

John Cabot (1450 - 1499)
Italian-born explorer who sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497. Supposedly lived in St Nicholas Street and there is a statue of Cabot outside the Arnolfini and another outside the Council House (although this is disputed by some parties). The Cabot Tower was erected on Brandon Hill in 1897 in commemoration of his voyage.

Thomas Chatterton (1752 - 1770)
Boy poet who killed himself by taking arsenic at the age of 17. His birthplace can be seen in Redcliffe Way opposite St Mary Redcliffe Church.

W. G. Grace (1848 - 1915)
The cricketer W G Grace was born in Downend and later lived at 16 Victoria Square, Clifton from 1894 to 1896. He was a founder member of the Clifton Club, a gentlemen's club still in existence in The Mall, Clifton.

Cary Grant (1904 -1986)
Born Archibald Leach in Horfield, Bristol, Grant's first role in theatre was working at the Bristol Hippodrome. He went on to make over 70 films and become one of the most respected, and best loved, actors of all time. But he never forgot his home town and was a regular visitor, usually staying in the Royal Hotel. This hotel is now the Bristol Marriott Royal.

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