Bristol is a city located in the southwest of England and is known for its universities and its young and student atmosphere.
It is a city of large dimensions but it is not one of the largest in the country. Therefore, you will be able to get to know the centre perfectly by taking a day's walk there.
Furthermore, Bristol is reputed to be one of the coolest cities in the UK. In fact, in the summer, temperatures can reach 22 degrees, which is quite crazy! Enjoy a different visit during your stay in London. Bristol will not disappoint you. Don't miss it!
How do I get to Bristol?
How far is Bristol from London? Bristol is located 180 kilometres west of London.
It is connected to London almost in a straight line by road. The journey from the British capital is therefore uncomplicated and relatively fast (two hours by car and three hours by bus). There are also many daily trains that connect the two cities and make the journey easier.
Morning in Bristol
As we said, Bristol city centre is within walking distance. To give you an idea of the layout of the city, Bristol is located next to the River Avon. This means that the city has a port. Around the river you will find different hills with parks and houses through which the whole city develops.
We will leave the train station if this was your means of transport to get to Bristol. The station is called Bristol Temple Meads. From there we will walk about 10 minutes westwards via the approach station or the Redcliffe Lane to the Redcliffe area. Here we will visit St Mary Redcliffe Church.
We will follow Redcliffe Way to Queen Square Park and after crossing it, we will walk up Broad Quay until you see that you can cross over to the other side of the river. You can make a mini stop at Cascade Steps, a staircase over which a waterfall falls.
Walk up Anchor Rd to St Augustine's Parade. Here you'll meet the Bristol Racecourse. It is the most important theatre in the city with a special old style. Bus stops, pubs, restaurants and alleys that go up to the hills and down to the river start from here.
A square with fountains occupies all the central space of the place. In summer it becomes the meeting point.
Walk back along Anchor Rd to College Green. In this street, there is a park of the same name and Bristol Cathedral. If you coincide with a choral mass, the beauty of the cathedral will make you fall in love. College Green Park becomes a place of entertainment and activity during Bristolian summers.
In front of the Cathedral, you will cross a bridge to keep climbing. There you will see that non-River citizens stop to observe something on a wall. This is one of Bansky's most famous works.
Although we do not include it in our tour, you should know that a little further south begins the Harbour Side, the harbour. A paved walk beside the harbour reaches the river locks. In this area you will also find the Aquarium and the @-Bristol, a science centre.
Before completing the climb, you will need to turn left on some of the steep streets to access Brandon Hill Park. Squirrels and geese will accompany you along the trails up the hill towards the magnificent Cabot Tower. Climb up all the steps of the tower, the view will be enchanting.
This park and hill is one of the most beautiful viewpoints in the city. From here you can see the Avon River to the sea; Richmond Park with its deer on the other side of the cliffs; the British Plain and the hills and towns on the horizon. Also, from November 4 to 5, it is the best place to see the fireworks.
Leave the park via Upper Byron Pl or Charlotte St to Park Row. Here you can admire the beautiful university and its headquarters. The main building of the University of Bristol is the tower of the Wills Memorial Building.
Continuing straight down this street you will pass the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. In the former you will discover much of the city's natural history. In the Art Gallery there are always interesting temporary exhibitions of contemporary art that will, at least, surprise you.
Lunchtime in Bristol
We offer different options for lunch. One of them is to go to Park Street. This is the most emblematic street in the city. It is a steeply sloping street full of cafes, shops, bookstores, restaurants and pubs. You will surely find something. Taking a walk and shopping in Bristol is always possible, check
https://www.the-shops.co.uk and save your time by locating the shops you want to visit during your trip to Bristol.
We recommend Taka Taka restaurant (1-3 Queens/Row/ Triangle), 1 minute from the Bristol Museum. This small place offers the most typical and delicious Greek dishes. With a great variety and high quality products, it also sells Turkish delicacies, cheese and some other delicacies from the Eastern Mediterranean countries.
If you are more of a pizza man, you can try Pizza Express (31 Berkeley Square), 2 minutes from the museum. Being a chain of Italian cuisine, this is still one of the best positions on the lists. Besides unique pizzas and good dishes and combinations, you will have very economical offers.
A last option is to go to Sainsbury O' Little Waitrose in the same street as the Museum and buy something to eat in the park. This is recommended depending on the time of day, as there is still a bit of a way to go to the park.
Afternoon in Bristol
Going up Queens Street, you will pass through a somewhat residential area of the city. Elegant buildings, big houses with gardens, churches ... This is the Clifton district.
Then, following this street, you can go to Birdcage Walk, with a cemetery a bit wild until Clifton Hill, which looks like a big footbridge offering a magnificent view of the city.
If you've already eaten, you can get lost in Clifton Village until you reach Clifton Arch, via Boyce's Ave. The narrow streets in this area are full of charming cafes and shops with first-class products.
Congratulations, as you won't have to climb much higher to reach one of the most emblematic points of the town, the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is a suspension bridge linking the town to Richmond Park, populated by deer, and its urban area.