Destination guides > Europe > England > Southwest England > Bath, Bristol & Somerset > Bristol
Bristol
Bath's industrial neighbour is an increasingly popular travel destination with a couple of excellent hostels, some good museums and a vibrant nightlife. Its good transport connections to Bath, Cardiff and Glastonbury make it an excellent base for exploring the West Country.
Practical information
Bristol Tourist Information Centre
The Annexe, Wildscreen Walk, Harbourside, Bristol
Tel 0906 711 2191 (50p per minute)
Website www.visitbristol.co.uk
Open Jan-Feb Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm; Mar-Oct 10am-6pm daily; Nov-Dec Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 11am-4pm
Coming & going
AIR
Bristol Airport (tel 0870 1212747) has daily flights to many major European destinations. The Bristol International Flyer is an express bus that runs between Bristol city centre (with stops at the bus station and Temple Meads train station) and the airport. The bus costs £7 one-way or £9 return.
BUS & COACH
Bristol's Bus & Coach Station is located north of the old city between Marlborough Street and St James Park. National Express (tel 0870 580 8080) and local First and Stagecoach buses depart from here.
Megabus has several buses a day to London with prices between £1 and £9 (plus 50p booking fee). Megabus departs from Colston Hall on Colston Street in the city centre.
TRAIN
Bristol has two main train stations, Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway, although Bristol Temple Meads is the more centrally located of the two stations. It is about a 15-minute walk from the city centre or you can take buses 8, 9 or 500.
Local transport
First run local buses in Bristol. The most useful buses are routes 8, 9 and 500, which connect Temple Meads station with the city centre. Bus 8 also goes to Bristol Zoo Gardens and bus 500 connects both the city centre and the train station with Spike Island and SS Great Britain.
All day passes cost £4.20 if purchased before 9am or £3.90 if purchased after 9am.
The Freedom Travelpass costs £10.20 (£9.50 after 9am Mon-Fri and all day on weekends) and gives you one day unlimited travel on buses in Bath and Bristol plus travel on First Great Western trains between Bath and Bristol.
There is also a ferry boat service that connects Temple Meads station, the city centre and the harbour. Ferry fares range from £1.60 to £1.90 and a day pass costs £7.
Hostel accommodation
007 Travellers' Hostel
150-152 West Street, Bristol BS3 3LY
Tel (0117) 966 2936
Bristol Backpackers
17 Saint Stephen's Street, Bristol BS1 1EQ
Tel (0117) 925 7900
Bristol YHA
14 Narrow Quay, Bristol BS1 4QA
Tel (0117) 922 1659
Full Moon Backpackers Hostel
1 North Street, Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3PR
Tel (0117) 924 5007
Sightseeing, museums & tourist attractions
At Bristol
One of Bristol's best new attractions is the excellent At Bristol science and nature museum. At Bristol is split between several distinct galleries that include Explore, a science museum with plenty of interactive exhibits; an IMAX theatre and Wildwalk, which features a tropical forest complete with birds and butterflies. At Bristol also hosts a programme of temporary exhibits.
Anchor Road, Harbourside, Bristol
Tel 0845 345 1235
Website www.at-bristol.org.uk
Admission £10.80-11.90, late entry (1½ hours before close) £4-4.40
Open 10am-6pm daily
Blaise Castle House Museum
This 18th century house has displays relating to everyday life in Bristol.
Henbury Road, Henbury, Bristol
Tel (0117) 903 9818
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral was built in 1140 as an Augustine monastery and has been a cathedral since 1542. The highlights include the English Lady Chapel and the Norman Chapter House.
College Green, Bristol
Tel (0117) 926 4879
Website www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk
Admission free
Open Mon-Fri 8am-6pm, Sat 8am-5.0pm, Sun 7.30am-5pm
Bristol Zoo
Bristol's award winning zoo has a large range of animals that range from the world's smallest and rarest tortoise to the largest ape.
Clifton Down, Clilfton, Bristol
Bus 8, 9 Train Clifton Down
Tel (0117) 973 8951
Website www.bristolzoo.org.uk
Admission £11.36-12.50, £9.98-11 students
Open summer 9am-5.30pm daily; winter 9am-4.30pm daily
City Museum & Art Gallery
The City Museum & Art Gallery has a diverse range of exhibits that cover everything from natural history to fine art.
Queen's Road, Bristol
Bus 1, 8, 9, 41, 42, 43, 54, 55, 99
Tel (0117) 925 1470
Admission free
Open 10am-5pm daily
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Bristol's iconic suspension bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, spans the breathtaking Avon Gorge. The bridge offers views of the gorge and there is a visitor centre adjacent to the bridge.
Suspension Bridge Road, Clifton, Bristol
Bus 8, 8A (stop: Christ Church, Clifton Suspension Bridge)
Tel (0117) 974 4664
Website www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk
Open summer 10am-5pm daily; winter Mon-Fri 11am-4pm, Sat-Sun 11am-5pm
Georgian House
This restored Georgian townhouse is presented the way it would have appeared in the 18th century.
7 Great George Street, Bristol
Tel (0117) 921 1362
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
Red Lodge
This 400-year-old Elizabethan house features a Tudor style knot garden.
Park Row, Bristol
Tel (0117) 921 1360
Admission free
Open Mon-Wed & Sat-Sun 10am-5pm
St Mary Redcliffe Church
St Mary Redcliffe is one of Britain's largest parish churches and is a fine example of medieval architecture. Queen Elizabeth I called it "the fairest, goodliest and most famous Parish Church in England".
Redcliffe Way, Bristol
Tel (0117) 929 1487
Website www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk
Admission free
Open Jan-Apr 9am-4pm daily, May-Oct 9am-5pm daily; Nov-Dec 9am-4pm daily
SS Great Britain
The SS Great Britain was the world's first steam powered, iron hulled passenger liner and she was twice the weight of any other ship when launched in 1843.
Tel (0117) 929 1843
Website www.ssgreatbritain.org
Admission £10.95, £8.50 students
Open Jan-Mar 10am-4.30pm daily; Apr-Oct 10am-5.30pm daily; Nov-Dec 10am-4.30pm daily
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