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. Welcome to Bristol .org.uk, your guide to Bristol and the South West. One of the largest cities in England, Bristol has excellent shopping facilities, an outstanding range of bars and restaurants and is highly acclaimed for its artistic and cultural excellence. Use our guide to find out where to go, what's on, and where to stay.

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Bristol is a large, modern, cosmopolitan city which forms the gateway to the South West of England. Bristol is a year round destination offering a lively cafe bar and restaurant culture and is nationally and internationally acclaimed for its arts and cultural excellence.

Bristol is home to world-class attractions, museums, galleries, parks and open spaces, attractive architecture and historic buildings and internationally recognised festivals such as St Pauls Carnival, Bristol Harbour Festival and the Balloon Fiesta.

Bristol is the UK's 8th most populous city and is situated by the River Avon bordering on the Unitary Districts of Bath and North East Somerset, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire. Bristol has always had strong links with the sea. The city spans a broad area, extending to the Bristol Channel. The area of Bristol near the coast is called Avonmouth, and is where the commercial Port of Bristol is situated.

Read more about Bristol in the About Bristol section.




History of Bristol

Bristol has long since been an important city. The name "Bristol" derives from the Old English word "Brycgstow", which means "the place at the bridge", clearly a reference to a bridge over the River Avon. During Norman rule, Bristol had one of the strongest castles in the South.

Geography of Bristol

Situated 169km (105 miles) west of London and 39km (24 miles) east of Cardiff, Bristol is built around the River Avon. It also has a short coastline on the Severn Estuary, which flows into the Bristol Channel.

Entertainment in Bristol

Bristol is a large city with a lot going on every week. Bristol is highly acclaimed for its artistic and cultural excellence and has excellent shopping facilities.

Historical Attractions in Bristol

Bristol has a wealth of historical attractions dating back over many centuries. We list some of the most notable attractions including Bristol Castle, Bristol Cathedral, the New Room, Bristol Bridge and The Nails

Education in Bristol

Bristol has a good choice of educational establishments with 17 secondary schools, two major universities, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, and two further education colleges, City of Bristol College and Filton College. There are also a large number of independent schools.

Industry in Bristol

Bristol's port is a major hub of economic activity and imports grain, timber, fresh produce, petroleum products and motor vehicles (of which Bristol is the largest importer to the UK). Other strong industry sectors in Bristol include aerospace, weapons manufacturing, the media, tourism, IT and financial service sectors.

Famous Bristolians

Lists famous Bristolians (natives of Bristol) from popular culture and the past, including engineering genius Brunel whose designs revolutionised public transport and modern engineering.

Leisure and Attractions in Bristol

Bristol is highly acclaimed for its artistic and cultural excellence with grand and bold architecture, several attractive parks, a good choice of sports and recreational facilities, and some fantastic museums and galleries.

Shopping in Bristol

Bristol is renowned for its choice of shops, with a wide range of different shopping areas, shopping centres and market. Here you will find everything from small local boutique shops to large high street fashion retailers.

Transport in Bristol

Bristol has extensive transport infrastructure spanning land, sea and air including two main railway stations, a harbour with ferries, a port, an international airport and of course extensive bus services.


. MAJOR BRISTOL ROADS

High Street | Gloucester Road | Station Road | Whiteladies Road | Church Road | Bath Road | North Street | Fishponds Road | Wells Road | Broad Street | Regent Street | Queens Road | East Street | West Street | Park Street | Bristol Road | Stapleton Road | Two Mile Hill Road | The Mall | Queen Square | Badminton Road | St Andrews Road | Henleaze Road | Southmead Road | Victoria Street | Filton Avenue | Gloucester Road North | Downend Road | Albert Road | Cheltenham Road

Other Cities in South West England...


Plymouth is about 120 miles West of Bristol, situated on the Devon coastline and is one of the largest cities in the South of England. It has excellent shopping facilities and is close by to the breathtaking scenery of the Dartmoor National Park, as well as spectacular coastline views. To learn more about Plymouth, visit Plymouth Online.

Swindon is around 40 miles to the East of Bristol, in the county of Wiltshire. It is a large town with a great live music scene and several shopping centres. Close to the Cotsworlds, Swindon has a wealth of beautiful countryside on its doorstep just a short drive away. For more details on Swindon, visit Swindon Online.

Exeter is about 80 miles West of Bristol, very near the Dartmoor National Park. The city has a spectacular cathedral and the ruins of a Norman castle, and being close to the Cornish border is close to many unspoiled beaches and stunning cliff edges. For further details on Exeter, please visit Exeter Online.

Bath is only about 12 miles from Bristol. With its ancient Roman Baths complex and its handsome golden Georgian architecture, Bath is a beautiful city and is amongst the most architecturally interesting cities in the world. As if the city itself were not enough, near by attractions such as Stonehenge, Avebury and Castle Combe offer visitors even more. To see more of Bath, visit Bath Online.