Bristol is seen as the informal capital of the West Country of England and is the 8th largest city in the UK. Its estimated population is 433,100 (2009) and in the bigger urban area 1,070,000 (2007). It got the Royal Charter in 1155 and county status was given in 1373. Bristol’s closest cities are historic Gloucester, Bath and Cardiff, with bordering counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. Paleolithic archeological discoveries in the area have shown that there has been a living community in the Bristol area from approximately 60,000 years.

The city of Bristol was created around the short coastline of the River Severn Estuary and the River Avon. This thus created a significant boating and shipping heritage. The chief industries in the thirteenth century were shipbuilding and manufacturing. Later in the fifteenth century, commerce unfolded to Ireland and Iceland. Then in the sixteen century, trading spread further afield to Spain and the Americas.

Bristol has a cathedral, formerly the Abbey of St Augustine, dating back to 1140. Slave business among the Americas and the UK was prevalent in the seventeenth century until it was abolished in 1807. Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Bristol have firm links because Brunel designed and built the Clifton Suspension Bridge and Bristol Temple Meads Station. In 2002, Brunel was voted one of the most foremost citizens in the History of Britain.

The University of Bristol was established in 1909 and after in 1992 the University of the West of England came from the city’s polytechnic, which is now one of the country’s leading learning centres for design and media studies.

The German Luftwaffe brutally bombed the city centre in World War II. They were attempting to cripple England’s shipping routes in the South West. Bristol city was rebuilt in the 1960s, and included tower blocks and road expansion.

An great placefor exploring the West Country is Bristol. The city is culturally vibrant and has a variety of events and attraction.

Attractions:-

* At-Bristol journeys through how our environment works. Plus explores is a mixture of different exhibitions – from animation to flight, illusions and sport!

* Bristol Zoo Gardens is the world’s 5th oldest zoo and the oldest zoo outside a capital city.

* Blue Reef Aquarium has living corals, seahorse, puffer fish, and amongst other flora and fauna, tropical sharks.

*Brunel’s SS Great Britain is the world’s first iron hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner. The ship was constructed by Brunel in 1843 and now preserved in a dry-dock beside the city’s floating harbour.

* Clifton Suspension Bridge, perhaps Bristol’s best known landmark, Brunel’s 19th century suspension bridge strings the dramatic Avon Gorge at a height of 75m.

* Cabot Circus – Shoppers going to to the centre of Bristol are given with over 120 shops, with 15 major flagship stores.

* Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is the principal museum in the city.

* Ferry Boat Company – options are throughout the day, including a round trip tour, getting from A to B or hopping on or off and to loads of harbour-side attractions.

* Pirate Walks is a guided walking circuit of Bristol’s historic harbour-side and takes one hour. There are tours on foot of Bristol’s Maritime History through the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries.

* Clifton Downs and Observatory lies in The Downs, a vast undeveloped spot within Bristol. Its views span across the Avon Gorge and the suspension bridge. At the top of the Downs is the Observatory, which houses a camera obscura and a cave which runs downwards through a straight cliff face to an observation point.

*Bristol to Bath Railway Cycle Path – runs from Bristol to Bath on a no longer used railway line.

Things Happening in Bristol:

Bristol Balloon Festival

- St Pauls Carnival

- Bristol Balloon Fiesta

* Bristol Open Doors Day

- Venn Festival

* Mayfest

Festival of Ideas

* Bristol Harbour Festival

* Soil Association Organic Food Festival

- Bristol International Kite Festival

Visit Bristol We want you to get out there and enjoy everything Bristol. This is our online video guide to whats waiting for you…. now do it! Things to do Bristol.