rom the mouth of the harbour to the tip of Clifton Suspension Bridge, and from the
island of Flat Holm to the rustling of the leaves in Leigh Woods, Bristol is a city that
manages to be both urban and bucolic, ancient and contemporary. Visitors to the
South West English coastal enclave are struck by how compact everything is. With a
population of less than 460,000 and a tightly woven mesh of ancient thoroughfares,
alleyways and closes, Bristol is the sort of place you can comfortably traverse on foot in a day –
though many of the locals prefer to cycle.
It’s the sort of city that’s very much in touch with its past, with its roots, and with the earth it’s
built upon. The organic, vegan, artistic and bohemian movements are very much alive within
Bristol’s city limits, which mark it out as having a distinctly different character from that of other
illustrious English towns. While many UK high streets are interchangeable and homogenous, in
Bristol you could only ever be in Bristol: there’s nowhere else in England quite like it.
The city remains fiercely independent, almost a separate enclave from the rest of England;
it’s a place where thinkers and dreamers go to foment plans and seed ideas. It’s also a place
where tourists go to marvel at the culture, revel in the nightlife and savour the award-winning
gastropubs and restaurants. Visitors have plenty to keep them occupied from dusk to dawn,
whether retracing the footsteps taken by Sherlock and his trusty sidekick in the BBC’s
production of the famous detective, much of which was shot here, or strolling through the green
spaces that are festooned at regular intervals throughout the city to break up its
admittedly charming rows of Georgian houses.
As for what’s worth exploring in this picturesque city of bridges
and boats, canals and craft breweries: well, a good place to
start is with the distinctive street art that clings to many of
the high-rises, arts centres and public buildings. This is
the city that spawned Banksy after all. While Bristol’s
contemporary attractions – music venues, canal boat
tours, arthouse cinemas – are manifold, there’s also a
lot of history to unlock.
If you know where to look, Bristol offers a wealth
of enticing options, from accommodation to
entertainment. Without that all-important local
knowledge, however, discovering the South West’s
best bars, freshest seafood restaurants, greatest family
attractions and chirpiest cafes comes down to potluck. The
Entertainment Guide believes that no holiday or business
trip should be dependant upon sheer serendipity. Your time is
too valuable
INTRODUCTION
4
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