Old Moaner Travel
I haven’t been everywhere, but it’s on my list
Bristol
Yet another of those cities where the docks have been revitalised, gentrified and given a whole new lease of life.
Yep, Bristol Docks, is the beating heart of the city. No longer a thriving port Bristol hangs onto its maritime heritage and the floating dock area has become the focal point for visitors and locals alike. There are the usual eateries / bars and cafés for those who want to chill and people watch.
This probably won't make me popular with the Bristol Tourist Board, I'm not here to be popular though, but the docks is probably the only redeeming feature of Bristol - the rest of the city is an unmitigated sh*t hole, which only looks decent when seen in the rear view mirror as you drive away from the city and trust me it will be a long lingering view as the traffic congestion is appalling. There seems to have been a conscious decision to make the city as car unfriendly as possible.
Of course there are also museums aplenty. The Arnolfini is an old warehouse converted into a museum of contemporary art and is one of the top attractions in the city, it's also reputed to have the best chocolate brownies anywhere, on sale in the café. The ground floor is open daily from 09:00 weekdays and 10:00 weekends, whist the upper floors are used for special exhibitions, for which there may be an admission charge, usually around the £4 mark.
The Watershed is an independent cinema showing arts films, with occasional concerts and exhibitions.
At-Bristol, now known as We The Curious, is the most amazing museum of science and chronologist and it makes learning science fun and interactive for children of all ages from toddlers to OAP's. It is the sort of place you could spend an entire day and not get in the least bit bored. Admission is £15.95 for adults, £13.50 for concessions and £10.50 for children. The Planetarium is an extra £3.50 for a 3-D show or £2.50 for a 2-D show. It's open daily from 10:00 - 17:00 weekday term time and 10:00 - 18:00 weekends, Bank Holidays and Bristol school holidays.
A free entry attraction, telling the history of Bristol is the M Shed. It tells the story from prehistoric times through to the present day. Open Tuesday - Sunday 10:00 - 17:00 and Monday's during Bristol school holidays and Bank Holidays.
On the water, Brunel's SS Great Britain has to be the star attraction, the worlds first iron hull passenger ship is Bristol's No 1 tourist attraction. Open every day except Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and the first Monday in January, the hours are 10:00 - 18:00 in the summer and 10:00 - 16:30 in winter. Adults are £16.50, concessions £14.50 and children £9.50. Tickets allow unlimited access for one year, excludes group tickets.
As an added bonus, if your name happens to be Isambard, you will get free admission - having said that I can't recall ever meeting an Isambard.
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Going back to an even earlier age The Matthew is a replica of the original ship in which Jon Cabot sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497. When docked viewing is free however the ship really does float and can be hired or you may book on a public trip.
Bristol isn't only the docks though and there are a few other attractions away from the docks. Bristol Zoo is the oldest provincial zoo in the country having first opened its doors some 170 years ago. Older readers may well remember the BBC series Animal Magic, which was based at the zoo. Admission pricing is complex with prices depending on dates. Adult admission is £12 - £22, concessions £11 - £21 and children £7 - £16. Opening times are 09:00 - 17:30, 364 days a year, closed on Christmas Day, although it does close at 16:00 on Christmas Eve.
The Llandoger Trow is an historic pub in the city and is visually stunning with its Tudor facade.
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Bristol Museum and Art Gallery has an eclectic mix of exhibits, ranging from Egyptian artefacts through to a stuffed gorilla - I kid you not!! Artwork from Picasso to Turner .... admission is free and the museum is open daily Tuesday - Sunday from 10:00 - 17:00, plus occasional Monday's throughout the year.
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If you think the Museum and Art Gallery has an eclectic mix of exhibits then wait until you visit Blaise Castle House Museum, located on the outskirts of the city near Westbury on Trim. Asides from a very interesting collection of toys and dolls the museum often has loan exhibitions from the main museum. If museums are not your thing the house has 600 acres of parkland to explore. Open Thursday - Sunday 11:00 - 16:00, admission is free.
One of the iconic landmarks of Bristol is also found away from the city centre, namely Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge, crossing the Avon gorge. The designer never saw the bridge as he died several years before it was completed. 1,352 feet long and 331 feet above the water, the bridge is very impressive and best viewed from the gorge below.
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As well as a maritime heritage, aviation has played a major role in the life of the city. Filton, north of the city, was the UK base for Concorde production. Alas the big white bird flies no more but Concorde Alpha Foxtrot, the last to be built and the last to fly commercially, is the centrepiece of the Filton Air Museum. Open daily, apart from Christmas admission is £15 adult, £13 concession and £8 for children. Special exhibitions and airshow days incur a higher charge.