Bristol Attractions

Beyond St John's Gate, Christmas Street leads to Christmas Steps, an ancient alleyway paved in 1669 and now lined with antique and souvenir shops.

No visitor should leave Bristol without seeing the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge. It spans the 260ft/80m deep Avon Gorge on the west side of the limestone plateau known as Clifton Down and Durdham Down. Measuring 702ft/214m between the piers the bridge was completed in 1864, 33 years after Brunel (died 1859) had first submitted his prize winning plans.

Housed in the group of Victorian buildings west of the University is the City Art Gallery and Museum. Several of its collections are of special interest, including the oriental collection, the collection of Old Masters and the section devoted to Brunel and his many technical achievements.

The nature reserve, located in Leigh Woods, is a National Trust property. The Avon Gorge is cut out of limestone and is famous for its abundance of rare trees and plants. The Gorge is home to invertebrates and breeding peregrine falcons.

The little thatched almshouses (1811) of Blaise Hamlet in Henbury (4mi/6.4km north-northwest) make a charming picture. Designed by John Nash they are now a museum.

The Bristol Gallery features regularly changing exhibitions as well as space to hire for events or parties.

East of St John's Gate, Nelson Street runs through to Broadmead and the nearby shopping center (pedestrian precinct).

Dyrham Park (8mi/13km north of Bath) is a 17th C mansion set in more than 100ha/250ac of parkland and gardens, with delightful views. The interior contains fine furniture, paintings etc.

The mansion is located within an ancient deer park with formal gardens, woodland, and lakes to explore.

Foster's Almshouses in Colston Street, completed in 1861, are worth visiting, a pleasing mixture of Tudor and French Gothic elements with patterned masonry, external galleries and a cylindrical staircase of wood.

Worth seeing in Bristol near the University is the elegantly furnished Georgian House (18th century) a little to the west of Red Lodge.

There are 11 rooms that feature the basement with the kitchen, housekeeper's room, and pantry; formal rooms such as John Pinney's office, two dining rooms, a Library and two drawing rooms; and two exhibits highlighting Pinney's involvement in the sugar trade and his slave, Pero.

Horton Court is a National Trust property located in Horton, near Chipping Sodbury. It was built in the 12th century and includes Perpendicular styled walkways in the garden.

An account of daily life in Long Ashton was published by the local Vicar, John Collinson in 1791, although some of the buildings he wrote about have since been destroyed. A medieval church built in 1839 still stands.

The Maritime Heritage Center provides an interesting insight into the history of Bristol's shipbuilding and maritime trade.

Old Down Country Park has a fishing lake, gardens, playground, animals on display, a picnic area, and a croquet lawn.

This small town is the site of a nuclear power station.

Portbury is a small village with a rather large, partly-Norman church and a former priory.

This annual two-week festival takes place in May and includes at least a dozen performances including orchestral, choral and chamber concerts and recitals.

Each year the festival focuses on a different theme or musical style, although the finale is always a performance of "Last Night at the Proms." Both classical and contemporary music has been showcased in the past, in venues including Colston Hall and St George's Church.

Also worth seeing in Bristol near the University is the Red Lodge, with old furniture and a particularly fine Elizabethan room.

Another fine church is St Mark's Chapel or the Lord Mayor's Chapel, originally the chapel of a hospital founded by the Fitzharding family in 1220. The aisle is Early English (late 13th century) the rest Perpendicular (15th and late 16th century) with many elements typical of the Gothic style.

Stanton Drew Circles and Cove are an assembly of stone circles, avenues and a 'cove' of three standing stones. It has been revealed that there was once a huge timber structure within the Great Circle. The complex dates from about 3000BC.

Stanton Drew is also home to a number of notable buildings from the 13th to 15th centuries including St Mary the Virgin and the Watermill.

Temple Church in Bristol is a 15th C church which survived the bombings of World War II. The graveyard is now a public park.

The arched roof at this train station is enhanced by turrets and crenellations.

The University, established in 1909, is situated in Clifton, a popular residential district with a number of fine Georgian houses. The 200ft/60m late Gothic tower, built to commemorate the University's founding benefactors, Sir G. A. and H. H. Wills (of the famous Wills tobacco company), is one of Bristol's most prominent landmarks.

Situated just behind Broadmead is Wesley's New Room (1739), the world's oldest Methodist Church.

Westbury College Gatehouse is a National trust property that dates back to the 15th century. It was the gatehouse of the College of Priests that was founded in the 13th century.

East of the Clifton suspension bridge lies the Bristol Zoo Gardens, notable particularly for their monkey enclosure and aquariums.

A children's open-air play area and playroom are open daily. Also, there is a new enclosure for Wendy the elephant.