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- Bristol
Bristol
The River Avon winds picturesquely through the bustling city
centre of Bristol in the southwest of England, and has played a key
role in the development of the city as a major English commercial
port. Surrounded by charming hilly landscape and the spectacular
ice-carved Avon Gorge, Bristol is an interesting mix of history,
commerce and culture.
The city contains a mish-mash of architecture spanning over 400
years, much of which has been rebuilt, destroyed, relocated or
vandalised over time. The City Fathers seem to have had a constant
need to modernise, and today few of the city's earliest treasures
remain, particularly after Bristol was severely blitzed during
World War II. Although there is little or no remnant of Bristol's
11th-century origins, the city is not devoid of character by any
means and there has been an attempt to restore the remaining
jewels, evident in the beautiful Queen and Portland Squares. There
are plenty of Georgian and Victorian churches, buildings and
monuments to be seen and the city's strong maritime history can
still be explored.
Bristol's busy city centre contains a number of excellent
museums, galleries, parks and churches, including the Bristol
Cathedral. The city receives over nine million visitors a year and
as one of the current top ten UK destinations, its tourism industry
is rapidly expanding. Its thriving music scene is still dominated
by trip-hop (also known as the Bristol Sound), which emerged in the
city in the 1980s and 1990s; and with two universities, Bristol has
a thriving nightlife, plenty of restaurants and shops.
Bristol's green lung has long been the Downs. Over 400 acres of
grassland stretch from Avon Gorge to the Victorian-built suburbs of
the city and locals and visitors alike flock to enjoy the peace and
quiet they offer. A favourite in the city is also the Bristol Zoo
and Gardens and the Bristol Clifton Observatory and caves, near the
eye-catching Bristol Clifton Suspension Bridge.
The diversity and muddled history of the city make it well worth
the visit, and it is also a convenient distance from the nearby
city of Bath, as well as the fascinating Stonehenge.
Information & Facts
Climate
Bristol's climate is as unpredictable as the rest of the United
Kingdom. Situated in the south west of the country and sheltered
largely by Exmoor and the Mendip Hills, Bristol is in fact one of
the UK's warmest cities. Summers are usually sunny and warm, while
winters are cold and wet. Summer days, however, can start out
overcast and damp, clearing later, and winter days can be crisp and
cold.
Getting Around
Bristol is an easy city to negotiate on foot, with plenty of
attractions close to one another. There are, however, taxis, trains
and an extensive bus network available. While the bus service has
been criticized in the past, plans for a five-year project to
transform it, reducing congestion and improving safety, are in
place. There are plenty of car rental agencies available, though
the city centre can get congested. Bristol is a popular place for
cyclists and despite plenty of hills, the city has an excellent
urban bike route. The Bristol Ferry Boat is a fun and leisurely way
to explore the city; it offers leisure and commuter services on the
harbour.
Language
English is the official language, though visitors will be
astonished by the variety of regional accents.
Money
The currency is the pound (GBP), which is divided into 100
pence. ATMs are available in all towns and Visa, MasterCard and
American Express are widely accepted; visitors with other cards
should check with their credit card companies in advance. Foreign
currency can be exchanged at bureaux de change and large hotels,
however better exchange rates are likely to be found at banks.
Travellers cheques are accepted in all areas frequented by
tourists; they are best taken in Pounds Sterling to avoid
additional charges.
Time
Local time in the United Kingdom is GMT (GMT +1 from last
Sunday in March to Saturday before last Sunday in October).