Saturday, October 22, 2011

Bristol - History and Attractions

By Kenny Lacey


In 2009, the estimated population of Bristol was 433,100, with a larger urban area of 1,070,000 in 2007. It is the 8th largest city in the UK and is the informal capital of the West Country of England. It obtained the Royal Charter in 1155 and county status was given in 1373. Bristol's closeby cities are historic Gloucester, Bath and Cardiff, with bordering counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire. Paleolithic archeological finds in the area have proved that there has been a living community in the Bristol area from approximately 60,000 years.

Bristol's substantial boating and shipping legacy was created from the city being constructed around the short coastline of the River Severn Estuary and the River Avon. Shipbuilding and manufacturing were the chief industries in the thirteenth century. commerce diffused to Ireland and Iceland in the fifteenth century and by the sixteenth century, Bristol was trading with Spain and the Americas.

Bristol has a cathedral, once the Abbey of St Augustine, dating back to 1140. Slave business was abolished in 1807, however, prior to this it was established between the UK and the Americas in the seventeenth century. Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Bristol have strong links because Brunel planned and constructed 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 formed in 1909 and afterwards in 1992 the University of the West of England came from the city's polytechnic, one of the country's leading learning centres for design and media studies.

The German Luftwaffe violently bombed the centre of Bristol in the course of World War II. They were trying to lame England's shipping routes in the South West. The city was rebuilt in the 1960s. The rebuilt included tower blocks and road expansion.

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



* At-Bristol takes the visitor through how our environmentworks. Plus explores is a programme of particular exhibitions - from animation to flight, illusions and sport!

* Bristol Zoo Gardens is the fifth oldest zoo outside a municipality and also the 5th oldest in the world.

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

*Brunel's SS Great Britain is the world's original iron hulled, screw propeller-driven, steam-powered passenger liner. Constructed by Brunel in 1843, the ship is now preserved in a dry-dock alongside the city's floating harbour.

* Clifton Suspenson Bridge - maybe Bristol's most famous landmark. The 19th century suspension bridge, built by Brunel, spans the prominent Avon Gorge at a height of 75m.

* Cabot Circus offers city centre shoppers with over 120 new shops, which includes 15 major flagship stores.

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

* Ferry Boat Company - in the day there is a circular trip tour; a hop on/off or is good for getting from A to B and to numerous harbour-side attractions.

* Pirate Walks is a guided walking tour, taking one hour, of Bristol's historical harbour-side. 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 large undeveloped space within Bristol. Its views sweep 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 meanders down through a perpendicualr cliff face to an observation point.

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




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