Group Travel / Group Travel in Bristol / Bristol in Brief

Bristol in Brief

History

Bristol is the largest city in the South West of England. The prestige of Bristol is reflected in splendid architecture, a rich maritime heritage, a wealth of attractions and beautiful estates and parkland.

In Anglo-Saxon times a settlement grew up between the Rivers Avon and Frome known as Brig-stow or 'the place of a bridge'.

In 1497, John Cabot, an Italian financed by Bristol merchants set sail from Bristol in his ship, the Matthew hoping to find a passage to the spice islands. Instead he actually discovered Newfoundland.

John Wesley, the Methodist leader, had a chapel, or 'New Room' built in 1739. It remains today the oldest Methodist building in the world.

The 18th century also saw the rise of Bristol's involvement in the slave trade and, as a result, ships returned to Bristol laden with goods from the New World, including cane sugar, tobacco, rum and cocoa.

By the late 18th century the harbour was starting to become a problem, due to the huge rise and fall of the Avon, making it difficult for the increasingly big merchant ships.

In the following years Bristol, as a port, began to decline, and has now been magically transformed into a colourful parade of galleries, cafes, restaurants and hugely successful visitor attractions.

New docks were built at the mouth of the Avon in the 1870's and Bristol continued as an industrial centre. The construction of aircraft, including Concorde, at Filton became an important post-war industry. Bristol is also the home of Rolls Royce.

Today, Bristol is a large commercial centre, one of the most popular cities for business relocation, a major focus for media industries and an increasingly popular short break destination.

Contemporary Bristol

Bristol's diversity shines brightly in its many distinctive quarters. Classy Clifton and Whiteladies Road are filled with antique shops, restaurants and boutiques. In the Old City, grand, dignified buildings rub shoulders with Bristol's fashionable vision of the future along the reborn harbourside. Bristol boasts an all-action annual programme of festivals and events including everything from balloons to boats, kite flying to street carnivals, and the city's thriving theatre scene continues to delight and entertain, creating stars of today's stage and screen.

Brunel in Bristol

The great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel is responsible for some of Bristol's best-loved features. Highlights of Brunel's Bristol include the Clifton Suspension Bridge, his great iron ship, the ss Great Britain and Temple Meads old station, terminus for the Great Western Railway, and now home to the British Empire & Commonwealth Museum.

Made in Bristol

Brunel's ss Great Britain, the world's first iron hulled steamship, was designed and built in Bristol by I. K. Brunel. In 2005, in her original dock, work was completed to restore her back to her former glory. In 2006 the ship won no less than 10 major awards, including the Gulbenkian Prize for Museums and Galleries.

Bristol's Old Vic Theatre is the oldest working theatre in the country. Graduates of its stage include Jeremy Irons, Miranda Richardson and Patrick Stewart.

Bristol Blue Glass, first made in the 17th century by adding cobalt oxide to the glass process. This brilliantly distinctive glass is now known throughout the world.

Aardman, Oscar-winning creators of Wallace and Gromit and Chicken Run, are based in Bristol.

Smiles Brewery produces beer from traditional recipes. Visitors can take a tour of the micro brewery.