The Remarkable City of Bristol

Bristol is a beautiful city, about 100 miles from London. It has a hoary history of its own commingling with British history. In the middle ages, when great voyages were undertaken, Bristol was the starting point for English adventurers. In politics, culture, education and arts it has contributed its mite to the English spirit. There have been activities in Bristol from the Old Stone Age through all the subsequent historical eras. But that apart, it is now a vibrant, modern city offering the fine values of the past with the riches of the present so that a visitor feels completely satisfied with a vacation there. The city is blessed with river Avon. There is the added embellishment of a coastline.

Though for several centuries it occupied a pride of place as a sea-faring centre, full of commerce and allied activities its recent base rests on aerospace industries. Therefore it has been a wealthy city, and having had an optimum population it found time to patronise arts and letters.

One of the fine landmarks in Bristol is the Bristol Bridge. The place where Rivers Forme and Avon converged near the sea began to develop as a port with lucrative trade from the middle of the 11th century. Only during the industrial revolution the rise of some important industrial cities like Manchester and Liverpool overshadowed the importance of Bristol. But it retained throughout the centuries its great honoured place as a port city as one of the gateways to England.

Coopers’ Hall and Theatre are more than two hundred years old in their role of spreading the art. There are ten more good theatres catering to even itinerant drama groups. As a production centre of cinemas too Bristol has a great name. Colston Hall, Trinity Centre, Hippodrome and Bristol Academy are some other illustrious names in the realm of music and drama.

There are some fine museums in Bristol as well. Royal West of England Academy, Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery and British Industrial Museum are great store houses of knowledge. From paintings to ceramics to man’s ingenious creations and industrial mosaic too are truly presented in great grace and style. These enrich our culture and are a source of inspiration for greater creativity.

The representative architectural buildings are breath taking. They range from Byzantine art to the very present. Would you believe that there are more than 3000 graded buildings in Bristol?  The old fortification in its remnants, some medieval castles and floating harbour are but a few examples of architectural marvels.  St.Mary’s Redcliff and Bristol Cathedral are two fine specimens of religious architecture. The grandeur and grace of the old buildings are a tribute to the care people take to preserve them while magnificent panoramic view of modern structures of the last and present centuries equally show a different dimension of man’s creativity!

Hotels and transport present maximum comforts to the tourists. Totworth Court Four Pillars Court is a magnificent hotel, presenting an aesthetic delight. There are Ramada Bristol City, Novotel Bristol Centre, The Grand By Thistle and a host of four and three star hotels. There are hundreds of luxurious and comfortable hotels to suit the needs of different tastes and budges. But one thing is common –uniform courtesy and great care shown on the visitors.

Dining also has its great appeal in Bristol. Care is taken to present to the tourists choicest English and European food. Of course the appetite will be whetted for those who opt for Eastern cuisine as well.

Bristol will linger in your memory long after you have lived there for a day, a week or a month. Its quality life is superior and must be sought after.