BRISTOL IS BRIMMING WITH ADVENTUROUS ACTIVITIES
There are so many activities in and around Bristol, it’s hard to know where to start. So, we broken-it down into categories and give you a sample of what’s on offer.
Combat Sports in Bristol – If you are into combat sports, Bristol can satisfy you with airsoft, paintball and combat archery
Target Shooting in Bristol – Shooting at targets in and around Bristol is easy with a choice of archery, crossbows, clay pigeon shooting and the more recent addition, axe-throwing.
Motorised Experiences in Bristol – go-karting, quad biking, off-road buggies, driving a performance car, 4X4 driving or rally driving are in Bristol city itself or can all be accessed easily from the city.
Water-Based Activities in Bristol – if the water calls you when it comes to adventure, then you’ll want to take part in canoeing, raft building, and surfing, which are a short drive from Bristol city.
Adrenalin Rush Activities in Bristol – Bungee jumping is the biggest adrenalin rush you can have in Bristol – that and paragliding.
Less Adrenalin – maybe, but hot air ballooning will still take your breath away as you float above the beautiful south west coast. Then there are escape games in Bristol. Do you have the wit and courage to try your hand at the puzzles and conundrums and make your escape?
You may also want to take advantage of the Geronigo® App, so you can have every adventure, everywhere in the UK and Ireland right there on your phone. You’ll also be one of the first to know when Geronigo adds more activity adventures.
THINGS THAT YOU MUST SEE IN BRISTOL
The South West city of Bristol has a name for being a creative and multi-cultural together with being a hub for regular events. We’ve listed some of the key ‘must-sees’.
The iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge comes in as the first recommendation with its views across the picturesque Avon Gorge and the entire city together with its spectacular transformation as it lights up at night. Walking across is the best way to appreciate the views, and some local pubs will give you a first-class advantage point while you sip a drink or two.
As one of the UK’s most significant science centres, We the Curious offers a fun day out for the entire family. Located right in the centre of town with hundreds of hands-on exhibits to explore, live shows and a Planetarium.
Park Street is a major shopping street in Bristol with lots of quirky stores and places to stop for coffee and tasty eats. Linking the city centre to Clifton, the building of Park Street started in 1761, and it was Bristol’s earliest example of uniformly stepped hillside terracing. Look up the street, and you will be treated to a dramatic view of the Wills Memorial Building. Keep an eye out for Banksy artwork, located at the bottom of the street. As Banksy is one of the famous Bristolians, you can also do a tour of his artwork around the city.
J K Rowling, another famous Bristolian, went to School in Winterbourne of the Northern outskirts of Bristol. If you want to see where this acclaimed author learned her early English skills, you can visit the school. Well, probably just look at it as I don’t suppose the teachers wouldn’t be too impressed by tourists gawping through the classroom windows from the playground.
Bristol Zoo’s stated mission is to “maintain and defend biodiversity through breeding endangered species, conserving threatened species and habitats and promoting a wider understanding of the natural world”. The mammal collection at the zoo numbers around 300, representing 50 species, including gorillas, Asiatic lions, pygmy hippos, and red pandas. Among species now on view at Bristol which are rare or absent in the other UK zoos are Livingstone’s fruit bats, aye-ayes and quolls.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain is a huge ship which, it is claimed ‘changed the world’ is located in the Bristol Harbour. Launched in 1843, you can visit the ship and soak up its history and marvel at its structure.
The Arnolfini art gallery is an international art centre and gallery. It has a programme of contemporary art exhibitions, artist’s performance, music and dance events, poetry and book readings, talks, lectures and a cinema.
The amazing Cargo at Wapping Wharf is home to a host of independent eateries, shops and more. This new concept made entirely of converted shipping containers is part of Wapping Wharf and boasts stunning views across the water.
Just across from Cargo, the M Shed museum is a vast space offering several exciting exhibitions for people of all ages to enjoy. There are working exhibits outside the building that you can see when the museum is closed, such as the electric cranes and Fairbairn Steam crane.
If vast, rolling green space is what your heart desires, then a visit to the Downs is a must. The Downs consists of Clifton Down and Durdham Down, bordering the Clifton Village, Clifton and Redland areas of Bristol. Together they represent a vast area of protected parkland right on the edge of the city within walking distance of other major attractions such as the Clifton Suspension Bridge, giving the impression of being surrounded by countryside.
If you want to know more about what to see in Bristol, then we can recommend you visit this site.
HISTORY OF BRISTOL AND ITS NAME
Iron Age hill forts and Roman villas have been found at the junction the rivers Frome and Avon, and records show, from around the beginning of the 11th century, the settlement at this spot was known as Brycgstow (Old English “the place at the bridge”). Bristol received a royal charter in 1155 and was historically divided between Gloucestershire and Somerset until 1373 when it became a county of itself. From the 13th to the 18th century, Bristol was among the top three English cities, after London, in tax receipts. Bristol was then surpassed by the rapid rise of Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool during the Industrial Revolution. A more in-depth history can be found here.
By CJ