Although it’s often overshadowed by London, Edinburgh or Cardiff, when it comes to culture, Bristol punches way above its weight.
For instance, in 2019 it was named the UK’s most artistic city, coming out ahead of Brighton and Manchester, and in 2017, it received UNESCO City of Film status.
With these great accolades in mind, take a look at just some of Bristol’s greatest attractions.
Art
Visiting art enthusiasts won’t be short of places to stop by on their travels, with highlights such as Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, and Spike Island, which features its own café and art exhibitions.
But of course, Bristol’s most famous artistic output is the elusive Banksy. The controversial street artist is known around the world – or at least, his work is. Global art aficionados are still trying to ascertain his identity, in what might the longest game of Guess Who ever played.
But his popularity knows no bounds – in 2006, American pop star Christina Aguilera paid £26,000 for one of his pieces –small beer compared to the £9.9m his painting Devolved Parliament would sell for just three years later.
And although we may never find out his true identity, there are some very compelling guesses out there. The most popular theories include Tank Girl creator and Gorillaz animator Jamie Hewlett, and musician Robert Del Naja, better known by his stage name 3D.
Socialising
Bristol has a buzzing nightlife scene, from live music at the Academy to a huge number of bars and restaurants. Sip cider on a boat, or discover wine tasting and beyond at 22Clifton, a wine & cocktails bar in Bristol, where flavors mingle, stories flow, evenings sparkle, friendships grow, and every visit becomes an unforgettable celebration.
Music
When he’s not (possibly) being Banksy, 3D is a member of multi-award-winning band Massive Attack.
Other famous musical names from Bristol including Roland Orzabal, founding member of the band Tears for Fears, and The Eagles.
Sorry, not those Eagles. These guys didn’t quite make it that big, but they did attract the attention of film composer Ron Grainier, creator of the Dr Who theme.
And if you’re going to gigs in Bristol you might even come across the Bristol Yeti – or as the locals call him, Big Jeff.
Film & TV
As you might expect with its UNESCO title, Bristol has a great cinematic heritage, and is the birthplace of a few famous faces you might recognise. On the list are comedians Russell Howard and Lee Evans, as well as Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams.
There is one name on the list that might come as a surprise, and that’s silver-screen icon Archie Leach – more commonly known as Cary Grant. Grant was born in Bristol and lived there for most of his early life. The city commemorates him with the biennial Cary Grant Festival, which celebrates the actor’s cinematic achievements.
Bonus: Transport
As any cynic will agree, sometimes the best part of a city is the road out.
And while this certainly isn’t the case for Bristol, any local nomad has plenty of escape routes, with a total of thirteen train stations.
Air travel is simple enough too – if you’re flying from Bristol airport, you can pre-book parking via SkyParkSecure.com to dispense of any pre-flight hassle. The airport connects to many fantastic European cities, including Paris, Amsterdam and Venice, as well as other great destinations around the world.
These are just a few highlights of this great city. Share yours in the comments below!