12 reasons to visit Bristol — an English city with creative flair and working-class history

The Shakey Bridge is a good example of a suspension bridge, but there is another in Bristol of a staggering scale.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel – a 19th-century engineer with celebrity status whose innovative designs remain impressive in the modern age – designed the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge over the Avon Gorge.

Sitting 101m above water level, it was completed in 1864 and the views from the crossing are worth the trip alone. Walking over, it’s easy to forget you’re suspended so high above the ground – until you look over the side.

The visitor center shows how Brunel designed his masterpiece and offers unrivaled views of the bridge at the camera obscura.

For the strange Clifton

While visiting the suspension bridge, head to Clifton, an affluent suburb with smart Georgian terraces and leafy squares.

Here you’ll find independent boutiques, art, jewelry and vintage, second-hand and pre-loved shops, plus independent and quirky shops at Clifton Arcade ( CliftonArcade.com ).

A great place to stop for lunch, you’ll find plenty of options. I went to the independent Eat a Pitta (EatAPitta.co.uk) Clifton branch, where a feta, red pepper and falafel pitta was packed with so much food, I was full for the day.

For a ship-shaped tour

Believe it or not, we’re not done with Brunel. As well as giving Bristol its most famous landmark, he also designed ships.

At the Great Western Dockyard, visitors can see the SS Great Britain, built in 1843 (SSGreatBritain.org).

The world’s first luxury cruise car, it enjoyed record speeds thanks to Brunel’s pioneering screw propeller technology, which is still in use today. Walk under the glass “sea” and climb aboard the ship, filled with the sights, sounds and even smells of life on board.

Explore the staterooms, first class dining room, engine rooms and galleys. Be sure to visit the accompanying interactive museum, Being Brunel, to learn more about the extraordinary engineer.

For local drinks

Walking through the ‘Beermuda Triangle’ – an area, I’m told, where you can disappear into a pub and not be seen again for days – the sounds of jazz and general revelry at The Old Duke hooked me like a over.

I came for one (famous last words) and the live music only scratched the surface of the charm inside, the crowd letting loose as the music took over. (Scan the antique adverts for international jazz festivals that line the ceiling and see if you can spot the logo for the 10th Cork Jazz Festival!)

For wine on tap

If beer isn’t your thing, wine lovers should wander south to Bedminster for an evening of wine and cheese at KASK (@kaskwine on Instagram).

With the tagline ‘We Say No To Shit Wine’, the owners pride themselves on stocking stunning wine and our tasting proves their tastes are on point.

Wine is served on tap and by the glass in the bar and wine garden and we are both entertained and educated by owner Charlie Taylor.

Bonus points for being dog friendly, as a Scotty munching on the next table lifted the evening even more.

For immersive art

A trip to Wake the Tiger, an immersive alternative to the traditional art gallery ( WakeTheTiger.com ), is an immersive and inclusive journey for all ages into another world called “Meridia.”

Visitors explore 27 unique artistic rooms to interact with a world beyond their imagination.

It’s mysterious and indescribable: The slide you can use to exit the exhibition is enough to convince me to visit again.

On a superficial level, you probably won’t find a cooler place to take your weekend Instagram pictures. The hashtag is worth it.

To walk the streets of Banksy

Did you know that Bristol is home to famous street artist Banksy, whose original works can sell for millions of pounds?

A walk around the city, however, allows you to see more than just a couple for free. You can find some of Banksy’s previous work as well as some recent additions.

Look for ‘Mild Mild West’ on Stokes Croft, ‘Well Hung Lover’ on Park Street, ‘The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum’ near Bristol Marina and ‘Grim Reaper’ in M ​​Shed.

For more magical murals

Speaking of street art, Bristol has embraced its residents’ flair for creativity and an annual street art festival that features original work by some of the world’s best street artists.

Upfest (UpFest.co.uk) in Bedminster is Europe’s largest free live street art festival. This year’s graffiti festival included pop-up paint jams, workshops, talks, tours, music and more.

Artists paint large-scale murals on buildings during the festival, with a schedule available for visitors to see their progress.

For those visiting outside of the festival season, the Upfest self-guided street art trail can be followed all year round by clicking on the map tab on UpFest.co.uk.

To make waves

Bristol can also be explored by boat if Brunel’s work inspired you during your trip.

The distinctive blue and yellow boats of the Bristol Ferry Service ( BristolFerry.com ) run 364 days a year and bring passengers from the floating harbor along the River Avon.

You can also hop on a themed cruise, such as their Thirsty Thursday cruises, which sail around Bristol Harbor for 90 minutes with a fully stocked floating bar.

For top performances

Do you want a night at the theater? You’re lucky Bristol is home to the Hippodrome.

As well as Dublin’s Bord Gáis Energy Theatre, Bristol Hippodrome (atgtickets.com/venues/bristol-hippodrome) hosts touring productions of West End favourites, with shows such as Six The Musical, Grease and Dear Evan Hansen on the schedule in the coming months , as well as comedy gigs from Jimmy Carr and Greg Davies.

For its honest history

A thriving port city at the center of international shipping routes for centuries, Bristol boasts a rich history – and isn’t shy about talking about some of the more unsavory elements, including links to the slave trade.

The free M Shed harborside museum tells the story of the city through the people who helped shape it ( BristolMuseums.org.uk/m-shed ).

A new permanent display of the Colston statue is a particularly well-kept area.

Toppled by activists in 2020 during the Black Lives Matter movement, the statue now lies on its side in a protest-themed display, with graffiti from the protests still preserved on it.

For great food

Bristol’s vibrant food scene includes the Wapping Wharf community, where you’ll find a food market made from shopping containers.

Cargo 1 and Cargo 2 are home to a host of cafes and restaurants, including Seven Lucky Gods (7LuckyGods.com), a casual Japanese-style bar and restaurant.

For later in the evening, dinner at The Granary (GranarBristol.com) is a delightful array of local, seasonal and sustainable ingredients, cooked over an open fire with a rotating stone oven.

A trip to The Granary Club for an after-dinner cocktail is also recommended.

Exhaust notes

Aer Lingus Regional operates flights between Cork and Bristol six days a week and seven from Dublin.

Fares from EUR 39.99 one way; AerLingus.com

where to stay

Part of the Doyle Collection, The Bristol Hotel is located on the waterfront and offers harbor views, boutique bedrooms, the River Grille restaurant and the newly launched Rick’s Bar (DoyleCollection.com/hotels/the-bristol-hotel).