Any Bristolians out there!!!

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Hi All,

Going down to Bristol tomorrow for a short city break, two days, three nights.

"The Bridge" and the S.S. Great Britain are of course on the itinerary.

Any Bristolians have any other "must sees", perhaps a little of the beaten track.

No car, going down on the train.

Geoff

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

[MWParticipant @mw27036]

Not a bristolian myself but they've got my full respect as someone from the home counties!

Theres the severn bridge ofcourse, very big piece of engineering there! But i'm not aware of any hidden gems… very near to cheddar gorge as well in that part of the country.

Michael W

[Martin KyteParticipant @martinkyte99762]

Slimbridge wild fowl trust, Goucester and Sharpness Canal, the Zoo, Berkeley Castle.

regards Martin

[DurhambuilderParticipant @durhambuilder]

The rather splendid old industrial museum near the SS Great Britain has unfortunately been replaced by a modern trendy museum called the M Shed, fortunately most of the old industrial stuff is still on site albeit in storage and you can still see it. Google M Shed Bristol and follow the links to treasures in store.

[charadamParticipant @charadam]

Bristol Steam Packet boat trips round the harbour and up the River Avon.

The Nova Scotia pub on Spike Island – a traditional watering hole with great beers and ciders.

The Corn Market.

It is a great town for a short break and as you won't be tied down by a car, you will enjoy it all the more.

[Raymond GriffinParticipant @raymondgriffin40985]

The camera obscura in the Clifton Observatory is worth a visit. One of the few, if not the only, public camera obscura’s in England. Gives a fabulous birds eye view of the suspension bridge, best on sunny days. Easy short walk from the entry to the bridge, on the city side.

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Under the Camera Obscura is a tunnel leading to a half way down cave exit also with views of the gorge & suspension bridge. See the world famous Bristol Zoo Car Park where it is claimed a fake attendant collected the money for 20 years. (The Zoo thought he worked for the Council and Vice Versa) Steam crane, shunting engine and tug at docks adjacent to SS GB, also may be a metal planing machine on show. Bristol Museum has a very early aircraft hanging from the ceiling. The Museum of Work in Bath has a collection of 19th century lathes and other equipment set up in a belt driven jobbing metal workshop, also stone mining tools and a literally blinding Victorian lemonade bottling plant. Small Coal mining museum in Radstock.

Must go myself one day!

Edit. Forgot the steam railway at Bitton.

Edited By SillyOldDuffer on 10/05/2017 18:22:48

[JAParticipant @ja]

In addition to the above suggestions: Clifton Village, because it is relaxed; The Underfall Yard, a boat building yard and museum next to the Nova Scotia (I have fond memories of the Scotia from years ago); Broadmead shopping centre if you want to see how the planners of the 1940s & 50s can mess up a city.

The two bridges over the Severn are a bit difficult to get to by public transport. The new bridge is best seen from Severn Beach which is at the end of a suburban rail line from Temple Meads. The journey will show you a side of Bristol that the tourists never see and there is nothing at Severn Beach other than the bridge. The old bridge can be crossed using the Chepstow bus. Getting to the actual bridge is another matter.

Unfortunately the new aircraft museum on the north side of Filton airfield is not opening until later this year.

Bristol is a great vibrant city. The traffic is a bit dire but the city buses are pretty good and most of the city is walkable. Unlike Bath it is not a tourist trap.

JA

 

Edited By JA on 10/05/2017 19:11:36

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I think it was the Luftwaffe that messed it up but I don't think the architects did much of a job on the rebuild. I have visited a number of German cities where they have done a superb restoration from piles of rubble.

Mike

[JAParticipant @ja]

Posted by Mike Poole on 10/05/2017 19:40:52:

I think it was the Luftwaffe that messed it up but I don't think the architects did much of a job on the rebuild. I have visited a number of German cities where they have done a superb restoration from piles of rubble.

Mike

As in Birmingham the Luftwaffe just helped the planners to achieve their aims. I agree with you about some German cities and towns such as Celle.

JA

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

You need to 'krek bristle'.

Does anyone else remember Tony Robinson's first TV series?

Neil

[JAParticipant @ja]

Geoff

Please give us, or at least me, your impressions of the fine city of Bristol.

JA

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Hi All

A very big thank you for all your replies gentlemen, all read and duly noted.

Train leaves in a few hours, strong walking shoes packed and a lot to see.

Will report back (JA) on Sunday.

Geoff

[Chris Evans 6Participant @chrisevans6]

Bristol museum is a must to see the jet engines, also if you find a good guide of what is around there are things to visit like an old Georgian Merchants house. Clifton village is worth a look, my Daughter has a flat on Royal York Crescent which is well worth a walk down to see the buildings started in 1790 and finished later due to developer running out of money. Pub grub and ale pricey in Clifton. Marvel at the suspension bridge.

[geoff walker 1Participant @geoffwalker1]

Hi All,

A quick round up on this thread gents.

We loved Bristol, a nice clean walking city although there are numerous hills so you need "good legs". Visited most of your suggestions, including the zoo!

Clifton bridge and museum and ss g.b. and museum are must sees the latter being good value for money at £13 (for a year).

We had good weather so used the outdoor dining available and the beer is good.

Expected to hear lots of lovely west country accents while we were there, sadly only a few, Bristol centre is now like most major cities, a very cosmopolitan place.

regards again Geoff

[JAParticipant @ja]

Thanks for the impressions, Geoff.

Real Bristolian is not really West Country. It involves the use of infamous Bristol L which is put on the end of any word ending in a hard vowel. Idea becomes ideal, area areal and so on. The clever Bristolians can even put it in the middle of words. Unfortunately its use is disappearing.

JA

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

I had a mate from Bristol who proudly drove a Vauxhall Vival.

At the time I lived 12 miles away in Baf where us talk proper about Jane Austen all day.

Shame that local accents and words are disappearing. What do you lot call Plimsolls? Round here they're called 'daps'.

Dave

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