In Bristol, it is said to be the city of the five 'Bs': the street artist Banksy, the engineer of the Industrial Revolution Brunel, the boats, the bridges (up to 40 can be counted throughout the city), and the hot air balloons. Five key elements to understand and appreciate the history, tradition, and culture of this town located in the west of England on the banks of the River Avon just before it flows into the sea.
But above all, Bristol is vibrant, modern, full of life (home to two universities), and with a cultural and gastronomic offer worth discovering. Possible reasons why it appears every year at the top of the lists of the best and most desired places to live in the UK, especially for the youth. This appeal also extends to visitors, with proposals for art lovers, history enthusiasts, boat enthusiasts, as well as foodies and those looking for nightlife.
Partly, all these virtues are thanks to Bristol's maritime legacy. Since the 12th century, it was one of the country's most important commercial ports, where the most impressive boats were built in its shipyards. Its strategic location led pirates to establish their businesses there between the 17th and 18th centuries, including the feared Blackbeard, and in the 18th century, it was the main port where ships arrived and then departed with over half a million slaves from Africa bound for North America.
Today, all that legacy remains very present, but transformed and adapted to the current life of the city for the enjoyment of locals and visitors. The pirate Blackbeard can now be seen fighting in the image of a giant urban art mural next to a 14th-century church; the old shipyards have been transformed into spaces for offices, homes, and art galleries; the docks, once occupied by large wrecks, are now full of recreational boats and small ferries crossing from shore to shore; the former sailors' houses painted with leftover paint from ship hulls maintain their striking colors impeccably; and the old unloading areas have been converted into leisure spaces.
Bars, shops, restaurants, boutiques, and design stores dot this lively and bustling area on the river, located just a few minutes' walk from the historic center dominated by the cathedral, the University of Bristol (founded in 1876), the acclaimed graffiti neighborhood, and even one of the city's icons, the SS Great Britain ship (1843).
We wander through the charming city in search of its five 'Bs'.
Bristol is known for its colorfulness, not only because of the sailors' houses but also because of its street art, a movement that began in the 1980s. Initially, these works were persecuted and destroyed, but gradually the trend consolidated, mainly due to the emergence of renowned graffiti artists like Banksy (active since 1994 and born in the city). Since 2006, there has been greater tolerance for this practice, especially if the artists are recognized, turning Bristol into the capital of urban art, a draw for thousands of visitors attracted by the true outdoor artworks covering huge facades, entire buildings, shops, and even church walls.
Although they are found throughout the city, the heart of this art is in Stokes Croft. Controversial from a political point of view, the target of activists' fury and witness to fires at businesses in the early 2000s, this neighborhood is now known for its alternative, bohemian atmosphere, and, of course, for the huge number of murals, many of them with social messages, that adorn it, including Banksy's graffiti.
There are routes through the district that explore the most iconic works with the agency Where The Wall. Almost two hours of a route full of history that starts in front of one of Banksy's most emblematic murals (at 80 Stokes Croft Street), an artist who remains anonymous and whose true identity is known by few. This is Mild Mild West, a bear with a Molotov cocktail threatening several riot police officers. It was painted in 1999 when the author's political ideal was revealed, on the side facade of a three-story building next to the Canteen café. Opposite this work is the mural Jesus Breakdance by Cosmo Sarson.
Streets like Leonard Lane, All Saints St., Bell Lane... host important works. The blue moon crater painted on the facade of The Full Moon and Attic Bar or the giant dog on a six-story building by Spanish artist Arys stand out. Approaching the historic center, on Nelson St., See No Evil by Ink is a gigantic mural with bright blue and pink colors contrasting with the gray walls of the nearby 14th-century St. John's Church. There is also Painting the City Red by Nick Walker, one of the most renowned urban artists born in Bristol and a reference in the city's graffiti scene since the 1980s (many of his works were destroyed). Another iconic piece is Duel by Irish graffiti artist Conor Harrington. Painted on a large scale with aerosols in just three days, it is inspired by pirates and features the ruthless Blackbeard.
The graffiti tour ends on Fogmore Street, next to the imposing Bristol Cathedral (original from the 12th century). There, defiantly facing the city hall, Banksy painted in 2006 and in just 30 minutes another of his most iconic works: Well Hung Lover, also known as Naked Man Hanging From Window. The city council then decided to ask the public in a web poll whether to keep or remove it, and 97% of the local population decided to keep it, turning this graffiti into a recognized and protected piece of art.
The River Avon that runs through Bristol is a constant flow of boats: mini-cruisers, recreational boats, sailboats, some fishing boats, or luxurious yachts sailing until they reach the sea. Even some of the most popular pubs are located inside old wooden barges adapted and moored at the dock. This is the case of The Apple (Welsh Back), a cider house on a two-story boat moored in the old part of the city with a bar and long benches where they serve a wide variety of self-made cider.
But if there is a famous boat in Bristol that has become one of its main tourist attractions, it is the SS Great Britain, an incredible engineering feat, the most avant-garde of its time, designed by the renowned British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, creator of the Great Western Railway line and the Paddington station in London, among other things.
Inaugurated in 1843, the impressive ship was the first to cross the Atlantic with steam engines and an iron hull. A pioneer in the history of maritime transport, it was built as a passenger ship (up to 800 passengers plus a crew of 130) to sail initially between England and the United States.
It sailed for 40 years around the world until it was struck by lightning, which partially destroyed it near the Falkland Islands, where it was towed and abandoned due to the high cost of repairs. It remained there for 80 years until in the 1970s a group of entrepreneurs raised money to bring it back to Bristol. Today, the Great Britain, a symbol of Victorian engineering and innovation and one of Brunel's greatest achievements, is an incredible museum ship docked in the same place where it was built and one of the city's most visited attractions.
You can board the ship and walk around the deck, climb into the cabins, lie on the tiny beds, go through the kitchens and the engine room... In many rooms, there are mannequins depicting true stories (emphasized by smells) that happened on cruise ships, from the birth of a baby to fights between passengers, the quarantine of a sick person... stories that are revealed thanks to a diary found on the ship. The immersive experience is completed with an outdoor museum with the history of the construction, the voyages, examples of tickets and their prices, and a room where you can try on the suits worn by first-class passengers (admission 20 euros; reservations here).
Due to its topography and Bristol's riverine nature, 45 bridges crisscross the city. The most important and the one that attracts all the attention (and photographs) is the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, also designed by Brunel.
Measuring over 200 meters long and 75 meters high, it was intended to be the longest and tallest bridge in the world. But it took more than 30 years to build, and by the time it opened in 1884, even Brunel had died. It has two enormous 26-meter-high towers on either side and connects the exclusive neighborhoods of Clifton and Leigh Woods (it can be crossed on foot and by car).
It's worth going up to the observatory to enjoy the panoramic views of the bridge and the surrounding area, and to stroll through the elegant and charming Clifton neighborhood, packed with small boutiques, parks, cafes, and beautiful Georgian-style (18th-century) homes.
One of Bristol's most iconic sights is the one that occurs every year when hundreds of hot air balloons fly over the iconic bridge. Every early August, for an entire weekend, more than 100 of these aircraft take off, filling the sky with color for the International Balloon Festival, the most important of its kind in Europe.
Bristol is the largest balloon manufacturer in Europe and, therefore, has a significant ballooning community. It's the last 'B' on our route, which is a major attraction for balloon enthusiasts who visit the city every year.
PRACTICAL GUIDE
HOW TO GET THERE
easyJet and Ryanair fly directly to Bristol from Madrid, Barcelona, Bilbao, and other cities.
WHERE TO STAY
Artist Residence. A cozy industrial-design hotel featuring many works of art in a Georgian building with 23 spacious rooms and a cafeteria (from 180 euros).
WHERE TO EAT
Nadu. A place with high tables and a lively atmosphere serving Sri Lankan cuisine in the heart of Strokes Croft.
Junktion. A relaxed dining room in the docks area, where the beer is 100% craft and brewed on-site. Tastings are available. For lunch, try the traditional Sunday Roast (roast beef) accompanied by mashed potatoes and homemade gravy.
The Ivy Clifton Brasserie. Modern British cuisine in an elegant and colorful dining room in the Clifton district.
FURTHER INFORMATION
On the websites visitbristol.co.uk and visitbritain.org