Places to visit around Bristol

When on the hunt for the most culturally rich and heritage laden cities in the UK, one could be forgiven for looking to the likes of London, Manchester and Edinburgh. As sprawling and famous as these locations undoubtedly are, Bristol is often forgotten despite the fact that it has contributed just as much to the nation.

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Straddling the River Avon in the southwest of England, Bristol’s history is rich and it also offers a nightlife that is second to very few British cities. At Almero Student Mansions as well as offering some of the finest luxury student accommodation one can find, we are also committed to bringing you all the information you need on some of the country’s most prominent student cities.

With this in mind, we are delighted to bring you the Almero Student Mansions guide to places to visit around Bristol in order to ensure you don’t miss out on any of the delights the city has to offer. Regarded by many as the hub of the west country, we think you will be pleasantly surprised at just how much there is to do in Bristol.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain

No guide to Bristol would be worth its salt if it didn’t mention the legendary Isambard Kingdom Brunel, surely the city’s most famous inhabitant and perhaps the greatest engineer to ever live.

One of Brunel’s great achievements was the designing of the SS Great Britain, which at the time became the longest passenger ship in the world when it was built in 1845 and the very first steamer to cross the Atlantic Ocean which she did in just 14 days (a remarkable time for the period).

The ship is now open as a museum for all to see and, excusing the pun, should be one of the first ports of call when you visit Bristol. The museum itself is on board and it earns rave reviews from all who visit and is nicely located on the River Avon and near a host of lively bars and restaurants, perfect for an evening soiree.

Bristol City Docks

Many Bristol attractions are focussed around the city’s maritime heritage and no area encapsulates this better than the Bristol City Docks. The aforementioned SS Great Britain lives here and the incredible views of the Bristol waterways, restaurants and eateries make it a fantastic area to spend the day.

A journey to the docks one evening is also well worth it, as the city is famous for coming alive at night. With a strong history of bands and DJs in Bristol and its surrounding areas, as well as a vibrant student community; the docks are the perfect night out whether you are after a big night out or just some civilised food and drinks with a beautiful backdrop.

Boat Trip Down The Avon

Our third pick is yep, you guessed it, yet another aquatic one. The Number Seven Boat Trips down the River Avon always seem to go down well, provided the weather is right.

The trips have found such popularity since they started over 15 years ago due to the fact that you get to see Bristol’s famous Floating Harbour. Run by fully qualified boat masters, these trips last for in excess of four hours and you can eat and drink until your heart’s content whilst taking in all the views the Avon has to offer.

This Bristol attraction is more popular in the summer for obvious reasons but definitely worth checking out if you have your sea legs on. These tours also start from the SS Great Britain so you could even work all three Bristol attractions, we have mentioned so far, into one day and night out!

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Last but not least in the Almero Student Mansions guide to attractions in Bristol is believe it or not, a bridge! This isn’t any old bridge however as it happens to be the Clifton Suspension Bridge – yet another brainchild of Bristol’s favourite son, Isambard Kingdom Brunel.

The bridge, much like the SS Great Britain, was light years ahead of its time and spans the picturesque Avon Gorge, making it a fantastic day out if you are looking to mix some views with some history.

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The tour of this historic piece of architecture takes around an hour and will show you just why the structure is so famous and has such an important place in the history of the city.

These are our four top places to visit in Bristol, but like most cities this just skims the surface of what is available. If you would like to learn more about Bristol then you can read some more features from the Almero Student Mansions blog or take a look at visit visitbristol.co.uk, which also has some fascinating features.