Located in the south-west of the country, right on the Bristol Channel, that separates Great Britain from Ireland and the Atlantic Ocean, Bristol is one of the warmest and sunniest cities in England. It is also one of the most desirable places to live, often ranking in the top 5 of the best places to live, work and visit in the UK.
Now the 7th largest city in England by population, back in 1750, before cities like Liverpool, Manchester and Birmingham flourished in the Industrial Revolution, Bristol was the 2nd largest city in England. As one of the busiest ports in Europe, it saw vessels travelling off to southern Europe, Iceland, North Africa and, some say, even Canada, long before Christopher Columbus ventured across the Atlantic. Bristol was known as a trade city, a port where you could buy and sell almost anything from anywhere, including, to Bristol’s shame, slaves. Indeed, in the recent Black Lives Matter protests that happened in cities across the world, a statue of Edward Colston, a 17th Century slave trader, was pulled down by demonstrators.
Bristol is famous for its arts scene and nightlife, being home to a plethora of museums and art galleries, as well as the BBC’s Natural History Department, where many of David Attenborough’s famous documentary series on the planet’s wildlife were produced. Bristol is also home to one of the best nightclubs in the world in Motion, consistently ranked in the top 20 clubs in the world. But if clubbing is not your thing, don’t worry, Bristol has plenty of pubs, bars, cafes and restaurants to satisfy any palate. There is also astounding beauty all around, with the coast just a few minutes’ drive away and places like the Avon Gorge, spanned by the world-famous Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. And if football is your game, there are two clubs you can watch in Bristol, City and Rovers.
Bristol is 115 miles west of London, but thanks to a high speed train, the journey can take as little as 1 hour and 35 minutes. On the way from the county of Bristol, the city was historically divided between Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south, but was given county status back in the 14th Century, you pass through the fabulous city of Bath, well worth a visit if you are in the Bristol area. All in all, this is a fantastic place to live in or visit, with plenty to see and do, so do yourself a favour, and get yourself to Bristol.