10 things you might not know about Bristol!
For those who want to know more about our great city
Last updated 9th Oct 2020
We all know that Bristol is one of the best places to live in the UK... and we're not being biased! Bristol is often voted top in multiple travel guides.
From our gorgeous green spaces to our incredible restaurants, you can feel a sense of pride living here. Well, get ready to be overwhelmed as Bristol has a lot more to offer... How many of these did you know?
We invented the bungee jump!
Over 50 years ago, someone from Oxford University's Dangerous Sports Club had the bright idea of bungee jumping from the Clifton Suspension Bridge. They were arrested shortly after but continued with their new sport around the globe!
The birthplace of Harry Potter
JK Rowling was born around the corner in Yate! She later moved to Winterbourne and met her neighbours, Mr & Mrs Potter.
More importantly… the birthplace of the Easter egg!
The Bristol Chocolate company, Fry's, brought joy to the world… In 1847 they invented the very first solid chocolate bar. It took them another 26 years before they came up with the chocolate Easter egg. On behalf of us all, thank you.
The home of the most iconic plane
Concorde was actually designed and built in Filton back in 1969. Can you believe it's last flight touched down at Heathrow back in 2003?
...And one of the most iconic dogs
No, not the Andrex, Dulux or Churchill dog… The HMV dog, Nipper was born in Bristol in 1884. Francis Barraud painted a picture of the dog and named it 'His Master's Voice.'
Movie trivia is on point
By this stage you're probably wondering what we haven't invented, but our list continues with IMDb. Colin Needham started and ran the site from his home in Stoke Gifford. He's still heading up the company today albeit under Amazon's control after they bought it back in 1998.
Not to mention our movies and TV Shows!
Wallace & Gromit, Doctor Who, Sherlock, Skins and a load more TV shows and films have used Bristol as their location over the years. Even Del Boy and Rodney was regularly filmed here.
We used to be 10 minutes behind!
That's right, we had our own time zone. Bristol was -10 minutes GMT/BST. As we're west than London it sort of made more sense so our sunrises and sunsets were better aligned, but after train travel began, all time across the UK had to become standardised.
The Leaning Tower of… Bristol
Did you know Temple Church is leaning at 2.7 degrees? The leaning tower of Pisa comes in at 3.7 degrees.
Butlins started in Bristol
Kind of. Billy Butlins, the brains behind Butlins started his first business in Bristol. It was a hoopla stand!
Now check out our favourite beauty spots in Bristol
International Balloon Fiesta
If you visit Ashton Court towards the end of the summer, you'll probably find Bristol's Balloon Fiesta. First held in 1979, the Fiesta is now one of the largest in Europe. Held annually, over 100 hot air balloons taking off at dawn and dusk a line the sky with awash of colour – most definitely a bucket list kind of event. Once the sun has set the famous Night Glows happens, the balloons light up in the time music!
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Mention Bristol and its suspension bridge will probably come up in conversation soon after. Multi-award winning, the bridge is a must see and it's hard not to see it! The visitor's centre will tell you all you need to know about Isambard Kingdom Brunel's first bridge. If you want to take in all the picturesque views on your way to the centre, we recommend the Avon Trail riverside and woodland walk.
Brunel's SS Great Britain
It seems that Isambard Kingdom Brunel was a clever man; Not only did he build the suspension bridge, but he also tried his hand at constructing a ship…Not just any ship, the SS Great Britain! Deemed "the ship that changed the world" the former passenger steamship is now a museum ship, open to the public for families to discover all about the longest passenger ship in the world from 1845 to 1854 measuring in at 98 metres. Full of history and fun there is plenty to do inside and out of the museum from scrubbing the decks, becoming Brunel's apprentice or even a walking trail starting and ending at Brunel's SS Great Britain, the Brunel Harbourside Walk.
Ashton Court Estate
Ten minutes from the city centre of Bristol, explore the 850 acres of woodland and grassland at Ashton Court Estate. A mansion and country park with a mesmerising yellow exterior surrounded by majestic deer and grand oak trees; you'll feel like you're in a fairy-tale land even though the city is so close by.
Totterdown
Awash with colourful, quaint houses, this suburb of Bristol is a must see. You'll receive a warm welcome while sipping on your cuppa from award-winning cafes. Take in Bristol's outstanding skyline from any hill but be sure to take your most comfortable shoes as Vale Street is reportedly the steepest residential street in England! Imagine pom poms on the trees, cute painted fences and even graffiti of the drainpipes, Totterdown is definitely quirky; so much so it hosts the Totterdown Arts Trail in November where local artists open their homes to the public to display creative works. If rambling and wandering is more your thing, Victoria Park and Arnos Vale are the perfect spot.
Cider
A stone's throw away from Somerset, it is no surprise and a bit stereotypical that the people of Bristol love a good cider. With a heavy cider focus why not visit The Apple, a floating bar on the Welsh Back or there is The Stable on Canon's Road which claims to offer "Bristol's finest Pizza, Pies and Cider"; awarding winning pizza and over 60+ ciders to choose from, what's not to love?
The street art of Banksy
Thanks to his beginnings in Bristol, Banksy has ensured a name for street art in the city. Many of the graffiti artist's early works can be found on street art-covered walls alongside many who have taken inspiration from the renowned figure – Stokes Croft, North Street, Park Street and Nelson Street are just a handful of hot spots to soak up the vibrancy of Banksy's Bristol
Sand Bay
Immerse yourself in wildlife and picturesque views over the Bristol channel with a trip to Sand Bay. Two miles North of Weston, Sand Bay is the perfect destination for a bit of peace and quiet away from the busyness of the seaside town. Great for dog walkers and those who just want to get away from civilisation.
Clevedon
18 miles South West of Bristol, Weston-super-Mare is the perfect little getaway out of the city. At the heart of North Somerset, the perfect base for exploring the picturesque town of Clevedon with its iconic Grade I listed Pier and Portishead. There is plenty to see and do at the vibrant marina and along the long wooden stretch of the magnificent pier; the typical seaside attractions of ice cream, amusement arcades or maybe a childhood memory of a donkey ride on the beach is more your thing. Weston is your typical seaside holiday with an abundance of Victorian charm and character.