Bristol
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Contents |
Overview
This page is being created by Bristol Couch Surfers with info which might be useful for those looking for alternatives to the mainstream and those on a budget.
Tourist Information
A lot of good tourist information about bristol can be found at http://wikitravel.org/en/Bristol
http://visitbristol.co.uk/ is a Bristol City Council website with lots of information about the city
Venue magazine, published weekly, is our local what's on listings guide.
There is a Tourist information office near the centre of town on Anchor Rd, Bristol, BS1, Tel: 0117 926 0767
Health / Emergencies
NHS Direct's website provides self-help advice or you can call 0845 4647 to speak to health advisors
The walk-in centre provides non-emergency health services and advice to visitors and residents. The centre is close to the centre of the city.
The BRI is located near the centre of the city and has a 24 hour accident and emergency department. There are other hospitals with accident and emergency departments elsewhere in the city.
New Bridewell police station is in the city centre and is open from 9.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday. Newfoundland Road police station is slightly outside of the city centre but is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For non-emergencies you can call 0845 4567000.
Emergency services
To call out the emergency services (fire, police or ambulance) call 999 or 112
Couchsurfing in Bristol
How to get there
Train
Trains are notoriously expensive in the UK. If you're planning to travel by train book as soon as possible to get a cheaper deal. Two singles can sometimes be cheaper than a return.
http://www.thetrainline.com/buytickets/ or http://www.gner.railsaver.co.uk/ are good websites
From Temple Meads station, buses 8 & 9 go from the train station to the town centre (broadmead for shopping, park street for the museum, then further on up into clifton and the zoo)
Within Bristol there are many small, local stations, often a good alternative to buses. For example, Temple Meads to Clifton.
Coach
Megabus http://www.megabus.com/uk/ is the cheapest coach operator in the Country. Pick up/drop off is on Colston Street near the centre.
National Express coaches, which operates the biggest network of routes, use Bristol bus station.
From London use Victoria coach station for both.
Local company Bakers Dolphin does a daily London Flyer (various stops in Bristol and London). You get an assistant on board who can make you a sandwich. If you're lucky it will be Elma.
Car
The M32 comes right into the centre of Bristol. It links to the M4 for London and South Wales and the M5 for the South West and the North.
Plane
Bristol Airport is outside of the city. A taxi will cost approx £20. There's a shuttle bus to the centre.
Left luggage
Sorry, there is no commercial luggage storage at present.
Internet access
Guest access is available at the central library, many bars, cafe's and pubs have free wifi.
Local transport
Buses
First has the franchise for Bristol buses. They're not particularly cheap. Sometimes a day rider ticket (£4) will work out cheaper than buying singles/returns.
Cycling
Bristol recently won a ton of money in a competition to become the UK's first cycling showcase city but little has been spent yet. Getting around Bristol by bike is not easy for the novice cyclist. It's hilly for starters. Cycle lanes on roads tend to start and then end abruptly just as you start to feel comfortable. Cycling on the pavement is frowned upon but necessary in some places where the roads are busy and fast.
There are some Paris style rent-a-bikes on the centre and next to the Create centre (also near the centre). More are planned. You can also rent bikes from the bike shop on the bottom of Park Street (£16 per day), from the big boat next to the ferry stop on the centre and from the bike shop at the top of Blackboy Hill.
The best thing about cycling in Bristol is the Bristol to Bath railway path, built by Sustrans (based in Bristol). It's a 13mile (ish) flat ride through beautiful countryside to the centre of Bath. There are a couple of pubs along the way. The Bristol end isn't that easy to find, being in an industrial area in the Old Market area of town.
A critical mass takes over the centre of Bristol on the last Friday of the month http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2246736445
As with any major city, bike theft is a problem so a good quality lock is recommended when leaving bikes in the city centre.
Places to stay
Hostels
Youth Hostel, Full Moon, Bristol Backpackers, The Lanes
Camping
Hotels / Bed & Breakfast (B&B) / Guesthouses
Food & drink
Cafes
Cafe Kino on Nine Tree Hill in the Stokes Croft area is a workers co-operative cafe selling great veggie and vegan food. Open all day till late. Tiny upstairs, there's more seating downstairs.
Boston Tea Party on Park Street is a local institution. Great food, cool building, nice garden out back.
Primrose Cafe in Clifton Village is a real gem too although not cheap. A table outside is perfect for people watching. Great breakfasts.
Delis / Take-aways
For the best take-away alternative to the sandwich, get a healthy wrap filled with fine, freshly cooked ingredients at Magic Roll http://www.magicroll.co.uk on the Triangle in Clifton.
Restaurants
Cafe Matreiya on St Marks Rd in Easton was voted best veggie restaurant in the UK two years running. Beautifully presented seasonal local food and lovely staff. Not cheap approx £20 for two courses but well worth it for a special treat.
Three Thali cafes in Easton, Montpelier and Totterdown serve great fresh curries in the traditional metal plate. Bring your own booze.
Nightlife
Theatres
The Bristol Old Vic is a theatre company based at the Theatre Royal, King Street, just off the centre. The theatre complex includes the 1766 Theatre Royal, which claims to be the oldest continually-operating theatre in England, along with a 1970s studio theatre the New Vic. It nearly closed last year because of dwindling audiences.
The Tobacco Factory in Southville is based in an old tobacco factory. It's no longer a factory which processes tobacco. It's a theatre. There is no smoking inside.
The Alma Tavern Theatre is a tiny 50 seat venue above the Alma Tavern pub in Clifton. Just off Whiteladies Rd.
Cinemas
Apart from the usual soulless multiplexes, Bristol has some great cinemas.
Most remarkable is the Cube Microplex http://microplex.cubecinema.com/cubewebsite/. The Cube is hidden away not far from the bus station. It is a not-for-profit co-operative venue run entirely by volunteers and without any external funding. It shows art house, amateur and underground films in a beautiful, shabby, 1960s theatre space. It makes it's own cola. You can take a beer into the film. Refugees get in free. Tuesday films are just £2 otherwise £4/£3 concession. Bands also play there as well as other events like cabaret. It's a unique experience. The first time you go you pay £1 for lifetime membership.
The Watershed, http://www.watershed.co.uk/, down on the dockside is a big plush, three screen art house cinema which has a great bar also serving good food. Various festivals throughout the year including the Encounters short film festival in November.
Also on the docks, the Arnolfini art gallery, http://www.arnolfini.org.uk, has a cinema which tends to show more classic films often as double bills. Nice for a wet Sunday afternoon.
Further out of town near to the Downs in Henleaze is the Orpheus http://www.scottcinemas.co.uk/index.php?localpage=bristol which is part of a small chain of local cinemas and has a relaxed old-fashioned (80's) charm. They show a mix of mainstream and not too risky art house. Cheap and worth a trip out of the centre.
Lucky's Cinema: 22 Nelson Street Bristol BS1 2LE. (It's above the lanes) Lucky's Cinema is Bristols First Classic Cinema, Screening the best of Classic and independant film as well as hosting Stand-up comedy and live music. For more info find us on Facebook or call: 0117 3251979
A bus ride/ short car journey away, the Curzon cinema http://www.curzon.org.uk/index.html in Clevedon is one of the oldest working cinemas in the world (started 1912). It's a community cinema operating as a charity and is well worth the trip.
For mainstream cinema there are at least three huge multiplexes on the outskirts of Bristol which all smell of popcorn and despair. There's a Cinema de Lux in Cabot Circus end of Broadmead (main shopping centre) which is pricey and plush. There's also an Odeon in Broadmead which is small and quite sweet. It's supposed to be haunted.
Pubs
Bars
Clubs
Live music & comedy
Lucky's Cinema: 22 Nelson Street Bristol BS1 2LE. (It's above the lanes) Lucky's Cinema is Bristols First Classic Cinema, Screening the best of Classic and independant film as well as hosting regular Stand-up comedy and live music. For more info find us on Facebook or call: 0117 3251979
The Cube Microplex puts on regular local, national and international bands, see cinemas below for details.
The Bear in Hotwells is great for jazz. As is The Old Duke on King Street off the centre.
Pubs
Bars
Clubs
Live music & comedy
The Cube Microplex puts on regular local, national and international bands, see cinemas below for details.
The Bear in Hotwells is great for jazz. As is The Old Duke on King Street off the centre.
Lucky's Cinema: 22 Nelson Street Bristol BS1 2LE. (It's above The Lanes) Is Bristols First Classic Cinema, Screening the best of Classic and independant film as well as hosting Stand-up comedy and live music. For more info find us on Facebook or call: 0117 3251979
Attractions
Culture
The Cube Microplex has a broad programme of film, music, cabaret, performance and special interest nights. See cinemas above.
Walks / Tours
Pirate Walks http://www.piratewalks.co.uk/
Museums / Galleries
Events
Nearby destinations
Cardiff
Bath
Clevedon (beach)
Cheddar
Westonbirt Arboretum
The Mendips
Exmoor
