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The famed port town of Bristol, England, is actually about 8 mi/13 km inland, on the River Avon, and 105 mi/170 km west of London.

Bristol is a nice place to spend a day, although you do have to search out the attractions amid some rather unappealing post-World War II construction.

Geography

Bristol is situated in the southwest of England in Avon County. The city spreads across 40 sq mi/110 sq km.

Sandwiched between coast and countryside, Bristol is erected around the River Avon. The cities closest to it are Coventry, Birmingham, Cardiff and Southampton.

History

Bristol is often cited as one of the prime historical regions in England. During the Anglo-Saxon times, the port of Bristol was at the convergence of the two rivers Frome and Avon. Bristol was then known as Brigstow, a settlement across the Avon. It was later renamed Bristol.

In the 13th century, the change in course of the River Frome made provision for more dock space. This in turn increased the port's capacity and soon Bristol progressed in trade.

Trading took place in full swing during the 14th century with countries such as Iceland, Portugal and Spain. By the 18th century, Bristol stood as the second largest city in England. During this period, merchants had relocated and built houses in the Clifton Village far away from the harbor, which was another major reason for the expansion of Bristol.

Bristol saw huge profits as a result of slave trading by the 1750s.

The beginning of the 19th century marked the decline of the port of Bristol. However, its growth was restored by the then chief engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who chalked out plans to attract more investments into the city. He gave a facelift to Bristol, and some of his spectacular works include the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the SS Great Britain and the Temple Meads Old Railway Station.

Bristol continued to develop rapidly, owing to the setup of the aerospace industry. Rolls Royce found its home at Filton, where Concorde was tested in the mid-1960s.

Despite damage to the city during World War II, Bristol managed to rise confidently from its fall and today stands as an epitome of elegance. Celebrating more than 800 years of history, with The Harbourside as its pride, Bristol is tagged as the largest city in the southwestern region of England and is a popular business center.

Besides being one of the leading industrial and commercial hubs in England, Bristol is also famed for its expertise in nuclear engineering, aircraft and engine construction, and building and mending of ships.

Potpourri

Famed Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling was born near Bristol.

Cameron Balloons, reportedly the world's largest manufacturer of hot-air balloons, is located in Bristol.

During a government poll held in England, Bristol was voted as the happiest place in which to reside.

When you visit the SS Great Britain, a museum ship, the person you see walking past you might just disappear in a flash. It is said that Capt. Gray, who committed suicide, is one of the most spotted ghosts on the ship.

Location

Bristol was located at the convergence of the Avon and Frome rivers. In due course, its convenient location led to it becoming a major trade center. In the 1240s, the port of Bristol was further developed by constructing a wide and deep artificial channel. The city became the second largest port after London in the 1300s.

Though the overall importance of the port of Bristol declined over the years, Isambard Kingdom Brunel built two of the world's largest ships at the port during his time: the paddle steamer Great Western and the SS Great Britain.

In the 1870s, the port of Bristol witnessed the development of new docks on the Severn estuary at Avonmouth and Portishead. City docks, also known as the "floating harbor," was of great importance until its closure to trading traffic in 1975. Additionally, in 1977, a new dock was established at the southern side of the mouth of Avon, popularly known as the Royal Portbury. Today, both the Avonmouth and the Royal Portbury are prosperous trade centers in Bristol.

Bristol, Connecticut, makes for an interesting day trip from Hartford. It's about 20 mi/32 km southwest of Hartford.

Among the attractions in Bristol is the American Clock and Watch Museum, which has a huge collection of chronometers of all kinds (April-November).

Downtown Bristol, 15 mi/25 km southeast of Providence, draws visitors today just as it drew shipbuilders and sailors in centuries past. Be sure to see the Herreshoff Marine Museum, which is home to more than 60 classic and modern yachts, a collection of seafaring memorabilia and the America's Cup Hall of Fame.

Also worth a visit are the Blithewold Mansion and Gardens, a 45-room mansion built in 1908 with more than 33 acres/13 hectares of handsomely landscaped grounds that offer panoramic views of Bristol Harbor. The gardens contain the largest giant redwood tree east of the Rockies—83 ft/25 m tall. Although the grounds are at their best in the spring, it's also worth a December visit to see the Christmas decorations.

Linden Place is a three-story Federal-style mansion that is surrounded by rose gardens and historic outbuildings—most notably, the ballroom building dating from 1906. More history is on display at Coggeshall Farm Museum, a working farm from the 1700s—complete with oxen—that hosts a popular harvest fair each September. The farm is located near Colt State Park, where you can take in views of Narragansett Bay and cycle down bike trails.

Bristol's annual Fourth of July parade is one of the nation's largest and oldest (200-plus years). It's worth seeing, even if you have to get up extremely early to get a good viewing spot—some local residents stake their spots as early as the day before the festivities.