A couple of months back, we visited the UK to attend our daughter’s master’s degree graduation at Oxford. We used the opportunity to visit and catch up with family and some friends as well. Naturally, we managed to fit in some sight-seeing as well. I’ll be posting some of the photographs from that trip here on the blog in instalments. These are some photographs from our time in Bristol, UK.
We spend a couple of days with my good friend, fellow food blogger Jayasri and her family. They were nice enough to show us around Bristol, Bath and a bit of Cardiff Bay. Bristol in the UK, is situated on the River Avon. The name Bristol is possibly a corruption of the 11th century settlement called Brycgstow in old English meaning “place at the bridge”.
The city of Bristol is known mainly for its maritime history, and the earliest exploration voyages used to set out from Bristol. Unfortunately, the old Bristol port was also famous for the slave trade in the 1700-1800s. Today, it is better known for its harbor, its blend of architecture, contribution to the arts and sciences, and its electronics and aerospace industries.
Some other things Bristol is famous for includes an International Balloon Fiesta, the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Banksy and other street artists, and pirates. Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard was from Bristol. Robert Louis Stevenson was inspired by the city’s pirate history to create Long John Silver for Treasure Island in Bristol!
One other thing characteristic of Bristol are its colourful houses, Cliftonwood Crescent perhaps the more famous of them. There are equally colourful tales about their origin, and they reflect the character and spirit that is Bristol.
Bristol’s famous colourful houses on the city skyline overlooking the harbour.
A closer look at Bristol’s colourful houses.
Bristol City Hall (formerly the Bristol Council House) stands across from where Bristol Cathedral is. The statue at the entrance is a Portland stone sculpture of an Elizabethan seaman.
Bristol Cathedral is built on the site of the Abbey of St. Augustine founded in 1140 AD. It is a “Hall Church” where the nave, aisles, and choir are all the same height. Various parts of the Anglican cathedral were built at different times over seven centuries. The official name of Bristol Cathedral is the “Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity”. Its vaulted ceiling, stained glass and architectural details are of note.
Bristol Cathedral from the front.
The West Facade or main entrance of Bristol Cathedral with the Rose window.
North Porch entrance to Bristol Cathedral. Built in the 19th century, the frieze over the door portrays the Adoration of the Magi. The four statues are of Saints Luke, Mark, Matthew and John the Evangelist.
The Great Gatehouse or Abbey Gatehouse was the gate house for the original St Augustine’s Abbey where Bristol Cathedral stands today. The statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy can be seen through the arch.
The “lierne” vaulting details of the choir and tower inside Bristol Cathedral.
South Choir Aisle with stained glass window by Keith New in 1965, depicting the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost.
More architectural details inside the Bristol Cathedral.
Stained glass detail of the Rose Window, at the western end of the nave in Bristol Cathedral.
Stained glass detail of St. Christopher inside Bristol Cathedral.
Bristol Cathedral Choir School. It is apparently one of the most difficult schools to get into.
There is a statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy in Bristol just outside the Bristol Cathedral, erected in 1997. He came to England in 1831 as the ambassador of the Mughal Emperor Akbar Shah II. Roy was visiting Bristol where he fell ill with meningitis, and died in 1833. He is interred Arno’s Vale where a “chatthri” marks the spot.
Statue of Raja Ram Mohan Roy, built in 1997, near the Bristol Cathedral.
Bristol is a charming and very photogenic city to visit. We didn’t have much time there so didn’t get to see a lot but it still left a lasting impression on us. You can find the old, the new, the colourful and the quaint all coexisting together.
The Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel – This historic 155 room hotel first opened in 1869. Originally known as the White Lion it was renamed the Grand Hotel in 1874. The hotel served as a residence for agents, politicians and royalty during World War II. It has seen celebrities including Leslie Howard, Cary Grant andthe Beatles. The Rolling Stones were apparently once refused entry into the hotel’s bar, as they weren’t in jackets!
A street somewhere in central Bristol.
Millennium Promenade leading towards the Millennium Square in Bristol.
Another view of Millennium Promenade in Bristol.
Corn Street Bristol is one of the four cross streets which met at the Bristol High Cross that was at the centre of medieval walled Bristol. The street is said to have got it’s name from the corn traded here back then. The building with the tower, at the end of the street, is Café Revival – the oldest Coffee House in Bristol.
Christ Church with St.Ewen, built between 1786 and 1791, at the end of Broad Street Bristol. The Grand Hotel is just before the church.
Tower of St. John on the Wall Broad Street Bristol. The name comes from the fact that it was built into the city defensive walls. It was built in the fourteenth century as a place for travellers to offer prayers before a journey.
Close-up of the clock on the tower of St. John on the Wall. It doesn’t work any more.
St. Stephen’s Parish Church Bristol dating back to the 14th century.
A Bottomless Brunch is commonly offered by many restaurants in the UK that serve unlimited drinks alongside traditional brunch dishes.. This slightly more posh menu offers two options – Prosecco or a Bloody Mary or a more expensive Champagne or Espresso Martini for Brunch!
Bristol is situated on the River Avon, which flows into the Severn Estuary and then into the Bristol Channel This Channel has the second greatest tidal range of any river system in the world. Changing water levels meant that ships would get stranded in the mud if their arrival wasn’t perfectly timed.
So the Bristol Floating Harbour was designed and completed in 1809 to solve this problem. The water in the harbour now remains at a constant level unaffected by tides of the River Avon. The entire Floating Harbour is built over 70 acres with over 40 bridges crisscrossing its waterways. Bristol Harbourside is a very happening place with plenty of restaurants, bars, shops and hotels. You can find the Millenium Square, pretty fountains, a Sunday Market, water sports options, art and cultural centres, and other landmarks and attractions here.
MV Balmoral at Bristol Harbourside. MV Balmoral is a vintage excursion ship and is on the National Historic Ships register as part of the National Historic Fleet. The Balmoral was originally built as a ferry for the Southampton, Isle of Wight and South of England Royal Mail Steam Packet Co. Limited.
Bristol Marina is part of the Floating Harbour and offers berthing facilities and a boat yard.
Another view of the Bristol Marina.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain Dock, Bristol Harbour.
Another view of Brunel’s SS Great Britain Dock, Bristol Harbour
De Jongiede, one of the many larger boats at the Bristol Harbour.
Bristol Harbourside with some of the colourful houses in the background.
A view of some of the restaurants on a part of the Millennium Promenade at Bristol Harbour.
The Matthew, built in built 1994–1996, is the replica of the ship sailed by the Cabot Brothers to Newfoundland . It is now moored at Bristol’s Floating harbour . The Matthew was a caravel sailed by John Cabot in 1497 from Bristol to Newfoundland, North America.
Prince Street Bridge at Bristol Harbour. Prince Street Bridge is an iron swing bridge across Bristol Harbour. It was built in 1879 and is operated by water hydraulic power.
Pero’s Bridge is a pedestrian bascule bridge across St Augustine’s Reach. It’s most distinctive features of the bridge are the pair of horn-shaped sculptures which act as counterweights to balance the central section which can be lifted. These sculptures have given this bridge the name the Horned Bridge or Shrek’s Bridge! The bridge is named after George Pero, an African slave who lived and worked in Bristol. The Ferris Wheel at the Millennium Square is in the background.
Old Weather Vane with Arnolfini in the background at Bristol Harbour. Arnolfini is a well known art and cultural centre.
Revolucion de Cuba Restaurant at Bordeaux Quay on the Bristol water front. This Quay was originally the site of the docks warehouse.
The 35-metre high Sky View Ferris Wheel at Millennium Square in Bristol
A view of the Welsh Back, on the other side of Pero’s Bridge, with its waterfront restaurants and pubs.
The way towards Wapping Wharf Bristol.
Beautiful fall colours along the waterfront in Bristol.
The walkway on the opposite side of the Welsh Back approaching Pero’s Bridge, Bristol
Fall colours on a gloomy and overcast morning at Yate Railway Station in Bristol.
Bristol is equally famous for its colourful graffiti art. Many are examples of wry humour and displays of pop-culture. Once considered anti-establishment and vandalism, Bristol now celebrates its street art. You can find it in Bristol’s streets, underpasses, back-alleys, across building walls, in parking lots, bridges, and just about everywhere. Bristol’s most famous street artist is the world famous but anonymous Banksy.
Duel of Bristol by Conor Harrington on Broad Street, Bristol. This mural was painted during the See No Evil festival. Harrington is an Irish born artist who typically likes fusion of contemporary and classical styles in his street art.
Robotic Bird by Pixel Pancho on the wall of the NCP car park on All Saints’ Street, Bristol. Pancho is an Italian artist whose mechanical beast piece was also painted during the See No Evil festival, 2012. He is known for his sci-fi creatures and robotic murals.
A wolf in a lumberjack shirt with braces by Aryz, a muralist from Barcelona Style. Also painted for the See No Evil 2012
Wall Art above a Chinese restaurant at Nelson Street in Bristol.
Waiting at Yate Railway Station, for our train to Oxford on gloomy morning in November. A small station with two platforms, it was first opened in 1844 but closed down in 1965. It was later reopened in 1989.
I'm Aparna and My Diverse Kitchen is my ovo-lacto vegetarian food blog where you'll find recipes, food stories & photography. I've been blogging since 2007 and believe the kitchen, and the dining table (by extension) is really the heart of a home. 
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