Two months ago I packed my bags (not too many of them), left my job (and my options..) and relocated to Bristol City, located in the South West area of the United Kingdom. My reasons for this rash move are saved with me, however, allow me to share with you a few of the sights and scenes from the beautiful rural South West of England and raise your curiosity regarding this marvelous country-side city so that you may come to visit..
First, a few facts and figures:
- Bristol is located ~110 miles South to London (less than two hours drive by car/train) in the South West of the British island. Its proximity to the coast and to the gorgeous country side makes the views it offers breathtaking. It is surrounded by endless miles of green and nearby beaches.
- In1373, King Edward the Third ordered that it should be a county itself forever!!
- Bristol is the home for ~0.8 million people, making it the largest city in the area, with lots of fun going on, alongside the tranquility provided by its provinciality.
- The River Avon runs through the city and thereby bestows it with lovely water scenery (marinas, restaurants on the water front etc.).
- The name Bristol means "the place where the bridge is" in Old English.
- The Clifton Suspension Bridge is the largest bridge that crosses the city, high above the river. Its story began in 1754 with the dream of a Bristol wine merchant who left a legacy to build a bridge over the Gorge. A competition was declared for the design of the bridge and in 1830 Isambard Kingdom Brunel was announced winner and appointed project engineer. The foundation stone was laid in 1831 but the project was dogged with political and financial difficulties and by 1843, with only the towers completed, the project was abandoned. After Brunel died the Bridge was completed as his memorial and finally opened in 1864. Thus, its designer never lived to see the glorious outcomes of his work.. The bridge was recently renovated and lights were installed along it, complimenting its spectacular sight.
- The University of Bristol, trailing Oxford and Cambridge, it is now considered the third top university in the UK. The University was founded in 1876 and was the first higher education institution in England to admit women on an equal basis to men! It is now attended by ~60,000 students a year, making almost 10% of the city's population and granting it with young faces and spirit.
- Pubs and Bars – lots and lots of them!! As in any English city – beer is a man's best friend; add this fact to the rates of young students noted above and make your own math…
- Pleasure – As the largest city in the area, Bristol provides all the facilities and leisure activities one might expect – museums, theaters, cinemas, state of the art shopping experience (if you have "deep pockets"), restaurants (English food has definitely improved!) and proximity to lovely cities such as Bath (10min) - a gorgeous little town with exquisite sights and shopping, as well as a thermo-spa for those who wish to pamper themselves; Weston-Super-Mare (30min) - a sweet sea-side city where you can view the enormous tides of the British coast while enjoying the local shepherd's pie and cup of tea; Cippenham (45min) – some more good shopping and local sights and pleasures.. Needless to say that the drive up to all this places is a beautiful one along the British country-side views.
That said, I have been living here for the last 2 months, with many more to come hopefully, and am really enjoying all the city has to offer. My local friends (including some Londoner's folks) tell me that it is by far the best place to be in England (I have yet to judge this myself, and assuming England is a place to be in to begin with..). It offers a wide variety of pleasures and activities, lacks the heavy traffic of London, and grants the beautiful scenery of the English countryside.
Do come to visit..
I wish you a pleasurable trip!!
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