Bristol History & Heritage

Although very much a modern European city, Bristol’s history goes back thousands of years. This is very visible from the eclectic mix of buildings lining the streets, some of which can be traced back to the origins of the small settling of Brigstow.

Bristol is a real melting pot of architecture through the ages from the ruins of the Norman castle in Castle Park, to the gothic masterpieces of Bristol Cathedral and St Mary Redcliffe. A stroll around the Georgian streets of Clifton and Redland is as picturesque as it is relaxing.

Scenes from the recent BBC drama Wolf Hall was filmed in the area and Bristol is a haven of Tudor history. Thornbury Castle, Ashton Court Mansion and the Red Lodge Museum, with its Elizabethan Knot garden, are fine examples of Tudor Bristol.

If you’re more interested in fossils, rocks and other gems however, head to Bristol Museum and Art Gallery for a walk through our natural history where some fascinating items found in nearby areas such as Mangotsfield are on display.

Bristol has an incredibly rich maritime history, being one of the major ports for trade. A visit to M Shed museum documents the history of Bristol or go below deck on the ss Great Britain, just one of Brunel's magnificent pieces of work. Both are a great family day out in Bristol.

The Heritage Pub Crawl is a great way to sample some local ales and ciders as you take in some of the history of Bristol. Look out for the poster in local shops.

Bristol has a number of walking tours and audio tours to help you to make the most of your time in Bristol and to see as much of the history and heritage of Bristol that interests you.