My family and I have been exploring Bristol, in the south west of England, and I've found it quite the thrill to get to a new place after a few months locked down in the North. Maybe it's my post-lockdown excitement or possibly the glorious sunshine, but meandering the streets of this port city-turned art-capital has been inspiring and reinvigorating. From street-food delicacies to graffiti galore, independent shops to grand Georgian architecture, here are some of my highlights from the past 48 hours!
Clifton- home to Brunel's infamous Clifton Suspension Bridge and the breath-taking Royal York Crescent, this affluent neighbourhood is best enjoyed on foot. It is a quarter to get lost in, gazing at beautiful Georgian and Victorian townhouses, strolling through green malls and commons, maybe nipping into Bar Chocolat for a delectable hot chocolate. As Clifton is sat atop a hill, it also offers unmissable vistas of the rest of the city and the hills beyond.
Stoke's Croft and Gloucester Street- on a more down-to-earth scale than Clifton, this is Bristol's beating heart in my opinion. A beautiful explosion of gritty street culture and diverse cultural influences. This is a place on the move, reinventing and looking forward. Cuban bars, vegan and organic grocery stores, hordes of the country's best stocked charity shops, hipster coffee stops and of course street art at every corner, it's all here. Bristol's fiery independent spirit is best felt in this area, notably in its abundance of diversity and lack of bland chain stores.
St Nicholas Market- located right in the center of Bristol's Corn Exchange, this is a one-stop hub for independent retailers and craft stores, as well as some seriously delicious street food. We came here for lunch everyday. Think succulent pulled pork, Moroccan inspired hummus and falafel salads, freshly pressed juices, Kurdish wraps and good old British pies. The smell when you wander in to the food court is enough to make any sceptic starving.
Wapping Wharf and Cargo- this is the bustling area built on the city's docks, and a perfect place to sit with a beer after a busy day exploring. Cargo is an especially cool concept: a group of independent foodie stores, bars, restaurants and shops nestled in converted cargo ship containers.
It goes without saying that these recommendations only scratch the surface is what this bustling, creative polis has to offer. I am avid to return and taste more of this cultural feast, especially when museums and art galleries open up next month.
