Offering a fantastic selection of historic hotels ranging from grand Georgian establishments to attractive Victorian venues, Bristol has been a strategic port since medieval times. Bristol is the location of the world's oldest zoo that isn't in a capital city, and there are 34 other destinations all across the world that have taken its name, from Bristol in Tennessee to Bristol in Nova Scotia.
Historic Attractions in the City - Some Recommendations
See Bristol Cathedral, which has stood since the mid-12th Century and was built less than a century after William the Conqueror invaded England. The building, which is a Grade I-Listed structure and has a unique blend of Norman, Gothic and Neo-Gothic architecture, is more than 90 metres long and is noted for its attractive pinnacled towers.
See the Georgian House, which, as the name implies, dates back to the late-18th Century and was once the home of a successful sugar entrepreneur. It's a perfect representation of a late-Georgian home, and is now a venue of the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, still featuring much of its original furniture.
Historic Hotels in Bristol City Centre
The Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, a popular venue for business travellers and celebrities, has existed since the Victorian era and offers elegant four star accommodation. Designed by the talented architect William Henry Hawtin, it still serves High Tea just like it did in the 19th Century, and in the 20th Century it welcomed Prime Minister Winston Churchill and Hollywood actor Cary Grant. Other renowned historic hotels include the Berkeley Suites, the Gothic-Georgian-themed Arnos Manor Hotel, and the Georgian-themed Hotel du Vin & Bistro Bristol and the Number 38 Clifton hotel.
Other Interesting Facts About Bristol
Bristol was once known as 'Brigg stow' in the Saxon period and became a prosperous textiles centre by the late Middle Ages, when it was home to various Franciscan friars who would regularly preach in the city. In 1865, the city celebrated the opening of the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was designed by the pioneering engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel who sadly passed away several years before it was completed.
