From October onwards, Brussels Airlines will be operating a direct flight to Bristol six times a week, which is a good reason to put that city in the South West of England in the spotlight.
Vibrant and very green
According to The Sunday Times, Bristol is without a doubt one of the best cities in Britain to live in. Bristol used to be a major port city but today is a pleasant destination for a city trip. The old port, Wapping Wharf, is now a trendy area with nice shops, bars, great eateries, museums but also many parks and gardens. This may also be due to Bristol being home to not one but two universities, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England. The city won the prestigious European Green Capital Award in 2015. The greenest city in Europe. Not surprisingly, it is one of the most popular holiday destinations for the British. The city does plenty in the way of sustainable projects and green energy. Moreover, Bristol is a very bike-friendly city. Pedestrians and cyclists have more than an edge on cars. So rent a bike, and discover the city.
Bristol Graffiti
Bristol is also internationally renowned for its street art. Where the city used to try to remove graffiti, it has now become a tourist attraction. The best place to enjoy all that beauty is the Stokes Croft district. Stroll through the streets on your own, or better still with a guide. This will take you to the best places, but the guide will also tell you the most interesting stories and background of that art.
Born in Bristol
Also nice to know: the city has a local currency, the Bristol pound, to keep the spending of the city's citizens within the city. An idea from the quirky mayor Ferguson. But don't worry, you can still use the British pound. And to brag your knowledge to your friends, you can enumerate who's from Bristol. It’s an impressive list of famous people, and on top of that: Pirate Blackbeard, actor Cary Grant, musicians Robert Wyatt and Nik Kershaw, artist Damien Hirst (yes, the guy with the shark), and last but not least writer and Harry Potter inventor, J.K. Rowling.
You should already be there!