View source for Bristol

{{short description|City and county in England}}
{{About|the city in England}}
{{featured article}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2017}}
{{Infobox settlement
| name                    = Bristol
| settlement_type         = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City]], [[Ceremonial counties of England|county]] and [[Unitary authorities of England|unitary authority]]
| image_skyline           = {{multiple image |border=infobox |perrow=1/2 |total_width=275 |caption_align=center
 | image1 = Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Observatory in Bristol, England.jpg
 | caption1 = [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]] and [[Clifton Observatory|observatory]]
 | image2 = Harbour View, Bristol - geograph.org.uk - 5352614.jpg
 | caption2 = [[Floating Harbour]]
 | image3 = 2023-09-15 Bristol Cathedral 01.jpg
 | caption3 = [[Bristol Cathedral]]
 | image4 = Victoria Rooms in Bristol. - geograph.org.uk - 3690458.jpg
 | caption4 = [[Victoria Rooms, Bristol|Victoria Rooms]]
 | image5 = The Centre, Bristol, looking towards Clare Street.jpg
 | caption5 = [[The Centre, Bristol|The Centre]]
 | image6 = Bristol University - geograph.org.uk - 5266015.jpg
 | caption6 = [[Wills Memorial Building|Wills Tower]]
 | image7 = Brandon, Bristol, UK - panoramio.jpg
 | caption7 = [[Bristol City Hall]]
 }}
| imagesize               = 
| image_alt               = 
| image_flag              = 
| flag_alt                = 
| image_shield            = Arms of Bristol City Council.svg
| shield_alt              = 
| shield_link             = 
| image_blank_emblem      = 
| blank_emblem_size       = 
| blank_emblem_type       = 
| blank_emblem_link       = 
| etymology               = 
| nickname                = 
| motto = {{force singular}} {{langx |la|Virtute et Industria |translation=with courage and industry}}
| image_map               = Bristol UK location map.svg
| map_alt                 = 
| map_caption             = Bristol shown within England
| coordinates             = {{Coord|51|27|13|N|02|35|51|W|type:city_region:GB-BST|display=inline,title}}
| coordinates_footnotes   = 
| subdivision_type        = [[Sovereign state]]
| subdivision_name        = [[United Kingdom]]
| subdivision_type1       = [[Countries of the United Kingdom|Country]]
| subdivision_name1       = [[England]]
| subdivision_type2       = [[Regions of England|Region]]
| subdivision_name2       = [[South West England|South West]]
| subdivision_type3       = [[Combined authority]]
| subdivision_name3       = [[West of England]]
| established_title       = [[Royal charter]]
| established_date        = 1155<ref name="royalchart">{{cite book |url=https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs01.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.bristol.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs01.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |title=Bristol Charters 1155–1373 |author=N. Dermott Harding |publisher=[[Bristol Record Society]] |access-date=2 October 2021}}</ref>
| established_title1      = [[County corporate]]
| established_date1       = 1373
| established_title2      = [[City status in the United Kingdom|City status]]
| established_date2       = 1542
| established_title3      = [[Ceremonial county]]
| established_date3       = 1996
| named_for               = 
| seat_type               = Administrative HQ
| seat                    = [[City Hall, Bristol|City Hall]]
<!-- Government -->
| government_footnotes    = <ref name="Council leadership">{{cite web |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council |title=Council |website=Bristol City Council |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>
| government_type         = [[Unitary authorities of England|Unitary authority]]
| governing_body          = [[Bristol City Council]]
| leader_title            = [[Executive arrangements|Executive]]
| leader_name             = [[Executive arrangements#Committee system|Committee system]]
| leader_title1           = [[Political make-up of local councils in the United Kingdom|Control]]
| leader_name1            = {{English district control|GSS=E06000023}}
| leader_title2           = Leader
| leader_name2            = Tony Dyer ([[Green Party of England and Wales|G]])
| leader_title3           = [[List of mayors of Bristol|Lord Mayor]]
| leader_name3            = Henry Michallat
| leader_title4           = [[Member of Parliament (United Kingdom)|MPs]]
| leader_name4            = {{Collapsible list |title=5 MPs
 | [[Carla Denyer]] ([[Green Party of England and Wales|G]])
 | [[Kerry McCarthy]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Darren Jones]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Karin Smyth]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 | [[Damien Egan]] ([[Labour Party (UK)|L]])
 }}
<!-- Area -->
<!-- ALL fields with measurements have automatic unit conversion -->
| area_footnotes          = <ref name="popstats" />
| area_total_km2          = {{English district area|GSS=E06000023}}
| area_rank               = [[List of English districts by area|{{English district area rank|GSS=E06000023}}]]
<!-- Population -->
| population_footnotes    = <ref name="popstats">{{United Kingdom district population citation}}</ref>
| population_as_of        = {{English statistics year}}
| population_total        = {{English district population|GSS=E06000023}}
| population_rank         = [[List of English districts by population|{{English district rank|GSS=E06000023}}]]
| population_density_km2  = {{English district density|GSS=E06000023}}
| population_demonym      = Bristolian
<!-- demographics (section 1) -->
| demographics_type1      = Ethnicity <span style="font-weight:normal;">([[2021 United Kingdom census|2021]])</span>
| demographics1_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis">{{NOMIS2021 |id=E06000023 |title=Bristol, City of Local Authority |access-date=13 April 2025}}</ref>
| demographics1_title1    = [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|Ethnic groups]]
| demographics1_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 81.1% [[White people in the United Kingdom|White]]
 | 6.6% [[British Asians|Asian]]
 | 5.9% [[Black British people|Black]]
 | 4.5% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|Mixed]]
 | 1.9% [[Ethnic groups in the United Kingdom|other]]
 }}
<!-- demographics (section 2) -->
| demographics_type2      = Religion <span style="font-weight:normal;">(2021)</span>
| demographics2_footnotes = <ref name="2021 Nomis"/>
| demographics2_title1    = [[Religion in England|Religion]]
| demographics2_info1     =
 {{Collapsible list
 | 51.4% [[Irreligion in the United Kingdom|no religion]]
 | 32.2% [[Religion in England#Christianity|Christianity]]
 | 6.7% [[Islam in England|Islam]]
 | 0.8% [[Hinduism in England|Hinduism]]
 | 0.6% [[Buddhism in England|Buddhism]]
 | 0.5% [[Sikhism in England|Sikhism]]
 | 0.3% [[History of the Jews in England|Judaism]]
 | 0.8% [[Religion in England|other]]
 | 6.9% not stated
 }}
| timezone1               = [[Greenwich Mean Time|GMT]]
| utc_offset1             = +0
| timezone1_DST           = [[British Summer Time|BST]]
| utc_offset1_DST         = +1
<!-- Codes -->
| postal_code_type        = [[Postcodes in the United Kingdom|Postcode area]]
| postal_code             = [[BS postcode area|BS]]
| area_code_type          = [[Telephone numbers in the United Kingdom|Dialling codes]]
| area_code               = {{Hlist |0117 |01275 |01454 }}
| iso_code                = [[ISO 3166-2:GB|GB-BST]]
| blank1_name             = [[GSS coding system|GSS code]]
| blank1_info             = E06000023
| website                 = {{URL|bristol.gov.uk}}
}}

'''Bristol''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=en-uk-Bristol.ogg|ˈ|b|r|ɪ|s|t|əl}}) is a [[City status in the United Kingdom|cathedral city]], [[unitary authority]] area and [[ceremonial county]] in [[South West England]], the most populous city in the region.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Lord-Lieutenant of the County & City of Bristol |url=http://www.lordltbristol.org.uk/ |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151022174137/http://lordltbristol.org.uk/|archive-date=22 October 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |publisher=The Lord-Lieutenant of the County & City of Bristol}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The population of Bristol – bristol.gov.uk |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/statistics-census-information/the-population-of-bristol |website=www.bristol.gov.uk|access-date=11 February 2024}}</ref> Built around the [[River Avon, Bristol|River Avon]], it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of [[Gloucestershire]] to the north and [[Somerset]] to the south. The county is in the [[West of England]] combined authority area, which includes the [[Greater Bristol]] area ([[List of urban areas in the United Kingdom|eleventh most populous]] urban area in the United Kingdom) and nearby places such as [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]].<ref name="popstats"/> Bristol is the second largest city in [[Southern England]], after the capital [[London]].

[[Iron Age]] [[hillfort]]s and [[Roman villa]]s were built near the [[confluence]] of the rivers [[River Frome, Bristol|Frome]] and Avon. Bristol received a [[royal charter]] in 1155 and was [[historic counties of England|historically]] divided between Gloucestershire and Somerset until 1373, when it became a [[county corporate]]. From the 13th to the 18th century Bristol was among the top three English cities, after London, in tax receipts. A major [[port]], Bristol was a starting place for early voyages of exploration to the New World. At the height of the [[Bristol slave trade]], from 1700 to 1807, more than 2,000 slave ships carried an estimated 500,000 people from Africa to slavery in the Americas. The [[Port of Bristol]] has since moved from [[Bristol Harbour]] in the city centre to the [[Severn Estuary]] at [[Avonmouth]] and [[Royal Portbury Dock]].

The city's modern economy is built on the creative media, electronics and [[aerospace]] industries; the city-centre docks have been redeveloped as cultural and heritage centres. There are a variety of artistic and sporting organisations and venues including the [[Royal West of England Academy]], the [[Arnolfini, Bristol|Arnolfini]], [[Ashton Gate Stadium|Ashton Gate]] and the [[Memorial Ground]]. The city has two universities; the [[University of Bristol]] and the [[University of the West of England]] (UWE Bristol). It is connected to the world by [[Bristol Airport]]; to the rest of the [[Great Britain]] via {{rws|Bristol Temple Meads}} and {{rws|Bristol Parkway}} mainline rail stations; by road by both the south-west to [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]] [[M5 motorway|M5]] and the London to South Wales [[M4 motorway|M4]] (which connect to the city centre by the [[Portway, Bristol|Portway]] and [[M32 motorway|M32]]).

== Toponymy ==
The name derives from the [[Old English]] {{lang|ang|Brycgstow}}, meaning "assembly place by the bridge" or simply "site of the bridge", presumably in reference to a crossing over the Avon.<ref>{{cite book|title=The Cambridge Dictionary of English Place-Names|date=2010|editor-last=Watts|editor-first=Victor|publisher=Cambridge University Press|isbn=978-0-521-16855-7|page=88|url=https://archive.org/details/cambridgediction0000unse_y6u4/page/88}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|last=Ekwall|first=Eilert|title=The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Place-Names|date=1947|edition=3rd|location=Oxford|publisher=Clarendon Press|page=63|url=https://archive.org/details/in.ernet.dli.2015.184064/page/63}}</ref> The final ''l'' is an unetymological addition that first appears in the 12th century, which may be due to the unique "Terminal L" found in the [[Culture in Bristol#Dialect|Bristol dialect]]. An older form of the name survives as the surname [[Bristow (surname)|Bristow]], which is derived from the city.<ref>{{cite book|editor1-last=Hanks|editor1-first=Patrick|editor2-last=Lenarčič|editor2-first=Simon|editor3-last=McClure|editor3-first=Peter|title=Dictionary of American Family Names|publisher=Oxford University Press|date=2022|edition=2nd|isbn=978-0-19-024512-2|entry=Bristow|entry-url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/view/10.1093/acref/9780190245115.001.0001/acref-9780190245115-e-9511}}</ref>

== History ==
{{Main|History of Bristol|Timeline of Bristol}}

[[Archaeological]] finds, including flint tools believed to be between 300,000 and 126,000{{nbsp}}years old made with the [[Levallois technique]], indicate the presence of [[Neanderthal]]s in the [[Shirehampton]] and [[Brislington West (ward)|St Annes]] areas of Bristol during the [[Middle Palaeolithic]].<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Bates |first1=M.R. |last2=Wenban-Smith |first2=F.F. |title=Palaeolithic Research Framework for the Bristol Avon Basin |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning_and_building_regulations/archaeology/Palaeolithic%20Research%20Framework%20for%20the%20Bristol%20Avon%20basin.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130404082939/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/planning_and_building_regulations/archaeology/Palaeolithic%20Research%20Framework%20for%20the%20Bristol%20Avon%20basin.pdf |archive-date=4 April 2013 |access-date=12 June 2014 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> [[Iron Age]] [[hill fort]]s near the city are at [[Leigh Woods]] and [[Clifton Down]], on the side of the [[Avon Gorge]], and on [[Kings Weston Hill]] near [[Henbury, Bristol|Henbury]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol in the Iron Age |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Local-History-Heritage/archaeology/bristol-in-the-iron-age.en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520074522/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Local-History-Heritage/archaeology/bristol-in-the-iron-age.en |archive-date=20 May 2011 |access-date=10 March 2007 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> A [[Roman Britain|Roman]] port, ''Portus Abonae'' (Avonport) – abbreviated to ''Abona'' in the [[Antonine Itinerary]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abona – Major Romano-British Settlement |url=http://www.roman-britain.co.uk/places/abona/ |access-date= |publisher=Roman-Britain.co.uk}}</ref> existed at what is now [[Sea Mills, Bristol|Sea Mills]] (connected to [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] and [[Gloucester]] by [[Roman road]]s); another settlement was at the present-day [[Filwood (ward)#Inns Court|Inns Court]]. Isolated [[Roman villa]]s and small [[Castra|forts]] and settlements were also scattered throughout the area.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol in the Roman Period |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Local-History-Heritage/archaeology/bristol-in-the-roman-period.en |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110520075145/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Local-History-Heritage/archaeology/bristol-in-the-roman-period.en |archive-date=20 May 2011 |access-date=10 March 2007 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>

=== Middle Ages ===
Bristol was founded by 1000; by about 1020, it was a trading centre with a [[Mint (coin)|mint]] producing silver pennies bearing its name.{{sfn|Lobel|Carus-Wilson|1975|pp=2–3}} By 1067, Brycgstow was a well-fortified ''[[burh]]'', and that year the townsmen beat back a raiding party from Ireland led by three of [[Harold Godwinson]]'s sons.{{sfn|Lobel|Carus-Wilson|1975|pp=2–3}} Under [[Normans|Norman]] rule, the town had one of the strongest [[Bristol Castle|castles]] in [[southern England]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Impregnable City |url=http://www.buildinghistory.org/bristol/castle.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080615133941/http://www.buildinghistory.org/bristol/castle.shtml |archive-date=15 June 2008 |access-date=7 October 2007 |publisher=Bristol Past}}</ref> Bristol was the place of exile for [[Diarmait Mac Murchada]], the Irish [[king of Leinster]], after being overthrown. The Bristol merchants subsequently played a prominent role in funding [[Richard Strongbow de Clare]] and the [[Norman invasion of Ireland]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bristol merchants funded Anglo-Norman invasion |work=Irish Times |url=http://www.irishtimes.com/news/bristol-merchants-funded-anglo-norman-invasion-1.91225 |url-status=live |access-date=7 October 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160625165804/http://www.irishtimes.com/news/bristol-merchants-funded-anglo-norman-invasion-1.91225 |archive-date=25 June 2016}}</ref>
[[File:Robert Ricart's map of Bristol.png|thumb|alt=Fifteenth-century pictorial map of Bristol, radiating from the town centre|[[The Maire of Bristowe is Kalendar|Robert Ricart]]'s map of Bristol, drawn when he became common clerk of the town in 1478. At the centre, it shows the [[Bristol High Cross|High Cross]], moved in 1764 to the [[Stourhead]] estate.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jean Manco |year=2006 |title=Ricart's View of Bristol |url=http://www.buildinghistory.org/bristol/ricart.shtml |url-status=live |journal=Bristol Magazine |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914150549/http://www.buildinghistory.org/bristol/ricart.shtml |archive-date=14 September 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015}}</ref>]]

The port developed in the 11th century around the confluence of the [[River Frome, Bristol|Rivers Frome]] and [[River Avon (Bristol)|Avon]], adjacent to [[Bristol Bridge]] just outside the town walls.{{sfn|Brace|1976|pp=13–15}} By the 12th century, there was an important [[History of the Jews in England|Jewish]] community in Bristol which survived through to the late 13th century when all Jews were [[Edict of Expulsion|expelled]] from England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Jewish Community of Bristol |url=https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/bristol |publisher=[[The Museum of the Jewish People at Beit Hatfutsot]] |access-date=2 July 2018 |archive-date=2 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180702175707/https://dbs.bh.org.il/place/bristol |url-status=dead }}</ref> The stone bridge built in 1247 was replaced by the current bridge during the 1760s.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1204252 |desc=Bristol Bridge |access-date=27 August 2015}}</ref> The town incorporated neighbouring suburbs and became a [[county corporate|county]] in 1373,{{sfn|Liddy|2005|p=13}} the first town in England to be given this status.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |year=2011 |title=High Sheriff&nbsp;– City of Bristol County History |url=http://www.highsheriffs.com/City%20of%20Bristol/City%20of%20BristolHistory.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526160040/http://www.highsheriffs.com/City%20of%20Bristol/City%20of%20BristolHistory.htm |archive-date=26 May 2011 |access-date=19 June 2011 |publisher=High Sheriffs Association of England and Wales}}</ref>{{sfn|Rayfield|1985|pp=17–23}}<ref>{{Cite book |last=Myers |first=A. R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=jRsLUVOCqbkC&q=bristol |title=English Historical Documents 1327–1485 |publisher=Routledge |year=1996 |isbn=978-0-415-14369-1 |editor-last=Douglas|editor-first=David C. |edition=Second |volume=IV |location=London and New York |page=560}}</ref> During this period, Bristol became a shipbuilding and manufacturing centre.{{sfn|Carus-Wilson|1933|pp=183–246}} By the 14th century, Bristol, [[York]] and [[Norwich]] were England's largest [[medieval]] towns after London.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Manco |first=Jean |date=25 July 2009 |title=The Ranking of Provincial Towns in England 1066–1861 |url=http://www.buildinghistory.org/town-rank.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091204184227/http://www.buildinghistory.org/town-rank.shtml |archive-date=4 December 2009 |access-date=13 January 2010 |website=Delving into building history |publisher=Jean Manco}}</ref> One-third to one-half of the population died in the [[Black Death]] of 1348–49,{{sfn|McCulloch|1839|pp=398–399}} which checked population growth, and its population remained between 10,000 and 12,000 for most of the 15th and 16th centuries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History in Bristol |url=http://www.discoverbristol.co.uk/bristol-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505142934/http://www.discoverbristol.co.uk/bristol-history |archive-date=5 May 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |publisher=Discover Bristol}}</ref>

=== 15th and 16th centuries ===
[[File:bristol.cathedral.west.front.arp.jpg|thumb|alt=A stone built Victorian Gothic building with two square towers and a central arched entrance underneath a circular ornate window. A Victorian street lamp stands in front of the building and on the right part of a leafless tree, with blue skies behind.|West front of [[Bristol Cathedral]]]]

During the 15th century, Bristol was the second most important port in the country, trading with Ireland,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Childs |first=Wendy R. |date=1982 |title=Ireland's trade with England in the Later Middle Ages |journal=Irish Economic and Social History |volume=IX |pages=5–33 |doi=10.1177/033248938200900101 |s2cid=165038092}}</ref> Iceland{{sfn|Carus-Wilson|1933|pp=155–182}} and [[Gascony]].{{sfn|Carus-Wilson|1933|pp=183–246}} It was the starting point for many voyages, including [[Robert Sturmy]]'s (1457–58) unsuccessful attempt to break the Italian [[monopoly]] of Eastern Mediterranean trade.{{sfn|Jenks|2006|p=1}} New exploration voyages were launched by Venetian [[John Cabot]], who in 1497 made landfall in North America.{{sfn|Jones|Condon|2016}} A 1499 voyage, led by merchant [[William Weston (explorer)|William Weston]] of Bristol, was the first expedition commanded by an Englishman to [[North America]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Evan T. |date=August 2010 |title=Henry VII and the Bristol expeditions to North America: the Condon documents |journal=Historical Research |volume=83 |issue=221 |pages=444–454 |doi=10.1111/j.1468-2281.2009.00519.x|doi-access=}}</ref> During the first decade of the 16th century Bristol's merchants undertook a series of exploration voyages to North America and even founded a commercial organisation, 'The Company Adventurers to the New Found Land', to assist their endeavours.{{sfn|Jones|Condon|2016|pp=57–70}} However, they seem to have lost interest in North America after 1509, having incurred great expenses and made little profit.

During the 16th century, Bristol merchants concentrated on developing trade with Spain and its American colonies.{{sfn|Connell-Smith|1954|p=10}} This included the [[smuggling]] of prohibited goods, such as food and guns, to Iberia<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Jones |first=Evan T. |date=February 2001 |title=Illicit business: accounting for smuggling in mid-sixteenth-century Bristol |url=https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/ws/files/3005375/Illicit%20Business%20EcHR.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://research-information.bristol.ac.uk/ws/files/3005375/Illicit%20Business%20EcHR.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |journal=The Economic History Review |volume=54 |issue=1 |pages=17–38 |doi=10.1111/1468-0289.00182 |hdl=1983/870}}</ref> during the [[Anglo-Spanish War (1585–1604)]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Croft |first=Pauline |date=June 1989 |title=Trading with the Enemy 1585–1604 |journal=The Historical Journal |volume=32 |issue=2 |pages=281–302 |doi=10.1017/S0018246X00012152 |jstor=2639602 |s2cid=162433225}}</ref> Bristol's illicit trade grew enormously after 1558, becoming integral to its economy.{{sfn|Jones|2012}}

The original [[Diocese of Bristol]] was founded in 1542,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horn |first=Joyce M |year=1996 |title=Bristol: Introduction |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/fasti-ecclesiae/1541-1847/vol8/pp3-6 |url-status=live |journal=Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae 1541–1857: Volume 8: Bristol, Gloucester, Oxford and Peterborough Dioceses |pages=3–6 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304044250/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/fasti-ecclesiae/1541-1847/vol8/pp3-6 |archive-date=4 March 2016 |access-date=8 June 2015}}</ref> when the former [[Abbey]] of [[Augustine of Canterbury|St. Augustine]] (founded by [[Robert Fitzharding]] four hundred years earlier){{sfn|Bettey|1996|pp=1–5}} became [[Bristol Cathedral]]. Bristol also gained [[City status in the United Kingdom|city]] status that year.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=H3FTAAAAcAAJ&q=bristol+charter+1155&pg=PA1149 |title=Appendix to the First Report of the Commissioners Appointed to inquire into the Municipal Corporations of England and Wales, Part 2: South-Eastern and Southern Cities|year=1835 |page=1158 |access-date=1 July 2024|via=Google Books}}</ref>

=== 17th and 18th centuries ===
[[File:Charles E. Flower, The Old Dutch House, Bristol.jpg|thumb|The 17th-century Old Dutch House, High Street, Bristol, before destruction in the Blitz, 1940]]
In the 1640s, during the [[English Civil War]], [[Bristol in the English Civil War|the city]] was occupied by [[Cavalier|Royalists]], who built the [[Royal Fort House]] on the site of an earlier [[Roundhead|Parliamentarian]] stronghold.<ref>{{Cite web |date=21 April 2009 |title=Royal Fort dig |url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6291.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120328093546/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/news/2009/6291.html |archive-date=28 March 2012 |access-date=21 July 2011 |publisher=University of Bristol}}</ref>

Fishermen from Bristol, who had fished the [[Grand Banks of Newfoundland]] since the 16th century,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cathcart |first=Brian |date=19 March 1995 |title=Rear Window: Newfoundland: Where fishes swim, men will fight |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/rear-window-newfoundland-where-fishes-swim-men-will-fight-1611892.html |url-status=live |access-date=27 January 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219234612/http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/letters/rear-window-newfoundland-where-fishes-swim-men-will-fight-1611892.html |archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> began settling Newfoundland permanently in larger numbers during the 17th century, establishing colonies at [[Bristol's Hope]] and [[Cuper's Cove]]. Growth of the city and trade came with the rise of England's [[European colonization of the Americas|American colonies]] in the 17th century. Bristol's location on the west side of Great Britain gave its ships an advantage in sailing to and from the New World, and the city's merchants made the most of it, with the city becoming one of the two leading outports in all of England by the middle of the 18th century.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Morgan |first1=Kenneth |date=July 1989 |title=Shipping Patterns and the Atlantic Trade of Bristol, 1749–1770 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/1922354 |journal=The William and Mary Quarterly |volume=46 |issue=3 |pages=506–538 |doi=10.2307/1922354 |jstor=1922354 |access-date=28 April 2022|url-access=subscription }}</ref> Bristol was the slave capital of England: In 1755, it had the largest number of slave traders in the country with 237, as against London's 147.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Horton |first=Richard |date=2022-10-29 |title=Offline: The slave trade—medicine's necessary remorse |journal=The Lancet |language=English |volume=400 |issue=10362 |pages=1499 |doi=10.1016/S0140-6736(22)02119-5 |pmid=36522200 |s2cid=253176012 |issn=0140-6736|doi-access=free }}</ref> It was a major supplier of slaves to [[South Carolina]] before 1750.<ref>[[Madge Dresser]]: ''Slavery Obscured: The Social History of the Slave Trade in an English Provincial Port.'' Bloomsbury Publishing, 2016, page 108.</ref>
[[File:Bristol 1873.png|thumb|alt= An engraving showing at the top a sailing ship and paddle steamer in a harbour, with sheds and a church spire. On either side arched gateways, all above a scroll with the word "Bristol". Below a street scene showing pedestrians and a horse-drawn carriage outside a large ornate building with a colonnade and arched windows above. A grand staircase with two figures ascending and other figures on a balcony. A caption reading "Exterior, [[Edward Colston|Colston]] Hall" and Staircase, Colston Hall". Below, two street scenes and a view of a large stone building with flying buttresses and a square tower, with the caption "Bristol cathedral". At the bottom views of a church interior, a cloister with a man mowing grass and archways with two men in conversation.|An 1873 engraving showing [[Edward Colston|Colston]] Hall, the port and cathedral of Bristol]]

The 18th century saw an expansion of Bristol's population (45,000 in 1750)<ref>{{Cite book |last=Peal |first=Robert |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zXUNEAAAQBAJ |title=Meet the Georgians: Epic Tales from Britain's Wildest Century |date=2021-07-08 |publisher=HarperCollins Publishers |isbn=978-0-00-843704-6 |language=en}}</ref> and its role in the [[Atlantic slave trade|Atlantic trade]] in Africans taken for [[slavery]] to the Americas. Bristol and later [[Liverpool]] became centres of the [[Triangular Trade]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=David Richardson |date=1985 |title=Slave Traders: A Collective Portrait |url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/bha060.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/bha060.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |website=Bristol Record Society |publisher=University of Bristol}}</ref> Manufactured goods were shipped to West Africa and exchanged for Africans; the enslaved captives were transported across the Atlantic to the Americas in the [[Middle Passage]] under brutal conditions.<ref name="nmm">{{Cite web |title=Triangular trade |url=http://www.understandingslavery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308:atlantic-crossing&catid=125:themes&Itemid=153 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720111640/http://www.understandingslavery.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=308%3Aatlantic-crossing&catid=125%3Athemes&Itemid=153 |archive-date=20 July 2011 |access-date=22 March 2009 |publisher=National Maritime Museum}}</ref> Plantation goods such as sugar, tobacco, rum, rice, cotton and a few slaves (sold to the aristocracy as house servants) returned across the Atlantic to England.<ref name=nmm /> Some household slaves were baptised in the hope this would lead them to be freed. The [[Somersett Case]] of 1772 clarified that slavery was illegal in England.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Black Lives in England : The Slave Trade and Abolition |date=27 November 2009 |url=https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/the-slave-trade-and-abolition/sites-of-memory/black-lives-in-england/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151124135304/https://historicengland.org.uk/research/inclusive-heritage/the-slave-trade-and-abolition/sites-of-memory/black-lives-in-england/ |archive-date=24 November 2015 |access-date=23 November 2015 |publisher=English Heritage}}</ref> At the height of the [[Bristol slave trade]] from 1700 to 1807, more than 2,000 slave ships carried a conservatively estimated 500,000 people from Africa to slavery in the Americas.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Marking The End Of The Slave Trade – Abolition 200 Events In Bristol |url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/places-to-go/south-west/bristol/art44473 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928194740/http://www.culture24.org.uk/places-to-go/south-west/bristol/art44473 |archive-date=28 September 2015 |access-date=27 September 2015 |publisher=Culture 24}}</ref>

In 1739, [[John Wesley]] founded the first [[Methodist]] chapel, the [[New Room]], in Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Wesley's New Room |url=http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/default.asp?Document=3.C.2,5 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927235114/http://www.lookingatbuildings.org.uk/default.asp?Document=3.C.2%2C5 |archive-date=27 September 2007 |access-date=18 October 2015 |website=Looking at Buildings from the Pevsner Architectural Guides}}</ref> Wesley, along with his brother [[Charles Wesley]] and [[George Whitefield]], preached to large congregations in Bristol and the neighbouring village of [[Kingswood, South Gloucestershire|Kingswood]], often in the open air.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Hanham Mount |url=http://www.methodistheritage.org.uk/hanhammount.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151123030104/http://www.methodistheritage.org.uk/hanhammount.htm |archive-date=23 November 2015 |access-date=22 November 2015 |publisher=Methodist Heritage}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last=Reist |first=Irwin W. |date=1975 |title=John Wesley and George Whitefield: A Study in the Integrity of Two Theologies of Grace |url=http://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1975-1_026.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Evangelical Quarterly |volume=47 |issue=1 |pages=26–40 |doi=10.1163/27725472-04701006 |s2cid=251871039 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161027173230/https://biblicalstudies.org.uk/pdf/eq/1975-1_026.pdf |archive-date=27 October 2016}}</ref>

Wesley published a pamphlet on slavery, titled ''Thoughts Upon Slavery,'' in 1774<ref>{{Cite book |last=Wesley |first=John |url=https://docsouth.unc.edu/church/wesley/wesley.html |title=Thoughts Upon Slavery |publisher=University of North Carolina |year=1774 |location=London}}</ref> and the [[Society of Friends]] began lobbying against slavery in Bristol in 1783. The city's scions remained nonetheless strongly anti-abolitionist. [[Thomas Clarkson]] came to Bristol to study the slave trade and gained access to the [[Society of Merchant Venturers]] records.<ref name="BRS#1">{{Cite web |last=Peter Marshall |date=1968 |title=The Anti-slave Trade Movement in Bristol |url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/bha020.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/bha020.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |website=Bristol Record Society |publisher=University of Bristol}}</ref> One of his contacts was the owner of the [[Seven Stars, Bristol|Seven Stars]] [[public house]], who boarded sailors Clarkson sought to meet. Through these sailors he was able to observe how slaver captains and first mates "plied and stupefied seamen with drink" to sign them up.<ref name="BRS#1" /><ref>{{Cite web |title=The history of the Seven Stars |url=http://www.7stars.co.uk/history |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150927110940/http://www.7stars.co.uk/History |archive-date=27 September 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=Seven Stars}}</ref> Other informants included ship surgeons and seamen seeking redress. When [[William Wilberforce]] began his parliamentary abolition campaign on 12 May 1788, he recalled the history of the [[Irish slave trade]] from Bristol, which he provocatively claimed continued into the reign of [[Henry VII of England|Henry VII]].<ref name="BRS#1" /> [[Hannah More]], originally from Bristol, and a good friend of both Wilberforce and Clarkson, published "Slavery, A Poem" in 1788, just as Wilberforce began his parliamentary campaign.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2009 |title=Hannah More (1745–1833): The Poet & Writer |url=http://abolition.e2bn.org/people_60.html |website=The Abolition Project |publisher=e2bn.org}}</ref> His major speech on 2 April 1792 likewise described the Bristol slave trade specifically, and led to the arrest, trial and subsequent acquittal of a local slaver captain named Kimber.<ref name="BRS#1" />

=== 19th century ===
The city was associated with Victorian engineer [[Isambard Kingdom Brunel]], who designed the [[Great Western Railway]] between Bristol and [[London Paddington]], two pioneering Bristol-built oceangoing [[Steamboat|steamships]] ({{SS|Great Britain}} and {{SS|Great Western}}), and the [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]]. The new railway replaced the [[Kennet and Avon Canal]], which had fully opened in 1810 as the main route for the transport of goods between Bristol and London.{{sfn| Clew |1970 |pp=79–80}} Competition from Liverpool (beginning around 1760), disruptions of maritime commerce due to war with France (1793) and the abolition of the slave trade (1807) contributed to Bristol's failure to keep pace with the newer manufacturing centres of [[Northern England]] and the [[West Midlands (region)|West Midlands]]. The tidal Avon Gorge, which had secured the port during the Middle Ages, had become a liability. An 1804–09 plan to improve the city's port with a [[Bristol Harbour|floating harbour]] designed by [[William Jessop]] was a costly error, requiring high harbour fees.{{sfn|Buchanan|Cossons|1969|pp=32–33}}
[[File:Bristol Harbour (St Stephen's Church, St Augustine the Less Church, Bristol Cathedral), BRO Picbox-7-PBA-22, 1250x1250.jpg|thumb|left|Black-and-white etching showing the towers of [[St Stephen's Church, Bristol|St Stephen's Church]], [[St Augustine the Less Church, Bristol|St Augustine the Less Church]] and [[Bristol Cathedral]], published {{Circa|1850}}]]

During the 19th century, [[Samuel Plimsoll]], known as "the sailor's friend", campaigned to make the seas safer; shocked by overloaded vessels, he successfully fought for a compulsory [[Load line (vessel)|load line]] on ships.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Samuel Plimsoll&nbsp;– the seaman's friend |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/05/14/plimsoll_feature.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110825071302/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/05/14/plimsoll_feature.shtml |archive-date=25 August 2011 |access-date=16 March 2009 |publisher=BBC&nbsp;– Bristol&nbsp;– History}}</ref>

By 1867, ships were getting larger and the meanders in the river Avon prevented boats over {{cvt|300|ft|-1}} from reaching the harbour, resulting in falling trade.{{sfn|Coules|2006|pp=194–195}} The port facilities were migrating downstream to [[Avonmouth]] and new industrial complexes were founded there.{{sfn|Buchanan|Cossons|1969|pp=224–225}} Some of the traditional industries including copper and brass manufacture went into decline,<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Day |first=Joan M. |date=1988 |title=The Bristol brass industry: Furnace structures and their associated remains |url=http://www.brassmill.com/linked/1988_-_bristol_brass_furnaces_-_day.pdf |url-status=live |journal=Journal of the Historical Metallurgy Society |volume=22 |issue=1 |pages=24– |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122225918/http://www.brassmill.com/linked/1988_-_bristol_brass_furnaces_-_day.pdf |archive-date=22 November 2015}}</ref> but the import and processing of [[tobacco]] flourished with the expansion of the [[W.D. & H.O. Wills]] business.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol's early nineteenth century staple industries. |url=http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/industry/2_industry.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141009201834/http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/industry/2_industry.htm |archive-date=9 October 2014 |access-date=18 October 2015 |publisher=University of the West of England}}</ref>

Supported by new industry and growing commerce, Bristol's population (66,000 in 1801), quintupled during the 19th century,<ref>{{Cite web |last1=Harvey |first1=Charles |last2=Press |first2=Jon |title=Industrial Change in Bristol Since 1800. Introduction |url=http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/industry/intro_industry.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504223425/http://humanities.uwe.ac.uk/bhr/Main/industry/intro_industry.htm |archive-date=4 May 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |website=Bristol Historical Resource |publisher=University of the West of England}}</ref> resulting in the creation of new suburbs such as [[Clifton, Bristol|Clifton]] and [[Cotham, Bristol|Cotham]]. These provide architectural examples from the Georgian to the Regency style, with many fine terraces and villas facing the road, and at right angles to it. In the early 19th century, the romantic [[medieval]] [[Gothic revival|gothic]] style appeared, partially as a reaction against the [[symmetry]] of [[Palladianism]], and can be seen in buildings such as the [[Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery]],<ref>{{NHLE|desc=City Museum and Art Gallery and attached front walls |num=1202478 |access-date=10 March 2007 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> the [[Royal West of England Academy]],<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Royal West of England Academy |num=1282156 |access-date=9 May 2006 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> and [[The Victoria Rooms]].<ref name="Victoria_Rooms">{{NHLE|desc=Victoria Rooms and attached railings and gates |num=1202480 |access-date=23 March 2007 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> [[Bristol riots|Riots]] broke out in 1793{{sfn|Hunt|1818}} and 1831; the first over the renewal of [[toll road|tolls]] on Bristol Bridge, and the second against the rejection of the second [[Reform Act 1832|Reform Bill]] by the [[House of Lords]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC&nbsp;– Made in Bristol&nbsp;– 1831 Riot facts |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/madeinbristol/2004/04/riot/riot.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=15 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422105101/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/madeinbristol/2004/04/riot/riot.shtml |archive-date=22 April 2009}}</ref> The population by 1841 had reached 140,158.<ref>The National Cyclopaedia of Useful Knowledge, Vol III, (1847), London, Charles Knight, p.815</ref>

The Diocese of Bristol had undergone several boundary changes by 1897 when it was "reconstituted"<!--the exact word used by the Order in Council--> into the configuration which has lasted into the 21st century.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=26871 |date=9 July 1897 |page=3787 |city=London }}</ref>

=== 20th century ===
[[File:Bristol map 1946.jpg|thumb|right|alt=An old ordnance survey map of Bristol, showing roads, railways, rivers and contours.|A 1946 map of Bristol]]

From a population of about 330,000 in 1901, Bristol grew steadily during the 20th century, peaking at 428,089 in 1971.<ref name=visiontime/> Its Avonmouth docklands were enlarged during the early 1900s by the Royal Edward Dock.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Royal Edward Dock, Avonmouth |url=http://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1059 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130521184449/https://www.engineering-timelines.com/scripts/engineeringItem.asp?id=1059 |archive-date=21 May 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Engineering Timelines}}</ref> Another new dock, the [[Royal Portbury Dock]], opened across the river from Avonmouth during the 1970s.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Wessex Archaeology |date=November 2008 |title=Appendix H Cultural_Heritage |url=https://www.eonenergy.com/~/media/PDFs/Generation/biomass/portbury-dock/Appendix_H_Cultural_Heritage.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160106221020/https://www.eonenergy.com/~/media/PDFs/Generation/biomass/portbury-dock/Appendix_H_Cultural_Heritage.pdf |archive-date=6 January 2016 |access-date=28 December 2015 |publisher=eon-uk |page=H–4}}</ref> As air travel grew in the first half of the century, aircraft manufacturers built factories.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |year=2011 |title=BAC 100: 2010–1910s |url=http://www.bac2010.co.uk/1910s.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122215434/http://www.bac2010.co.uk/1910s.htm |archive-date=22 November 2015 |access-date=15 October 2015 |website=BAC 100 |publisher=BCP}}</ref> The unsuccessful [[Bristol International Exhibition]] was held on Ashton Meadows in the [[Bower Ashton]] area in 1914.<ref>{{Cite news |date=9 July 2013 |title=International exhibition became known as a city |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/International-exhibition-known-city/story-19493585-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=5 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140201192130/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/International-exhibition-known-city/story-19493585-detail/story.html |archive-date=1 February 2014}}</ref> After the premature closure of the exhibition the site was used, until 1919, as [[barracks]] for the [[Gloucestershire Regiment]] during [[World War I]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ashton Gate Drill Hall |url=http://www.drillhalls.org/Counties/Gloucestershire/TownBristolSupplementary1.htm |access-date=5 April 2016 |publisher=The Drill Hall Project}}</ref>{{sfn|Burlton|2014|pp=60–90}}
[[File:St Mary le Port Church, Bristol, BRO Picbox-3-Blitz-4a, 1250x1250.jpg|thumb|left|St Mary le Port Church, destroyed on 24 November 1940]]

[[Bristol Blitz|Bristol was heavily damaged by Luftwaffe raids]] during [[World War II]]; about 1,300 people living or working in the city were killed and nearly 100,000 buildings were damaged, at least 3,000 beyond repair.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Lambert |first=Tim |title=A brief history of Bristol |url=http://www.localhistories.org/bristol.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615130426/http://www.localhistories.org/bristol.html |archive-date=15 June 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Local Histories}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Penny |first=John |title=The Luftwaffe over Bristol |url=http://fishponds.org.uk/luftbrim.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511144048/http://fishponds.org.uk/luftbrim.html |archive-date=11 May 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Fishponds Local History Society}}</ref> The original central shopping area, near the bridge and castle, [[Castle Park, Bristol|is now a park]] containing two bombed churches and fragments of the castle. A third bomb-damaged church nearby, [[St Nicholas Church, Bristol|St Nicholas]] was restored and after a period as a museum has now re-opened as a church.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-42788072 |title=St Nicholas Church closed since World War Two to reopen |work=BBC News |date=25 January 2018 |access-date=25 January 2018}}</ref> It houses a 1756 [[William Hogarth]] [[triptych]] painted for the high altar of [[St Mary Redcliffe]]. The church also has statues of [[King Edward I]] (moved from [[Arno's Court Triumphal Arch]]) and [[King Edward III]] (taken from Lawfords' Gate in the city walls when they were demolished about 1760), and 13th-century statues of [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester]] (builder of [[Bristol Castle]])<ref>{{Cite book |last=Venning |first=Timothy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=PjMRBQAAQBAJ&q=Robert+Bristol+Castle&pg=PT24 |title=Normans and Early Plantagenets |date=2014 |publisher=Pen and Sword |isbn=978-1-4738-3457-6}}</ref> and [[Geoffrey de Montbray]] (who built the city's walls) from Bristol's [[Newgate, Bristol|Newgate]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Four figures on Arno's Gateway |url=http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/BL/BR137.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716182625/http://pmsa.cch.kcl.ac.uk/BL/BR137.htm |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=19 March 2007 |website=National Recording Project |publisher=Public Monument and Sculpture Association}}</ref>
[[File:Ambrose Rd, Bristol.jpg|thumb|Ambrose Road, in the Cliftonwood neighbourhood]]

The rebuilding of [[Bristol city centre]] was characterised by 1960s and 1970s [[skyscraper]]s, [[mid-century modern]] architecture and [[20th Century Road Schemes in Bristol|road building]]. Beginning in the 1980s some [[20th Century Road Schemes in Bristol#Queen Square, Redcliffe Way and The Centre|main roads were closed]], the [[Georgian era|Georgian-era]] [[Queen Square, Bristol|Queen Square]] and [[Portland Square, Bristol|Portland Square]] were restored, the [[Broadmead]] shopping area regenerated, and one of the city centre's tallest mid-century towers was demolished.<ref>{{Cite news |date=13 January 2006 |title=Demolition of city tower begins |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4608986.stm |url-status=live |access-date=10 March 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309120823/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4608986.stm |archive-date=9 March 2008}}</ref> Bristol's road infrastructure changed dramatically during the 1960s and 1970s with the development of the [[M4 motorway|M4]] and [[M5 motorway]]s, which meet at the [[Almondsbury Interchange]] just north of the city and link Bristol with London (M4 eastbound), [[Swansea]] (M4 westbound across the [[Severn Estuary]]), [[Exeter]] (M5 southbound) and [[Birmingham]] (M5 northbound).{{citation needed|date=September 2025}} Bristol was bombed twice by the [[Provisional IRA|IRA]], in [[1974 Bristol bombing|1974]] and again in [[List of terrorist incidents in Great Britain#1970s|1978]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2014 |title='Irish Car Bomb' drink ad censored |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-26543952}}</ref>

The 20th-century relocation of the docks to [[Avonmouth Docks]] and [[Royal Portbury Dock]], {{cvt|7|mi|km|0}} downstream from the city centre, has allowed the redevelopment of the old dock area (the Floating Harbour).<ref>{{Cite news |last=Norwood |first=Graham |date=30 October 2007 |title=Bristol: seemingly unstoppable growth |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/oct/30/property |url-status=live |access-date=18 December 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131219164257/http://www.theguardian.com/money/2007/oct/30/property |archive-date=19 December 2013}}</ref> Although the docks' existence was once in jeopardy (since the area was seen as a derelict industrial site), the inaugural 1996 [[International Festival of the Sea, 1996|International Festival of the Sea]] held in and around the docks affirmed the area as a leisure asset of the city.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Atkinson |first1=David |last2=Laurier |first2=David |date=May 1998 |title=A sanitised city? Social exclusion at Bristol's 1996 international festival of the sea |journal=Geoforum |volume=29 |issue=2 |pages=199–206 |doi=10.1016/S0016-7185(98)00007-4}}</ref>

=== 21st century ===
[[File:bristol_Waterfront.jpg|thumb|upright=1.3|alt=Bristol from Princes Wharf|A view across Bristol from Princes Wharf]]
{{main|Statue of Edward Colston}}
On 7 June 2020 a [[Statue of Edward Colston]] was pulled down from its city centre plinth by protestors and pushed into the harbour.<ref>BBC News, [https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/live/uk-england-bristol-52943550 Moment that Colston statue ended in harbour dominates national front pages], accessed 8 June 2020</ref> The statue was recovered on 11 June and has become a museum exhibit.<ref>{{Cite news |date=11 June 2020 |title=Torn down Colston statue pulled out of harbour |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-53004748 |access-date=22 June 2020}}</ref> The action followed more than a decade of debate over the statue and the wording of its plaque, which commemorated Colston's philanthropic work in the city while making no reference to his role in the [[Royal African Company]] and the [[Bristol Slave Trade]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Tristan Cork |date=25 March 2019 |title=Second Colston statue plaque not axed and will still happen but mayor steps in to order a re-write |work=Bristol Live |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/second-colston-statue-plaque-not-2682813}}</ref>

== Government ==
{{Main|Politics of Bristol}}
[[File:Bristol Council House - geograph.org.uk - 197619.jpg|thumb|upright|alt=A large brick building, built in a shallow curve, with a central porch. In front of that a pool and a water fountain. |[[City Hall, Bristol|City Hall]], the seat of local government]]
[[File:Arms of Bristol City Council.svg|thumb|[[Coat of arms of Bristol|Coat of arms of the City Council]]|alt= Acoat of arms, with a shield showing a sailing ship and a castle with maned lions on either side, surmounted by the helmet from a suit of arms and two hands holding a snake and scales of justice. The motto at the bottom is "Virtute et Industria"]]

Bristol City council consists of 70 councillors representing 34 wards, with between one and three per ward serving four-year terms.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Political makeup of the council |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/voting-and-elections/local-councillor-election-2024 |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=Voting and elections|publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> {{As of|2024|5}}, no party has an overall controlling majority, but the [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]] are the largest group on the council.

{| class="wikitable"
|+ Political makeup of the council<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local councillors election 2024
 |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/council-and-mayor/councillors-and-the-lord-mayor/political-makeup-of-the-council |access-date=5 May 2024 |website=Council |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>
|-
! Party || Councillors
|-
| [[Green Party of England and Wales|Green Party]]
|style=text-align:right| 34
|-
| [[Labour Party (UK)|Labour Party]]
| style=text-align:right | 21
|-
| [[Liberal Democrats (UK)|Liberal Democrats]]
| style=text-align:right | 8
|-
| [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]]
| style=text-align:right | 7
|}

Between 2012 and 2024, the council was led by a directly elected mayor, the [[Mayor of Bristol]]. The post was abolished following a 2022 referendum, in which voters chose to replace it with a council committee system.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=16 November 2012 |title=Bristol mayoral election won by independent George Ferguson |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/nov/16/bristol-mayoral-election-independent-red-trousers |url-status=live |access-date=5 May 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505141901/http://www.theguardian.com/uk/2012/nov/16/bristol-mayoral-election-independent-red-trousers |archive-date=5 May 2014}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=6 May 2022 |title=Bristol mayor vote: City decides to abolish mayor post |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-61336049 |access-date=6 May 2022}}</ref>

The [[List of mayors of Bristol|lord mayor of Bristol]] is a figurehead elected each May by the city council. The lord mayor (2025) is Henry Michallat.<ref>{{cite web |title=Henry Michallat becomes one of Bristol's youngest ever lord mayors |url=https://www.bristol247.com/news-and-features/news/henry-michallat-becomes-one-bristol-youngest-ever-lord-mayors/ |publisher=Bristol 24/7 |access-date=15 May 2025}}</ref>

In the [[House of Commons of the United Kingdom|House of Commons]], Bristol is represented by five constituencies, [[Bristol East (UK Parliament constituency)|East]], [[Bristol North East (UK Parliament constituency)|North East]], [[Bristol North West (UK Parliament constituency)|North West]], [[Bristol South (UK Parliament constituency)|South]], and [[Bristol Central (UK Parliament constituency)|Central]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 July 2024 |title=Constituencies – MPs and Lords – UK Parliament |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituencies?SearchText=bristol |access-date=11 July 2024 |website=parliament.uk}}</ref>

The city has a tradition of political activism. [[Edmund Burke]], MP for the [[Bristol (UK Parliament constituency)|Bristol constituency]] for six years beginning in 1774, insisted that he was a Member of Parliament first and a representative of his constituents' interests second.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Edmund Burke, Speech to the Electors of Bristol |url=http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch13s7.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140708002901/http://press-pubs.uchicago.edu/founders/documents/v1ch13s7.html |archive-date=8 July 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |publisher=University of Chicago}}</ref><ref>{{Cite magazine |last=Wills |first=Garry |date=14 July 2011 |title=Edmund Burke Against Grover Norquist |url=http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2011/jul/14/edmund-burke-vs-grover-norquist/ |magazine=The New York Review of Books |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505182217/http://www.nybooks.com/blogs/nyrblog/2011/jul/14/edmund-burke-vs-grover-norquist/ |archive-date=5 May 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |url-status=live}}</ref> Women's-rights advocate [[Emmeline Pethick-Lawrence]] (1867–1954) was born in Bristol,<ref>{{Cite ODNB |last=Harrison |first=Brian H. |year=2004 |title=Lawrence, Emmeline Pethick-, Lady Pethick-Lawrence (1867–1954), suffragette |url=http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/37846 |url-status=live |volume=1 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/37846 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505144340/http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref%3Aodnb/37846 |archive-date=5 May 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014}}</ref> and the [[left-wing politics|left-winger]] [[Tony Benn]] served as MP for [[Bristol South East]] from 1950 to 1960 and again from 1963 to 1983.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mr Tony Benn |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/people/mr-tony-benn/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140706060314/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/people/mr-tony-benn/ |archive-date=6 July 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> In 1963 the [[Bristol Bus Boycott]], following the [[Bristol Omnibus Company]]'s refusal to hire black drivers and conductors, drove the passage of the UK's 1965 [[Race Relations Act 1965|Race Relations Act]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Alan Rusbridger |author-link=Alan Rusbridger |date=10 November 2005 |title=In praise of ... the Race Relations Acts |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/10/race.immigrationpolicy |url-status=live |access-date=12 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829194836/http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2005/nov/10/race.immigrationpolicy |archive-date=29 August 2013}}</ref> The [[1980 St Pauls riot]] protested against racism and police harassment and showed mounting dissatisfaction with the socioeconomic circumstances of the city's Afro-Caribbean residents. Local support of [[fair trade]] was recognised in 2005, when Bristol became a [[fairtrade zone]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Steven |date=4 March 2005 |title=From slave trade to fair trade, Bristol's new image |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/mar/04/fairtrade.ethicalliving |url-status=live |access-date=14 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130829022902/http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2005/mar/04/fairtrade.ethicalliving |archive-date=29 August 2013}}</ref>

Bristol is both a city and a county, since [[King Edward III]] granted it a county charter in 1373.{{sfn|Liddy|2005|p=13}} The county was expanded in 1835 to include suburbs such as [[Clifton, Bristol|Clifton]], and it was named a [[county borough]] in 1889 when that designation was introduced.{{sfn|Rayfield|1985|pp=17–23}}
[[File:Bristol-St Mary Redcliffe-Docks.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=A tall church spire over a quayside with wooden sheds and boats covered with tarpaulins. In front of these on the water a twin masted sailing boat and a narrowboat|[[St Mary Redcliffe]] church and the [[Floating Harbour]], Bristol]]

=== Former county of Avon ===
{{main|Avon (county)}}

On 1 April 1974, Bristol became a local government district of the administrative county of [[Avon (county)|Avon]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Local Government Bill   |url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1971/nov/16/local-government-bill#S5CV0826P0_19711116_HOC_316 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511175650/http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1971/nov/16/local-government-bill |archive-date=11 May 2011 |access-date=7 March 2009 |date=16 November 1971 |work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]}}</ref> On 1 April 1996, Avon was abolished and Bristol became a [[unitary authority]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Avon (Structural Change) Order 1995 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/493/contents/made |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121113203448/http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/1995/493/contents/made |archive-date=13 November 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=www.opsi.gov.uk}}</ref>

The former Avon area, called [[Greater Bristol]] by the Government Office of the South West (now abolished) and others,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Atkins |year=2005 |title=Greater Bristol Strategic Transport Study |url=http://www.southwesteip.co.uk/downloads/documents/sts.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120311210020/http://www.southwesteip.co.uk/downloads/documents/sts.pdf |archive-date=11 March 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=South West Regional Assembly}}</ref> refers to the city and the three neighbouring local authorities{{nsmdns}}[[Bath and North East Somerset]], [[North Somerset]] and [[South Gloucestershire]] previously in Avon.

The [[North Fringe of Bristol]], a developed area between the Bristol city boundary and the M4, M5 and M32 motorways (now in South Gloucestershire) was so named as part of a 1987 [[local plan|plan]] prepared by the [[Northavon]] District Council of Avon county.<ref>{{Cite news |date=24 July 1987 |title=Town and Country Planning Acts |work=London Gazette |url=http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/51007/pages/9483/page.pdf |access-date=29 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203001107/http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/51007/pages/9483/page.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

=== West of England Combined Authority ===
{{main|West of England Combined Authority}}

The [[West of England Combined Authority]] was created on 9 February 2017.<ref name="SI 2017 No 126">{{Cite web |date=8 February 2017 |title=The West of England Combined Authority Order 2017 |url=http://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2017/126/made |website=www.legislation.gov.uk}}</ref> Covering Bristol and the rest of the old Avon county with the exception of North Somerset, the new [[combined authority]] has responsibility for regional planning, roads, and local transport, and to a lesser extent, education and business investment. The authority is led by the [[Mayor of the West of England]], [[Helen Godwin]].

== Geography and environment ==

=== Boundaries ===
{{See also|Subdivisions of Bristol}}
[[File:Clifton.bridge.arp.750pix.jpg|alt=Suspension bridge between two brick built towers, over a wooded gorge, showing mud and water at the bottom. In the distance are hills.|thumb|right|[[Isambard Kingdom Brunel|Brunel]]'s [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]]]]
Bristol's boundaries can be defined in several ways, including those of the city itself, the developed area, or [[Greater Bristol]].

The [[Politics of Bristol|city council]] boundary is the narrowest definition of the city itself. However, it unusually includes a large, roughly rectangular section of the western [[Severn Estuary]] ending at (but not including) the islands of [[Flat Holm]] (in [[Cardiff]], Wales) and [[Steep Holm]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Area boundary for the Bristol unitary authority |url=https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/keystats/sqmap.aspx?kv=1312817302&type=-1&title=Bristol%3b+City+of+UA+ |access-date=1 January 2009 |website=NOMIS Labour market statistics |publisher=Office for National Statistics |archive-date=15 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210815011947/https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/keystats/sqmap.aspx?kv=1312817302&type=-1&title=Bristol;+City+of+UA+ |url-status=dead}}</ref> This "seaward extension" can be traced back to the original boundary of the County of Bristol laid out in the charter<ref>{{Cite web |title=Great charter of liberties including erection into a County |url=https://archives.bristol.gov.uk/records/CC/1/7 |access-date=2024-03-07 |website=Bristol Archives online catalogue |language=en-gb}}</ref> granted to the city by [[Edward III]] in 1373.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=December 1930 |editor-last=Harding |editor-first=N. Dermott |title=Bristol Charters 1155–1373 |url=http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs23.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/http://www.bris.ac.uk/Depts/History/bristolrecordsociety/publications/brs23.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live |journal=Bristol Record Society's Publications |publisher=Bristol Record Society |volume=1 |pages=149–165}}</ref>

The [[Office for National Statistics]] (ONS) has defined a [[Bristol Urban Area]], which includes developed areas adjoining Bristol but outside the city-council boundary, such as [[Kingswood, South Gloucestershire|Kingswood]], [[Mangotsfield]], [[Stoke Gifford]], [[Winterbourne, Gloucestershire|Winterbourne]], [[Almondsbury]], [[Easton in Gordano]], [[Whitchurch, Bristol|Whitchurch]] village, [[Filton]], [[Patchway]] and [[Bradley Stoke]], but excludes undeveloped areas within that boundary.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Pointer |first=Graham |year=2005 |title=The UK's major urban areas |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_fopm_urbanareas.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628203215/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2011 |access-date=21 June 2011 |website=Focus on People and Migration |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref>
[[File:Avon gorge and cave arp.jpg|alt=Rocky side to a gorge with a platform in front of a cave halfway up. To the right are a road and river. In the distance are a suspension bridge and buildings.|thumb|right|Avon Gorge and [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]], looking towards the city of Bristol]]

=== Geography ===
Bristol lies within a [[limestone]] area running from the [[Mendip Hills]] in the south to the [[Cotswolds]] in the northeast.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Cotswolds AONB |url=http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=Map |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510091538/http://www.cotswoldsaonb.org.uk/?page=Map |archive-date=10 May 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Cotswold AONB}}</ref> The rivers Avon and Frome cut through the limestone to the underlying clay, creating Bristol's characteristically hilly landscape. The Avon flows from Bath in the east, through [[flood plains]] and areas which were marshes before the city's growth. To the west the Avon cuts through the limestone to form the Avon Gorge, formed largely by glacial meltwater after the [[Quaternary glaciation|last ice age]].<ref name="10.1144/GSL">{{Cite journal |last=Hawkins |first=Alfred Brian |year=1973 |title=The geology and slopes of the Bristol region |journal=Quarterly Journal of Engineering Geology and Hydrogeology |volume=6 |issue=3–4 |pages=185–205 |doi=10.1144/GSL.QJEG.1973.006.03.02 |bibcode=1973QJEGH...6..185D |s2cid=129044127}}</ref>

The gorge, which helped protect Bristol Harbour, has been quarried for stone to build the city, and its surrounding land has been protected from development as [[The Downs, Bristol|The Downs]] and Leigh Woods. The Avon [[estuary]] and the gorge form the county boundary with [[North Somerset]], and the river flows into the [[Severn Estuary]] at [[Avonmouth]]. A smaller gorge, cut by the [[Hazel Brook]] which flows into the [[River Trym]], crosses the [[Blaise Castle]] estate in northern Bristol.<ref name="10.1144/GSL" />

Bristol is sometimes described, by its inhabitants, as being built on seven hills, like Rome. From 18th-century guidebooks, these 7 hills were known as simply Bristol (the Old Town), Castle Hill, College Green, Kingsdown, St Michaels Hill, [[Brandon Hill, Bristol|Brandon Hill]] and Redcliffe Hill.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Taylor |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/abookaboutbrist00taylgoog |title=A Book about Bristol: Historical, Ecclesiastical, and Biographical, from Original Research |date=1872 |publisher=Houlston and Sons |page=[https://archive.org/details/abookaboutbrist00taylgoog/page/n18 10]}}</ref> Other local hills include Red Lion Hill, [[Barton Hill, Bristol|Barton Hill]], [[Lawrence Hill, Bristol|Lawrence Hill]], Black Boy Hill, Constitution Hill, [[Staple Hill, Gloucestershire|Staple Hill]], [[Windmill Hill, Bristol|Windmill Hill]], Malborough Hill, Nine Tree Hill, Talbot, Brook Hill and Granby Hill.

Bristol is {{cvt|106|mi|km}} west of London, {{cvt|77|mi|km}} south-southwest of [[Birmingham]] and {{cvt|26|mi|km}} east of the Welsh capital [[Cardiff]]. Areas adjoining the city fall within a loosely defined area known as [[Greater Bristol]]. [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]] is located {{cvt|11|mi}} south east of the city centre, [[Weston-super-Mare]] is {{cvt|18|mi}} to the south west and the Welsh city of [[Newport, Wales|Newport]] is {{cvt|19|mi}} to the north west.

=== Climate ===
The climate is [[Oceanic climate|oceanic]] ([[Köppen climate classification|Köppen]]: ''Cfb)'', milder than most places in England and United Kingdom.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol climate and weather |url=http://www.wordtravels.com/Cities/England/Bristol/Climate |access-date=13 November 2018 |website=www.wordtravels.com}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol, England Köppen Climate Classification (Weatherbase) |url=https://www.weatherbase.com/weather/weather-summary.php3?s=62730&cityname=Bristol,+England,+United+Kingdom |access-date=13 November 2018 |website=Weatherbase}}</ref> Located in southern England, Bristol is one of the warmest cities in the UK with a mean annual temperature of approximately {{cvt|11|C|F}}.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2025 |title=Average annual temperature |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcnjj7h5w |access-date=31 July 2025 |publisher=Meteorological Office}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=South West England: climate |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/binaries/content/assets/metofficegovuk/pdf/weather/learn-about/weather/regional-climates/south-west-england_-climate-met-office.pdf |access-date=31 July 2025 |publisher=Metereological Office}}</ref> It is among the sunniest, with more than 1,600{{nbsp}}hours of sunshine per year.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2025 |title=Average annual sunshine |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/location-specific-long-term-averages/gcnjj7h5w |access-date=31 July 2025|publisher=Meteorological Office}}</ref> Although the city is partially sheltered by the Mendip Hills, it is exposed to the Severn Estuary and the [[Bristol Channel]]. Rain is fairly evenly distributed throughout the year, with autumn and winter the wetter seasons. The Atlantic Ocean influences Bristol's weather, keeping its average temperature above freezing throughout the year, but winter frosts are frequent and snow occasionally falls from early November to late April. Summers are warm and drier, with variable sunshine, rain and clouds, and spring weather is unsettled.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2000 |title=Average annual rainfall |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130719222449/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/averages/19712000/rr/17.gif |archive-date=19 July 2013 |access-date=12 May 2007 |publisher=Meteorological Office}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Meteorological Library and Archive Fact sheet 7&nbsp;— Climate of South West England |url=http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/c/n/MetLIB_13_013_FactSheet_7_Final.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524004028/http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/media/pdf/c/n/MetLIB_13_013_FactSheet_7_Final.pdf |archive-date=24 May 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014 |publisher=Meteorological Office}}</ref>

The weather stations nearest Bristol for which long-term climate data are available are Long Ashton (about {{cvt|5|mi|0}} south west of the city centre) and Bristol Weather Station, in the city centre. Data collection at these locations ended in 2002 and 2001, respectively, and following the closure of Filton Airfield, Almondsbury is the nearest weather station to the city.<ref name="MO stations 2024">{{cite web |title=Synoptic and climate stations |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-synoptic-and-climate-stations |website=Met Office |access-date=14 July 2024}}</ref> Temperatures at Long Ashton from 1959 to 2002 ranged from {{cvt|33.5|C|F}} in July 1976<ref>{{Cite web |title=1976 temperature |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=1976&indexid=TXx&stationid=1638 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828083806/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=13&year=1976&indexid=TXx&stationid=1638 |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute}}</ref> to {{cvt|-14.4|C|F}} in January 1982.<ref>{{Cite web |title=1982 temperature |url=http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=1638 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828083918/http://eca.knmi.nl/utils/monitordetail.php?seasonid=7&year=1982&indexid=TNn&stationid=1638 |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute}}</ref> Monthly high temperatures since 2002 at Filton exceeding those recorded at Long Ashton include {{cvt|25.7|C|F}} in April 2003,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filton April temperature |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/04-2003/36280.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828023137/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/04-2003/36280.htm |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=TuTiempo}}</ref> {{cvt|34.5|C|F}} in July 2006<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filton July temperature |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/07-2006/36280.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828024839/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/07-2006/36280.htm |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=TuTiempo}}</ref> and {{cvt|26.8|C|F}} in October 2011.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filton Oct temperature |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/10-2011/36280.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828023318/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/10-2011/36280.htm |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=TuTiempo}}</ref> The lowest recent temperature at Filton was {{cvt|-10.1|C|F}} in December 2010.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Filton December temperature |url=http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/12-2010/36280.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130828030827/http://www.tutiempo.net/en/Climate/FILTON/12-2010/36280.htm |archive-date=28 August 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=TuTiempo}}</ref> Although large cities in general experience an [[urban heat island]] effect, with warmer temperatures than their surrounding rural areas, this phenomenon is minimal in Bristol.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Hughes |first=Karen |date=2006 |title=The impact of urban areas on climate in the UK: a spatial and temporal analysis, with an emphasis on temperature and precipitation effects |journal=Earth and Environment |volume=2 |pages=54–83}}</ref>
{{Weather box
|location = [[Filton]],{{efn|Weather station is located {{cvt|5|mi|0|abbr=out}} from the Bristol city centre.}} elevation: {{cvt|48|m|ft|0}}, 1991–2020 normals, extremes 1958–present{{efn|From 1958 to 2002, extremes were recorded at Long Ashton. Since 2002, extremes were recorded at Filton.}}
| metric first = y
| single line = y
| Jan record high C = 14.2
| Feb record high C = 18.3
| Mar record high C = 21.7
| Apr record high C = 25.7
| May record high C = 27.4
| Jun record high C = 32.5
| Jul record high C = 34.5
| Aug record high C = 33.3
| Sep record high C = 28.3
| Oct record high C = 26.8
| Nov record high C = 17.5
| Dec record high C = 15.8
| Jan high C = 8.1
| Feb high C = 8.5
| Mar high C = 10.8
| Apr high C = 13.8
| May high C = 17.0
| Jun high C = 19.8
| Jul high C = 21.7
| Aug high C = 21.3
| Sep high C = 18.8
| Oct high C = 14.8
| Nov high C = 11.0
| Dec high C = 8.4
| year high C = 14.5
| Jan mean C = 5.3
| Feb mean C = 5.5
| Mar mean C = 7.3
| Apr mean C = 9.7
| May mean C = 12.7
| Jun mean C = 15.6
| Jul mean C = 17.6
| Aug mean C = 17.2
| Sep mean C = 14.9
| Oct mean C = 11.6
| Nov mean C = 8.0
| Dec mean C = 5.6
| year mean C = 10.9
| Jan low C = 2.4
| Feb low C = 2.4
| Mar low C = 3.7
| Apr low C = 5.5
| May low C = 8.4
| Jun low C = 11.4
| Jul low C = 13.4
| Aug low C = 13.2
| Sep low C = 11.0
| Oct low C = 8.3
| Nov low C = 5.1
| Dec low C = 2.8
| year low C = 7.3
| Jan record low C = -14.4
| Feb record low C = -9.7
| Mar record low C = -8.3
| Apr record low C = -4.7
| May record low C = -2.0
| Jun record low C = 0.6
| Jul record low C = 4.7
| Aug record low C = 3.9
| Sep record low C = 0.6
| Oct record low C = -3.2
| Nov record low C = -6.5
| Dec record low C = -11.9
| precipitation colour = green
| Jan precipitation mm = 82.9
| Feb precipitation mm = 57.9
| Mar precipitation mm = 53.3
| Apr precipitation mm = 47.9
| May precipitation mm = 57.8
| Jun precipitation mm = 56.3
| Jul precipitation mm = 58.7
| Aug precipitation mm = 75.1
| Sep precipitation mm = 64.3
| Oct precipitation mm = 85.5
| Nov precipitation mm = 90.0
| Dec precipitation mm = 89.9
| year precipitation mm = 819.0
| unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 13.1
| Feb precipitation days = 10.4
| Mar precipitation days = 10.4
| Apr precipitation days = 9.9
| May precipitation days = 10.3
| Jun precipitation days = 9.7
| Jul precipitation days = 9.8
| Aug precipitation days = 11.0
| Sep precipitation days = 10.4
| Oct precipitation days = 12.8
| Nov precipitation days = 14.6
| Dec precipitation days = 13.5
| year precipitation days = 135.8
| Jan sun = 61.2
| Feb sun = 78.0
| Mar sun = 122.6
| Apr sun = 174.1
| May sun = 206.7
| Jun sun = 219.2
| Jul sun = 220.5
| Aug sun = 189.6
| Sep sun = 153.4
| Oct sun = 107.8
| Nov sun = 68.4
| Dec sun = 56.9
| year sun = 1658.3
| source 1 = [[Met Office]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.metoffice.gov.uk/research/climate/maps-and-data/uk-climate-averages/gcnjj7h5w |title=Filton 1991–2020 averages |access-date=2 May 2022}}</ref>
| source 2 = [[Royal Netherlands Meteorological Institute|KNMI]]<ref>{{cite web |url=https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php |title=Indices Data – Long Ashton Station 1638 |access-date =5 February 2019 |publisher=[[KNMI (institute)|KNMI]] |archive-date =9 July 2018 |archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20180709010608/https://eca.knmi.nl//download/millennium/millennium.php |url-status =dead}}</ref>
}}
{{notelist
}}

=== Environment ===
{{main|Environment in Bristol}}
Bristol was ranked as Britain's most sustainable city (based on its environmental performance, quality of life, [[future-proofing]] and approaches to climate change, recycling and biodiversity), topping environmental charity [[Forum for the Future]]'s 2008 [[Sustainable city|Sustainable Cities]] Index.<ref>{{Cite web |date=9 November 2008 |title=Bristol is Britain's greenest city |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Britain-s-greenest-city/story-11233026-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011951/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-Britain-s-greenest-city/story-11233026-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |website=Evening Post |publisher=Bristol News and Media}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=25 November 2008 |title=Sustainable Cities Index 2008 |url=http://www.forumforthefuture.org/sustainable-cities08 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090418005928/http://www.forumforthefuture.org/sustainable-cities08 <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=18 April 2009 |access-date=5 July 2009 |publisher=Forum for the Future}}</ref> Local initiatives include [[Sustrans]] (creators of the [[National Cycle Network]], founded as Cyclebag in 1977){{sfn|Cotton|Grimshaw|2002}} and Resourcesaver, a non-profit business established in 1988 by Avon Friends of the Earth.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Resourcesaver: Home Page |url=http://beehive.thisisbristol.com/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=4624 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719211447/http://beehive.thisisbristol.com/default.asp?WCI=SiteHome&ID=4624 |archive-date=19 July 2011 |access-date=5 July 2009 |website=Beehive |publisher=Bristol News and Media}}</ref> The city regularly features in the annual ''[[Sunday Times]]'' lists of best places in Britain in which to live, topping the list of cities in 2014 and 2017.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Goss |first=Alexandra |date=23 March 2014 |title=Best places to live in Britain |work=The Sunday Times |publisher=SundayTimes |url=http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/homes_and_gardens/best_places/article1390298.ece |url-status=dead |access-date=18 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117024337/http://www.thesundaytimes.co.uk/sto/style/homes_and_gardens/best_places/article1390298.ece |archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Kendall |first1=Ellie |title=Bristol snubbed in Sunday Times' list of best places to live |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bristol-snubbed-sunday-times-list-9164293 |work=Bristol Live |date=15 March 2024 |language=en}}</ref> The city received the 2015 [[European Green Capital Award]], becoming the first UK city to receive this award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2015-Bristol |url=http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2015-bristol/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140630013758/http://ec.europa.eu/environment/europeangreencapital/winning-cities/2015-bristol/index.html |archive-date=30 June 2014 |access-date=22 April 2014 |publisher=European Commission}}</ref>

In 2019 Bristol City Council voted in favour of banning all privately owned [[diesel engine|diesel cars]] from the city centre.<ref name="bbc._Bris">{{Cite web |date=5 November 2019 |title=Bristol approves clean air diesel ban |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-50292596 |access-date=18 January 2020 |website=BBC News}}</ref> Since then, the plans have been revised in favour of a [[clean air zone]] whereby older and more polluting vehicles will be charged to drive through the city centre. The Clean Air Zone came into effect in November 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Clean Air Zone launches |url=https://news.bristol.gov.uk/press-releases/05311d93-f25a-4a80-b6db-7f09728e6453/bristol-clean-air-zone-launches |access-date=2023-03-06 |website=Bristol City Council}}</ref>

=== Green belt ===
{{main|Avon Green Belt}}
The city has green belt mainly along its southern fringes, taking in small areas within the [[Ashton Court|Ashton Court Estate]], South Bristol crematorium and cemetery, High Ridge common and Whitchurch, with a further area around Frenchay Farm. The belt extends outside the city boundaries into surrounding counties and districts, for several miles in places, to afford a protection from [[urban sprawl]] to surrounding villages and towns.

== Demography{{anchor|Historical population records}} ==
{{Main|Demographics of Bristol}}

{| class="wikitable" style="float:right; text-align:center;"
|+ Bristol population data
|-
! scope="col" |Year !! scope="col" |Population !! scope="col" |Year !! scope="col" |Population
|-
| scope="row"| 1377 || 9,518{{sfn|Russell|1948|pp=142–143}} || 1901 || 323,698<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1607 || 10,549{{sfn|Latimer|1900|p=34}} || 1911 || 352,178<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1700 || 20,000<ref name=visiontime/> || 1921 || 367,831<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1801 || 68,944<ref name=visiontime/> || 1931 || 384,204<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1811 || 83,922<ref name=visiontime/> || 1941 || 402,839<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1821 || 99,151<ref name=visiontime/> || 1951 || 422,399<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1831 || 120,789<ref name=visiontime/> || 1961 || 425,214<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1841 || 144,803<ref name=visiontime/> || 1971|| 428,089<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1851 || 159,945<ref name=visiontime/> || 1981 || 384,883<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1861 || 194,229<ref name=visiontime/> || 1991 || 396,559<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1871 || 228,513<ref name=visiontime/> || 2001 || 380,615<ref name=visiontime/>
|-
| scope="row"| 1881 || 262,797<ref name=visiontime/> || 2012 || 432,500<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mid-2012 Population Estimates |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/council_and_democracy/statistics_and_census_information/Briefing%20Note%20-%202012%20Population%20Estimates.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/6QZ0NjLEd?url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/documents/council_and_democracy/statistics_and_census_information/Briefing%20Note%20-%202012%20Population%20Estimates.pdf |archive-date=24 June 2014 |access-date=17 June 2014 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>
|-
| scope="row"| 1891 || 297,525<ref name=visiontime/> || 2017 || 459,300<ref name="bristol1">{{Cite web |date=1 July 2018 |title=The population of Bristol |url=https://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/33904/Population+of+Bristol+June+2018/53020277-05de-a153-2052-aa080338bb57 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180724213709/https://www.bristol.gov.uk/documents/20182/33904/Population+of+Bristol+June+2018/53020277-05de-a153-2052-aa080338bb57 |archive-date=24 July 2018 |access-date=24 July 2018 |publisher=bristol.gov.uk}}</ref>
|}

According to the [[2021 United Kingdom census|2021 census]], 81.1% of the population was [[White people|White]] (71.6% [[White British]], 0.9% [[Irish migration to Great Britain|White Irish]], 0.1% [[Gypsy (term)|Gypsy]] or [[Irish Travellers]] and 8.3% [[Other White]]); 4.5% [[Mixed (United Kingdom ethnicity category)|mixed-race]] (1.6% white-and-black Caribbean, 0.6% white-and-black African, 1.2% white and Asian and 1.1% other mixed); 6.7% [[British Asian|Asian]] (1.8% [[British Pakistanis|Pakistani]], 1.9% [[British Indian|Indian]], 1.2% [[British Chinese|Chinese]], 0.6% [[British Bangladeshi|Bangladeshi]], and 1.2% other Asian); 5.8% [[Black British|Black]] (3.8% African, 1.4% [[British African-Caribbean people|Caribbean]], 0.6% [[Other Black]]), 0.5% [[British Arabs|Arab]] and 0.4% with other heritage. These statistics apply to the Bristol Unitary Authority area, excluding areas of the urban area (2006 estimated population 587,400) in South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset (BANES) and North Somerset—such as Kingswood, Mangotsfield, Filton and Warmley.<ref name="visiontime">{{Cite web |title=Bristol England through time&nbsp;– Population Statistics&nbsp;– Total Population |url=http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_POP_CHANGE&u_id=10056676&c_id=10001043&add=N |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110510100834/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/data_cube_page.jsp?data_theme=T_POP&data_cube=N_POP_CHANGE&u_id=10056676&c_id=10001043&add=N |archive-date=10 May 2011 |access-date=21 June 2009 |website=Great Britain Historical GIS Project |publisher=University of Portsmouth}}</ref> 56.2% of the 209,995 Bristol residents who are employed commute to work using either a car, van, motorbike or taxi, 2.2% commute by rail and 9.8% by bus, while 19.6% walk.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Method of Travel to Work |url=http://www.ukcensusdata.com/bristol-city-of-e06000023/method-of-travel-to-work-qs701ew#sthash.vBysz4j3.dpbs |access-date=9 April 2017 |website=UK Census Data |publisher=UKCensusdata.com#sthash.umJUM2up.dpuf |archive-date=12 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210512172923/https://www.ukcensusdata.com/bristol-city-of-e06000023/method-of-travel-to-work-qs701ew#sthash.vBysz4j3.dpbs |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The Runnymede Trust found in 2017 that Bristol "ranked 7th out of the 348 districts of England & Wales (1=worst) on the Index of Multiple Inequality."<ref name="auto">{{Cite web |last=Runnymede Trust |title=Bristol: a city divided? |url=https://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/CoDE%20Briefing%20Bristol%20v2.pdf |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20221009/https://www.runnymedetrust.org/uploads/CoDE%20Briefing%20Bristol%20v2.pdf |archive-date=2022-10-09 |url-status=live}}</ref> In terms of employment, the report found that "ethnic minorities are disadvantaged compared to white British people nationally, but this is to a greater extent in Bristol, particularly for black groups." Black people in Bristol experience the 3rd highest level of educational inequality in England and Wales.<ref name="auto"/>

=== Religion ===
{{Pie chart|label1=No religion|label2=Christianity|label3=Islam|label4=Hinduism|label5=Buddhism|label6=Sikhism|label7=Judaism|label8=Other religion|label9=Not stated|value1=51.4|value2=32.2|value3=6.7|value4=0.8|value5=0.6|value6=0.5|value7=0.3|value8=0.8|value9=6.9|color1=DarkOrange|color2=Red|color3=Green|color4=Yellow|color5=Blue|color6=DarkKhaki|color7=Purple|color8=White|color9=Grey|caption=Religion in Bristol (2021)<ref name="censusareachanges">{{cite web | url=https://www.ons.gov.uk/visualisations/censusareachanges/E06000023/ |date=19 January 2023 |website=Office for National Statistics | title=How life has changed in Bristol: Census 2021 }}</ref>}}
In the 2011 United Kingdom census, 46.8% of Bristol's population identified as [[Christian]] and 37.4% said they were not religious; the English averages were 59.4% and 24.7%, respectively. [[Islam]] is observed by 5.1% of the population, [[Buddhism]] by 0.6%, [[Hinduism]] by 0.6%, [[Sikhism]] by 0.5%, [[Judaism]] by 0.2% and other religions by 0.7%; 8.1% did not identify with a religion.<ref>{{Cite web |title=2011 Census: Religion, local authorities in England and Wales |url=http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks209ew.xls |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130126035854/http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/census/2011-census/key-statistics-for-local-authorities-in-england-and-wales/rft-table-ks209ew.xls |archive-date=26 January 2013 |access-date=12 December 2012 |website=United Kingdom Census 2011 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref>

Among the notable [[List of churches in Bristol|Christian churches]] are the [[Anglican]] [[Bristol Cathedral]] and [[St Mary Redcliffe]] and the Roman Catholic [[Clifton Cathedral]]. [[Nonconformist (Protestantism)|Nonconformist]] chapels include [[Buckingham Baptist Chapel]] and [[John Wesley's New Room]] in Broadmead.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New Room Bristol&nbsp;– John Wesley's Chapel in the Horsefair |url=http://www.newroombristol.org.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090309234414/http://www.newroombristol.org.uk/ |archive-date=9 March 2009 |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=The New Room Bristol}}</ref> After [[St James' Presbyterian Church of England, Bristol|St James' Presbyterian Church]] was [[The Blitz|bombed]] on 24 November 1940, it was never again used as a church;{{sfn|Duncan|Webb|1990|p=86}} although its [[bell tower]] remains, its [[nave]] was converted into offices.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Marchant |first=Neil |title=The Presbyterian Churches of Bristol |url=http://www.churchcrawler.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bristolchurches/presbyterian.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130925000023/http://www.churchcrawler.pwp.blueyonder.co.uk/bristolchurches/presbyterian.htm |archive-date=25 September 2013 |access-date=5 May 2014 |publisher=Church Crawler}}</ref> The city has eleven mosques,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mosques in Bristol |url=http://www.allmosquestogether.org/mosques/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130602192457/http://www.allmosquestogether.org/mosques/ |archive-date=2 June 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=All Mosques Together}}</ref> several Buddhist meditation centres,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Buddhist Forum |url=http://www.bristolbuddhistforum.org.uk/groups.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515143029/http://www.bristolbuddhistforum.org.uk/groups.htm |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=Bristol Buddhist Forum}}</ref> a [[Hindu temple]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Hindu Temple |url=http://www.culture24.org.uk/am67668 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928171418/http://www.culture24.org.uk/am67668 |archive-date=28 September 2015 |access-date=27 September 2015 |publisher=Culture 24}}</ref> [[Movement for Reform Judaism|Reform]] and Orthodox-Jewish synagogues<ref>{{Cite web |title=Synagogues in Bristol&nbsp;– Shuls in Bristol&nbsp;– Jewish Temples in Bristol |url=http://www.mavensearch.com/synagogues/C3382Y41287RX |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204172221/http://www.mavensearch.com/synagogues/C3382Y41287RX |archive-date=4 December 2008 |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=Maven Search}}</ref> and four [[Sikh temples]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sikhism |url=http://bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk/faiths/sikhism/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524023158/http://bristolmultifaithforum.org.uk/faiths/sikhism/ |archive-date=24 May 2014 |access-date=23 May 2014 |publisher=Bristol Multi Faith Forum}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ramgharia Sikh Temple (Gurwara) |url=http://www.englandspastforeveryone.org.uk/Counties/Bristol/Projects/EthnicMinorities/Items/Ramgharia_Sikh_Temple?Session/@id=D_dLx4XM484WWSGX1LR3yf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305153032/http://www.englandspastforeveryone.org.uk/Counties/Bristol/Projects/EthnicMinorities/Items/Ramgharia_Sikh_Temple?Session%2F%40id=D_dLx4XM484WWSGX1LR3yf |archive-date=5 March 2012 |access-date=23 August 2009 |website=England's Past for Everyone in Bristol |publisher=Victoria County History}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Gurdwara List: Avon |url=http://www.boss-uk.org/gurdwara#avon |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120105063346/http://www.boss-uk.org/gurdwara |archive-date=5 January 2012 |access-date=23 August 2009 |publisher=British Organisation of Sikh Students}}</ref>

=== Bristol conurbation ===
The population of [[Bristol Urban Area|Bristol's contiguous urban area]] was put at 551,066 by the ONS based on Census 2001 data.<ref name="ANameSoThatWeDontHaveToUseIbidForTheNextRef">{{Cite web |title=The UKs major urban areas |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110628203215/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/fom2005/03_FOPM_UrbanAreas.pdf |archive-date=28 June 2011 |access-date=12 May 2007 |website=Census 2001 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> In 2006 the ONS estimated Bristol's urban-area population at 587,400,<ref>{{Cite web |title=The Population of Bristol |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=29800002& |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100918070115/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/cms-service/stream/asset/?asset_id=29800002& |archive-date=18 September 2010 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Bristol City Council |page=5 |format=PDF}}</ref> making it England's sixth-most populous city and tenth-most populous urban area.<ref name="ANameSoThatWeDontHaveToUseIbidForTheNextRef" />
At {{cvt|3599|PD/km²|0}} it has the seventh-highest population density of any English district.<ref>{{Cite web |date=10 October 2006 |title=ONS 2005 Mid-Year Estimates |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=9395&More=Y |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070302063319/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/statbase/ssdataset.asp?vlnk=9395&More=Y |archive-date=2 March 2007 |access-date=12 May 2007 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref> According to data from 2019, the urban area has the 11th-largest population in the UK with a population of 670,000.<ref name="UrbanPopulation">{{cite web |url=http://www.citypopulation.de/UK-UA.html |title=United Kingdom: Urban Areas |website=Citypopulation.de |access-date = 22 November 2020}}</ref>

In 2007 the [[European Spatial Planning Observation Network]] (ESPON) defined Bristol's [[functional urban area]] as including Weston-super-Mare, Bath and Clevedon with a total population of 1.04&nbsp;million, the twelfth largest of the UK.<ref>[[European Spatial Planning Observation Network]], [http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf Study on Urban Functions (Project 1.4.3)] {{Webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150924002318/http://www.espon.eu/export/sites/default/Documents/Projects/ESPON2006Projects/StudiesScientificSupportProjects/UrbanFunctions/fr-1.4.3_April2007-final.pdf |date=24 September 2015 }}, Final Report, Chapter 3, (ESPON, 2007)</ref>
{{clear}}

== Economy ==
{{Main|Economy of Bristol}}
[[File:BristolTheNails.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=Two ornate metal pillars with large dishes on top in a paved street, with an eighteenth-century stone building behind, upon which can be seen the words "Tea Blenders Estabklishec 177-". People sitting at café-style tables outside. On the right are iron railings.|Two of the four Nails (bronze tables used for conducting business) in [[Corn Street]]]]

Bristol has a long history of trade, originally exporting wool cloth and importing fish, wine, grain and dairy products;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Henry Bush |date=1828 |title=Chapter 3: Murage, keyage and pavage |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/bristol-duties/pp84-112 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150512160253/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/bristol-duties/pp84-112 |archive-date=12 May 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |website=Bristol Town Duties: A collection of original and interesting documents [[etc.]] |publisher=Institute of Historical Research}}</ref> later imports were tobacco, tropical fruits and plantation goods. Major imports are motor vehicles, grain, timber, [[produce]] and petroleum products.<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK Port Freight Statistics |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9258/port-freight-statistics-full-summary-2011.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131224165438/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/9258/port-freight-statistics-full-summary-2011.pdf |archive-date=24 December 2013 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=Department for Transport |pages=PORT0210, PORT0303}}</ref>

The city's economy also relies on the [[aerospace]], defence, media, information technology, financial services and tourism industries.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Local Economic Assessment March 2011 |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/Bristol%20local%20economic%20assessment%20March%202011_0.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121117004736/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/Bristol%20local%20economic%20assessment%20March%202011_0.pdf |archive-date=17 November 2012 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Towns & Cities: VisitBritain Corporate Site |url=http://www.visitbritain.org/insightsandstatistics/inboundvisitorstatistics/regions/towns.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120605203405/http://www.visitbritain.org/insightsandstatistics/inboundvisitorstatistics/regions/towns.aspx |archive-date=5 June 2012 |access-date=27 March 2015 |publisher=VisitBritain}}</ref> The [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] (MoD)'s Procurement Executive, later known as the [[Defence Procurement Agency]] and [[Defence Equipment and Support]], moved to its headquarters to [[MOD Abbey Wood|Abbey Wood]], Filton, in 1995. This organisation, with a staff of 12,000 to 13,000, procures and supports MoD equipment.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History of the Ministry of Defence |url=https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49053/history_of_mod.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203015125/https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/49053/history_of_mod.pdf |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Ministry of Defence}}</ref> One of the UK's most popular tourist destinations, Bristol was selected in 2009 as one of the world's top-ten cities by international travel publishers [[Dorling Kindersley]] in their ''[[Eyewitness Books|Eyewitness]]'' guides for young adults.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Mrath |date=23 December 2008 |title=DK Eyewitness Travel top 10 cities of the world |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-10-cities-world/story-11290933-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004602/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Bristol-10-cities-world/story-11290933-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref>

Bristol is one of the eight-largest regional English cities that make up the [[Core Cities Group]], and is ranked as a Gamma level [[global city]] by the [[Globalization and World Cities Research Network]], the fourth-highest-ranked English city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The World According to GaWC 2020 |url=https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |access-date=31 August 2020 |website=GaWC – Research Network |publisher=Globalization and World Cities |archive-date=24 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200824031341/https://www.lboro.ac.uk/gawc/world2020t.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> In 2017 Bristol's [[gross domestic product]] was £88.448{{nbsp}}billion.<ref name=subregionalgva/><ref>{{Cite web |title=Land Use Management for Sustainable European Cities (LUMASEC) |url=http://urbact.eu/file/202/download?token=o4Aqhh6r |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905215700/http://urbact.eu/file/202/download?token=o4Aqhh6r |archive-date=5 September 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015 |website=URBACT |publisher=European Union}}</ref> Its [[per capita]] GDP was £46,000 ($65,106, €57,794), which was some 65% above the national average, the third-highest of any English city (after London and [[Nottingham]]) and the sixth-highest of any city in the United Kingdom (behind London, [[Edinburgh]], Glasgow, [[Belfast]] and Nottingham).<ref name=subregionalgva>{{Cite web |title=Sub-regional: Gross value added1 (GVA) at current basic price |url=http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/regional_snapshot_2006/SubregionalGVA.xls |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511222553/http://www.statistics.gov.uk/downloads/theme_compendia/regional_snapshot_2006/SubregionalGVA.xls <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=11 May 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Office for National Statistics |format=xls}}</ref> According to the 2011 census, Bristol's unemployment rate (claiming [[Jobseeker's Allowance]]) was three per cent, compared with two per cent for [[South West England]] and the national average of four per cent.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lead Key Figures |url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276834&c=BS8+4NQ&d=13&e=4&g=398722&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1237069317892&enc=1 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140729125608/http://www.neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=276834&c=BS8+4NQ&d=13&e=4&g=398722&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1237069317892&enc=1 |archive-date=29 July 2014 |publisher=Office for National Statistics}}</ref>

Although Bristol's economy no longer relies upon its [[Port of Bristol|port]], which was moved to docks at Avonmouth during the 1870s<ref>{{Cite web |editor-first=N. M. |editor-last=Herbert |date=1988 |title=Gloucester, 1835–1985: Economic development to 1914 |url=http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol4/pp170-183 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150623014802/http://www.british-history.ac.uk/vch/glos/vol4/pp170-183 |archive-date=23 June 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |website=A History of the County of Gloucester: Volume 4: The City of Gloucester |publisher=Institute of Historical Research}}</ref> and to the Royal Portbury Dock in 1977 as ship size increased, it is the largest importer of cars to the UK. Until 1991, the port was publicly owned; it is leased, with £330{{nbsp}}million invested and its annual tonnage increasing from 3.9{{nbsp}}million long tons (4{{nbsp}}million tonnes) to 11.8{{nbsp}}million (12{{nbsp}}million).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol (Avonmouth) |url=http://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=219 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416184227/http://www.ports.org.uk/port.asp?id=219 |archive-date=16 April 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=Ports and Harbours of the UK}}</ref> Tobacco importing and cigarette manufacturing have ceased, but the importation of wine and spirits continues.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2011 |title=About Averys Wine Merchants |url=http://www.averys.com/jsp/common/uk/common/content.jsp?currentPage=homepage&page=about_averys |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415204436/http://www.averys.com/jsp/common/uk/common/content.jsp?currentPage=homepage&page=about_averys |archive-date=15 April 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Averys of Bristol}}</ref>

The financial services sector employs 59,000 in the city,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Professional Services |url=http://www.investinbristol.com/key-sectors-professional-services.php |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130424020151/http://www.investinbristol.com/key-sectors-professional-services.php |archive-date=24 April 2013 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=Invest in Bristol}}</ref> and 50 micro-electronics and silicon design companies employ about 5,000. In 1983 [[Hewlett-Packard]] opened its national research laboratory in Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Region |url=http://siliconsouthwest.co.uk/index.php/about-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101123204151/http://siliconsouthwest.co.uk/index.php/about-2/ |archive-date=23 November 2010 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Silicon Southwest}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=HP Lab, Bristol, UK |url=http://www.hpl.hp.com/bristol/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090408145710/http://www.hpl.hp.com/bristol/ |archive-date=8 April 2009 |access-date=22 March 2009 |publisher=Hewlett Packard}}</ref> In 2014 the city was ranked seventh in the "top 10 UK destinations" by [[TripAdvisor]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Top 10 cities global travellers most want to visit |date=8 April 2014 |url=http://www.itv.com/news/2014-04-08/london-makes-it-to-top-three-of-best-global-destinations/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130005535/http://www.itv.com/news/2014-04-08/london-makes-it-to-top-three-of-best-global-destinations/ |archive-date=30 January 2016 |access-date=30 December 2015 |publisher=ITV}}</ref>

During the 20th century, Bristol's manufacturing activities expanded to include aircraft production at Filton by the [[Bristol Aeroplane Company]] and aircraft-engine manufacturing by Bristol Aero Engines (later [[Rolls-Royce Holdings|Rolls-Royce]]) at Patchway. Bristol Aeroplane was known for their World War I [[Bristol F.2 Fighter|Bristol Fighter]]{{sfn|Boyne|2002|p=105}} and World War II [[Bristol Blenheim|Blenheim]] and [[Beaufighter]] planes.{{sfn|Boyne|2002|p=105}} During the 1950s they were a major English manufacturer of civilian aircraft, known for the [[Bristol Freighter|Freighter]], [[Bristol Britannia|Britannia]] and [[Bristol Brabazon|Brabazon]]. The company diversified into automobile manufacturing during the 1940s, producing hand-built, [[Luxury vehicle|luxury]] [[Bristol Cars]] at their factory in Filton, and the Bristol Cars company was spun off in 1960.<ref>{{Cite web |title=A brief history of the Bristol Marque |url=http://www.boc.net/history.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061007123103/http://www.boc.net/history.html |archive-date=7 October 2006 |access-date=29 August 2007 |publisher=Bristol Owners Club}}</ref> The city also gave its name to Bristol buses, which were manufactured in the city from 1908 to 1983: by Bristol Tramways until 1955, and from 1955 to 1983 by [[Bristol Commercial Vehicles]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=A brief history of Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co, Bristol Omnibus Co and Bristol Commercial Vehicles |url=http://bvbg.org.uk/BT&CC%20history.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906013704/http://bvbg.org.uk/BT%26CC%20history.htm |archive-date=6 September 2015 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=Bristol Vintage Bus Group}}</ref>
[[File:Concorde on Bristol.jpg|thumb|left|alt=A view from below of an aeroplane in flight, with a slender fuselage and swept back wings.|Final [[Concorde]] flight on 26 November 2003, shortly before landing on the Filton runway]]

Filton played a key role in the Anglo-French [[Concorde]] supersonic airliner project during the 1960s. The British Concorde prototype made its maiden flight from Filton to [[RAF Fairford]] on 9 April 1969, five weeks after the French test flight.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Staff |date=2 March 1969 |title=BBC On This Day: 2 March 1969: Concorde flies for the first time |publisher=BBC |location=London |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/2/newsid_2514000/2514535.stm |url-status=live |access-date=22 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110903062944/http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/march/2/newsid_2514000/2514535.stm |archive-date=3 September 2011}}</ref> In 2003 [[British Airways]] and [[Air France]] decided to discontinue Concorde flights, retiring the aircraft to locations (primarily museums) worldwide. On 26 November 2003 Concorde 216 made the final Concorde flight, returning to [[Bristol Filton Airport]] as the centrepiece of a proposed air museum which is planned to include the existing Bristol Aero collection (including a Bristol Britannia).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Concorde at Filton |url=http://www.bristolaero.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150718023502/http://www.bristolaero.org/ |archive-date=18 July 2015 |access-date=8 June 2015 |publisher=Bristol Aero Collection}}</ref>

The aerospace industry remains a major sector of the local economy.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Doug Naysmith&nbsp;– Bristol Northwest |url=http://www.epolitix.com/mpwebsites/mpwebsitepage/mpsite/dr-doug-naysmith/mppage/constituency-5/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090603210702/http://www.epolitix.com/mpwebsites/mpwebsitepage/mpsite/dr-doug-naysmith/mppage/constituency-5/ |archive-date=3 June 2009 |access-date=14 March 2008 |url-status=usurped |publisher=ePolitix.com}}</ref> Major aerospace companies in Bristol include [[BAE Systems]], a merger of [[Marconi Electronic Systems]] and [[BAe]] (the latter a merger of BAC, Hawker Siddeley and Scottish Aviation). [[Airbus]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Airbus in UK |url=http://www.airbus.com/en/worldwide/airbus_in_uk.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080822031810/http://www.airbus.com/en/worldwide/airbus_in_uk.html |archive-date=22 August 2008 |access-date=20 March 2009 |publisher=Airbus}}</ref> and Rolls-Royce are also based at Filton, and aerospace engineering is an area of research at the University of the West of England. Another aviation company in the city is [[Cameron Balloons]], who manufacture [[hot air balloon]]s;<ref>{{Cite web |title=Balloon Fiesta: How to make a hot-air balloon |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/07/14/fiesta_how_do_you_make_a_balloon_feature.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131114612/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/07/14/fiesta_how_do_you_make_a_balloon_feature.shtml |archive-date=31 January 2009 |access-date=31 December 2008 |publisher=BBC Bristol}}</ref> each August the city hosts the [[Bristol International Balloon Fiesta]], one of Europe's largest hot-air balloon festivals.<ref>{{Cite news |title=BBC&nbsp;– Bristol&nbsp;– Balloon Fiesta&nbsp;– Balloon Fiesta: Don Cameron |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/07/28/fiesta_don_cameron_feature.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=5 February 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090201102136/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/07/28/fiesta_don_cameron_feature.shtml |archive-date=1 February 2009}}</ref>

In 2005 Bristol was named by the UK government one of England's six science cities.<ref>{{Cite news |title=What does 'Science City' mean? |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_7933000/7933423.stm |url-status=live |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151006072621/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/nature/newsid_7933000/7933423.stm |archive-date=6 October 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=16 September 2005 |title=Cities gather to plot scientific route to economic growth |url=https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2005/cities-gather/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906071027/https://www.york.ac.uk/news-and-events/news/2005/cities-gather/ |archive-date=6 September 2015 |publisher=University of York}}</ref> A £500{{nbsp}}million shopping centre, [[Cabot Circus]], opened in 2008 amidst predictions by developers and politicians that the city would become one of England's top ten retail destinations.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bristol shopping centre Cabot Circus will lift city into top 10 say business leaders |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Cabot-Circus-puts-belong/story-11265480-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=12 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004231/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Cabot-Circus-puts-belong/story-11265480-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> The [[Bristol Temple Quarter Enterprise Zone]], focused on creative, high-tech and low-carbon industries around [[Bristol Temple Meads railway station]],<ref name="BP1">{{Cite news |date=8 July 2013 |title=An enterprising idea with a radically new approach |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/enterprising-idea-radically-new-approach/story-19489241-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402095845/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/enterprising-idea-radically-new-approach/story-19489241-detail/story.html |archive-date=2 April 2015}}</ref> was announced in 2011<ref>{{Cite news |date=8 June 2011 |title=Aim to create 20,000 jobs by revitalising derelict land around Temple Meads, Bristol |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Aim-create-20-000-jobs-revitalising-derelict-land/story-12730270-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=18 August 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203004234/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Aim-create-20-000-jobs-revitalising-derelict-land/story-12730270-detail/story.html |archive-date=3 December 2013}}</ref> and launched the following year.<ref name=BP1/> The {{cvt|70|ha|adj=on}} [[Urban Enterprise Zone]] has streamlined [[planning permission|planning procedures]] and reduced [[business rates in England and Wales|business rates]]. Rates generated by the zone are channelled to five other designated enterprise areas in the region:<ref>{{Cite news |date=7 June 2011 |title=Land near Temple Meads named as Bristol enterprise zone |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13681651 |url-status=live |access-date=18 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140331193401/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13681651 |archive-date=31 March 2014}}</ref> Avonmouth, Bath, [[Bristol and Bath Science Park]] in Emersons Green, Filton, and Weston-super-Mare. Bristol is the only big city whose wealth per capita is higher than that of Britain as a whole. The wider region has one of the biggest aerospace hubs in the UK, centred on Airbus, Rolls-Royce and GKN at Filton airfield.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=John Murray |date=30 October 2014 |title=Bristol to become smart city laboratory |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/44e49120-6034-11e4-98e6-00144feabdc0 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160520160353/http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/44e49120-6034-11e4-98e6-00144feabdc0.html |archive-date=20 May 2016}}</ref>

Between 2012 and 2020, the city had the largest circulating [[community currency]] in the UK, the [[Bristol Pound]], which was [[fixed exchange rate system|pegged]] to the [[pound sterling]] before it ceased operation.

{{Clear}}
{{Panorama
 |image = File:Panorama of Bristol.jpg
|alt = A panoramic view looking over a cityscape of office blocks, old buildings, church spires and a multi-story car park. In the distance are hills.
 |fullwidth = 4370
 |fullheight = 665
 |caption = Panorama of Bristol in 2004
 |height = 265
}}

== Culture ==
{{Main|Culture of Bristol}}<!--
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=== Arts ===
[[File:Coopers' Hall front.jpg|thumb|alt=An imposing eighteenth-century building with three entrance archways, large first-floor windows and an ornate peaked gable end above.|The Coopers Hall, part of the Bristol Old Vic Theatre Royal complex]]
[[File:Bristol pw from ms.jpg|thumb|alt=A long two-storey building with 4 cranes in front on the quayside. Two tugboats are moored at the quay.|Site of the former [[Bristol Industrial Museum]], now the [[M Shed]]]]

Bristol has a thriving arts scene. Some of the modern venues and modern digital production companies have merged with legacy production companies based in old buildings around the city. In 2008 the city was a finalist for the 2008 [[European Capital of Culture]], although the title was awarded to Liverpool.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Six Cities Make Short List For European Capital of Culture 2008 |url=http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2877.aspx |url-status=dead |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20100512155845/http://www.culture.gov.uk/reference_library/media_releases/2877.aspx |archive-date=12 May 2010 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Department for Culture, Media and Sport}}</ref> The city was designated "City of Film" by [[UNESCO]] in 2017 and has been a member of the [[Creative Cities Network]] since then.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2 November 2017 |title=Bristol announced as a UNESCO City of Film |url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/vision-institute/news/2017/bristol-announced-as-a-unesco-city-of-film-.html |website=Bristol Vision Institute |publisher=University of Bristol |access-date=3 October 2018 |archive-date=16 August 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210816064813/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/vision-institute/news/2017/bristol-announced-as-a-unesco-city-of-film-.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

The [[Bristol Old Vic]], founded in 1946 as an offshoot of [[The Old Vic]] in London, occupies the 1766 Theatre Royal (607 seats) on [[King Street, Bristol|King Street]] and the Weston Studio in the adjacent Coopers' Hall (built in 1743), with a 2018 bar and foyer area. The Theatre Royal, a grade I [[listed building]],<ref>{{NHLE |num=1209703 |desc=The Theatre Royal |access-date=27 August 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref><ref name="gradei">{{Cite web |title=Grade I Listed Buildings in Bristol |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/grade-1-listed-buildings-in-bristol.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120110140244/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/sites/default/files/assets/documents/grade-1-listed-buildings-in-bristol.pdf |archive-date=10 January 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> is the oldest continuously operating theatre in England.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Rowe |first=Mark |date=27 March 2005 |title=England special: In the footsteps of Bristol's slave traders |work=The Independent on Sunday archived at [[Nexis]] |publisher=Independent News and Media |format=fee required |url=http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/nexis/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T7005863589&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T7005863592&cisb=22_T7005863591&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8200&docNo=6 |url-status=live |url-access=subscription |access-date=21 July 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515185353/http://www.lexisnexis.com/uk/nexis/results/docview/docview.do?docLinkInd=true&risb=21_T7005863589&format=GNBFI&sort=BOOLEAN&startDocNo=1&resultsUrlKey=29_T7005863592&cisb=22_T7005863591&treeMax=true&treeWidth=0&csi=8200&docNo=6 |archive-date=15 May 2011}}</ref> The [[Bristol Old Vic Theatre School]] (which originated in King Street) is a separate company, and the [[Bristol Hippodrome]] is a 1,951-seat theatre for national touring productions. Other smaller theatres include the [[Tobacco Factory]], [[Queen Elizabeth's Hospital|QEH]], the Redgrave Theatre at [[Clifton College]], The Wardrobe Theatre, [[Bristol Improv Theatre]], and the Alma Theatre. Bristol's theatre scene features several companies as well as the Old Vic, including [[Show of Strength Theatre Company|Show of Strength]], [[Shakespeare at the Tobacco Factory]] and Travelling Light. Theatre Bristol is a partnership between the city council, [[Arts Council England]] and local residents to develop the city's theatre industry.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://theatrebristol.net/about |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080517071121/http://www.theatrebristol.net/about/ |archive-date=17 May 2008 |access-date=8 May 2008 |publisher=Theatre Bristol}}</ref> Several organisations support Bristol theatre; the Residence (an artist-led community) provides office, social and rehearsal space for theatre and performance companies,<ref>{{Cite web |date=20 January 2013 |title=About |url=http://residence.org.uk/about/about/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317033730/http://residence.org.uk/about/about/ |archive-date=17 March 2014 |access-date=28 March 2014 |publisher=Residence}}</ref> and [[Equity (trade union)|Equity]] has a branch in the city.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol and West General Branch |url=http://www.equity.org.uk/branches/?branchid=37 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505063932/http://www.equity.org.uk/branches/?branchid=37 |archive-date=5 May 2008 |access-date=8 May 2008 |publisher=Equity}}</ref>

[[File:Banksy-ps2.jpg|thumb|upright|left|alt=A painting on a building showing a naked man hanging by one hand from a window sill. A man in a suit looks out of the window, shading his eyes with his right hand, behind him stands a woman in her underwear.|''[[Well Hung Lover]]'', one of many [[Banksy]] artworks in the city, which has since been vandalised with blue paint (partially cleaned by the city council)]]
The city has many venues for live music, its largest the 2,000-seat [[Bristol Beacon]], previously Colston Hall, named after [[Edward Colston]]. Others include the [[O2 Academy Bristol|Bristol Academy]], [[Wool Hall, Bristol|The Fleece]], [[The Croft (music venue)|The Croft]], the Exchange, Fiddlers, the [[Victoria Rooms, Bristol|Victoria Rooms]], Rough Trade, [[Trinity Centre]], [[St George's Bristol]] and several pubs, from the jazz-oriented [[The Old Duke]] to rock at the Fleece and [[independent music|indie]] bands at the Louisiana.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Reid |first=Melanie |date=18 July 2007 |title=A student's guide to&nbsp;... University of Bristol |work=The Times |location=UK |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/article2097881.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2 |url-status=dead |url-access=subscription |access-date=14 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100606070653/http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/education/student/article2097881.ece?token=null&offset=12&page=2 |archive-date=6 June 2010}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol's music scene |url=http://www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/after-slavery/effects-on-bristol/cultural-contributions/music-scene/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170105084648/http://www.discoveringbristol.org.uk/slavery/after-slavery/effects-on-bristol/cultural-contributions/music-scene/ |archive-date=5 January 2017 |access-date=4 January 2017 |publisher=PortCities Bristol}}</ref> In 2010 [[PRS for Music]] called Bristol the UK's most musical city, based on the number of its members born there relative to the city's population.<ref>{{Cite news |date=12 March 2010 |title=Bristol is Britain's 'most musical city' |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8563000/8563916.stm |url-status=live |access-date=9 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316060143/http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/music/newsid_8563000/8563916.stm |archive-date=16 March 2010}}</ref>

Since the late 1970s Bristol has been home to bands combining [[Punk rock|punk]], [[Funk rock|funk]], [[Dub music|dub]] and [[political consciousness]]. With [[trip hop]] and [[Bristol Sound]] artists such as [[Tricky (musician)|Tricky]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=Tricky > Overview |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p132766|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> [[Portishead (band)|Portishead]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Erlewine |first=Stephen Thomas |title=Portishead > Biography |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p45223|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> and [[Massive Attack]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ankeny |first=Jason |title=Massive Attack > Biography |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p13625|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> the [[list of bands from Bristol]] is extensive. The city is a stronghold of [[drum and bass]], with artists such as [[Roni Size]]'s [[Mercury Prize]]-winning [[Reprazent]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Cooper |first=Sean |title=Roni Size > Biography |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p199290|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> as [[DJ Krust]],<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bush |first=John |title=Krust > Overview |url={{AllMusic |class=artist |id=p199939|pure_url=yes}} |access-date=15 March 2009 |publisher=All Music}}</ref> [[More Rockers]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Prato |first=Greg |title=More Rockers > Overview |url=http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021119052725/http://www.allmusic.com/cg/AMG.dll |archive-date=19 November 2002 |access-date=15 March 2009 |url-status=dead |publisher=All Music}}</ref> and [[TC (musician)|TC]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=TC – New Songs, Playlists & Latest News – BBC Music |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/32a509d0-6c4c-43c9-b169-03b601367dbd |access-date=26 September 2017 |website=BBC}}</ref> Musicians were at the centre of the broader Bristol urban-culture scene which received international media attention during the 1990s.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Blagging and Boasting |url=http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.18.98/bristol-9824.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110612165116/http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/06.18.98/bristol-9824.html |archive-date=12 June 2011 |access-date=16 June 2011 |website=Metroactive Music |publisher=Metro Publishing Inc}}</ref> [[The Downs Festival]] is also a yearly occurrence where both local and well-known bands play. Since its inception in 2016, it has become a major event in the city.

The [[Bristol Museum and Art Gallery]] houses a collection encompassing [[natural history]], archaeology, local glassware, [[Chinese ceramics]] and art. The [[M Shed]] museum opened in 2011 on the site of the former [[Bristol Industrial Museum]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=17 June 2011 |title=Bristol's £27&nbsp;m M Shed museum opens |publisher=BBC News Bristol |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13792531 |url-status=live |access-date=26 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110828193540/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-13792531 |archive-date=28 August 2011}}</ref> Both are operated by Bristol Culture and Creative Industries, which also runs three historic houses{{nsmdns}}the [[Red Lodge Museum, Bristol|Tudor Red Lodge]], the [[Georgian House, Bristol|Georgian House]] and [[Blaise Castle House]]; and [[Bristol Archives]].<ref>{{Cite web |year=2013 |title=Bristol City Council: Museums and galleries |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-galleries |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130401183740/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/page/leisure-and-culture/museums-and-galleries |archive-date=1 April 2013 |access-date=25 July 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> The 18th- and 19th-century portrait painter [[Thomas Lawrence]], 19th-century architect [[Francis Greenway]] (designer of many of Sydney's first buildings) were born in the city. The [[graffiti]] artist [[Banksy]] is believed to be from Bristol, and many of his works are on display in the city.

[[File:Wallace&GromitModels2019.jpg|thumb|Clay models of [[Wallace and Gromit]] on display at St. Georges, Bristol]]
The [[Watershed Media Centre]] and [[Arnolfini gallery]] (both in dockside warehouses) exhibit contemporary art, photography and cinema, and the city's oldest gallery is at the [[Royal West of England Academy]] in Clifton.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2009 |title=A Short History of the RWA |url=http://www.rwa.org.uk/histfrm.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110716064532/http://www.rwa.org.uk/histfrm.htm <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=16 July 2011 |access-date=21 July 2011 |publisher=Royal West of England Academy}}</ref> The nomadic [[Antlers Gallery]] opened in 2010, moving into empty spaces on [[Park Street, Bristol|Park Street]], on [[Whiteladies Road]] and in the Purifier House on Bristol's Harbourside.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Antlers gallery takes over Purifier House on Bristol Harbourside |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Antlers-takes-harbour-gas-works/story-20838315-detail/story.html |url-status=live |access-date=24 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117021457/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Antlers-takes-harbour-gas-works/story-20838315-detail/story.html |archive-date=17 November 2015}}</ref> [[Stop-motion]] animation films and commercials (produced by [[Aardman Animations]]) are made in Bristol, such as ''[[Wallace and Gromit]]'' and ''[[Chicken Run]]'', while Aardman has also branched out into computer-animation, such as ''[[Arthur Christmas]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Aardman Animations Biography |url=http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/530232/index.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081202150949/http://www.screenonline.org.uk/people/id/530232/index.html |archive-date=2 December 2008 |access-date=7 March 2009 |publisher=Screen Online}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |title=First Look: Director Sarah Smith Talks Aardman's Arthur Christmas: Exclusive Photos |url=https://www.indiewire.com/features/general/first-look-director-sarah-smith-talks-aardmans-arthur-christmas-exclusive-photos-184422/ |access-date=8 December 2023 |work=Indie Wire}}</ref> [[Robert Newton]], [[Bobby Driscoll]] and other cast members of the 1950 [[Walt Disney]] film ''[[Treasure Island (1950 film)|Treasure Island]]'' (some scenes were filmed along the [[Bristol Harbour|harbourside]]) visited the city along with Disney himself. Bristol is home to the [[Broadcasting House, Bristol|regional headquarters]] of [[BBC West]] and the [[BBC Natural History Unit]].<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Davies |first=Gail |year=1998 |title=Networks of nature: Stories of Natural History Film-Making from the BBC |url=http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/5188/1/5188.pdf |url-status=live |journal=UCL ePrints |pages=11–15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150906093640/http://discovery.ucl.ac.uk/5188/1/5188.pdf |archive-date=6 September 2015 |access-date=22 August 2015}}</ref> Locations in and around Bristol have featured in the BBC's natural-history programmes, including ''[[Animal Magic (TV series)|Animal Magic]]'' (filmed at [[Bristol Zoo]]).<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Johnny |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/animalmagic/johnny.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160410230219/http://www.bbc.co.uk/cult/classic/animalmagic/johnny.shtml |archive-date=10 April 2016 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=BBC}}</ref>

Bristol is the birthplace of 18th-century poets [[Robert Southey]]<ref>{{cite ODNB |title=Southey, Robert (1774–1843) |url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26056 |publisher=Oxford Dictionary of National Biography |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160206005850/http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/26056 |archive-date= 6 February 2016 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/26056 |year=2004}}</ref> and [[Thomas Chatterton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Chatterton&nbsp;– Bristol's boy poet |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/features/2002/09/04/chatterton.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090108200617/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/features/2002/09/04/chatterton.shtml |archive-date=8 January 2009 |access-date=20 December 2008 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> Southey (born on [[Wine Street, Bristol|Wine Street]] in 1774) and his friend, [[Samuel Taylor Coleridge]], married the Fricker sisters from the city.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Webb |first=Samantha |year=2006 |title='Not so pleasant to the taste': Coleridge in Bristol during the mixed bread campaign of 1795 |journal=Romanticism |volume=12 |issue=1 |pages=5–14 |doi=10.1353/rom.2006.0009 |doi-access=free|url=https://muse.jhu.edu/article/199849/pdf |url-access=subscription }}</ref> [[William Wordsworth]] spent time in Bristol,{{sfn|Newlyn|2001|p=7}} where [[Joseph Cottle]] published ''[[Lyrical Ballads]]'' in 1798. Actor [[Cary Grant]] was born in Bristol, and comedians from the city include [[Justin Lee Collins]],<ref>{{Cite news |last=Morris |first=Sophie |date=11 December 2006 |title=Justin Lee Collins: My Life in Media |work=The Independent |location=London |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html |access-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150701203012/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/media/justin-lee-collins-my-life-in-media-427936.html |archive-date=1 July 2015}}</ref> [[Lee Evans (comedian)|Lee Evans]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Lee Evans – Biography |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0262968/bio/ |access-date=2024-05-21 |website=IMDb |language=en-US}}</ref> [[Russell Howard]]<ref>{{Cite news |last=Cavendish |first=Dominic |date=1 March 2008 |title=Russell Howard: Russell who is not a brand |work=The Daily Telegraph |location=London |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/comedy/3671535/Russell-Howard-Russell-who-isnt-a-brand.html |url-status=dead |access-date=21 July 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120516015828/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/theatre/comedy/3671535/Russell-Howard-Russell-who-isnt-a-brand.html |archive-date=16 May 2012 |issn=0307-1235 |oclc=49632006}}</ref> and writer-comedian [[Stephen Merchant]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Ellen |first=Barbara |date=5 November 2006 |title=Barbara Ellen meets the 6&nbsp;ft&nbsp;7in comedy giant Stephen Merchant |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/nov/05/comedy.television1 |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131205040424/http://www.theguardian.com/stage/2006/nov/05/comedy.television1 |archive-date=5 December 2013}}</ref>

The author [[John Betjeman]] wrote a poem called "Bristol".<ref name="JB_1">{{Cite web |last=J. Betjeman |date=3 July 2009 |title=Poem: Bristol by John Betjeman |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/local/bristol/hi/people_and_places/arts_and_culture/newsid_8118000/8118365.stm |access-date=13 August 2020 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> It begins:
{{Poem quote|text=
Green upon the flooded Avon shone the after-storm-wet-sky,
Quick the struggling withy branches let the leaves of autumn fly,
And a star shone over Bristol, wonderfully far and high.
|sign = John Betjeman
|title = Bristol}}

=== Architecture ===
{{Main|Buildings and architecture of Bristol}}
[[File:Kings Weston House, Bristol. The Garden Front. Sir John Vanbrugh, 1712.jpg|thumb|alt=Large, square two-storey house at the end of a dirt path|Garden front of John Vanbrugh's [[Kings Weston House]], Bristol]]
[[File:llandoger.trow.overall.arp.jpg|thumb|right|alt=A seventeenth-century timber-framed building with three gables and a traditional inn sign showing a picture of a sailing barge. Some drinkers sit at benches outside on a cobbled street. Other old buildings are further down the street, and in the background part of a modern office building can be seen.|The [[Llandoger Trow]], a historic Bristol pub]]
Bristol has 51 [[Grade I listed buildings in Bristol|Grade I]],<ref name=gradei /> 500 [[Grade II* listed buildings in Bristol|Grade II*]] and over 3,800 [[Grade II listed buildings in Bristol|Grade II listed]] [[Categories of listed building|buildings]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol City Council: Listed buildings register: Listed buildings |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/352 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120106130440/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/352 |archive-date=6 January 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> in a variety of [[architectural]] styles, from [[Medieval architecture|medieval]] to modern. During the mid-19th century [[Bristol Byzantine]], a style unique to the city, was developed, and several examples have survived. Buildings from most [[architectural periods]] of the United Kingdom can be seen in the city. Surviving elements of the fortifications and castle date to the medieval period,{{sfn|Burrough|1970|p=3}} and the Church of St James dates back to the 12th century.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1282067 |desc=Church of St James |access-date=27 August 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref>

The oldest Grade I listed buildings in Bristol are religious. [[St James' Priory, Bristol|St James' Priory]] was founded in 1129 as a [[Benedictine]] priory by Earl [[Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester|Robert]] of Gloucester, the illegitimate son of [[Henry I of England|Henry I]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Church of St James |num=1282067 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> The second-oldest is [[Bristol Cathedral]] and its associated [[The Great Gatehouse|Great Gatehouse]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Great Gatehouse |num=1202132 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> Founded in 1140 as an [[Augustinians|Augustinian]] monastery, the church became the seat of the [[bishop]] and cathedral of the new Diocese of Bristol in 1542. Most of the medieval stonework, particularly the Elder Lady Chapel, is made from limestone taken from quarries around [[Dundry]] and [[Felton, Somerset|Felton]] with [[Bath stone]] being used in other areas.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Cathedral Church of St Augustine, including Chapter House and cloisters |num=1202129 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> Amongst the other churches included in the list is the 12th-century [[St Mary Redcliffe]] which is the second tallest building in Bristol. The church was described by [[Queen Elizabeth I]] as "the fairest, goodliest, and most famous parish church in England."{{sfn|Burrough|1970|pp=13–14}}

Secular buildings include [[Red Lodge Museum, Bristol|The Red Lodge]], built in 1580 for John Yonge as a [[gatehouse|lodge]] for a larger house that once stood on the site of the present [[Bristol Beacon]] (previously known as Colston Hall). It was subsequently added to in [[Georgian architecture|Georgian]] times and restored in the early 20th century.<ref>{{NHLE |num=1202417 |desc=Red Lodge |access-date=27 August 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> [[St Bartholomew's Hospital, Bristol|St Bartholomew's Hospital]] is a 12th-century town house which was incorporated into a monastery hospital founded in 1240 by [[Earl De La Warr|Sir John la Warr, 2nd Baron De La Warr]] ({{circa|1277–1347}}), and became [[Bristol Grammar School]] from 1532 to 1767, and then [[Queen Elizabeth's Hospital]] 1767–1847. The round piers predate the hospital, and may come from an aisled hall, the earliest remains of domestic architecture in the city, which was then adapted to form the hospital chapel.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Nos.17, 18 AND 19 St Bartholomew's Hospital |num=1202066 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> Three 17th-century town houses which were attached to the hospital were incorporated into model workers' flats in 1865, and converted to offices in 1978. [[St Nicholas's Almshouses]] were built in 1652<ref>{{NHLE|desc=St Nicholas' Almshouses, Nos.1–10 |num=1209635 |access-date=21 February 2007 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> to provide care for the poor. Several public houses were also built in this period, including the [[Llandoger Trow]]<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Llandoger Trow |num=1202324 |access-date=22 February 2007 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> on King Street and the [[Hatchet Inn, Bristol|Hatchet Inn]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Hatchet Public House, Frogmore Street |num=1372291 |access-date=21 July 2024 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref>

[[Manor house]]s include [[Goldney Hall]], where the highly decorated [[Grotto at Goldney House|Grotto]] dates from 1739.<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Grotto approximately 85 metres south of Goldney House |num=1202104 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> Commercial buildings such as the Exchange<ref>{{NHLE|desc=The Exchange |num=1298770 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> and [[Old Post Office, Bristol|Old Post Office]]<ref>{{NHLE|desc=No.48 Old Post Office |num=1187390 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> from the 1740s are also included in the list. Residential buildings include the Georgian Portland Square<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Nos.1–6 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1202443 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Nos.14–17 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1282179 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Nos.18–21 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1208823 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Nos.22–28 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1202444 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Nos.31–34 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1208879 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Nos.7–13 (Consecutive) and attached area railings |num=1208806 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> and the complex of small cottages around a green at [[Blaise Hamlet]], which was built around 1811 for retired employees of [[Quaker]] [[banker]] and [[philanthropist]] [[John Scandrett Harford]], who owned [[Blaise Castle House]].<ref>{{NHLE|desc=Circular Cottage |num=1202262 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Dial Cottage |num=1282246 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Diamond Cottage |num=1282285 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Double Cottage |num=1202260 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Dutch Cottage |num=1207760 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Oak Cottage |num=1207747 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Rose Cottage |num=1202261 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Sweetbriar Cottage |num=1282247 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }} {{NHLE|desc=Vine Cottage |num=1202263 |access-date=18 October 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> The 18th-century [[Kings Weston House]], in northern Bristol, was designed by [[John Vanbrugh]] and is the only Vanbrugh building in any UK city outside London. [[Almshouse]]s<ref>{{NHLE |num=1209635 |desc=St Nicholas' Almshouses |access-date=27 August 2015 |fewer-links=yes }}</ref> and pubs from the same period<ref>{{NHLE |num=1202324 |desc=Llandoger Trow Public House |access-date=27 August 2015 |fewer-links=yes}}</ref> intermingle with modern development. Several Georgian [[Garden square|squares]] were designed for the middle class as prosperity increased during the 18th century.{{sfn|Foyle|2004|pp=19–21}} During World War II, the city centre was heavily bombed during the [[Bristol Blitz]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Pictorial Record of Bristol's History |url=http://weldgen.tripod.com/bristol-history/id6.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070322080553/http://weldgen.tripod.com/bristol-history/id6.html |archive-date=22 March 2007 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=Bristol History}}</ref> The central shopping area near [[Castle Park, Bristol|Wine Street and Castle Street]] was particularly hard-hit, and [[The Dutch House, Bristol|the Dutch House]] and [[St Peter's Hospital, Bristol|St Peter's Hospital]] were destroyed. Nevertheless, in 1961 [[John Betjeman]] called Bristol "the most beautiful, interesting and distinguished city in England".{{sfn|Winstone|1985|p=124}}

=== Nightlife ===
Bristol has been awarded Purple Flag status<ref>{{Cite web |title=Our Values |url=https://www.atcm.org/about_atcm/our_values |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150921171154/https://www.atcm.org/about_atcm/our_values |archive-date=21 September 2015 |access-date=23 March 2017 |website=www.atcm.org}}</ref> on many of its districts, which shows that it meets or surpasses the standards of excellence in managing the evening and night-time economy.

''DJ Mag''{{'s}} top 100 club list ranked Motion as the 19th-best club in the world in 2016.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news |title=Top 100 Clubs 2016 |work=DJMag.com |url=https://djmag.com/top100clubs |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307093635/https://djmag.com/top100clubs/ |archive-date=7 March 2017}}</ref> This is up 5 spots from 2015.<ref name=":0" />  Motion is a complex made up of different rooms, outdoor space and a terrace that looks over the river Avon.<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |title=Motion Bristol – West + Wales nightclub |url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/club.aspx?id=7129 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170107105010/https://www.residentadvisor.net/club.aspx?id=7129 |archive-date=7 January 2017 |access-date=23 March 2017 |website=Resident Advisor}}</ref> In 2011, Motion was transformed from a skate park into the rave spot it is today.<ref name=":2">{{Cite news |title=Motion |work=Time Out Bristol |url=https://www.timeout.com/bristol/nightlife/motion |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160427112948/http://www.timeout.com/bristol/nightlife/motion |archive-date=27 April 2016}}</ref> Other famous clubs in the city include [[Lakota (club)|Lakota]] and [[The Thekla|Thekla]].

The Attic Bar is a venue located in [[Stokes Croft]].<ref>{{Cite news |title=Attic Bar |work=Time Out Bristol |url=https://www.timeout.com/bristol/nightlife/attic-bar |url-status=live |access-date=23 March 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160302113903/http://www.timeout.com/bristol/nightlife/attic-bar |archive-date=2 March 2016}}</ref> Equipped with a sound system and stage which are used every weekend for gigs of every genre, the bar and the connected Full Moon Pub were rated by ''The Guardian'', a British daily paper, as one of the top ten clubs in the UK.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Coldwell |first=Will |date=19 February 2015 |title=10 of the best UK clubs – chosen by the experts |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/19/top-10-uk-clubs-chosen-by-experts |url-status=live |access-date=3 October 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170318012832/https://www.theguardian.com/travel/2015/feb/19/top-10-uk-clubs-chosen-by-experts |archive-date=18 March 2017}}</ref> In 2014, the Great British Pub Awards ranked The Apple as the best cider bar in the UK.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Home – The Great British Pub Awards |url=https://www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170414162429/https://www.greatbritishpubawards.co.uk/ |archive-date=14 April 2017 |access-date=23 March 2017 |website=The Great British Pub Awards}}</ref>

=== Dialect ===
{{further|Culture in Bristol#Dialect}}
[[File:Cabot Tower (600px).jpg|thumb|upright|alt=An ornate brick tower surrounded by trees. The tower has balconies and is surmounted by a pitched roof with an ornate figure at the apex.|[[Cabot Tower, Bristol|Cabot Tower]], seen from the Brandon Hill park]]
A dialect of English ([[West Country English]]), known as Bristolian, is spoken by longtime residents, who are known as Bristolians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Famous Bristolians |url=http://www.mintinit.com/famousbristolians.php |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120425091723/http://www.mintinit.com/famousbristolians.php |archive-date=25 April 2012 |access-date=12 November 2011 |publisher=Mintinit.com}}</ref> Bristol natives have a [[rhotic accent]], in which the post-vocalic ''r'' in ''car'' and ''card'' is pronounced (unlike in [[Received Pronunciation]]). The city is regarded as one of the last locations in England, along with [[Blackburn]], to preserve the traditional English rhotic R sound.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Pinkstone |first=Joe |date=2023-12-16 |title=The two remaining places where people have traditional English accents |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2023/12/16/blackburn-bristol-traditional-english-accent/ |access-date=2023-12-19 |issn=0307-1235}}</ref> The unique feature of this accent is the 'Bristol (or terminal) l', in which ''l'' is appended to words ending in ''a'' or ''o''.{{sfn|Hughes|2012|pp=86–88}} Whether this is a broad ''l'' or a ''w'' is a subject of debate,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |date=14 August 2003 |title=Calling All Bristolians |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/sop/brizzle/story.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120120132253/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/sop/brizzle/story.shtml |archive-date=20 January 2012 |access-date=19 June 2011 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> with ''area'' pronounced 'areal' or 'areaw'. The ending of ''Bristol'' is another example of the Bristol ''l''. Bristolians pronounce ''-a'' and ''-o'' at the end of a word as ''-aw'' (''cinemaw''). To non-natives, the pronunciation suggests an ''l'' after the vowel.<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Gick |first=Bryan |date=1999 |title=A gesture-based account of intrusive consonants in English |url=http://idiom.ucsd.edu/~bakovic/camba_files/phonoloblog/gick-intrusive-consonants-ph99.pdf |url-status=dead |journal=Phonology |volume=16 |pages=29–54 |doi=10.1017/s0952675799003693 |s2cid=61173209 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130412043850/http://idiom.ucsd.edu/~bakovic/camba_files/phonoloblog/gick-intrusive-consonants-ph99.pdf |archive-date=12 April 2013}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Trudgill |first=Peter |title=Dialect Contact, Dialectology and Sociolinguistics |url=http://digitum.um.es/jspui/bitstream/10201/1672/1/112477.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402164426/https://digitum.um.es/jspui/bitstream/10201/1672/1/112477.pdf |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 |publisher=University of Fribourg}}</ref>

Bristolian is characterised by use of ''cassn't'' instead of ''can't'' and ''canst'' and ''dissn't'' instead of ''didst'' and ''didn't''.{{sfn|Black|1996|p=172}} The second-person singular was retained and children were admonished with "Thee and thou, the Welshman's cow". In Bristolian, as in French and German, the second-person singular was not used when speaking to a superior (except by the egalitarian [[Quakers]]). The pronoun ''thee'' is also used in the subject position ("What bist thee doing?"), and ''I'' or ''he'' in the object position ("Give he to I.").{{sfn|Strohmeyer|2009|p=13}} Linguist [[Stanley Ellis (linguist)|Stanley Ellis]], who found that many dialect words in the Filton area were linked to aerospace work, described Bristolian as "a cranky, crazy, crab-apple tree of language and with the sharpest, juiciest flavour that I've heard for a long time".{{sfn|Elmes|2005|p=39}}

== Sport ==
{{Main|Sport in Bristol}}

[[File:Ashton Gate & Bridge.jpg|thumb|left|alt=In the foreground twentieth century housing can be seen amidst trees and on the right a tower block of flats. In the middle distance a complex of red coloured buildings can be seen and behind that a steep sided gorge with a suspension bridge spanning it. Eighteenth century terraces on the right side of the gorge, the slopes of which are heavily wooded and a tower can be seen in the distance on the skyline.|[[Ashton Gate Stadium]], with the [[Clifton Suspension Bridge]] over the [[Avon Gorge]] in the background]]
Bristol is represented by professional teams in all the major national sports. [[Bristol City]] and [[Bristol Rovers]] are the city's main [[Association football|football]] clubs. [[Bristol Bears]] ([[rugby union]]) and [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club]] are also based in the city.

The two [[Football League]] clubs are Bristol City and Bristol Rovers{{nsmdns}}the former being the only club from the city to play in the precursor to the [[Premier League]]. Bristol City, formed in 1894, were Division One runners-up in 1907 and lost the FA Cup final in 1909. In the First Division in 1976, they then sank to the bottom professional tier before reforming after a 1982 bankruptcy. They have been above Bristol Rovers in the Football League since 2000, and were promoted to the second tier of English football in 2007.<ref>{{Cite news |title=Bristol City 0–1 Hull |publisher=BBC |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7416502.stm |url-status=live |access-date=13 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080526223822/http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/eng_div_1/7416502.stm |archive-date=26 May 2008}}</ref> [[Bristol City Women]] were formerly based at [[Twerton Park]], but now share [[Ashton Gate Stadium]] as a home venue with the men's team.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Academy Women Club History |url=http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/clubHistory.html#aXs0GzaLK9ZTXjqZ.97 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151122234818/http://www.bristolacademywfc.co.uk/clubHistory.html#aXs0GzaLK9ZTXjqZ.97 |archive-date=22 November 2015 |access-date=27 October 2015 |publisher=Bristol Academy Women}}</ref>
[[File:Uplands StandBRFC.JPG|thumb|left|[[Memorial Stadium (Bristol)|The Memorial Stadium]], home of [[Bristol Rovers]]]]

Bristol Rovers, the oldest professional football team in the city, were formed in 1883 and promoted back into the Football League in 2015. They were third-tier champions twice ([[Division Three South]] in 1952–53 and [[Division Three]] in 1989–90), [[Watney Cup]] Winners (1972) and runners-up for the [[Johnstone's Paint Trophy]] (2006–07) although have never played in England's top division.

[[Bristol Bears]] formed in 1888 and has often competed at the highest level of rugby union.<ref>{{Cite web |title=History |url=http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/fans/history/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110609204809/http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/fans/history/ |archive-date=9 June 2011 |access-date=12 June 2011 |publisher=Bristol Rugby}}</ref> The club played at the [[Memorial Ground]], which it shared with Bristol Rovers from 1996, until moving to Ashton Gate Stadium in 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Guide to Ashton Gate |url=http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/guide-to-ashton-gate/introduction/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819131726/http://www.bristolrugby.co.uk/guide-to-ashton-gate/introduction/ |archive-date=19 August 2014 |access-date=25 August 2015 |publisher=Bristol Rugby}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=13 February 2014 |title=Safe standing: Bristol Rugby back Bristol City's Ashton Gate plans |work=BBC Sport |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/26174702 |url-status=live |access-date=25 August 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302123853/http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/26174702 |archive-date=2 March 2014}}</ref> They changed their name from Bristol Rugby to Bristol Bears to coincide with their return to [[Premiership Rugby]] in [[2018-19 English Premiership|the 2018–19 season]].

The [[first-class cricket]] club [[Gloucestershire County Cricket Club]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=Gloucestershire County Cricket Club |url=http://www.gloscricket.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090306212455/http://www.gloscricket.co.uk/ |archive-date=6 March 2009 |access-date=16 March 2009 |publisher=Gloucestershire County Cricket Club}}</ref> has its headquarters and plays the majority of its home games at the [[Bristol County Ground]], the only major international sports venue in the south-west of England. It was formed by the family of [[W. G. Grace]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About Us |url=http://www.gloscricket.co.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160307022330/http://www.gloscricket.co.uk/about-us/ |archive-date=7 March 2016 |access-date=5 March 2016 |publisher=Gloucestershire Cricket}}</ref>

[[File:Bristol International Balloon Fiesta.JPG|thumb|alt=A large number of hot air balloons taking off from a field which is surrounded by tents and stalls. The sun is low in the sky and balloons can be seen flying into the distance.|[[Bristol International Balloon Fiesta]]]]
Bristol sponsors the annual [[Bristol Half Marathon]] and hosted the [[2001 IAAF World Half Marathon Championships]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Bristol Half Marathon |url=http://www.runbristol.com/Events/Bristol-half-marathon/race-history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925201616/http://www.runbristol.com/Events/Bristol-half-marathon/race-history |archive-date=25 September 2015 |access-date=27 October 2015 |publisher=Run Bristol}}</ref> Bristol has staged finishes and starts of the [[Tour of Britain]] cycle race,<ref>{{Cite news |last=Prideaux |first=Sophie |date=10 September 2014 |title=When will the Tour of Britain be in Bristol today? |work=Bristol Post |url=http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Tour-Britain-Bristol-today/story-22898640-detail/story.html |url-status=dead |access-date=27 October 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140912043611/http://www.bristolpost.co.uk/Tour-Britain-Bristol-today/story-22898640-detail/story.html |archive-date=12 September 2014}}</ref> and facilities in the city were used as training camps for the [[2012 London Olympics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=About the Centre for Sport |url=http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/departmentsandservices/professionalservices/centreforsport/aboutthecentreforsport.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151007215209/http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/departmentsandservices/professionalservices/centreforsport/aboutthecentreforsport.aspx |archive-date=7 October 2015 |access-date=27 October 2015 |publisher=University of the West of England}}</ref> The [[Bristol International Balloon Fiesta]], a major UK hot-air ballooning event, is held each summer at Ashton Court.<ref>{{Cite web |date=14 April 2008 |title=Balloon Fiesta celebrates 30 years |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/03/20/balloon_fiesta2008_feature.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090131114607/http://www.bbc.co.uk/bristol/content/articles/2008/03/20/balloon_fiesta2008_feature.shtml |archive-date=31 January 2009 |access-date=16 March 2009 |publisher=BBC Bristol}}</ref>

== Media ==
{{Main|Media in Bristol}}<!--
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[[File:Bristol. Whiteladies Rd. BBC Broadcasting House.jpg|thumb|alt=|BBC Broadcasting House as seen from Whiteladies Road]]
Bristol is home to the regional headquarters of [[BBC West]] and the BBC Natural History Unit based at Broadcasting House, which produces television, radio and online content with a [[natural history]] or [[wildlife]] theme. The city has a long association with [[David Attenborough]]'s authored documentaries, including ''[[Life on Earth (TV series)|Life on Earth]]'',<ref>{{Cite web |title=BBC Natural History Unit |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2007/09/10/west_natural_history_unit_12_1_feature.shtml |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101209075503/http://www.bbc.co.uk/insideout/content/articles/2007/09/10/west_natural_history_unit_12_1_feature.shtml |archive-date=9 December 2010 |access-date=13 October 2015 |publisher=BBC}}</ref> ''[[The Blue Planet]]'' and ''[[Planet Earth (franchise)|Planet Earth]]''.
The BBC announced in 2021 that it was moving the production of many of its programmes from Broadcasting House to [[Finzels Reach]] in the centre of Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Gogarty |first=Conor |date=2021-05-28 |title=BBC Studios to leave historic Bristol HQ |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/bbc-studios-leave-historic-bristol-5468614 |access-date=2021-08-12 |website=BristolLive |language=en}}</ref>

Bristol has two daily newspapers, the ''[[Western Daily Press]]'' and the ''[[Bristol Post]]'' (both owned by [[Reach plc]]); and a Bristol edition of the free [[Metro (British newspaper)|''Metro'']] newspaper (owned by [[DMGT]]). ''[[The Bristol Cable]]'' specialises in investigative journalism with a quarterly print edition and website.

Aardman Animations is a Bristol-based animation studio, known for the characters [[Wallace and Gromit]] and [[Morph (animation)|Morph]].

Local radio stations, including [[BBC Radio Bristol]], [[Heart West]], [[Greatest Hits Radio Bristol & The South West]], [[Sam FM (Bristol)|Hits Radio Bristol]],  [[Kiss (UK radio station)|Kiss]], and [[BCfm]], a community based station. Television programmes produced in the city include ''[[BBC Points West|Points West]]'', Endemol productions such as ''[[Deal or No Deal]]'', ''[[The Crystal Maze]]'', ''[[Tipping Point (game show)|Tipping Point]]'' and ''[[ITV News West Country]]''. Coming-of-age drama ''[[Skins (British TV series)|Skins]]'' and supernatural comedy-drama ''[[Being Human (British TV series)|Being Human]]'' were also shot in the city. Bristol was the former home of long-running BBC medical soap opera ''[[Casualty (TV series)|Casualty]]'' until 2011. In October 2018, [[Channel 4]] announced that Bristol would be home to one of its 'Creative Hubs', as part of their move to produce more content outside of London.<ref>{{Cite web |title=C4 confirms Leeds as National HQ, Bristol & Glasgow Creative Hubs – Channel 4 – Info – Press |url=https://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/c4-confirms-leeds-as-national-hq-bristol-glasgow-creative-hubs |access-date=5 November 2018 |website=www.channel4.com}}</ref>

Publishers in the city have included 18th-century Bristolian Joseph Cottle, who helped introduce [[Romanticism]] by publishing the works of William Wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coleridge.{{sfn|Madden|1972|p=419}} During the 19th century, J.W. Arrowsmith published the Victorian comedies ''[[Three Men in a Boat]]'' (by [[Jerome K. Jerome]]) and ''[[The Diary of a Nobody]]'' by [[George Grossmith|George]] and [[Weedon Grossmith]].{{sfn|Jerome|1889}} The contemporary Redcliffe Press has published over 200 books covering all aspects of the city.<ref>{{Cite web |year=2012 |title=About Us |url=http://redcliffepress.co.uk/about-us/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120219144354/http://redcliffepress.co.uk/about-us/ |archive-date=19 February 2012 |access-date=18 April 2012 |publisher=Redcliffe Press}}</ref> Bristol is home to [[YouTube]] video developers and stylists [[The Yogscast]], with founders Simon Lane and Lewis Brindley having moved their operations from [[Reading, Berkshire|Reading]] to Bristol in 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |date=11 June 2014 |title=Company profile: Yogscast |url=http://techspark.co/company-profile-yogscast/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402110552/http://techspark.co/company-profile-yogscast/ |archive-date=2 April 2015 |access-date=12 March 2015 |publisher=TechSpark}}</ref>

== Education ==
{{Main|Education in Bristol}}
[[File:Victoria Rooms (750px).jpg|thumb|alt= A Palladian style nineteenth century stone building with a large colonnaded porch. In front a large metal statue on a pedestal and fountains with decorations.|The Victoria Rooms, owned by the University of Bristol]]
Bristol has two major institutions of higher education: the [[University of Bristol]], a [[redbrick]] chartered in 1909;<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |year=2011 |title=How the University is run |url=http://www.bristol.ac.uk/university/governance/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110706102039/http://www.bristol.ac.uk/university/governance/ |archive-date=6 July 2011 |access-date=20 June 2011 |publisher=Bristol University}}</ref> and the [[University of the West of England]], opened as Bristol [[Institute of technology|Polytechnic]] in 1969, which became a university in 1992.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Staff |year=2011 |title=UWE history timeline |url=http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/history/uwehistorytimeline.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717095746/http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/aboutus/history/uwehistorytimeline.aspx |archive-date=17 July 2011 |access-date=20 June 2011 |publisher=UWE Bristol}}</ref> [[The University of Law]] also has a campus in the city. Bristol has two [[further education]] institutions ([[City of Bristol College]] and [[South Gloucestershire and Stroud College]]) and two [[theological]] colleges: [[Trinity College, Bristol|Trinity College]], and [[Bristol Baptist College]]. The city has 129 [[Infant school|infant]], [[Junior school|junior]] and primary schools,<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of primary schools in Bristol |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/schoolfinder?Task=type&SchoolType=Primary&SchoolType=None |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203003349/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/schoolfinder?Task=type&SchoolType=Primary&SchoolType=None |archive-date=3 December 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>
[[List of schools in Bristol|17 secondary schools]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=List of secondary schools in Bristol |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/schoolfinder?Task=type&SchoolType=Secondary&SchoolType=None |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150403103832/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/schoolfinder?Task=type&SchoolType=Secondary&SchoolType=None |archive-date=3 April 2015 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> and three learning centres. After a section of north London, Bristol has England's second-highest number of [[Private schools in the United Kingdom|private school]] places.<ref name="curtis">{{Cite news |last=Polly |first=Curtis |date=29 January 2008 |title=To have and have not |work=The Guardian |location=London |url=https://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jan/29/publicschools.schools |url-status=live |access-date=29 January 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204205114/http://www.theguardian.com/education/2008/jan/29/publicschools.schools |archive-date=4 December 2013}}</ref> Independent schools in the city include [[Clifton College]], [[Clifton High School, Bristol|Clifton High School]], [[Badminton School]], [[Bristol Grammar School]], [[Queen Elizabeth's Hospital]] (the only all-boys school) and the [[Redmaids' School]] (founded in 1634 by John Whitson, which claims to be England's oldest girls' school).<ref>{{Cite web |title=A Brief History |url=https://www.redmaidshigh.co.uk/about-us-a-brief-history.aspx |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928141523/http://www.redmaids.co.uk/about-us-a-brief-history.aspx |archive-date=28 September 2015 |access-date=27 September 2015 |publisher=Redmaids' High School}}</ref>
[[File:University of bristol tower after cleaning arp.jpg|thumb|right|upright|alt=A tall stone nineteenth century with shields on the visible sides and a pepperpot upper storey. In front, traffic and pedestrians on a busy street. |The [[Wills Memorial Building]] on [[Park Street, Bristol|Park Street]], part of the university]]

[[Playing Out]] is a [[community interest company]] founded in 2009 in Bristol by Alice Ferguson and Amy Rose.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Murray |first=Stephanie H. |date=29 July 2024 |title=What Adults Lost When Kids Stopped Playing in the Street |url=https://www.theatlantic.com/family/archive/2024/07/play-streets-children-adults/679258/ |access-date=24 September 2025 |website=The Atlantic |language=en}}</ref> It supports residents to organise temporary street closures creating "[[play street]]s" so that children can play safely outside.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Reid |first=Carlton |title=Cooped-Up Children Need Car-Free Play Streets, Say Experts |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/carltonreid/2020/04/19/cooped-up-children-need-car-free-play-streets-say-experts/ |access-date=24 September 2025 |website=Forbes |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2011 |title=Let children play in the streets where they live |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/letters/8503166/Let-children-play-in-the-streets-where-they-live.html/amp/ |access-date=24 September 2025 |website=www.telegraph.co.uk}}</ref>

===Science city===
In 2005, [[Chancellor of the Exchequer]] [[Gordon Brown]] named Bristol one of six English 'science cities',<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=20 September 2005 |title=UK designates six 'Science Cities' to spearhead economic growth |url=http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/198532.article |magazine=Times Higher Education |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418233333/http://www.timeshighereducation.co.uk/198532.article |archive-date=18 April 2015 |access-date=18 April 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref>
and a £300{{nbsp}}million science park was planned at [[Emersons Green]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=20 April 2006 |title=City science park partner named |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4925556.stm |url-status=live |access-date=6 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090111151003/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4925556.stm |archive-date=11 January 2009}}</ref> Research is conducted at the two universities, the [[Bristol Royal Infirmary]] and [[Southmead Hospital]], and science outreach is practised at [[We The Curious]], the Bristol Zoo, the [[Bristol Festival of Nature]] and the CREATE Centre.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Create Centre |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/899 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120107143653/http://bristol.gov.uk/node/899 |archive-date=7 January 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>

The city has produced a number of scientists, including 19th-century chemist [[Humphry Davy]]<ref>{{Cite news |title=Sir Humphry Davy (1778–1829) |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/davy_humphrey.shtml |url-status=live |access-date=7 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090204211346/http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/davy_humphrey.shtml |archive-date=4 February 2009}}</ref> (who worked in [[Hotwells]]). Physicist [[Paul Dirac]] (from [[Bishopston, Bristol|Bishopston]]) received the 1933 Nobel Prize for his contributions to [[quantum mechanics]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dirac biography |url=http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Dirac.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314093417/http://www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk/~history/Biographies/Dirac.html |archive-date=14 March 2009 |access-date=7 March 2009 |publisher=www-groups.dcs.st-and.ac.uk}}</ref> [[Cecil Frank Powell]] was the Melvill Wills Professor of Physics at the University of Bristol when he received the 1950 Nobel Prize for, among other discoveries, his photographic method of studying nuclear processes. [[Colin Pillinger]]<ref>{{Cite web |title=barnstormpr&nbsp;– The website of Professor Colin Pillinger, CBE FRS |url=http://colinpillinger.com/barnstormpr.co.uk/biography.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120218205618/http://colinpillinger.com/barnstormpr.co.uk/biography.htm |archive-date=18 February 2012 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=colinpillinger.com}}</ref> was the planetary scientist behind the [[Beagle 2]] project, and neuropsychologist [[Richard Gregory]] founded the Exploratory (a hands-on science centre which was the predecessor of At-Bristol/We The Curious).<ref>{{Cite web |title=Professor Richard Gregory on-line |url=http://www.richardgregory.org/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305024554/http://richardgregory.org/ |archive-date=5 March 2009 |access-date=7 March 2009 |publisher=www.richardgregory.org}}</ref>

Initiatives such as the [[Flying Start Challenge]] encourage an interest in science and engineering in Bristol secondary-school pupils; links with aerospace companies impart technical information and advance student understanding of design.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Flying Start Challenge |url=http://www.flyingstartchallenge.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090205010234/http://www.flyingstartchallenge.co.uk/ |archive-date=5 February 2009 |access-date=16 March 2009 |publisher=www.flyingstartchallenge.co.uk}}</ref>
The [[Bloodhound LSR]] project to break the [[land speed record]] is based at the Bloodhound Technology Centre on the city's harbourside.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 March 2012 |title=Bloodhound Diary |publisher=BBC |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17429108 |url-status=live |access-date=30 March 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120322012139/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-17429108 |archive-date=22 March 2012}}</ref>

== Transport ==
{{Main|Transport in Bristol}}

=== Rail ===
{{Bristol railway map|collapse=yes}}
Bristol has two principal railway stations. [[Bristol Temple Meads]] (near the city centre) has [[Great Western Railway (train operating company)|Great Western Railway]] services which include high-speed trains to [[Paddington railway station|London Paddington]] and local, regional and [[CrossCountry]] trains. [[Bristol Parkway railway station|Bristol Parkway]], north of the city in Gloucestershire, but within the conurbation, has high-speed Great Western Railway services to [[Swansea railway station|Swansea]], [[Cardiff Central railway station|Cardiff Central]] and London Paddington, and CrossCountry services reaching [[Birmingham New Street railway station|Birmingham]], [[Manchester Piccadilly railway station|Manchester]] and [[Edinburgh Waverley railway station|Edinburgh]]. There are scheduled coach links to most major UK cities.<ref name="progrep">{{Cite web |title=West of England Joint Local Transport Plan 3 2O11&nbsp;– 2O26 |url=http://travelplus.org.uk/media/205985/jltp3%20march%202011.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140416183307/http://travelplus.org.uk/media/205985/jltp3%20march%202011.pdf |archive-date=16 April 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=West of England Partnership}}</ref>
[[File:Bristol Temple Meads station (6466232797).jpg|thumb|left|[[Bristol Temple Meads railway station|Bristol Temple Meads station]]]]

Bristol's principal surviving suburban railway is the [[Severn Beach Line]] to Avonmouth and [[Severn Beach]]. Although [[Portishead Railway]]'s passenger service was a casualty of the [[Beeching cuts]], freight service to the Royal Portbury Dock was restored from 2000 to 2002. The [[MetroWest (Bristol)|MetroWest]] scheme, formerly known as The Greater Bristol Metro, proposes to increase the city's rail capacity<ref>{{Cite web |title=Greater Bristol Metro |url=http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110515034151/http://www.westofengland.org/media/98508/item%2004%20greater%20bristol%20metro%2013%20march%202009.pdf |archive-date=15 May 2011 |access-date=20 September 2009 |publisher=West of England Partnership}}</ref> including the restoration of a further {{cvt|3|mi|km|0}} of track on the line to [[Portishead, Somerset|Portishead]] (a [[dormitory town]] with one connecting road), and a further commuter rail line from Bristol Temple Meads to [[Henbury, Bristol|Henbury]], on an [[Henbury Loop Line|existing freight line]]. Following numerous delays, the two lines are due to be opened in 2026.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-63633295 |title=Portishead to Bristol rail line gets final approval |website=[[BBC News]] |date=15 November 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-63454402.amp |title=Bristol YTL Arena inaccessible by train until 2026 |website=[[BBC News]] |date=31 October 2022 |access-date=15 November 2022}}</ref>

=== Roads ===
The M4 motorway connects the city on an east–west axis from London to [[West Wales]], and the M5 is a north–south west axis from Birmingham to Exeter. The [[M49 motorway]] is a shortcut between the M5 in the south and the M4 [[Second Severn Crossing|Severn Crossing]] in the west, and the [[M32 motorway|M32]] is a spur from the M4 to the city centre.<ref name=progrep /> The [[Portway, Bristol|Portway]] connects the M5 to the city centre, and was the most expensive road in Britain when opened in 1926.<ref>{{Cite news |date=3 July 1926 |title=New Bristol Road |work=The Times |publisher=Times Digital Archive |url=http://infotrac.galegroup.com/itw/infomark/783/737/77116253w16/purl=rc1_TTDA_0_CS186718947&dyn=6!xrn_39_0_CS186718947&hst_1?sw_aep=uwesteng |url-access=subscription |access-date=10 August 2016 |page=11}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Avonmouth Bridge (J18 to J19) |url=http://motorwayarchive.ihtservices.co.uk/en/motorways/motorway-listing/m5/m5-the-twyning-green-j8-to-edithmead-j22/avonmouth-bridge.cfm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160922204554/http://motorwayarchive.ihtservices.co.uk/en/motorways/motorway-listing/m5/m5-the-twyning-green-j8-to-edithmead-j22/avonmouth-bridge.cfm |archive-date=22 September 2016 |access-date=10 August 2016 |publisher=The Motorway Archive}}</ref>

[[File:Somerset north portbury dock.jpg|thumb|left|alt=Royal Portbury Dock.|[[Port of Bristol]]]]

Private car use is high in the city, leading to traffic congestion costing an estimated £350{{nbsp}}million per year.<ref name="ltp06.1">{{Cite web |year=2006 |title=Joint Local Transport Plan |url=http://travelplus.org.uk/our-vision/joint-local-transport-plan-3/let%27s-talk---read-the-draft-jltp3 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101024204219/http://travelplus.org.uk/our-vision/joint-local-transport-plan-3/let%27s-talk---read-the-draft-jltp3 |archive-date=24 October 2010 |access-date=22 July 2009 |publisher=B&NES, Bristol City, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire councils}}</ref>
Bristol allows motorcycles to use most of the city's bus lanes and provides secure, free parking for them.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Motorcycles |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/3709 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130405161630/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/3709 |archive-date=5 April 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref> In 2022, Bristol implemented a [[Clean Air Zone]] to reduce pollution by charging the most polluting vehicles to enter the city centre, with the money raised reinvested in transport.<ref name=bp-20220706>{{cite news |url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/clean-air-zone-start-date-7298957 |title=Clean Air Zone start date finally announced |last=Cork |first=Tristan |newspaper=Bristol Post |date=6 July 2022 |access-date=22 August 2022}}</ref>

=== Public transport ===

{{further|Buses in Bristol}}
Public transport in the city consists primarily of a [[First West of England]] bus network. Other providers are Abus,<ref>{{Cite web |title=Abus |url=http://www.abus.co.uk/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150828195601/http://www.abus.co.uk/ |archive-date=28 August 2015 |access-date=29 August 2015 |publisher=Abus}}</ref> [[Stagecoach West]], and [[Stagecoach South West]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Ulink |url=http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/comingtouwe/campusesmapsandtravel/bristoltravel/uwebuses |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140902094733/http://www1.uwe.ac.uk/comingtouwe/campusesmapsandtravel/bristoltravel/uwebuses |archive-date=2 September 2014 |access-date=29 August 2015 |publisher=University of the West of England}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Wessex |url=http://www.wessexbus.com/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150901052229/http://www.wessexbus.com/ |archive-date=1 September 2015 |access-date=29 August 2015 |publisher=Wessex}}</ref> Bristol's bus service has been criticised as unreliable and expensive, and in 2005 FirstGroup was fined for delays and safety violations.<ref>{{Cite news |date=21 January 2011 |title=First Bus fined for late buses in Bristol and Somerset |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12249432 |url-status=live |access-date=18 April 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925223445/http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-bristol-12249432 |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |date=25 July 2005 |title=Bus firm must reduce city fleet |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/bristol/4716023.stm |url-status=live |access-date=6 May 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080309120817/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/4716023.stm |archive-date=9 March 2008}}</ref>

Although the city council has included a [[light rail]] system in its [[local transport plan]] since 2000, it has been unsuccessful in funding the project.<ref>{{Cite web |date=March 2006 |title=Memorandum on Government Discrimination against Innovative Low-cost Light Rail in favour of Urban Diesel Buses |url=http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/sus_2.pdf |archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20081013130748/http://www.hm-treasury.gov.uk/d/sus_2.pdf |archive-date=13 October 2008 |access-date=1 January 2009 |website=Sustraco / H.M. Treasury}}</ref> Instead, Bristol has a network of five [[bus rapid transit]] routes, named [[MetroBus (Bristol)|MetroBus]], which in part run on dedicated infrastructure. The Metrobus project aimed to provide a faster and more reliable service than standard buses, improving transport infrastructure and reducing congestion,<ref>{{Cite web |title=MetroBus |url=https://travelwest.info/metrobus |access-date=24 April 2018 |publisher=Travelwest}}</ref> but has been criticised as a limited success because the routes are not fully segregated from other traffic.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/first-bus-boss-blames-appalling-3740118|title=Public money spent on metrobus 'largely wasted', says man in charge|last=Cork|first=Tristan|date=2020-01-15|website=Bristol Post|access-date=2020-02-20}}</ref> The first routes opened in 2018,<ref>{{Cite news |date=2018-04-05 |title=Bristol's Metrobus routes to start running in May |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-43653178 |access-date=2022-11-07}}</ref> and as of 2025, they connect the city centre with [[Emersons Green]], [[Bristol Parkway]], [[Cribbs Causeway]], [[Hengrove]], and a [[Park and ride bus services in the United Kingdom|park and ride]] near [[Long Ashton]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=metrobus |url=https://travelwest.info/metrobus |access-date=2022-11-07 |website=Travelwest |language=en-US}}</ref>

Three [[park and ride]] sites serve Bristol.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Park and Ride |url=http://travelwest.info/parkandride |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140328095146/http://www.travelwest.info/parkandride |archive-date=28 March 2014 |access-date=29 March 2014 |publisher=Travel West}}</ref>
The city centre has water transport operated by [[Bristol Ferry Boats]], [[Bristol Packet Boat Trips]] and Number Seven Boat Trips, providing leisure and commuter service in the harbour.<ref>
{{Cite web |title=Ferry Services |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Transport-Streets/Public-Transport/ferry-services.en;jsessionid=6D9825506E1B2B50048CD0610363B88D.tcwwwaplaws1 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100703075904/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/ccm/content/Transport-Streets/Public-Transport/ferry-services.en <!--Added by H3llBot--> |archive-date=3 July 2010 |access-date=22 August 2010 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>

=== Cycling ===
Bristol was designated as England's first "cycling city" in 2008 and one of England's 12 "Cycling demonstration" areas.<ref>{{Cite news |date=19 June 2008 |title=Bristol named first cycling city |work=BBC News |url=https://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/7462791.stm |url-status=live |access-date=16 March 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090619142521/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/bristol/somerset/7462791.stm |archive-date=19 June 2009}}</ref> It is home to [[Sustrans]], the sustainable transport charity. The [[Bristol and Bath Railway Path]] links it to Bath, and was the first part of the [[National Cycle Network]]. The city also has urban cycle routes and links with National Cycle Network routes to the rest of the Country. Cycling trips increased by 21% from 2001 to 2005.<ref name="ltp06.1" />

=== Air ===
[[File:Bristol airport overview.jpg|thumb|left|alt=An aerial view of an airport with one main runway, car parks on the left and right, and aircraft parked outside terminal buildings on the right. |[[Bristol Airport]], Lulsgate]]
In 2023, [[Bristol Airport]] (BRS), located in neighbouring [[North Somerset]], was ranked the eighth [[Busiest airports in the United Kingdom by total passenger traffic|busiest airport]] in the United Kingdom. It handled 9.9&nbsp;million passengers, an 14% increase compared with 2018.<ref name="caa2023">{{cite web |url=https://www.caa.co.uk/data-and-analysis/uk-aviation-market/airports/uk-airport-data/uk-airport-data-2023/annual-2023/ |title=CAA Airport Data 2023 |website=caa.co.uk |publisher=UK Civil Aviation Authority |access-date=5 September 2024}}</ref>
{{clear left}}

== International relations ==
[[File:castle.park.bristol.arp.jpg|thumb|alt=The walls and tower of an old ruined church set in a paved area and surrounded by a park. On the left is water with some pontoons moored and in the background office blocks, streets and church spires.|[[St Peter's Church, Castle Park, Bristol|St Peter's]] ruined church in [[Castle Park, Bristol|Castle Park]], Bristol]]
Bristol was among the first cities to adopt [[town twinning]] after World War II.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Langenohl |first=Andreas |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=q6y_BwAAQBAJ&q=Bristol&pg=PA18 |title=Town Twinning, Transnational Connections, and Trans-local Citizenship Practices in Europe |date=2015 |publisher=Palgrave Macmillan |isbn=978-1-137-02123-6 |page=18}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=A history of town twinning |url=http://www.mdrt.co.uk/post/52772293854/a-history-of-town-twinning-to-understand-the |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160122221951/http://www.mdrt.co.uk/post/52772293854/a-history-of-town-twinning-to-understand-the |archive-date=22 January 2016 |access-date=30 December 2015 |publisher=MDRT}}</ref> Twin towns include:
*[[Bordeaux]], France<ref name="Bordeaux twinnings">{{Cite web |title=Bordeaux&nbsp;– Rayonnement européen et mondial |work=Site officiel de la ville de Bordeaux |url=http://www.bordeaux.fr/p63778/europe%C2%A0et%C2%A0international |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130207154903/http://www.bordeaux.fr/p63778/europe%C2%A0et%C2%A0international |archive-date=7 February 2013 |access-date=29 July 2013 |publisher=Mairie de Bordeaux |language=fr}}</ref><ref name="Archant twinning">{{Cite web |title=British towns twinned with French towns |url=http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130705094933/http://www.completefrance.com/language-culture/twin-towns |archive-date=5 July 2013 |access-date=11 July 2013 |publisher=Archant Community Media Ltd}}</ref> (since 1947)
*[[Hanover]], Germany<ref name="Hanover">{{Cite web |title=Hanover&nbsp;– Twinn Towns |url=http://www.hannover.de/de/buerger/entwicklung/partnerschaften/staedte_regionspartnerschaften/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110724012346/http://www.hannover.de/de/buerger/entwicklung/partnerschaften/staedte_regionspartnerschaften/index.html |archive-date=24 July 2011 |access-date=17 July 2009 |publisher=Region of Hannover |language=de}}</ref> (since 1947; one of the first post-war twinnings of British and German cities)
*[[Porto]], Portugal (since 1984)<ref name="Porto International">{{Cite web |title=International Relations of the City of Porto |url=http://www.cm-porto.pt/document/449218/481584.pdf |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113054303/http://www.cm-porto.pt/document/449218/481584.pdf |archive-date=13 January 2012 |access-date=8 June 2015 |publisher=City of Porto}}</ref>
*[[Tbilisi]], Georgia (since 1988)<ref name="Tbilisi Sister Cities">{{Cite web |title=Tbilisi Sister Cities |url=http://www.tbilisi.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=4571 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130724120155/http://www.tbilisi.gov.ge/index.php?lang_id=ENG&sec_id=4571 |archive-date=24 July 2013 |access-date=5 August 2013 |website=Tbilisi City Hall |publisher=Tbilisi Municipal Portal}}</ref>
*[[Puerto Morazán]], Nicaragua (since 1989)<ref>{{Cite web |title=UK twinning links with towns, communities, schools and universities in Nicaragua |url=http://www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/solidarity/twin-towns/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505142942/http://www.nicaraguasc.org.uk/solidarity/twin-towns/ |archive-date=5 May 2014 |access-date=5 May 2014 |publisher=Nicaragua Solidarity Campaign}}</ref>
*[[Beira, Mozambique]] (since 1990)<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Sharp |first=David |date=September 2008 |title=Twinning, Cities, and Health: Opportunities Being Missed? |journal=Journal of Urban Health |volume=85 |issue=5 |pages=637–638 |doi=10.1007/s11524-008-9293-8 |pmc=2527438 |pmid=18563572}}</ref>
*[[Guangzhou]], China (since 2001)<ref name="Guangzhou twinnings">{{Cite web |title=Sister Cities |url=http://english.gz.gov.cn/gzgoven/s3712/gov_list_tt.shtml |access-date=18 November 2019 |website=Guangzhou International |publisher=The People's Government of Guangzhou Municipality |archive-date=21 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191221124217/http://english.gz.gov.cn/gzgoven/s3712/gov_list_tt.shtml |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Bristol">{{Cite web |title=Bristol City&nbsp;– Town twinning |url=http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/1630 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122000358/http://www.bristol.gov.uk/node/1630 |archive-date=22 January 2013 |access-date=27 January 2013 |publisher=Bristol City Council}}</ref>

== Freedom of the City ==
People and military units receiving the [[Freedom of the City]] of Bristol include:
*[[Billy Hughes]]: 20 May 1916.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_On/Exhibitions/Custom_Media/Freedom_of_the_City_of_Bristol |title=Freedom of the City of Bristol |url-status=dead |website=www.aph.gov.au|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190518071317/https://www.aph.gov.au/Visit_Parliament/Whats_On/Exhibitions/Custom_Media/Freedom_of_the_City_of_Bristol|archive-date=2019-05-18}}</ref>
*[[Kipchoge Keino]]: 5 July 2012.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/2012-07-05/kenyan-athlete-to-be-made-freeman-of-bristol |title=Kenyan athlete to be made freeman of Bristol |date=5 July 2012 |website=ITV News}}</ref>
*[[Peter Higgs]]: 4 July 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-23177670 |title=Peter Higgs receives the freedom of the city of Bristol |work=BBC News |date=4 July 2013}}</ref>
*[[Sir David Attenborough]]: 17 December 2013.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-bristol-25413238 |title=Sir David Attenborough awarded freedom of Bristol |work=BBC News |date=17 December 2013}}</ref>
*[[The Rifles]]: 2007, 2015.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.itv.com/news/westcountry/update/2015-04-25/rifles-march-through-the-streets-of-bristol/ |title=Rifles march through the streets of Bristol |website=ITV News}}</ref>
*[[39 (Skinners) Signal Regiment|39 Signal Regiment]]: 20 March 2019.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.army.mod.uk/news-and-events/news/2020/02/39-signal-regiment-exercise-their-freedom-of-bristol/ |title=39 Signal Regiment exercise their Freedom of Bristo |website=www.army.mod.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://news.bristol.gov.uk/news/freedom-of-city-of-bristol-conferred-on-39-signal-regiment |title=Freedom of City of Bristol conferred on 39 Signal Regiment |website=Bristol City Council News}}</ref>

== See also ==
{{portal|Geography|United Kingdom|England}}
*[[Atlantic history]]
*[[Bristol Christian Fellowship]]
*[[Bristol Pound]]
*[[Bristol power stations]]
*[[Healthcare in Bristol]]
*[[Parks of Bristol]]
*[[Subdivisions of Bristol]]
*[[Bristol Fish Project]]

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

== Bibliography ==
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*{{Cite book |last=Black |first=James R. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nGfdxtKlkqwC&q=Bristol+&pg=PA169 |title=Microparametric Syntax and Dialect Variation |date=1996 |publisher=John Benjamins Publishing |isbn=978-90-272-3643-2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105142523/https://books.google.com/books?hl=en |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book |last=Boyne |first=Walter J |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FW_50wm8VnMC&q=famous+bristol+planes&pg=PA105 |title=Air Warfare |date=1 July 2002 |publisher=ABC-Clio |isbn=978-1-57607-345-2 |author-link=Walter J. Boyne |access-date=15 March 2009}}
*{{Cite book |last=Brace |first=Keith |title=Portrait of Bristol |publisher=Robert Hale |year=1976 |isbn=978-0-7091-5435-8 |location=London}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Buchanan |first1=R A |title=The Industrial Archaeology of the Bristol Region |last2=Cossons |first2=Neil |publisher=David & Charles |year=1969 |isbn=978-0-7153-4394-4 |location=Newton Abbot |chapter=2}}
*{{Cite book |last=Burlton |first=Clive |title=Bristol's Lost City: Built to Inspire Transformed for War |date=2014 |publisher=Bristol Books |isbn=978-1909446052}}
*{{Cite book |last=Burrough |first=THB |title=Bristol |publisher=Studio Vista |year=1970 |isbn=978-0-289-79804-1 |location=London}}
*{{Cite book |last=Carus-Wilson |first=Eleanora Mary |title=Studies in English Trade in the Fifteenth Century |publisher=Routledge & Kegan Paul |year=1933 |isbn=978-1-136-61971-7 |editor-last=Power |editor-first=Eileen |location=London |chapter=The overseas trade of Bristol |editor-last2=Postan |editor-first2=M.M. |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7S78AQAAQBAJ&q=Power,+Eileen;+Postan,+M.M.+Studies+in+English+Trade+in+Fifteenth+Century.+London:+Routledge+%26+Kegan+Paul&pg=PR3}}
*{{Cite book |last=Clew |first=Kenneth R. |title=The Somersetshire Coal Canal and Railways |publisher=David & Charles |year=1970 |isbn=978-0-7153-4792-8 |location=Newton Abbot, UK}}
*{{Cite book |last=Connell-Smith |first=Gordon K. |title=Forerunners of Drake: A Study of English Trade with Spain in the Early Tudor period |publisher=Published for the Royal Empire Society by Longmans, Green |year=1954 |isbn=978-0-8371-8100-4}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Cotton |first1=Mick |title=The Official Guide to the National Cycle Network |last2=Grimshaw |first2=John |date=2002 |publisher=Sustrans |isbn=978-1-901389-35-7 |location=Bristol}}
*{{Cite book |last=Coules |first=Victoria |title=Lost Bristol |date=2006 |publisher=Birlinn Limited |isbn=978-1-84158-533-8}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Duncan |first1=John |title=Blitz over Britain |last2=Webb |first2=Edwin |date=1990 |publisher=Spellmount |isbn=978-0-946771-89-9}}
*{{Cite book |last=Elmes |first=Simon |title=Talking for Britain: A Journey Through the Nation's Dialects |publisher=Penguin Books |year=2005 |isbn=978-0-14-051562-6}}
*{{Cite book |last=Foyle |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/bristol0000foyl |title=Bristol (Pevsner Architectural Guides: City Guides) |date=2004 |publisher=Yale University Press |isbn=978-0-300-10442-4 |url-access=registration}}
*{{Cite book |last=Hunt |first=Henry |url=https://archive.org/stream/memoirsofhenryhu08463gut/8hnt310.txt |title=Memoirs of Henry Hunt, Esq. |date=1818 |publisher=Project Gutenberg |volume=3 |access-date=27 September 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150928141854/http://www.archive.org/stream/memoirsofhenryhu08463gut/8hnt310.txt |archive-date=28 September 2015 |url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book |last=Hughes |first=Arthur |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=zBlrSasr14oC&q=Bristol&pg=PP2 |title=English Accents and Dialects: An Introduction to Social and Regional Varieties of English in the British Isles |date=2012 |publisher=Routledge |isbn=978-1-4441-2138-4 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160105142523/https://books.google.com/books?hl=en |archive-date=5 January 2016 |url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book |last=Jenks |first=S. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pIVnAAAAMAAJ&q=Bristol |title=Robert Sturmy's Commercial Expedition to the Mediterranean (1457/8) |publisher=Bristol Record Society Publications |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-901538-28-4 |volume=58 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160506235500/https://books.google.com/books?ei=DIiAU5HXBMa8Pcv7gJgK&id=pIVnAAAAMAAJ&dq=isbn%3A9780901538284&focus=searchwithinvolume&q=Bristol |archive-date=6 May 2016 |url-status=live}}
*{{Cite book |last=Jerome |first=Jerome K. |url=https://archive.org/details/threemeninboatto00jero |title=Three Men in a Boat (To Say Nothing of the Dog) |publisher=J. W. Arrowsmith |year=1889 |isbn=978-0-7653-4161-7}}
*{{Cite book |last=Jones |first=Evan T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Li3Updbo4pgC&q=1558&pg=PT5 |title=Inside the Illicit Economy: Reconstructing the Smugglers' Trade of Sixteenth Century Bristol |date=2012 |publisher=Ashgate |isbn=978-1-4094-4019-2}}
*{{Cite book |last1=Jones |first1=Evan T. |title=Cabot and Bristol's Age of Discovery: The Bristol Discovery Voyages 1480–1508 |last2=Condon |first2=Margaret M. |date=2016 |publisher=Cabot Project Publications |isbn=978-0995619302}}
*{{Cite book |last=Knowles |first=Elizabeth |url=https://archive.org/details/oxforddictionary00eliz |title=The Oxford Dictionary of Phrase and Fable |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2006 |isbn=978-0-19-860219-4}}
*{{Cite book |last=Latimer |first=John |url=https://archive.org/details/annalsbristolin04latigoog |title=Annals of Bristol in the seventeenth century |publisher=William George's Sons |year=1900 |isbn=978-1-143-19839-7 |location=Bristol}}
*{{Cite book |last=Liddy |first=Christian Drummond |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n7-SVwrExnoC&q=Bristol+1373&pg=PA195 |title=War, Politics and Finance in Late Medieval English Towns: Bristol, York and the Crown, 1350–1400 |date=2005 |publisher=Boydell & Brewer |isbn=978-0-86193-274-0}}
*{{Cite book |last=Little |first=Bryan |title=The City and County of Bristol |publisher=S. R. Publishers |year=1967 |isbn=978-0-85409-512-4 |location=Wakefield}}
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*{{Cite book |last=McCulloch |first=John Ramsay |url=https://archive.org/details/astatisticalacc02goog |title=A Statistical Account of the British Empire |publisher=Charles Knight and Co |year=1839 |location=London}}
*{{Cite book |last=Newlyn |first=Lucy |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=8HYfnrv5fiwC&q=wordsworth+bristol&pg=PA9 |title=Coleridge, Wordsworth and the Language of Allusion |publisher=Oxford University Press |year=2001 |isbn=978-0-19-924259-7}}
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*{{Cite book |last=Williamson |first=J.A. |title=The Cabot Voyages and Bristol Discovery Under Henry VII |publisher=Hakluyt Society, Second Series, No. 120, CUP |year=1962}}
*{{Cite book |last=Winstone |first=Reece |title=Bristol's Suburbs Long Ago |publisher=Reece Winstone |year=1985 |isbn=978-0-900814-63-1 |author-link=Reece Winstone}}

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*[https://maps.bristol.gov.uk/kyp/?edition= Know your Place: Bristol], historic maps website.
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