If you know Bristol

[Insidelaurashead]

Where would you recommend for someone new to the city visiting for the first time? I've got MShed, street art hunting and that's about it. And I always find the best way to see a city is through other people's recommendations so if you have one I would love to hear it. (thank you to anyone who does)

Second vote for St Nicks market.

Best view of Bristol is from the giants cave on the downs. You go down through the old tobacco mill (restored as a labour of love over the past many decades by one family) and can see out across most of the city from a platform suspended outside a cliff entrance hole. (No good if you don't have strong legs though and I cannot recomend for anyone claustrophobic or over 6 foot, some bits of the tunnel get low and narrow.)

If you like history, st James Priory (by the bus station). It's the oldest building in Bristol (C12 in parts I think, thought possibly C13). Really interesting past, which also explains various place names for central bristol and a decent amounts of Bristol history. Robert the bastard is buried there.

Really recomend the Arnolfini as a lovely dockside cafe. Could fit in with a boat trip - either the ferry ones around the docks (extensive, takes an hour or so), or the packers narrow boat ones, which go up the Frome (?) I think. The ferry also goes to the SS great Britain, rather than a bit of a schlep around the less beautiful bits of the docks...

Don't go to the M shed if you have no children. It's hard to underestimate how crap it is. Such a shame; the museum it replaced was much better, if battered about the edges.

Red lodge and Georgian house are closed until September, but both good once open again.

Arnosvale cemetry is beautiful. I used to go there every single day, It's lovely in every season. Some bits are so thick it doesn't matter if it's pissing down.

St Nick's Market is excellent for lunch and a little potter.

The Old Vic is a lovely theatre if there's anything you might like on when you go; much nicer than the hippodrome in the centre. In a road of pretty good pubs/bars for before or after too and very central so easy for transport.

That's interesting about M Shed @Herja it sounds to me a little like Liverpool People's Museum which I love, but I'll read up a bit more on it for sure

It was an excellent idea, worked in partnership with many knowledgable people and members of the public.

Then they sort of left it at that and never updated anything, it is exactly the same today as when they transformed it, even down to the temporary school contributions. Just each year it gets a bit older, tireder and less relavent in the case of some items related to different areas of Bristol. I also know for certain fact that they have far more interesting artefacts in the warehouse next door, that they have never shown since it became the Mshed - this makes me a bit grumpy I admit.

If you like the idea, it's worth a look. I'd have a half hour look in an afternoon based round the rest of the harbourside area though, rather than an afternoon at the Mshed though iyswim.

Bloody hell the Bag O Nails is now a cat pub? It was a rough as fuck drinkers pub when I lived there (loved it mind!)

Is the Mardyke still rough though? Always an entertaining night there

As has been mentioned Ashton Court estate( look for the deer ) Blaise castle estate ( old mill, giants soap dish etc castle was meh tbh) Brandon hill ( good views) and I loved Arnos Vale ( was just looking at some pictures I took there a couple of years ago, very gothic )

I also liked the Frome walkway especially Snuff Mills and Oldbury estate
Wandering around near St Werbughs city farm, Narroways, The Yards houses, Mina road for places to eat, microbreweries

I was surprised to learn that about the Bag O Nails too!