Something about Bristol

[Spinxsta]

I've been to Bristol a couple of times to do tourist stuff in the past and have recently been a few times for work. There's something about it that gives me the heebie jeebies!

It's not like I feel unsafe or think it's grim but there's something my monkey brain doesn't like. It gives me a creeping sense of doom and I've never felt such relief to be on the M5.

I seen posts on here before about people getting squiffy at certain places. What's it all about? Any rational explanations?

I'm not woo but I'm starting to think it was the scene of my murder in a previous life!!

@WhereIdeasBloom

Van dwellers are people who live in vans and park mainly on The Downs which is a large grass and woodland area at the top of Clifton / Redland on the edge of the Avon Gorge. It's surrounded by large Victorian and Georgian houses. As there are no facilities for the van dwellers, homeowners complain of people defaecating in the bushes or in their gardens.

Your corner of Bristol may have no problem with van-dwellers but it’s a simple fact that it’s a major issue for the city as a whole, not least because it’s a symptom of the city’s housing crisis.

You have a different definition of ‘snobby’ to me if you feel that not wanting to find human shit outside your house or when your children are playing on the Downs is snobbery .

I don't 'get' Bristol. Most old towns/cities have a recognisable centre but Bristol just seems a disorganised blob. I can't see where the heart is.
It doesn't help that they are so anti-car; I can never find my way around, they seem to try to confuse and confound on purpose.
And we all know that the Council is so "open-minded" that its brain has fallen out.

There are lots of different bits of Bristol, sure, but many of them are great. I never drive to Bristol anymore though.

Me too! It feels like they joy is being sucked out of me, it’s such a relief to get out of the place!

Wow this is interesting!! I love Bristol but felt exactly the same in Tooting! The moment I step out of Tooting station, I can feel my mood drop. I even quit a job there because I couldn’t be in the area. It’s difficult to explain and I’m not sure why some of us feel this way

Bristol was at the centre of the transatlantic slave trade. Over half a million Africans were traded by Bristol merchants. I'm the very opposite of a woo person, but think a place holds on to the energy of it's past.

I agree, it feels like a dark, horrible, oppressive place and I couldn't wait to leave.

Historically St Augustines Parade was the centre, but the council have fucked about with it so much its just a glorified roundabout with fountains.

I live in Bristol and absolutely love it. I picked it as a place to move to by myself in my 20s. As with any city, there are some grim parts, but it's surrounded by lovely countryside, has the harbour side, quirky shops and a sense of individuality. The approach from the M32 into the city centre is particularly uninspiring. I am an anxious person, yet found myself feeling at home in the city. I'm not quite sure what has triggered this feeling in you. Perhaps you grew up in a different type of environment which feels more at home for you?

Southmead = North Henleaze 😆

Bath is beautiful (imo) but is often weirdly empty in the evenings. Which I don't understand given the number of tourists and students. Oh and incredibly busy during the day!

I love Bristol! Never go to broadmead but the rest of the centre is lovely. I have only ever found bristol to be artistic, friendly, welcoming. It has a strong independent side and strong sense of identity.

It has a very edgy creative edge which combined with a lot of poverty - the vibe changes and it's not for everyone. Im talking about stokes croft. Although personally I've always felt comfortable enough there, take my.toddler there, walk alone there. Never had a problem.

Like many cities there are areas that are deprived and not great. If you only saw those it wouldn't feel like a nice place.

But if you knew about the harbourside and north steet with its Sunday market, the city farms, Clifton village, Cotham Hill, the neighbourhoods around BS6, Ashton court and leigh Woods etc, you'd have a very different experience!

Most of us Bristolians live in the outskirts of Bristol and use local shops . You very rarely hear a Bristolian accent around the centre or Broadmead .

Southmead = Lower Brentry.

I like parts of Bristol but it's got bad memories for me, so...

Wow, lots of replies!!

The feeling isn't related to deprived areas, homelessness, students, hipsters, or van-dwellers. It's sense of generalised impending doom that doesn't appear to have any cause.

I travel around all over the place for work. I've worked in some of the most deprived areas of the UK and have been in some sticky situations with some less desirable types. So I'm not in a gilded (car) cage looking at poor people with a face like the Georgian lady in Ghosts!

It's just a very weird feeling that I get every time I've been.

What is this hum of which you speak?!!

I agree and I live there! 😂

Love Bristol, but don't get me started on the weird feeling I get in Nempnett Thrubwell...

Maybe you were Blackbeard the Pirate in a former life OP.

The way my bikini line is looking at the minute, I could well have been!

Is it the weird feeling that you can't quite pronounce it correctly!

I was born in Bristol and live here. The city has got an edgy feel to it and it is much bigger and more gritty than first time visitors actually expect. However, the OP has discounted such factors and says her feelings are more "woo" for want of a better word. The only place in Bristol I get a similar feeling is in the vicinity of St James Barton (around the area of the bus station). I get a sense of unease and heaviness weighing on me. I know there is a large plague pit there and the nearby Haymarket was notorious for holding bear bating and other such horrors, but all of this could be said for most old British cities. Bath creeps me out but I put that down to it being contained in a valley and didn't someone mention Radon?

@Threewheeler1

I used to have a very good friend in Nempnett Thrubwell if you don't mind, to say nothing of the Wurzels!

You've redeemed it now 😁I didn't know the Wurzels hailed from Nempnett!
I think it's because it always sounds a bit throbby, if you know what I mean...!