Top 15 Famous Landmarks in Bristol, England

Full List of the 15 Famous Bristol Landmarks

We’ve divided the 15 landmarks in 2 main categories: the buildings in one hand, and all the other types of landmarks including museums in the other hand.

🏰 Famous buildings in Bristol:

1. Clifton Suspension Bridge
2. Clifton Observatory
3. Bristol Cathedral
4. St Mary Redcliffe Church
5. Cabot Tower
6. Blaise Castle
7. Wills Memorial Building Tower

🏛 Museums & other landmarks in Bristol: 

8. Brunel’s SS Great Britain
9. Banksy Graffiti
10. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
11. Bristol Old Vic
12. Bristol Zoo Gardens
13. Castle Park
14. Bristol City Docks
15. St Nicholas Market

So, here’s the full list of the Top 15 famous Bristol landmarks. Keep reading below to learn more about each of these landmarks! 👇

Famous Buildings in Bristol

In this first section, we’ve gathered all the iconic buildings you can see in Bristol, ancient or not. Let’s jump right to it! 

1. Clifton Suspension Bridge

The Clifton Suspension Bridge is not an optional attraction in Bristol – it’s a must-see!

Located on the western side of the city, the Clifton Suspension Bridge is a 19th-century chain bridge suspended 75 meters above the wild Avon River gorge. It connects Bristol’s Clifton district with the town of Leigh Woods in Somerset.

To get a panoramic view of the bridge, you can go to the Clifton Observatory preferably on sunset when the bridge lights up. It’s of course possible to cross the bridge on foot, you’ll have a breathtaking view of the city! 

2. Clifton Observatory

Located on the right bank of the Avon River across the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Clifton Observatory is an old mill, now used as an observatory.

The windmill was built in 1766 first for corn, then for tobacco, earning the nickname “The Snuff Mill”. The building was then transformed into an art studio by William West in 1828 who installed a camera obscura offering a panoramic view of the surroundings. The camera obscura is still open to the public to this day. 

Open every day of the week, the Clifton Observatory offers the best view you can get of the bridge and the city of Bristol.

3. Bristol Cathedral

Also known as the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity, Bristol Cathedral is an Anglican monument located in the city center.

Founded in 1140, its construction spanned from the 12th century to the 16th century. Mixing Romanesque, Gothic and Neo-Gothic styles, it’s the most sumptuous hall church in England.

Inside, the nave and the aisles that are of equal height impress all the visitors. Bristol Cathedral is without a doubt the most impressive building in the city.

4. St Mary Redcliffe Church

Located south of the old city, St Mary Redcliffe is the tallest building in Bristol!

Zhurakovskyi / CC BY-SA

St Mary’s is a gothic church built between the 12th and 15th centuries. Catholic and then Anglican after Henry VIII, the church was for a long time a landmark for sailors leaving for the sea. During WWII, it almost disappeared under the German bombardments and remains are still visible in the church garden.

Its exceptional size, its delicate vault, its Victorian stained glass windows, and its contemporary clock make a visit to St Mary Redcliffe Church a must-do in Bristol. 

5. Cabot Tower

Located on the highest point of Brandon Hill in the western part of Bristol, Cabot Tower is an observation tower offering stunning views over the rooftops of the city.

This 32-meter high monument was built in 1897 in memory of the explorer John Cabot who left Bristol for North America in 1497, 400 years later.

A spiral staircase provides access to the top of the tower and the observation platforms, from where you can enjoy views of some of the most remarkable landmarks of Bristol such as the towers of Bristol Cathedral and the spire of St. Mary Redcliffe. The Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain are also visible. On clear days, you can even see the rolling hills of the Cotswolds. Entry is free, so don’t miss it! 

6. Blaise Castle

Located about 20min north from Bristol downtown, Blaise Castle is a decorative building standing on the Blaise Castle Estate, alongside with Blaise Castle House. 

Built in 1766 on a site with roots stretching to the Neolithic times, Blaise Castle has had many owners and modifications throughout its history. The last family to occupy the estate was the Harford family until 1926, when it was sold to Bristol City Council. 

The estate of more than 260 hectares offers beautiful walks as well as a playground for children, a museum and a castle. You can also go for a drink in a café, have a picnic or even play cricket!

7. Wills Memorial Building Tower

The Wills Memorial Building is the 4th tallest structure in Bristol standing at 65.5 meters high, and the symbol of the University of Bristol.

The Wills Memorial Building is a Neo-Gothic building designed by Sir George Oatley in 1925. Considered one of the last great Gothic buildings in England, it now houses the University’s School of Law and the School of Earth Sciences. 

Tower tours highlight the beauty of the Great Hall and the Council Chamber. But the best is definitely the view from the top of the tower, one of the best view of Bristol you can have. 

Museums & Other Famous Landmarks in Bristol

Historic, cultural, artistic, young and vibrant, Bristol is often described as one of the most pleasant cities to live in England. In 2010, Bristol was also voted “UK Music City” and “Europe’s Green Capital” in 2015. 

Let’s discover some of the landmarks that make Bristol’s reputation! 🔎

8. Brunel’s SS Great Britain

The SS Great Britain is a former steamship that has been transformed into a ship museum since 2005.

Designed by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843, this metal steam liner was the first to make transatlantic crossings, between Bristol and New York. Retired in 1846, it was used again in 1881 to transport migrants to Australia and as a warehouse in the Falkland Islands before being abandoned in 1937.

Visiting the SS Great Britain offers an incredible experience to visitors. Through a tour of the engine room, first class cabins, dormitories and stables, you can imagine the living and traveling conditions of the time.

9. Banksy Graffitis

What would Bristol be without street art? Over the years,  Bristol has become one of the world’s capitals of street art, exhibited all over the city.

Indeed, no legal actions are taken against street artists in Bristol, that’s why some streets have become real urban art galleries.

Bristol also owes its fame to Banksy, an anonymous yet worldwide famous artist who uses urban art to convey political messages full of humor and poetry. You can find some of Banksy’s best pieces in Bristol, and lots of visitors like to hunt them either by themselves or on a guided tour.  

10. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Right next to the Wills Tower in the Clifton district, there’s a marvelous baroque building in which the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is housed.

Linda Bailey / CC BY-SA

The museum’s permanent collections cover a broad range of topics: it has a section dedicated to Assyrian and Egyptian antiquities; a natural science museum with a plethora of dinosaurs and animals; as well as a section dedicated to paintings, pottery and glassware.

The museum gained worldwide recognition in 2009 with its largest exhibition ever, a Banksy exhibition featuring about 70 of his works.

11. Bristol Old Vic

Located in the Old Town close to Queen Square, the Bristol Old Vic is the oldest continually operating Royal Theatre in the UK.

Opened in 1766, the Bristol Old Vic is a prestigious British institution known and recognized throughout the country. The theatre also has a school, one of the most highly rated in the UK for actors and all performing arts professions.

Refurbished in 2018, the Bristol Old Vic’s facade is easily recognizable and is well worth a few photos!

12. Bristol Zoo Gardens

A great place to visit in Bristol is the Bristol Zoo Gardens. It’s a great way to get green in an urban setting! 

At this zoo, you’ll see rare animal species as well as exotic and tropical plants. The Bristol Zoo Gardens are home to over 400 species of animals, including gorillas, penguins, pandas and reptiles. Playgrounds for children has been installed on site, so this family-friendly activity can be enjoyed by everyone. 

13. Castle Park

In the heart of Bristol city center, there are nearly 450 parks and green spaces but Castle Park is certainly the most worth visiting!

Heather Cowper / CC BY-NC

Located on the site of the old medieval castle, the park features the ruins of St Peter’s Church, whose tower dates back to the 12th century. According to some sources, St Peter’s Church is the very first and oldest church in the city. Destroyed and bombed in 1940 during WWII by the Nazi, it’s now a memorial to the civilian war dead.

Opened to the public in 1978, Castle Park is very popular among both locals and tourists. People come here to stroll and spend time on the lawns facing the river.

14. Bristol City Docks

The harbor district located in the heart of the city, is one of the most lively and popular places in Bristol.

The maritime heritage inherited from the glorious Middle Ages still carries the soul of the city. Restored over the last 30 years, the docks have become a place of multicultural renewal and now offer a wide range of activities including bars, restaurants and museums.

If you’re looking for an interesting walk in Bristol, take the Harbourside Walk from the city center. It’s a 1-hour walk that loops around the historic “floating harbor”, a great way to discover the area. 

15. St Nicholas Market

Very popular with locals, St. Nicholas Market is a colorful collection of stores and stalls covered and uncovered, in Bristol’s old town. A visit not to be missed!

Known as “St. Nicks” by the locals, the market started in 1743 and is still surrounded by the same beautiful Georgian buildings of this time. Bristol’s oldest market is housed in a large glass arcade, also in Georgian style, and was voted one of the top 10 markets in the UK in 2010. 

Open from Monday to Saturday, St. Nicholas Market holds 3 themed markets each week: Wednesday is the farmers’ market, Friday is the food market, while the Nails Market, dedicated to arts and crafts, takes place on Saturday.

Map of the Famous Landmarks of Bristol

To get the free map of the landmarks of Bristol, simply click on the image below to open it in Google Maps. Then click on the “star” icon to save it to your own maps.

More Landmarks in England

Want to discover more famous landmarks in England? Well, I have other posts will be useful to you!

Here’s the complete guide of all the very best English landmarks 👉 +70 Famous Landmarks in England 

And you can also find other city-based landmarks guides:

• Famous Landmarks in London
• Famous Landmarks in Liverpool
• Famous Landmarks in Birmingham
• Famous Landmarks in Leicester
• Famous Landmarks in Manchester

For more, you can also check all our UK guides.

I hope you’ve found all the information you needed to make your England bucket list through these posts. Don’t hesitate to comment below if this is the case, I would be very pleased to read your feedback!

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