Bristol is one of Britain's major cities and the largest in the south west of England. With two cathedrals and two universities, the oldest working theatre in the country, a thriving music scene, arts and media centres, it is also home to the Oscar-winning Aardman Animations. The city combines impressive architecture with modern city-centre and out-of-town shopping, a regenerated harbourside, major leisure and entertainment facilities and a famous zoo, not to mention Brunel's masterpieces, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain.

This page's links will help you to find out more about Bristol and what it has to offer by way of sightseeing, theatre, cinema, shopping, transport, restaurants, music and other attractions.

City Guides/Sport & Leisure/Eating Out

Bristol City Council
Official web site listing Council services, tourism, arts and leisure, what's on and general information about the city.

Bristol Connect
About Bristol, sights, eating out, accommodation, what's on, sport, music and shopping.

This Is Bristol
Local news and sport from the Bristol Evening Post, travel, weather, eating out, detailed theatre and cinema listings, things to do and see.

BBC Bristol Online
News, weather, music, sport, theatre, clubs, travel information and city views from the BBC.

ITV West
The Bristol-based ITV regional television company's web site features local news, weather, sport, TV listings, competitions and a what's on section with cinema, club and live music listings.

Virtual Venue
Online version of the Venue magazine. What's on, pub and restaurant guides, film reviews and other features from the paper version. Not the complete guide it once was but still useful.

Bristol Zoo
Information on visiting the zoo and its gardens, news, events, conservation and education.

Bristol-Online
Searchable directory of Bristol-related web sites in more than 20 categories, listing over 4000 links.

The Bristol Index
Directory of businesses, events, entertainment, leisure and community with good search facility. A bonus point for having Bristol Japan Club listed!

About Bristol
Pictorial tours of Bristol's landmarks and architecture and a section on famous people associated with the city.

Clifton Online
This site covers the BS8 postal district - mainly Clifton and Hotwells. History of the area, business directory and useful information, such as how to contact your local councillor, where to find a post office or cash machine and which day your dustbin should be emptied.

Japanese Restaurants
See our guide to Japanese restaurants in Bristol.

Bristol City & Bristol Rovers Football Clubs
News, history, tickets, club merchandise and player profiles for the two Bristol football teams.

What's On Bristol
Guide to where to eat and drink, what to visit, shopping, travel and local activities. There are also motoring reviews and regular features on topical items.

Digital Bristol
Public information, news, community groups, advertising and Bristol links.

Visit Bristol
Tourist guide, accommodation, attractions, travel, leisure, pubs, clubs and restaurants with searchable database.

SS Great Britain
Brunel's famous ship, launched in 1843, was the first propeller-driven iron ship to cross the Atlantic and the first of the great passenger liners. With a permanent berth in the city docks, the ship is now a major tourist attraction. This site has details of opening times, admission prices, a history of the ship and photographs.

Broadmead Shopping Centre
Guide to the city's main shopping area with directory of shops and opening times. There is a separate site for Broadmead's Galleries shopping mall.

Cribbs Causeway
Guide to the out-of-town shopping mall, restaurants and multiplex cinema.

Film/Theatre/Music/Galleries & Museums

Arnolfini
Guide to the harbourside gallery, cinema, art bookshop and cafe/bar. The Arnolfini re-opened in 2005 after a major refurbishment.

Watershed Media Centre
This popular cinema, gallery and cafe/bar complex on the city centre waterfront was Britain's first media centre. Film listings, details of events, education, courses and exhibitions.

Bristol Old Vic
The oldest working theatre in the country: general and booking information on the Theatre Royal and New Vic with details of forthcoming productions.

British Empire & Commonwealth Museum
The new national museum of the old Empire and the present Commonwealth, next to Bristol Temple Meads railway station, opened its permanent galleries in 2002. Exhibitions cover exploration and discovery, the slave trade, the communications revolution and many other aspects of the Empire and Commonwealth. Full details on this site.

QEH Theatre
Programme of forthcoming plays and exhibitions, booking information, mailing list and history of Queen Elizabeth's Hospital, the school founded in 1590, of which this theatre is a part.

Colston Hall
This 2000 seat concert hall is one of Bristol's major venues for rock, pop, classical and world music as well as occasional comedy and other entertainment. The Colston Hall is soon due to undergo massive restoration at a cost of over £20 million.

Cube Microplex
A very small venue for film, music and other arts events that are out of the mainstream, admirably run by volunteers. It's tucked away in Dove Street South, near the Bristol Royal Infirmary, but well worth seeking out.

St George's Bristol
A former church, built in the 1820s, that is now a concert hall with excellent acoustics. St George's has become nationally known for its classical, jazz, folk and world music concerts.

The Fleece
Music venue for rock and other contemporary music with an interesting mix of performers ranging from local and tribute bands to nationally famous artists on tour. It has a capacity of 330 and a large bar in the same room as the stage - very convenient!

Tobacco Factory
This theatre and cafe/bar opened in 1998 in the building formerly used as the Wills tobacco factory in Bedminster. It has a varied programme including two Shakespeare productions every year and an annual Christmas show

at Bristol
This harbourside complex, opened in 2000, includes the Explore hands-on science centre, IMAX theatre with a 21 metre wide screen and Wildwalk, a journey through the history of life on earth.

Aardman Animations
Galleries, merchandise, news and information on the Bristol-based animation company.

Travel

Bristol International Airport
Airport guide with list of destinations and flight information updated every 15 minutes.

First City Line
Timetables, contact details and other information on the principal bus operator for Greater Bristol.

First Great Western
Local train times and tickets.

National Rail Enquiries
National train times and tickets.

Education

Bristol University
Facts and figures, departments, student opportunities, vacancies, events and news about Bristol's original university.

University of the West of England
UWE is the newer of Bristol's universities and this site has details of its courses, faculties, vacancies, news and events.

Bristol's English Language Schools
Bristol is a great place to learn English - almost all the Japanese students who come to Bristol Japan Club say they are glad they chose Bristol as a place to study. See our guide to a selection of schools in Bristol offering courses to learn English as a foreign language.

Filton College
Filton College offers a range of education and training opportunities in further and higher education.