English Courses in Bristol
Overview
Bristol (population 428,000) is as well known for Isambard Brunel’s elegant Clifton Suspension Bridge as it is for Banksy’s street art and Aardman Animations, creators of the plasticine superstars Wallace and Gromit. It’s little wonder that innovative museums packed with objets d’art and historic relics have been set up here. This combination of attractions make Bristol an amazing place for a holiday. A visitor can start an intrepid adventure of this southwest city at flamingo lagoons, monkey islands or the depths of the Amazon at the city’s aquariums and zoo, or meander along the River Avon’s locks and gorges. Shopaholics can head to the Bristol Shopping Quarter, a collective of galleries, malls and independent shops. With so many places to visit in Bristol, visitors will be spoiled for choice.
Some facts about Bristol:
- In 2017, The Sunday Times named Bristol “The UK’s Best City” for living, based on results from a nationwide survey it conducted.
- Bristol is located just 120 miles (192 km) west of London and 12 miles from the spectacular Bath, a UNESCO heritage city, and 45 miles from Cardiff.
- It is the largest city in the Southwest of England, and England’s fourth largest city.
- Bristol has been a wealthy trading port since the Roman era.
- John Cabot sailed from Bristol to help “discover” North America in 1497, and as a result, this port city is known as the “Birthplace of America.”
- The city played an important role in England’s maritime trade in tobacco, wine, cotton and other goods.
- Today, Bristol is a buzzing, multicultural university city of 400,000.
- The infamous pirate Captain Blackbeard once had a hideaway cave under St. Mary Redcliffe church. His original birthplace and childhood home still stands on Bristol’s harbourside.
- Hollywood legend Cary Grant (Archibald Leach) was born in Horfield, Bristol. Grant’s first role in theatre was working at The Bristol Hippodrome.
- Bristol is the only UK city to have won the title European Green Capital for 2015.
Language Schools and Camps in this Destination
In Bristol, Marshall Language Services also works with the following English language schools:
- EC Bristol
- International House (IH Bristol)
Please contact us for more information.
Images of Bristol, United Kingdom
Things to Do and See During a Vacation Study
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Designed in the early 19th century for light horse-drawn traffic, it still meets the demands of 21st century commuters with 11-12,000 vehicles crossing it every day. The Clifton Suspension Bridge’s spectacular setting, spanning the cliffs of the Avon Gorge has made it an iconic symbol of Bristol, drawing thousands of visitors to stroll across for views of the ancient Avon Gorge, the elegant Clifton Village and the magnificent city beyond.
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta
The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is Europe’s largest annual meeting of hot air balloons, held in August. It attracts over 150 Hot Air Balloons, and the site hosts a large number of trade stands, fairground rides and entertainment.
Bristol Street Art
The visitor will struggle to not find a cutting-edge piece of graffiti art decorating the Bristol’s walls. Banksy hails from here; the elusive graffiti artist extraordinaire has an enormous collection of artistic works featured on streets, walls and bridges all over the world, and has inspired a new generation to take to the streets to create innovative and dynamic art in this medium.
The Bristol Hippodrome
The Bristol Hippodrome is a theater staging productions of all kinds, including West End and Broadway productions, musicals, ballet, opera, concerts, comedians or children’s shows.
Royal West of England Academy
The Royal West of England Academy (RWA) is Bristol’s finest art gallery. Its lively program of exhibitions celebrate the best of historic and contemporary British art, including artists from Turner and Constable to Fedden and Nash, and work by its own Academy students, who include some of the country’s leading artists.
Bristol Old Vic Theatre
Bristol Old Vic is the longest continuously-running theatre in the UK and following a recent £12 million redevelopment project, is now one of the most modern and comfortable with state of the art rehearsal rooms, a dramatically extended forestage and precision-engineered sightlines giving audiences an even more intimate theatrical experience.
Cabot Circus
Cabot Circus in Bristol is a uniquely-designed, modern shopping center in the heart of the Bristol Shopping Quarter.
Bristol Cathedral
Bristol’s beautiful and historic Cathedral is located on College Green in the West End of the city. The site came into prominence in 1140 when Robert Fitzhardinge founded the previous Abbey of St Augustine. The Chapter House and Abbey Gatehouse remain clear to see, and the other remains are located in the Bristol Cathedral School.
Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill
Cabot Tower, set in the gorgeous parkland of Brandon Hill near Park Street in the West End, is a 105ft (32m) tower built in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot’s famous voyage from Bristol and the continent of North America four hundred years earlier. Brandon Hill is the oldest park in Bristol, where the visitor can enjoy great views over the city and Harbourside area.
Smoke and Mirrors Boutique Pub & Magic Theatre
Smoke & Mirrors is the UK’s only Boutique Pub & Magic Theatre, located in the heart of the theatre district.
Cox and Baloney Tea Rooms
This gorgeous tea room is open daily for breakfast, lunch and afternoon tea, and even evenings with gin and cheese platters.It serves quintessential English favourites like finger sandwiches, traditional cream teas and homemade cakes, all in vintage china.It even has its own tea brand of 14 different types of loose leaf tea.
Other attractions in Bristol:
- Peter “Pirate Pete” Martin’s tours of Bristol’s darker history.
- Pero’s Bridge, named after Pero Jones, the African servant of a plantation owner.
- John Wesley’s New Room, in Broadmead, the world’s oldest Methodist church.
- The forty-room Hotel du Vin, a restored 18th century former sugar factory featuring loft suites, a library, and a celebrated bistro.
How to Arrive at your Language Course
By Air
Bristol Airport is located just a few miles south of Bristol City Centre with direct services to over 100 destinations across Europe. Airlines operating at Bristol Airport include Aer Lingus, bmi regional, KLM, Brussels Airlines, Blue Islands, Wizz Air, Aurigny, SAS, EasyJet and Ryanair. Easyjet has a very convenient direct flight to Bristol from Rome.
More information about Bristol Airport is available here.
By Bus and Coach
Bristol Bus Station is situated on Marlborough Street, near Broadmead Shopping Centre. National Express coach services operate from the bus station to cities across the UK, including direct bus services to London Heathrow (approximately 2 hours) and Gatwick airport (approximately 3 1/2 hours). Megabus operates from Bristol to London and Cwmbran, and Greyhound operates from Bristol Airport to Swansea via UWE, Bristol bus station, Newport and Cardiff.
By Rail
Bristol Temple Meads is the main railway station, situated approximately 15 minutes’ walk from the City Centre. The 8 and 9 bus services run frequently between Bristol Temple Meads Station and the city center, Broadmead and Cabot Circus.
CrossCountry trains operate between Bristol Temple Meads and Birmingham, the North East, Edinburgh and Penzance. First Great Western run regular services to Bristol from London Paddington, Reading, Swindon, Bath, Taunton, Exeter, Plymouth, Cardiff, Gloucester and Cheltenham. More information about these services is available here.
More information about traveling to Bristol is available here. Train tickets can also be booked here.