The largest city in south-west England, home to about half a million people, Bristol has a reputation for creativity and sustainability and is made up of many varied and vibrant areas. As well as being awash with awesome street art (like Shoreditch), including by the inimitable Banksy, it also boasts a fascinating maritime heritage and stunning Regency architecture.
Bristol is also where I went to university, in the days before I became really interested in street photography and slow travel. Which is why, having not been back in about 15 years, I recently felt inspired to return (a few times) and rediscover the city through the prism of street photography. On each occasion I walked pretty much the same route, albeit in different directions. So here it is – my street photography in Bristol walk, encompassing the city’s most interesting areas:
Start (or end) in Clifton
Bristol is a city of hills so exploring it on foot will give you a good workout (another reason I enjoy street photography). Atop one of those hills is the delightful Clifton neighbourhood (1.), which is among England’s nicest urban residential areas. It’s also home to Bristol’s most iconic landmark – the Clifton Suspension Bridge, which hangs high above the River Avon. A great view of it awaits on Clifton Down, an area of parkland above Clifton village, and that is where this street photography in Bristol walk begins.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is still an amazing spectacle today, so it’s not hard to imagine what a wonder of engineering it must have seemed when completed in 1864. Then the longest bridge in the world, it took 33 years to build. And it was designed by a 24-year-old local engineering whizz named Isambard Kingdom Brunel, who left an incredible legacy in Bristol and Britain (here’s a great article about him).
From the Clifton Down, meander down into Clifton village, a lovely area replete with cosy cafes, historic pubs, independent shops and stunning Regency townhouses. If you like that sort of thing then be sure to visit Royal York Crescent, almost an open-air museum of the Georgian period.
Other unique sites here are The Lido, Bristol (outdoor swimming pool, opened in 1850! Now an upmarket spa) and Birdcage Walk, a tranquil lime-tree-lined path through the historic churchyard of the former St Andrew’s Church, flattened by World War II bombs. I was struck by its wonderfully peaceful aura.
The Triangle & Park Street
After exploring Clifton, head down Lansdown Road (or alternatively Pembroke Road) followed by Queen’s Road, eventually arriving at The Clifton Triangle (2.), a large and busy triangular roundabout with shops and eateries where many roads converge. Here you could call into the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, housed in a grand Edwardian building and hosting three floors of absorbing art, archaeology and natural history.
Next door, admire the grade II listed neo-Gothic Wills Memorial Building, part of the University of Bristol. Then set off directly downhill following the straight and steep Park Street (3.), populated by a good range of art, book, clothes and coffee shops. Perhaps detour right briefly to climb to the top of Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill for panoramic views of Bristol.
Then, pause roughly halfway down Park Street on the left hand side to admire a clever piece of graffiti by world-famous street artist Banksy. Depicting a cheating housewife and her naked lover hanging from a window ledge, it’s called Well Hung Lover and adorns the side of a sexual health clinic. Banksy hails from Bristol and has done numerous witty, politically charged works in his native city. So much so that Banksy-themed walking tours are a unique offering here.
Harbourside
At the bottom of Park Street, a few more steps will bring you to Bristol’s historic Harbour (4.). Formerly the Port of Bristol, this played a huge role in the city’s history. During the days of empire many ships set sail from here to discover and trade in the likes of the West Indies and North America.
But that had a dark side too as the Bristol docks found themselves at the centre of the trans-Atlantic slave trade (prior to the abolition of slavery in the British Empire in 1807). Thankfully attitudes have completely changed since then, as demonstrated by the 2020 toppling of an 1895 statue of Edward Colston, a local MP and now-notorious slave trader, by members of the Black Lives Matter movement.
In recent times the Harbour has been revamped into a recreational and residential area, with an added accent on tourism. Former warehouses have been converted into cultural spaces with surrounding cafes. One such place is M Shed, a museum telling the stories of Bristol’s people, places and life. You can also take ferry tours and hop aboard the museum-ship SS Great Britain, the world’s first iron steamer and another innovation by the brilliant Brunel.
Old City & city centre
From the Harbour, amble across to the nearby Old City (5.), Bristol’s medieval core which was once surrounded by fortified walls erected by the Normans. Extensive Nazi bombing during the Bristol Blitz wiped out much of the historic atmosphere. Nevertheless, the lively St Nicholas Market is still a major draw on Saturdays, and I enjoyed looking for street shots here. What’s more, the covered part of the market happens in the former Corn Exchange, an impressive Grade-I listed building.
Another area I liked in the Old City vicinity was Castle Park, extending along the River Avon. Bristolians congregate here in good weather. And adjacent to it is the modern city centre (6.), a typically dull UK town centre full of fast food and high street brands. But it’s worth strolling through as you may encounter a unique street moment amid the melee of shoppers.
Finally, if you still have time, head up the A38 to the arty, alternative area of Stokes Croft (7.). Look out for another Banksy work here, The Mild Mild West (created in 1998 amid protests against the opening of a Tesco Express), and peruse the independent shops, cafes, bars and eateries that this area is renowned for.
Last word
After a day’s photography you could also sample Bristol’s buzzing nightlife and entertainment scene. The city has a dynamic and distinctive music scene, in addition to countless bars, pubs and nightclubs, and film and theatre venues.
However, I came purely to have a good walk around and do street photography. For that Bristol proved an enjoyable location and made a nice change from strolling the same old streets in London. An added advantage is that Bath, another great UK city for travel and street photography, is only a dozen or so miles away.
Here are some more photos I took in Bristol:
