Bristol's Centre
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Click on the WWW button above for Web links about Bristol.
This page describes the sights around the Centre - this is the name given to the large parade at the bottom of Park Street and the end of Broad Quay, by the Watershed and the Hippodrome.
There has been a lot of development work taking place in the Centre in the last few years, with the construction of Millennium Promenade and New World Square, which are now completed. Bristol has long been noted for its wildlife programmes - the BBC Wildlife Unit is based here - and has hosted Wildscreen, an film exhibition of wildlife films, for many years. A permanent home has been built for this in the part of the docks by the Centre, together with Explore @ Bristol, a hands-on science museum and an IMAX cinema. In addition, the Centre has been partially pedestrianised and rebuilt.
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New World Square is behind Bristol Cathedral, and hosts the IMAX cinema, Wildscreen and Explore @ Bristol. |
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Entrance to the IMAX cinema. |
Explore @ Bristol, a hands-on Science centre. |
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New World Square also boasts some interesting statues and street art, such as these "swimming dogs", and numerous statues of famous Bristolians. |
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Statue of Thomas Chatterton in New World Square. |
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The new development links to the centre and the docks along the quayside, and with the new Perot Bridge. This bridge was named after an African slave who lived in Bristol, and connects the Arnolfini to New World Square. |
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From the bridge, you can see the newly renovated centre. |
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Nearby Queen Square is the largest true square in Europe, with an odd collection of buildings from different periods. Many of the original buildings were destroyed in the riots in 1831, where rioters gutted the Mansion House and Custom House. |
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At the end of Queen Square is St. Mary Redcliffe church, a magnificent building described by Queen Elizabeth I as "the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England". |
The Council House and Cathedral are situated just to the west of the Centre, in College Green.
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Bristol Cathedral |
The Council House |
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Park Street, which leads up towards Clifton, is a major shopping street. The imposing Wills Building at the top of the street, given to the University, looks old but was in fact built in 1925. |
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