Bristol: Birthplace of Wallace & Grommit

I didn't know this before I went to Bristol, but I learned that Aardman, the creators of Wallace & Grommit, are based in Bristol. Apparently because of their success, Bristol has attracted a total of 50 animation studios and is the hotbed of animation in the UK. Who knew?

Besides that, Bristol has three other prominent features: The Floating Harbour, The SS Great Britian and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The Floating Harbour makes Bristol the "Venice of the North." You can get all over town via ferries and water taxies. See the picture below. Yes, that's a swan about to get run over by the ferry. I assure you, though, that the swan got out of the way.


The SS Great Britain was the first iron hulled steamship ever built to feature a screw propeller. Essentially it was a passenger liner that failed at it's main task due to design flaws and inexplicable navigational errors by its captain. The ship made only two round trips to New York. However, after being refit, she made a long history of service running the England to Australia passage. The SS Great Britain, however, is another museum that I didn't actually visit. The museum wants 11.95 pounds for admission. Why would I pay 12 pounds to see the inside of a ship, when I can see the outside for free? Some these places need to get real with their pricing.


The Clifton Suspension Bridge was a fantastic sight. It's simply a suspension bridge that crosses the Avon Gorge at Clifton, but it's a beautiful sight.



Finally, I'll give you my favorite experience in Bristol. On Saturday night, I took a co-worker's advice and went over to the Hotel du Vin just to have a drink. The hotel was upper crust, but I didn't feel out of place in my t-shirt and jeans. The bar area was designed in a rustic fashion and they were playing Michael Bublé. I ordered a bottle of Gem, an amber ale brewed in Bath. I'm not particularly a fan of Bublé but something about the combination of the location, the ale, and the music was uber relaxing. I didn't take any pictures; I'm keeping this memory to myself. If you get a chance to hang out at the Hotel du Vin, however, I'd highly recommend it.