Pucklechurch

Twinning Association

The Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge was designed by Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel and spans more than 240ft across the Avon Gorge. Building was finally completed in 1864 after Brunel himself had died. The bridge is accessible on foot and has spectacular views across the south of the city and is worth a visit in the evening, when it is lit by 30,000 light bulbs. There is a Visitor Centre 200m from the bridge. It tells the Bridges story through an exhibition, antique memorabilia, models, an interactive suspension bridge and art exhibition.

http://www.clifton-suspension-bridge.org.uk/

The SS Great Britain was built in Bristol docks and launched in 1843 by Prince Albert. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, she was the first iron-clad, propeller-driven ocean liner in history and at 322ft long, the largest ship in the world. The SS Great Britain is currently being restored to her former glory. Located at Great Western Dock with a maritime heritage centre and gift shop.

SS Great Britain

The SS Great Britain

The Matthew

Over 500 years ago John Cabot and his crew set sail for Asia aboard the original Matthew hoping to trade goods and commodities with the people who lived there. However, he finally arrived on the coast of Newfoundland and therefore was the original discoverer of America, not Christopher Columbus as most people are led to believe.  Today the replica of the Matthew sits proudly in Bristol harbour for all to see. The general public are able to board The Matthew as well as embark on trips around the harbour.  In 1997 the replica Matthew followed the same course as John Cabot in 1497 and sailed across to Newfoundland. It carried the same number of crew members as the original and took the same and used the same amount of time to complete the crossing.

http://www.matthew.co.uk/

Bristol Cathedral is located on College Green, just to the west of the city centre.  The Cathedral dates from the 12th century, when an Augustinian Abbey was built here. The Abbey was modified over the next couple of centuries, most notably in 1466 when the central tower was added.  Before the nave was completed the Abbey was closed in 1539, a result of the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Only 3 years later the building was re-opened as the Cathedral Church of the Holy and Undivided Trinity.  In 1868 it was decided that the Cathedral should undergo extensive restoration, the aim being to complete the nave that was never finished in the 16th century.  As a result much of the interior of the Cathedral dates from the 19th and 20th centuries. Nevertheless, the interior is impressive, and was a favourite of the church loving poet laureate Sir John Betjeman.

http://www.bristol-cathedral.co.uk/

Bristol Cathedral

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery - excellent collections in natural history, fine art, Oriental art, applied art, archaeology and geology.

Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery

Cabot Tower (just off Park Street) - a climb to the top of the 105 ft tall tower built in 1897 is rewarded with panoramic views of the city and out towards the Mendips. The tower was erected to mark the fourth centenary of John Cabot's voyage of discovery from Bristol to mainland America.

Cabot Tower

Longleat House & Safari Park

Among the many purpose-built attractions which surround the Elizabethan country house at Longleat are the world's largest hedge maze, a miniature railway, a petting zoo, a mirror maze, Dr Who exhibit, Butterfly Gardens, Postman Pat Village, and Adventure Castle. The drive-through Safari Park, opened in 1966, was the first of its kind outside Africa. Here, animals such as giraffes, Bactrian camels, elephants, monkeys, rhinoceros, deer, tigers, lions, and timber wolves roam through grassland and woodland settings. Visitors can drive through the park or board a special bus.

http://www.longleat.co.uk/

Bristol Zoo in  Clifton is set in beautiful gardens and has over 300 species of wildlife, providing a home for some of the worlds most endangered species. Visit the walk-though Aviary, Gorilla Island, Bug World, Twilight World, Reptile House and the Seal and Penguin Coasts.
http://www.bristolzoo.co.uk/

Bristol Zoo & Gardens

Dyrham Park

Dyrham Park was built between 1691 and 1702 for William Blathwayt, William III’s Secretary at War and Secretary of State. The rooms have changed little since they were furnished by Blathwayt and their contents are recorded in his housekeeper’s inventory. There are many fine textiles and paintings, as well as items of blue-and-white Delftware, reflecting the contemporary taste for Dutch fashions. Restored Victorian domestic rooms open include kitchen, bells passage, bakehouse, larders, tenants’ hall and Delft-tiled dairy.

National Trust | Dyrham Park

The Arboretum is a wonderful world of trees and shrubs.
There are 18,000 of them from all over the world, producing 600 acres of beautifully landscaped countryside. This makes Westonbirt one of the finest tree collections in the world today. However it is the combination of wild flowers, fungi, birds and animals as well as the trees themselves that make Westonbirt such a special place to so many people. This rich diversity of plant and animal life makes Westonbirt a place to visit during every season of the year.

www.forestry.gov.uk/westonbirt

Westonbirt Arboretum

Slimbridge – The Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust

Have a fantastic day out seeing, feeding and learning about wetland birds.  At the same time you will be helping the Widfowl & Wetlands Trust (WWT) to conserve wetland habitats and their biodiversity.  By the edge of the River Severn , WWT Slimbridge has over three hundred hectares of wild reserve celebrate as a refuge for the White-fronted Geese and Bewick's Swans that travel thousands of miles to spend the winter.

Welcome to the WWT official website

Cheddar Gorge is a beautiful valley  where limestone cliffs reach up 150 m from the valley floor.  The Cheddar Showcaves actually are two caves, the larger Gough's Cave, and Cox's Cave.  The tour includes both caves and also the Cheddar Man Museum, a Dungeons & Dragons Adventure called the Crystal Quest, Jacob's Ladder, Pavey's Lookout Tower and an open top Bus tour of Cheddar Gorge.

http://www.cheddarcaves.co.uk/

Cheddar Showcaves & Gorge

Wells Cathedral

Wells Cathedral is the highlight of any visit to the small city of Wells. It has intricate Gothic carvings, one of the earliest mechanical clocks in the UK, a unique scissors vault, a marvellous chapter house and the splendid vicars' hall. It is mostly a product of the 12th-14th centuries and embodies the very finest early Gothic architecture.

http://www.wellscathedral.org.uk/

The great caves of Wookey Hole have been famous since Roman times. Carved out by the mysterious river Axe, the caverns penetrate deep into the beautiful Mendip Hill; some have yet to be explored. Today visitors enjoy a fascinating tour through the most spectacular caverns.

High quality handmade paper has been produced at Wookey Hole Papermills for nearly 400 years. This ancient craft has almost disappeared, but here you can still see paper made as it was in Shakespeare's day, in Britain's last handmade papermill.
http://www.wookeyhole.com/

Wookey Hole Caves & Papermill

Bath Abbey

Bath Abbey is a dominant landmark on the standing at the heart of the city of Bath.  Now over 500 years old, it was built on the site of a Saxon monastery, where the first King of Bath was crowned in 973. The Abbey has some of the finest fan vaulting in the country, and beautifully restored stonework .  Beneath the Abbey Vaults Museum tells the story of 1600 years of Christianity in Bath, and is well worth a visit.

http://www.bathabbey.org/

The Royal Crescent was designed by John Wood the Younger and completed in 1767. A majestic sweep of 30 houses behind 114 Ionic columns, it is often described as the finest in Europe. For a glimpse of how wealthy residents lived in the 18th century, visit the museum at No.1, restored by Bath Preservation Trust in the style of an authentic Georgian interior.

The Royal Crescent

Bristol Industrial Museum

Bristol Industrial Museum - Buses, boats, trains and planes- the Bristol Industrial Museum in the historic city docks has something for everyone from its collection of road and railway vehicles associated with Bristol, a floor devoted to aircraft and maritime including a mock-up of a Concorde flight deck, models of early ships and the history of the port. The biggest attractions like the Mayflower, the world's oldest working steam-tug, and locally built steam trains are outside.

The Roman Baths, built in the 1st and 4th centuries AD are form part of the Roman Baths Museum, located in the Abbey Courtyard.  The centre piece of the complex is the Great Bath, with its adjacent Circular Bath where the bathers would cool off. These formed the basis of the Roman Baths, and you can still see the original Roman paving around the baths.  You can also see the remains of the temple of Minerva, and the more recent King's Bath which dates from the 12th century.  As well as the baths themselves, the museum contains an excellent selection of Roman coins and jewellery that have been found at the site.

http://www.romanbaths.co.uk/

The Roman Baths & Pump Room

Beckford’s Tower and Museum

Beckford's Tower was built in 1827 for William Beckford, one of the nation's most accomplished and interesting characters. He used the Tower as a retreat, to study, to house some of his precious art collection and rare books and to enjoy the commanding view from the Tower's Belvedere. 
Visitors to the Tower can enjoy climbing the Tower's beautiful spiral staircase up to the luxuriously restored Belvedere and admire the panoramic view over the surrounding countryside. 

Harveys Wine Museum, Denmark St.  Located in 13th century cellars in the ancient heart of the city, is a unique experience marking Bristol's long association with the wine trade. Contains many old, and rare wine artifacts and an outstanding collection of early English crystal drinking glasses. The museum offers tours and tutored wine-tastings.

http://www.harveysbc.com/

Harvey's Wine Museum

Avebury

One of the most important megalithic monuments in Europe and spread over a vast area, much of which is under National Trust protection. The great stone circle, encompassing part of the village of Avebury, is enclosed by a ditch and external bank and approached by an avenue of stones. Many of the stones were re-erected in the 1930s by the archaeologist Alexander Keiller. The site Museum, including a new exhibition in the 17th-century thatched threshing barn, presents the archaeological story of Avebury.