Bristol Essentials

Bristol Essentials & Tourist Information

Currency	UK Pound Sterling
Time Zone	GMT
Language	English
Voltage	240 V AC (UK three-pin plugs)

Bristol Tourist Attractions
The city offers plenty of history and fun for all ages during a long weekend in Bristol. Nearby is the charming Berkeley Castle, England's oldest inhabited residence and dates from the 12th century. View the austere Great Hall and guest rooms which have accommodated royal guests since the Tudor period. There are lovely landscaped grounds and a tropical butterfly house to enjoy. Entrance to the castle and grounds costs £7.50. A very differnt day out is to the remarkable Wookey Hole Caves - these is the UK's most spectacular underground network of caverns and offers so much more than natural wonders. There is also a kids' theme park, museum and circus that will provide a full day of thrills and entertainment for all ages. Entrance fees start at £10.00 with various concessions available. 

Bristol Opening Hours
The busy shopping days in the major cities of the UK, including Bristol are on Saturdays and to a leser extent, on Sundays. Typical opening hours of shops are from 9am until 5.30pm with many staying open until 8 or 9pm. There are many supermarkets nowadays that operate 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and operating hours on Sundays for many shops are reduced, with an opening time of 10am until 4 or 5pm.

Tipping & Etiquette in Bristol
Where a service charge is not automatically added to a restaurant bill it will usually say 'Service charge not included.' The amount to leave as a tip is up to your discretion and a figure of 10% would be sufficient for a satisfactory meal. Taxi drivers, bar staff, hotel porters and hairdressers often expect some reward for a professional service and will be content with one or two pounds as a reward.  

Bristol Food & Drink
Traditional cuisine in Bristol has been heavily influenced by the West Country landscape, rich in cheese making, livestock farming and apple growing. Combining two of these is a traditional pork and cider casserole which is still a popular lunchtime meal and found on many pub and restaurant menus along with numerous variations using fish, chicken and turkey. Other well known regional specialities include beef cobbler and West Country faggots and gravy. A visit should definately sample authentic farm house cheddar cheese still produced locally and renowned worldwide. It makes an ideal filling in a Ploughman's lunch or as an after meal dessert with dry Avon biscuits.     

Bristol Useful Numbers
• Police – 999
• Ambulance – 999
• Fire – 999

Disabled Access in Bristol
Disability awareness is very high amongst businesses in Bristol and there is a wide range of pubs, restaurants and hotels that offer easy access and toilet facilities for those with special needs. Many popular attractions have gained awards for disabled access including the Bristol City Museum and Gallery. However there are several impressive stately homes that surround the city which are less accessible due to the preserved architecture and age of these buildings. There is free on street parking for disabled badge holders and every public car park has dedicated parking bays for the disabled. Most public taxis and some private hire vehicles are adapted for the carriage of wheelchair users.  

Bristol City Breaks  Getting Around Bristol

Things To Do In Bristol  Bristol Weather