My Britain: Bristol

“All the serious bands, all the punks, came from Bristol” - Roland Orzabal of Tears For Fears

- Roland Orzabal

Alright my lover? At the heart of the West Country, the city of Bristol is known for its outgoing, friendly residents, vibrant music and food scene and, of course, its most famous son—the anonymous but prolific graffiti artist Banksy.

The name of the city derives from the Old English Brycgstow, which means place at the bridge, and suitably enough, today the Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of the city's best known landmarks, providing a spectacular backdrop for the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, in which hundreds of hot air balloons from around the world take off across the city.

Bristol is also known as a media hub and is home to the BBC Natural History Unit, producing such beloved shows as David Attenborough's Life On Earth, Blue Planet and Planet Earth. Aardman Animations—the studio behind Wallace and Gromit and Shaun the Sheep—are also based out of Bristol, making the city a must-visit for stop-animation fans.

John Nation

Known as the Godfather of graffiti and Banksy's mentor, John Nation narrates a new self-guided tour as part of Where the Wall for the ultimate COVID-secure street art experience, accessed by smart phone. Visit wherethewall.comit's just another part of Bristol that makes me smile.

What do I love about Bristol? Where do I begin? There are so many reasons. Firstly the people. It's cosmopolitan, multicultural, vibrant, free-spirited, full of rich history, great architecture, diverse art and it's very political. I love the Bristolian accent too.