Strictly speaking, there isn't a city centre in Bristol?the River Avon and floating harbours carve the centre up into various parts. But rather than being a problem, this has meant each area has developed a distinctly different feel?and what better way to spend your time here than discovering what these are?

The Harbour

Against the backdrop of the harbour are bars, restaurants, cinemas and art galleries (The Arnolfini and Watershed), making this a great place for a stroll. It's also home to the award-winning attractions of the At-Bristol complex and is where you'll find Bristol Tourist Information Centre as well. Visible across the water is Bristol Industrial Museum and slightly further along the water's edge, are the city's two famous ships?The Matthew and SS Great Britain. In the summer, this area really comes alive and Bristolians like nothing better than to sit on the quayside, legs dangling over the edge of the water, enjoying a pint or a coffee. Take a trip around the water on one of the small ferries for the best view of it all.

Park Street

Park Street, home to the historic Cathedral (usually surrounded by crowds of enthusiastic skateboarders) is possibly the trendiest street in the city and is lined with shops, bars and cafes, all with a certain student-flavour?perfect if you're looking for an alternative to all the usual high-street stores. If you're heading up to the top (be warned, it's steep), take a look at The Georgian House and Cabot Tower, both off Great George Street. Also nearby are The Red Lodge and The City Art Gallery and Museum?great for a rainy day.

Ancient City/Modern Shopping

Corn Street, one of Bristol's oldest and most historic streets, was once the meeting place for the city's wealthy merchants, hence the ornate and grand buildings. These now house numerous bars and restaurants?some are rather mass-produced but others offer superb and refined dining, such as Lord's and San Carlo. Halfway up is the fascinating St Nicholas Market?a sprawling grid of alleys and stalls selling all kinds of gifts and produce. After you've had your fill of history, follow the crowds to what is the city's busiest shopping area, Broadmead?a criss-cross of pedestrianized streets packed with all the leading chain stores, in the middle of which is an indoor shopping mall, The Galleries Shopping Centre. It's brash, not particularly pretty and only worth a visit if money is burning a hole in your pocket, in which case it's perfect.

Cotham and Redland

Travel up Christmas Steps and onto St. Michael's Hill, both well worth a look for their classic old boozers such as The Highbury Vaults and lively cafes such as St. Michael's Cafe is the students' choice for a fry-up and you'll reach the Cotham and Redland areas. Mainly residential, with beautiful old houses and leafy streets, they're still worth a visit for their cafes, pubs and restaurants?Red Snapper and Blue Juice to name just a few - and shops! There are masses of charity shops for those after a bargain, plus specialty shops selling, amongst other things, fine wines, kites and vintage clothes. You'll notice a definite hippie, studenty, eco-conscious feel in the air around here.

Clifton

Clifton contains the grandest architecture and atmosphere in the whole city and to leave Bristol without seeing all it offers would be a crime! It's an absolutely gorgeous place and a wander round here leaves you with the impression that you've somehow stepped back into time. You can visit all its attractions?Clifton Suspension Bridge, Clifton Observatory and Caves, and Bristol Zoo Gardens for example?or just stroll around, taking in all the marvellous Georgian terraces with their iron balconies. Be sure to check out the Royal York Crescent, which is the finest and most well-known terrace in Bristol! Clifton Village is perhaps THE most sought after place to live in the whole city?it's rich and it shows. All of which makes it a great (if slightly expensive) place for shopping?don't miss Clifton Arcade, full of small, independent, antique stores. As expected, there's an equally good number of restaurants, pubs and cafes?mostly full of the city's rich students and well-off professionals. Whiteladies Road is also part of Clifton and apparently the name is nothing to do with Bristol's slave-trading past, but refers to an old nunnery here, whose inhabitants wore white habits. Known as "The Strip" there are masses of lively, funky bars, pubs and restaurants here, making it the main drag for those young, pretty and with money in their pockets. Perfect if you want a night out but don't want to trail all over the city. Check out Bar Humbug, Dragon Kiss and Henry Africa's Hothouse?just to name a few!

Montpelier, St Paul's and Gloucester Road

Also close to the city centre, these areas are the favoured residence of the city's bohemians and "alternative" types. Parts are rather shabby and run-down, but let's just call that character! Of interest in Montpelier are Picton Street and York Road, site of a great Italian deli, a couple of cafes (Bristolian and One Stop Thali) and one of the best restaurants in the city, Bell's Diner. St Paul's is home to the magnificent St Paul's Carnival, an annual street-party of enormous popularity and nation acclaim, which celebrates the African and Caribbean community here, and usually attracts around 100,000 revellers over two days. Gloucester Road is the city's alternative "Strip" (see above) and is a long, extremely lively street packed with bars, restaurants and shops, all offering something a little different from the norm. Well worth a look?a stroll along here would take you virtually a whole day!

Easton

This area is characterised by its multi-culturalism and even has its own festival?Respect in the West?which celebrates its diversity. Home to a large number of Bristol's Indian, Bangladeshi, Afro-Caribbean and Somalian communities, it's a somewhat neglected area but well worth exploring. It houses Bristol Sweet Mart, the largest stock of Indian foods in the South West and is an excellent choice for a those wanting to dine out cheaply: try The Eastern Taste or Old Casbah Cafe on busy St. Mark's Road.

South of the River

Finally, over the river are Southville and Bedminster. Victims of a north-south divide, these areas are thought of by some as a cultural wilderness! Certainly, there isn't the grandeur of Clifton and the shopping is pretty poor, but don't write it off just yet. First of all, there are plenty of really cheap B&Bs round here, so you may well find yourself staying here if on a budget; secondly, it's only a fifteen minute walk into the harbour area of the city; lastly, the area itself is actually experiencing a bit of a renaissance at present. The acclaimed Tobacco Factory Theatre and art space opened last year and houses a branch of Teohs, one of the city's most popular Chinese/Thai restaurants. And for those of you that like live music, try the Albert?known globally as a centre for folk and jazz music.

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