10 Facts About Bristol

Interesting Facts About Bristol You Didn’t Know

Historic Facts About Bristol

Blackbeard’s home

Edward Teach, better known as Blackbeard the Pirate was born in Bristol in the late 1600s and would go on to become one of the most infamous pirates in history with a long-standing legacy left in the city. Sailing the British colonies and West Indies on the Queen Anne’s Revenge, Blackbeard and his fearsome crew plundered many merchant vessels before finally meeting his demise in 1718 in North Carolina.

The first chocolate Easter egg

Bristol is a pioneer at many things, but one of many super interesting facts about Bristol is that the chocolate Easter egg was invented in the city. It was during Easter 1873 that Bristol-based chocolate producer, Fry’s, first concocted the treat which has since become an unwavering tradition. Shortly after the success of the Easter egg, chocolate rival Cadbury’s copied the idea and it soon caught on across the country.

World’s first bungee jump

Bungee jumping is world famous today, but someone had to do it first and it was David Kirke in Bristol. Back in 1979, Kirke, a member of the Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club, was the first to take the plunge and jumped from Clifton Suspension bridge. Harnessed into his bungee cord, Kirke would live to tell the tale but shortly after the historic leap he found himself in the back of a police car.

First city to elect a Black mayor in Europe

In 2016, Marvin Rees added his name to the city’s history books by becoming the first mayor of black African heritage in a major European city. His mission is to build on Bristol’s proudly diverse and multicultural heritage for a fairer, more inclusive world – undoubtedly a huge part of why Bristol remains such a forward thinking city today.

Famous People & Pop Culture

Birthplace of JK Rowling

One of the most interesting facts about Bristol is that it’s home to J.K. Rowling, author of the global phenomenon Harry Potter series. Born on the outskirts of this great city, Rowling’s experiences living in the West Country would inspire many of the names and places in the books. Apologies to any residents from Dursley!

Home of Wallace & Gromit

When you think of Wallace and Gromit, the picturesque Yorkshire Dales, cobbled roads and Northern accents probably spring to mind. So an interesting fact about Bristol that might surprise you is that while the beloved characters were famously created by Nick Park, the shows are produced at Aardman studios in Bristol.

Darth Vader’s roots

David Prowse was the actor who played Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy from the 70s and 80s. The actor grew up in Bristol, having been raised in Southmead and attended Bristol Grammar School.

Arts, Music & Culture

Banksy’s origins and works

Bristol’s thriving street art scene is world famous largely thanks to the work of graffiti artist Banksy, born and raised in Bristol. His identity has never been confirmed, but his work started to crop up across the city in the 1980s, many of which you can still see today. Keep an eye out when you’re exploring Bristol and Clifton.

Birthplace of Drum & Bass

The city’s nightlife is well-known and loved for its variety – in fact, you’d do well to check out our guide to the best nightclubs in Bristol – but a fun fact about Bristol is that it’s considered the birthplace of Drum and Bass (DnB). Throughout the 80s, the city was driving sound system collectives that would eventually give rise to Massive Attack, Roniz Size and DJ Krust. By the 90s, jungle music had taken hold and Bristol was firmly on the map for pioneering DnB music and still is now with plenty of venues holding club nights and raves to celebrate all things bass.

Aardman Animations

We’ve mentioned in our fun facts about Bristol how Wallace and Gromit was produced by Aardman Animations. However, the studio deserves its own shoutout because since 1973 it has been responsible for producing some of the famous and recognisable characters in UK culture. They’re also responsible for Chicken Run, the highest-grossing stop motion movie of all time.

Local Life

Bristolian dialect

One of the many interesting facts about Bristol is it has its very own dialect. You’ll hear this referred to as Brizzle, Bristle, or Bristolese, and it actually originated from the Anglo-Saxon expansion into the West of England so is a long-standing city-wide tradition. While the people of Bristol now represent a much more diverse mix of race and cultures, the distinctive local dialect is still very much alive.

Unique local phrases

A few Bristolian phrases to get you started, handy for when you’re exploring the city or looking for student accommodation in Bristol.

– Gert lush – this means ‘quite nice’.

– Alright me luvver – another way of saying ‘how are you?’

– Cheers drive – this is how Bristolians thank bus drivers when they alight.

– Where’s it to? – this is a way of asking ‘where’s that?’

Street food

The city’s Gloucester Road is famous for having one of the longest stretches of independent shops and restaurants in the UK. It’s a brilliant place to explore if you love food, coffee and discovering unique local businesses and best of all it’s just a short bus ride away from your student accommodation in Bristol.

Nightlife culture

On top of a bustling restaurant, bar and club scene, and some of the best nightclubs in Bristol, the city is home to countless activity bars where you can do anything from bowling and mini golf to arcade games and darts. Often with accompanying music, full bars and food being served, these places are great for a student night out in the city.