UCAS Applicants' Parents/Guardians Information for Open Days
Photograph of a park within Clifton
Parents or Guardians are welcome to accompany applicants on their visit to the School of Modern Languages and are welcome to join the Parents and Guardians talk at 2.30 p.m. Alternative suggestions as to what those who are accompanying applicants can do during the day are given below. In order to aid your visit please refer to the Map of the centre of Bristol.
Places to Eat
Park Street, Queen’s Road and Whiteladies Road are a short walk from the School of Modern Languages, and have a large number of restaurants and public houses that serve meals. Alternatively both the University Refectory in the Hawthorns complex and the University Union in Queens Road are open for coffee from 10.00 am and lunches from 12.00 – 2.00 p.m.
Shopping
Photograph of an area within Clifton
Close to the School of Modern Languages, Park Street, Queen’s Road and Clifton Down have a good range of smaller shops together with larger stores such as Laura Ashley and Habitat.
The Broadmead Shopping Centre is the main city centre shopping area and is approximately 10 minutes walk from the School of Modern Languages. Broadmead contains large Department Stores (Debenhams) and the usual range of high street stores (Marks and Spencer, BHS, etc.) and an extensive indoor shopping mall containing stores of various sizes.
The Cribbs Causeway Regional Shopping Centre is located on the outskirts of Bristol; about 20 minutes drive from the School of Modern Languages. The centre, which includes a newly built indoor shopping mall, contains many well-known high street names (John Lewis, Next, Marks and Spencer, Boots, Argos, Toys R Us, B&Q).
Sightseeing
Photograph of people walking within Clifton
Bristol has a long history. The City was founded over two thousand years ago by the Romans, and grew slowly but steadily over the next thousand years. By 1100, the Cathedral had been built and the City was established as a Port. By the 1500’s Bristol was a thriving port, second only to London in England. Throughout the years when sailing ships plied the oceans, Bristol remained England’s second port, with most of the trade of the Americas passing through the City Docks. Once the steam age arrived the ships grew larger, so navigating the twisting River Avon into the City became increasingly difficult and the docks started losing trade to newer ports such as Liverpool.
The City Docks are no longer used for commercial traffic. A walk around the dock area, or a trip on the ferry will give you a good idea of much of Bristol’s history. The SS Great Britain built about 160 years ago by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, was the forerunner of all modern ships. As well as being by far the largest ship of her time, she was the first ocean going vessel with an iron hull and screw driven propeller. Moored alongside the Great Britain is the Mathew, a replica of the ship used by John Cabot in his expedition of discovery to North America 400 years ago.
Probably Bristol’s most famous landmark is the Clifton Suspension Bridge, designed by Brunel, but completed after his death, the bridge spans the Avon Gorge from Clifton to Leigh Woods. On the Clifton side of the bridge are the Downs and the Observatory. On the other side is Leigh Woods an area of outstanding scenery and well worth a short walk.
Bristol boasts several important churches. The Cathedral dates back to Norman Times, the medieval St Mary Redcliffe was referred to by Queen Elizabeth I as the fairest Parish Church in her Kingdom, while the Roman Catholic Cathedral in Clifton is a modern concrete building that has won may design awards.
For a more relaxed view of the city you may wish to use the Bristol Open Top Guided Bus Tour.
Museums and Galleries
Bristol is very well endowed with Museums, etc. The City Museum and Art Gallery is just a short walk from the School of Modern Languages as is the Royal West of England Academy. The Red House and the Georgian house are good examples of Georgian home in the City. On the Docks there is an Industrial Museum as well as two Art Centres, the Arnolfini and the Watershed. Nearby these attractions the @Bristol centre is based which includes the Imax Theatre, Explore and Wildwalk.
For further ideas of how to spend your time in Bristol please view the Visit Bristol site.