Bristol in brief....
Blackbeard and assorted pirates, Daniel Defoe and his famous creation, Robinson Crusoe, and famous engineer, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, are just a few of the colourful characters with strong connections to this fascinating city that was mentioned in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle of 1051. In those days, it served as a regular trading port between England and Ireland and, despite its relatively small harbour, it has since played a major role through centuries of sea-going history throughout the globe. Exploration, innovation, circumnavigation and sheer derring-do are tempered by less noble activities - such as slavery and the import of tobacco.
In the early 18th century, privateer Governor Woodes Rogers rescued Alexander Selkirk from a lonely 5 years on Juan Fernandez Island, where he'd been marooned. It was this experience that allegedly inspired Daniel Defoe, one of Woodes Rogers drinking cronies at The Llandoger Trow, a favourite haunt of sea-going folk. Alexander became immortalised as Ben Gunn, a leading character from Defoe's masterpiece Treasure Island.
Another famous resident was Edward Teach, better know as Blackbeard, who sailed the Caribbean, plundering unwary merchant ships.
But even this bloodthirsty pirate was eclipsed by arguably the most illustrious citizen of all - Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The floating harbour which he designed with a special lock is still used today, sectioning off the central harbour for ships and other craft where they could rest in safety, regardless of the tides. Brunel also created the Great Western Steamship, the first of many passenger ships to sail between Bristol and New York in 1837. Six years later, Brunel launched another first - the ss Great Britain, a propeller-driven vessel with an iron hull, which crossed the Atlantic in 1843, voyaed to Australia and served as a cargo ship in the Crimean War.
In 1970, SS Great Britain was restored to its former glory and is now one of Bristol's historical attractions.
Today, less people use the waterways and more people use the local airport, Bristol Internationla Airport (BRS). For parking at Bristol Airport, why not use Bristol Valet Parking.