Other things to do in Bristol
We would like to think that anyone visiting Bristol would consider us at Bristol Design the main attraction and activity but being realistic other things can be of interest. We are located centrally so many attractions are within 2 to 10 to 15 minutes walking distance.
A few things which might be of interest:
Caution - Clean Air Zone - Expensive for some vehicles
Bristol Clean Air Zone (CAZ)
By car We are in the Clean Air Zone, be aware of charges!! This operates 7 days/week, 24 hr/day. Newer vehicles are free, older cars and vans (Light Goods Vehicle) £9/day. Can pay charge online day before, during or shortly after entering the zone.
See notes and link to map on CAZ
Attractions
Being in the centre Bristol lots of attractions are relatively near. Not too far, 5 – 7 minute walk away is the harbour which can provide a pleasant walk or up into the University Royal Fort gardens for relaxation.
The University of Bristol’s Royal Fort Garden is just up St Michel’s Hill or along a variety of pathways. It’s a pleasant garden with some interesting sculptures. It is open to the public.
Just along the road is The Red Lodge Museum which is fine example of a Tudor home and furniture along with other examples of furniture and wall panelling. Nearly just across the street from us.
Open Monday, Tuesday, Saturday and Sunday from 11am to 4pm, and entry is free.
A good visit for anyone interested in furniture or woodcarving. They have been very helpful to some of our customers interested in furniture construction from times past. 0117 921 1360
The Georgian House Museum is also interesting and not too far away. Both have periods of being closed so worth checking the website as closed till reopening in June 2023. The Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is a few minutes along the road.
Brandon Hill, with the Victorian-era Cabot Tower. It’s a park with great views over the city and docks, place to sit on grass or benches or just have a short walk.
Theatres a couple of minutes walk away from us while the Bristol Old Vic is about 0.7 miles away.
The famous music venue in Bristol that was Colston Hall, now renamed to Bristol Beacon is a few minutes walk away. They didn’t want to keep any of that old history of slave trader and Bristol benefactor Edward Colston hence the name change. Now open for shows, drinks and food.
In the centre just along the road from the Beacon is Bristol Hippodrome. One of the most prestigious provincial theatres in the country, the Bristol Hippodrome provides a family-friendly atmosphere and offers the best in opera, ballet, concerts and of course, shows for children.
It has One of the largest theatre stages in Britain and is open.
Bristol Harbourside, i.e. The Docks, about 7 minute walk, 0.4mi. Boats, shops, bars, restaurants and just a place for a pleasant walk. Bristol Aquarium. Some weekends have festivals, concerts and more. Bristol Cathedral is along in this direction with the impressive St Mary Redcliffe Church (15th-century church full of gothic detail) a bit further.
Brunel’s SS Great Britain, 20 minutes walking distance, a mile. Can walk to the centre and take a water taxi from there. The suspension bridge is a bit further, just over 2 miles depending on route.
Shopping areas Broadmead and Cabot Circus are the two large ones. Castle Park gives a bit of green space backing these shopping area. Locally we have lots of specialist small independent shops. Sadly the clean air zone and parking problems have killed off some.
Eating: lots. Variety of cafes, pubs, restaurants nearby. At one time I counted 45 pubs within a 5 minute walk, probably more places for food now and fewer pubs.
Other tool shops
Yes we have a huge range of tools, but not everything. We generally won’t have the favourite power tool you want, or much in decorating, only a little gardening, limited amounts of old and used hardware, nothing in workshop machinery so some other choices:
Cotham Hardware, 1 Cotham Hill, Redland, Bristol BS6 6LD, 0117 973 5687. Doing hardware more than tools. Like us an independent business but with ranges of up-to-date modern hardware not always found in the big sheds
Bishopston Hardware & DIY Centre, 211 Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8NN. Paints, hardware, new mainly hand tools. Useful when we don’t have something.
Gloucester Road Reclamation Centre, known to many simply as the Yard, 347a Gloucester Rd, Bishopston, Bristol BS7 8TG. One of the strange time warp businesses, some thinking it as having a load of junk, others will see it as an absolute treasure trove of hard or nearly impossible things to find. For interior designers, film props hunting, sculptors and other artists, or people just looking for a second hand bargain its a mecca. Do visit us for tools but they have lots of other things.
Bell Tools in a couple of locations. Good for power tools and more
T.E.Stone.LTD. 82-84 West St, Bristol BS2 0BP. Shop selling fixings, OK its not tools but most tool users at one time or another need screws, bolts, nuts of various types. This is the place for both an excellent selection and reasonable prices. We highly recommend. Often wider range, better quality and less expensive then ordering online or the typical DIY store while also being quicker for collection. Tel: 01179555144
Toolstation, big chain with multiple outlets in Bristol, power tools, consumables, hardware
Screwfix, another big chain with multiple outlets in Bristol, power tools, consumables, hardware
Buck & Hickman,
Azzta Group Ltd. 86-88 West St, Bristol BS2 0BW. OK, this isn’t a tool shop but still might be of use to those of us using tools.Computer, printer and various things electronic repairs. Seem to have a philosophy similar to ours of fixing things, actually go to component level not just plug in replacement board. Tel: 01179087766
Timber supplies
Robbins Timber 0117 963 3136 http://www.robbins.co.uk Brookgate, Ashton Vale Trading Estate, Bristol, BS3 2UN stock hardwoods, softwoods, sheet material
Bristol City Timber 39 Ashton Vale Road, Ashton Gate, Bristol BS3 2HW Phone: 0117 9636683 mainly supply for building industry
Golding Timber & Board Merchants Ltd 0117 960 6813 Moravian Rd. Unit C, Kingswood, Bristol BS15 8NF softwoods, boards generally for building industry www.goldingtimberbristol.co.uk
Bristol Wood Recycling Project 0117 329 4319 Unit 4 William Street, Bristol, BS2 0RG
Scadding Timber 01179 556032 Scadding hardwoods, softwoods
Eastman & Co (Timber) 0117 966 1596 Princess Street, Bedminster, Bristol, BS3 4AG www.eastmantimber.co.uk 0117 986 1383 hardwoods, softwoods and sheet materials
Avon Plywood 0117 986 1383 Pixash Works, Pixash Lane, Keynsham, Bristol BS31 1TR https://avonply.co.uk/ mainly sheet material but some softwoods
Original Marquetry Ltd 0117 944 2640 Westbury-On-Trym Bristol BS10 5AF http://www.originalmarquetry.co.uk Not an immediate neighbour but not too far, specialists in veneers