BRISTOL

Bristol is the largest city in the south west of England, 105 miles (169 km) west of London, and 44 miles (71 km) east of Cardiff, with a population of approximately half a million. The city lies between Somerset and Gloucestershire and has been politically administered by both counties in part at various times. However, Bristol is historically a county in its own right and is properly entitled the City and County of Bristol.

The city grew up around the original junction of the River Frome with the River Avon, adjacent to the original Bristol Bridge in the eleventh century. Despite its inland harbour location, in the 17th and 18th centuries, was one of the world's greatest ports.

The city has two universities, the University of Bristol and the University of the West of England, and a variety of artistic and sporting organisations and venues including the Royal West of England Academy, the Arnolfini, Spike Island, Ashton Gate and the Memorial Stadium. It is connected to London and other major UK cities by road and rail, and to the world by sea and air: road, by the M5 and M4 (which connect to the city centre by the Portway and M32); rail, via Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway mainline rail stations; and Bristol Airport.