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Clifton Suspension Bridge -
Photo:
Philip Halling
CCL |
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Boasting the longest
Georgian crescent in the country, Clifton’s
prosperity dates back to the 18th century when
it became home to many affluent Bristolians.
Its chief modern attraction, however, is the
702ft Clifton Suspension Bridge, which towers
245ft above the dramatic Avon Gorge and
attracts visitors from across the globe. |
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The magnificent structure
was the first major commission undertaken by
Britain’s greatest engineer, Isambard Kingdom
Brunel, who sadly died in 1859 at the age of
53 before the cash-strapped project could be
finished.
Clifton’s Roman Catholic cathedral is
remarkable in having taken only three years to
build in the 1970s while Clifton Observatory
stands high on a hill above the Avon and
contains the only camera obscura in the
country open to the public. |
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The Observatory Clifton -
Photo:
Richard Thomson
CCL |
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Hippo Bristol Zoo - Photo:
William J Bagshaw
CCL |
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The 19th century
observatory was created in a disused windmill
by the artist William West.
Nearby is St Vincent’s Cave, otherwise known
as Giant’s Cave, and Bristol Zoo, which stands
on local downs. |
