Bristol by Rail Tour from London with Bristol Ferry tour

Paddington Station, London, UK

Dive into Bristol's rich maritime history by exploring the city by boat with a Bristol Ferry day ticket. The iconic yellow and blue boats have been brightening up Bristol’s Harbour and showcasing the city's wealth of history and maritime heritage to locals and visitors alike.

Bristol Ferry Boats serve 7 landing stages: Temple Meads, Castle Park, City Centre, Wapping Wharf, ss Great Britain, Mardyke Wharf and The Cottage. You can hop on, hop off, or if you stay on, the full tour is 80 minutes.

Discover unique galleries, browse independent shops, and indulge in delicious local food and ale at the city’s many welcoming pubs and breweries. You’ll also find some of the best shopping around, from the popular Cabot Circus to quirky finds in St Nicholas Market and Clifton Village.

Fascinating Facts about Bristol:

1. Birthplace of Banksy - Bristol is the hometown of the mysterious street artist Banksy, whose politically charged and thought-provoking art remains throughout the city. 
2. Home of the Clifton Suspension Bridge - This world-famous bridge, designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, is a marvel of 19th-century engineering. Spanning the dramatic Avon Gorge, it offers stunning city views and has become one of Bristol’s most iconic landmarks.
3. A City of Bridges - While the Clifton Suspension Bridge is the most famous, Bristol has more than 45 bridges crossing its many waterways and rivers - ancient stone crossings, modern footbridges with sleek, minimalist designs, and more.
4. A city built on maritime history - Bristol was once one of the most important port cities in the world. You can still see traces of its maritime legacy at the Harbourside, where old docks have been transformed into a lively hub of restaurants, bars, and cultural venues. 
5. Bristol invented the 'Bristol Sound' - The city has a rich musical heritage, producing influential bands and artists like Massive Attack, Portishead, and Tricky. This unique blend of hip-hop, dub, and electronic music became known as the Bristol Sound, the trip-hop genre of the 1990s.
6. Filming location for TV and movies - Bristol has been a backdrop for popular TV shows like Sherlock, Doctor Who, and His Dark Materials. 
7. Home to the world's first bungee jump - The first-ever modern bungee jump was performed in 1979 from the Clifton Suspension Bridge by Oxford University Dangerous Sports Club members. This daring stunt sparked a worldwide craze for bungee jumping.
8. Birthplace of chocolate bars - Did you know that the first-ever chocolate bar was invented in Bristol? The Fry family created the first solid chocolate bar in 1847.
9. Balloon Fiesta - Bristol hosts the annual Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, one of the largest ballooning events in the world. 
10. The city inspired 'Wallace and Gromit' - The creators of Wallace and Gromit, Aardman Animations, are based in Bristol. The city's quirky character is often reflected in the studio's beloved stop-motion films like Chicken Run and Shaun the Sheep.
11. Bristol was a key player in aviation history - The Bristol Aeroplane Company was one of the first major players in the global aviation industry. The company played a crucial role in developing iconic aircraft like the Concorde, parts of which were built in Bristol.
12. Bristol has an underground river - Beneath the streets of Bristol flows the River Frome, which was diverted underground in the 19th century. You can still see parts of it near the Harbourside, which is crucial in the city’s flood defences.