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The Atlas Obscura Guide To Bristol

32 Cool, Hidden, and Unusual Things to Do in Bristol, England

Updated September 18, 2024

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Unusual Attractions in Bristol

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History 5
History & Culture 5
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The annual pipe walk (shown in red) moves north from the ancient well, through neighborhoods and Victoria Park, before veering west to follow a 19th-century diversion.

This Annual Pipe Walk Maps a Medieval Tradition in Bristol

The St. Mary Redcliffe Pipe Walk honors a legal agreement dating back to the days of Richard the Lionheart.
by Frank Jacobs
A close-up of the newly discovered folio fragments reveals the handwriting of two different scribes.

Found: An Early Merlin Tale, Hidden for Centuries

The fragments tell a new version of the magician's encounter with the enchantress Viviane.
by Sarah Durn
One of 15 pub cats at the Bag of Nails.

Inside England's Accidental Cat Pub

Feline fans flock to the Bag of Nails, to the surprise of the owner.
by Ulrike Lemmin-Woolfrey
In Bristol, England, members of a Black Lives Matter protest topple a statue of Edward Colston, a slave trader and key figure in the founding of the city, on June 7, 2020.

Keeping Track of Monument Removals Could Be a Full-Time Job

So data scientist Emily Gorcenski created When They Came Down to crowdsource the stories behind the topplings.
by Britta Shoot
There’s Merlin’s name in the text recently discovered by librarian Michael Robinson.

Found: A 13th-Century Tale of Merlin and Arthur, Reused as Bookbinding

The early text can help scholars understand how the legend evolved over time.
by Noor Al-Samarrai

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