Harbourside
Harbourside is the area around Bristol's Floating Harbour in the city centre, the old docks now lined with museums, arts venues, bars, offices and flats. The Floating Harbour was created in the early nineteenth century by holding the water at a constant level behind locks, so that ships stayed afloat whatever the tide in the River Avon, which has one of the highest tidal ranges in the world.
In practice
When shipping moved to larger docks at Avonmouth, the city-centre harbour was gradually reinvented. Today it is home to M Shed, the museum of Bristol's history; the Arnolfini contemporary arts centre; the Watershed cinema and media centre; the SS Great Britain; and a mix of restaurants and offices. Ferries run along the harbour as a commuter and leisure service, and the waterside is the setting for festivals through the summer.
Why it matters to newcomers
Harbourside is where Bristol meets for festivals, after-work drinks and weekend walks. Harbour ferries are a pleasant way to cross the centre, and many cultural events you will be invited to happen here.
Related
- SS Great Britain - in her dry dock on the harbour
- Pay on the nail - the merchant city behind the docks
- Banksy - whose work has been shown nearby