Castles · South West England
Bristol Castle
In or near Bristol.
Bristol Castle — Norman castle in Bristol.
Wikimedia Commons contributors — see linked file page for photographer and licence licence
Plan your visit
- Typical visit
- 1.5 h–3 h
- Nearest railway station
- Bristol Temple Meads · 0.9 km
- Free entry
- Family-friendly
- Limited wheelchair access
Getting there & planning your visit
To visit Bristol Castle, the nearest railway station is Bristol Temple Meads, which is 0.9 km away. Entry to the castle is free, but wheelchair accessibility is limited. The postcode for sat-nav is BS1 3BZ.
About
Bristol Castle is a castle in the United Kingdom — fortified architecture from the medieval, Tudor, or Victorian-revival period. Designed by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester. Heritage designation: scheduled monument. Wikidata describes it as: "Norman castle in Bristol". Coordinates: 51.4559°, -2.5883°.
Photo gallery
360° view
Imagery © Mapillary contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0
Heritage listing
Bristol Castle was a Norman castle established in the late 11th century on the north bank of the River Avon in Bristol. Remains can be seen today in Castle Park near the Broadmead Shopping Centre, including the sally port. Built during the reign of William the Conqueror, and later owned by Robert FitzHamon, it became an important royal castle and was the scene of several imprisonments and executions. The castle was modified and further fortified between the 12th and 13th centuries under Robert of Gloucester and King Henry III.
From the Historic England List Entry under OGL v3.
Summary from the official site
Roxy Lanes in Bristol offers a variety of entertainment options including ten pin bowling, karaoke, and batting cages. Visitors can enjoy a mix of games and activities in a lively atmosphere, making it a great spot for groups and parties.
Read more on the official property page.
Protected designations
- Site of Special Scientific Interest: Severn Estuary SSSI
Designations sourced from Natural England open data under OGL v3.
From the Wikipedia article
Bristol Castle was a Norman castle established in the late 11th century on the north bank of the River Avon in Bristol. Remains can be seen today in Castle Park near the Broadmead Shopping Centre, including the sally port. Built during the reign of William the Conqueror, and later owned by Robert FitzHamon, it became an important royal castle and was the scene of several imprisonments and executions. The castle was modified and further fortified between the 12th and 13th centuries under Robert of Gloucester and King Henry III. By the 16th century it was mostly neglected; it was torn down in 1656 under orders from Oliver Cromwell.
Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.
Background
History
The first castle built at Bristol was a timber motte and bailey, presumably erected on the command of William the Conqueror, who retained the manor of Bristol within the royal demesne. One of William's closest allies, Geoffrey de Montbray, Bishop of Coutances, appears to have had control of the castle in William's name. The Domesday Book of 1086 records that he received part of the king's income from the borough. The castle is first mentioned in surviving records in 1088, when Geoffrey used it as a base in his rebellion against King William II. After William II triumphed, the English lands of the rebels were redistributed to his loyal followers. Among the recipients was Robert FitzHamon,…
Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Coordinates
- 51.4559, -2.5883
- District
- Bristol, City of
- Parish
- Bristol, City of, unparished area
- Postcode
- BS1 3BZ
- Parliamentary constituency
- Bristol Central
- Phone
- 0117 244 2270
- Established
- 1086
- Nearest railway station
- Bristol Temple Meads — 0.9 km
- Opening
- Monday to Wednesday 3pm–11pm; Thursday 12pm–12am; Friday 12pm–12:30am; Saturday 11am–12:30am; Sunday 12pm–10pm
- Official site
- roxyleisure.co.uk
Sources
- wikidata: Q4968836 (CC0)
- wikipedia: Bristol Castle (CC BY-SA 4.0)
- commons: Bristol Castle South Prospect.jpg (CC BY-SA 4.0)
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Frequently asked questions
- Where is Bristol Castle?
- Bristol Castle is in South-West England, United Kingdom (postcode BS1 3BZ), in the parish of Bristol, City of, unparished area.
- What is Bristol Castle?
- Bristol Castle — Norman castle in Bristol.
- How do I get to Bristol Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bristol Temple Meads, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can use postcode BS1 3BZ.
- When was Bristol Castle built?
- Built or established in 1086. Designed by Robert, 1st Earl of Gloucester.
- Is Bristol Castle a listed building?
- Bristol Castle is officially recognised as scheduled monument listed.
- Is Bristol Castle a protected site?
- Yes — Bristol Castle is part of the Severn Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
- Is Bristol Castle free to visit?
- Yes, Bristol Castle is free to enter.
- How do I get to Bristol Castle?
- The nearest railway station is Bristol Temple Meads, about 0.9 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BS1 3BZ.