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The Great Britain Guide

Historic libraries · South West England

Bristol Central Library

In or near Bristol.

Paid admission♿ Wheelchair accessible

Bristol Central Library — a Grade I-listed library in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Horizon House - geograph.org.uk - 2596371

Neil Owen — CC BY-SA 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons licence

Plan your visit

Typical visit
45 min–1.5 h
Nearest railway station
SS Great Britain · 0.5 km
  • Paid entry
  • Wheelchair accessible

Getting there & planning your visit

To visit Bristol Central Library, the nearest railway station is SS Great Britain, which is 0.5 km away. Entry is paid, and the library is wheelchair accessible. The postcode for sat-nav is BS1 5DB.

Directions on Google Maps →

About

Bristol Central Library is a Grade I-listed building in wales-south, United Kingdom. Grade I status is conferred by Historic England (or Cadw, Historic Environment Scotland or NIEA equivalents) on buildings of exceptional national interest. See the linked Wikipedia article for full historical and architectural details.

Photo gallery

Summary from the official site

Bristol Central Library offers two floors of interactive exhibits and activities designed to engage visitors of all ages. Guests can explore hands-on science experiences, enjoy live shows, and journey through the stars in a 3D planetarium.

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 Central Library is a historic building on the south side of College Green, Bristol, England. It contains the main collections of Bristol's public library. Built in 1906 by Charles Holden, its design was influential in the development of Edwardian Free Style architecture. Holden would later go on to build the Edward VII Memorial Wing of the Bristol Royal Infirmary, giving Bristol two of its most highly regarded Edwardian buildings. The Library has been designated by Historic England as a Grade I listed building.

Excerpt from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0. See the source article linked in Sources below.

Background

Architecture

In 1899 Vincent Stuckey Lean left a bequest of £50,000 to replace Bristol's old public library building on King Street. An architectural competition was organised, and won by the firm of H. Percy Adams with designs by his assistant Charles Holden, at a cost of £30,000. The new library was built on land adjacent to the historic Abbey Gatehouse, and opened in 1906.

Sourced from Wikipedia under CC BY-SA 4.0.

Coordinates
51.4516, -2.6021
Parish
Bristol, City of, unparished area
Postcode
BS1 5DB
Parliamentary constituency
Bristol Central
Phone
+44 117 915 1000
Established
1906
Nearest railway station
SS Great Britain0.5 km
Opening
Tuesday to Sunday 10am–5pm; closed 24–26 Dec

Sources

Other places nearby

Nearby

Statue and Bristol Cathedral - geograph.org.uk - 3618871📷 3

Public art & sculpture · South West England

Rajah Rammohun Roy

Rajah Rammohun Roy — a public art in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕wethecurious.org
Bristol City Hall - geograph.org.uk - 5309943Flagship📷 5

Cathedrals · South West England

Bristol Cathedral

England's only true hall-church cathedral, with unique star-shaped vaulting.

FreeGrade I👶bristol-cathedral.co.uk
Roof interior of Horizon House - geograph.org.uk - 2596336📷 3

Public art & sculpture · South West England

You Don't Need Planning Permission to Build Castles in the Sky

You Don't Need Planning Permission to Build Castles in the Sky — a public art in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕wethecurious.org
Stood out in the yard - geograph.org.uk - 7659610📷 3

Memorials & monuments · South West England

The College Green Enhancement Scheme

The College Green Enhancement Scheme — a memorial in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕bristol-street-art.co.uk
Bristol, the west front of the Cathedral seen from City Hall - geograph.org.uk - 5428913📷 4

Gardens · South West England

Old Council House, Bristol

Old Council House, Bristol — a garden in wales-south, United Kingdom.

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Ancient Doorway - geograph.org.uk - 6453513📷 4

Memorials & monuments · South West England

William Friese-Greene

William Friese-Greene — a memorial in wales-south, United Kingdom.

Free🐕bristol-street-art.co.uk

Where to eat & stay near Bristol Central Library

Places to stay

Looking towards Millennium Square, Bristol - geograph.org.uk - 3010249📷 5

Hotels · South West England

Ibis Bristol Centre

Ibis Bristol Centre — a hotel in wales south.

Freeibis.com
Queen Victoria's statue - geograph.org.uk - 2543255📷 7

Hotels · South West England

Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel

Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel — a hotel in england south west.

marriott.com
Posting on Prince Street - geograph.org.uk - 7627633📷 5

Hotels · South West England

The Bristol Hotel

The Bristol Hotel — a hotel in england south west.

Freedoylecollection.com
Lost for words - geograph.org.uk - 8223648📷 5

Hotels · South West England

Radisson Hotel Blu

Radisson Hotel Blu — a hotel in england south west.

radissonblu.co.uk
Bristol's worst urban eyesore^ - geograph.org.uk - 6805046📷 5

Hostels · South West England

YHA Bristol

YHA Bristol — a hostel in england south west.

Freeyha.org.uk
Benchmark on Royal Oak Avenue - geograph.org.uk - 2546573📷 5

Hostels · South West England

Harbourside Hostel Bristol

Harbourside Hostel Bristol — a hostel in england south west.

Places to eat & drink

Ancient Doorway - geograph.org.uk - 6453513📷 7

Cafés · South West England

Siam Angel Cafe

Siam Angel Cafe — a café in wales south.

Park Street at night - geograph.org.uk - 7541988📷 5

Historic pubs · South West England

Mauretania Public House

Mauretania Public House in Wales South, United Kingdom.

Bristol Time - geograph.org.uk - 8158853📷 5

Cafés · South West England

Costa

Costa — a café in wales south.

Posh for fish and chips - geograph.org.uk - 6918172📷 7

Restaurants · South West England

Pot pot malatang

Pot pot malatang — a restaurant in england south west.

Avery's cellars (4-7) - geograph.org.uk - 5534215📷 5

Cafés · South West England

Crafty Beans

Crafty Beans — a café in wales south.

Pero's Bridge - geograph.org.uk - 5075590📷 7

Restaurants · South West England

Za Za Bazaar

Za Za Bazaar — a restaurant in england south west. Cuisine: regional. Brand: Za Za Bazaar.

Other works by Charles Holden

55 Broadway interior 3📷 5

Gardens · London

55 Broadway

55 Broadway — a garden in england-london, United Kingdom.

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Labyrinth ^220, Southgate - geograph.org.uk - 6666867📷 5

Historic houses · London

Southgate tube station

Southgate tube station — a Grade II*-listed historic house in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free👶southgatemosque.co.uk
Acton Town tube station - geograph.org.uk - 2625549📷 5

Historic houses · London

Acton Town tube station

Acton Town tube station — a Grade II*-listed historic house in england-london, United Kingdom.

Free👶ltmuseum.co.uk
Pedestrian crossing outside Balham Underground station - geograph.org.uk - 2719834📷 5

Heritage railway stations · London

Balham tube station

Balham tube station — a Grade II*-listed railway station in england-london, United Kingdom.

Freerrflondon.2day.uk

More places in this region

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Historic libraries · South West England

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Devonport Library — public library in Plymouth, UK.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Bristol Central Library?
Bristol Central Library is in South Wales, United Kingdom (postcode BS1 5DB), in the parish of Bristol, City of, unparished area.
What is Bristol Central Library?
Bristol Central Library — a Grade I-listed library in wales-south, United Kingdom.
How do I get to Bristol Central Library?
The nearest railway station is SS Great Britain, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can use postcode BS1 5DB.
When was Bristol Central Library built?
Built or established in 1906. Designed by Charles Holden.
Is Bristol Central Library a listed building?
Bristol Central Library is officially recognised as Grade I listed.
Is Bristol Central Library a protected site?
Yes — Bristol Central Library is part of the Severn Estuary SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest.
How do I get to Bristol Central Library?
The nearest railway station is SS Great Britain, about 0.5 km away. Drivers can navigate to postcode BS1 5DB.