BRISTOL ENGLAND – 5 Nights with Kids

Welcome to jolly old England!

Unfortunately, we didn’t get enough time in England, but it was a great introduction since we’d never visited Bristol. Even with just 5 nights, we managed to visit the aquarium, surf man-made waves, watch the Lion King musical, participate in a wild street festival, relax at Clifton, and explore old Tyntesfield.

Here to share our experience, my incredible daughter:

Arrival and Family

After Mom drove on the wrong side of the road for a few hours, we arrived in Bristol! We have a nice AirBnB with a view of an English Garden in Bishopton.  It was walkable to some great restaurants and shopping on a very quiet street.

Cousin Cassie and her dog Obie came over after we arrived. OBIE is a cute sweet little dog. Cousin Cassie brought over a yummy spaghetti dinner. It was so nice to finally meet her!

Bristol Aquarium

It’s my birthday and I’m now 12! I woke up and my parents got me an eclair for breakfast.

We went to the Bristol Aquarium where we saw lobsters, stingrays, paranas, sharks, eels, and a really big Wittaker-sized fish. Like, this fish could swallow Witt! But it looked too lazy to do that. I took a bunch of photos and videos. It reminded us a lot of our Maui Ocean Center.

Watch the Bristol Aquarium Video!

Lebanese Food

That night, for my birthday, we ate dinner at a crazy Lebanese place!  Like 5 other people had birthdays too! Every time someone had a birthday, the waiters would turn on weird music, grab a crazy firework cake, and walk to the birthday person while clapping! It was crazy and fun! We ate all kinds of tasty dishes.

YUM!

Lion King Musical

After dinner we went and watched the Lion King play at the Hippodrome! It was so amazing! The people in the play had awesome costumes, and it was funny, scary, entertaining, and exciting! There’s a ton of talent in Bristol.

It was legit!

Surfing The Wave

Dad went to The Wave early this morning.

DAD SAYS: “It was my first time surfing at a real wave pool (WaveGarden).  My first session was called Righthand Expert Turns.   It was a trip dropping-in within a narrow gap between a chainlink fence and a concrete wall.  The wave comes from nowhere and jacks up to shoulder-high in less than a second.  I managed to get in some good turns and 2 in/out barrels with all my teeth intact.  On my second session, Advanced Turns, the waves were a little smaller, but still fun.  Close to the end of the session, I tweaked my ankle and missed out on the next two sessions the next morning.  I was really excited to try Expert Barrels.  Didn’t get any footage of myself which is another bummer.  Next time…”

Cousin Cassie’s brother Sam brought us there to meet him, but we didn’t get to see Dad surf because he hurt his ankle on his second session.  But that meant that Sam could try his hand at surfing the intermediate wave.  He did a great job for being new at it.  We met up with Dad’s great friends from England (Raman, Riana, Katie and Vivi), some English friends from Maui (Ella and Aeraya), and then we went to this crazy town party with a million people walking around.

St. Paul’s Carnival

St Paul’s Carnival celebrates Jamaican and Caribbean culture with lots of music, pubs, and festivities.  We stopped and had cake and drinks, listened to music, and saw some crazy people walking around.  It was fun.  We even danced in the street!

Clifton

We then went and enjoyed the views at Clifton and slid down a crazy rock face! We also played frisbee with sticks with Riana and Katie’s daughter Vivi. Wittaker and I saw some people making out!

Then I tried to climb a fence but broke my ring and hurt my hand.  We had dinner at a pub with our 2 dogs and our English friends and family.

Tyntesfield

Today we went to a castle in Tyntesfield.  Cassie and her dog Obie came and Obie wasn’t allowed in the castle.  Then we went to a “Rose Garden.” It only had 6 roses, but was still pretty.  Witt and Dad got a little fever.   We stayed inside and watched movies for the rest of the day.

Tyntesfield, located in North Somerset, England, is a Victorian Gothic Revival house with a rich history. Built in the 1860s for William Gibbs, a wealthy businessman who made his fortune in the guano trade, it represents the pinnacle of High Victorian Gothic architecture in Britain. The house was acquired by the National Trust in 2002, saving it from being sold off and potentially lost as a historical monument.

When visiting Tyntesfield, guests can marvel at its ornate and lavish interior, which includes fine examples of Victorian craftsmanship such as intricately carved woodwork, stained glass, and an impressive collection of art and furnishings. The house is surrounded by equally stunning gardens and parklands, offering a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the Victorian upper class.

Bishopton

This suburb, known for its residential charm, has evolved significantly over the years. Historically, Bishopton played a role in Bristol’s industrial past, with its proximity to the city center making it a hub for workers and industries. Today, it is appreciated for its quiet, community-oriented atmosphere, contrasting with the bustling city life of central Bristol.

This is our last day in England!  We walked to a great brunch then went home and packed our stuff because tomorrow we go to Copenhagen!  Mom took a video of me and Witt doing our handshake.  At the end of the video, I say, “Super Handshake Go!” like a total nerd.  HE-HE!  Then we ate dinner and read my book.

Now we’re off for 3 nights in
Copenhagen Denmark!