Much-loved by Bristol's hipsters, Cube Microplex is the antithesis of a multiplex. Walk down the stairs of what looks like a suburban house in a residential 18th-century square and before you can say 'hmm, this is odd' you're inside. Its great feature is a licensed bar that allows you to take your drinks with you through to the screening. It's very small, somewhat eccentric, and features an eclectic program that makes the other two art house cinemas in the city The Watershed and The Arnolfini look positively mainstream! You might find 1960s martial arts trailers audio-visual talks on crop circles special music nights with DJs through to straightforward screenings of a few mainstream films; although its specialty is weird and wonderful little-known movies. Not to mention that it is the cheapest cinema in town!
While visiting the Observatory in Clifton Down, do not forget to visit the Saint Vincent's Cave nearby. The cave is connected to the Observatory by a long winding tunnel. Made of limestone, the cave dates back a few centuries and used to be a religious place, having links with the Saint Vincent's Chapel. Artifacts like ancient pottery have also been discovered here. The cave leads out onto St. Vincent's gorge that offers a breath-taking view of the Clifton Bridge, the River Avon and Leigh Woods. Contact the tourist information center at +44 9067112191 for more details.
For a day full of adrenaline visit Castle Combe Circuit. This 3 kilometers (1.85 miles) racing circuit was opened in 1950 and has had famous drivers hit its tarmac, including Moss, Hawthorn, Chapman, Salvadori, Mansell, Senna, Hill, Coulthard, Surtees, Hailwood, Sheene and Fogarty. Visit and experience this extreme sport for yourself, either watching a professional race or being in the driver seat yourself. For a fee you can even experience driving around the track either as part of the Driving School, passenger ride, or a driving experience.
The Abbey House Gardens is simply a beautiful countryside house along with a huge garden, and is one of the region's main tourist attractions. The house site dates back to early 13th Century, however Abbey House exists since the 16th Century. With a rich changing history to the house, in 1994 Abbey House was bought over by Ian and Barbara Pollard, previous owners of two other mansions and also strong believers of naturism. They transformed the look of the gardens by carefully tending over all the plants and opened it to public in 1996. The Garden today boasts of having 10,000 different kinds of plants. It is open to the public between March 21st to October 31st, everyday of the week.
A massive outdoor garden maze, the Longleat Hedge Maze is a great idea if you are looking for a fun-filled couple of hours. Built in 1975, the Longleat Hedge Maze comprises of a number of vertical hedges designed in the form of a maze. The goal of of which is to reach the central observation tower where you can enjoy spectacular overlooks. However, don’t assume the adventure ends here, once you are at the tower, the challenge lies in finding the way out of the maze as well. One of the four mazes in the same estate, the Longleat Hedge Maze is the largest and the most interesting of all. If you are looking for unnerving yet adventurous day, certainly head to this hedge maze for an experience different from the ordinary. Note that opening hours are seasonal, checking out their calendar before making a visit is advisable.
Much-loved by Bristol's hipsters, Cube Microplex is the antithesis of a multiplex. Walk down the stairs of what looks like a suburban house in a residential 18th-century square and before you can say 'hmm, this is odd' you're inside. Its great feature is a licensed bar that allows you to take your drinks with you through to the screening. It's very small, somewhat eccentric, and features an eclectic program that makes the other two art house cinemas in the city The Watershed and The Arnolfini look positively mainstream! You might find 1960s martial arts trailers audio-visual talks on crop circles special music nights with DJs through to straightforward screenings of a few mainstream films; although its specialty is weird and wonderful little-known movies. Not to mention that it is the cheapest cinema in town!
The Abbey House Gardens is simply a beautiful countryside house along with a huge garden, and is one of the region's main tourist attractions. The house site dates back to early 13th Century, however Abbey House exists since the 16th Century. With a rich changing history to the house, in 1994 Abbey House was bought over by Ian and Barbara Pollard, previous owners of two other mansions and also strong believers of naturism. They transformed the look of the gardens by carefully tending over all the plants and opened it to public in 1996. The Garden today boasts of having 10,000 different kinds of plants. It is open to the public between March 21st to October 31st, everyday of the week.
Dewstow House is a simple villa with a view of the Severn estuaries. The house is mainly known for its gardens which are a network of underground passages lined with artificial rock work. The gardens and the house both are separately listed on the Heritage list. The gardens are said to have been a brainchild of Mr. Henry Roger Keane Oakley who occupied the house in 1893. The estate has surface gardens too but, the real magic starts once you go underneath a tree. A brilliant piece of 20th century landscaping, the gardens are not to be missed.
Stanton Drew Stone Circles are a few miles from Bristol, clusters around some nationally important archeology dating to over 4000 years ago. Three stone circles seem to make a series of alignments with a number of outlying standing stones, but their purpose is a mystery. Apart from the two smaller circles there is also a megalithic "cove" which is located in the garden of the local pub, the Druid Arms - a lovely place for a pint. A straight line drawn from the cove, through the center of the large circle, hits the center of one of the smaller circles. Remains of a substantial wooden structure have been found, making the complex much larger and more significant than already thought!
Found inside University of West of England's Glenside campus, Glenside Museum was established by a consultant psychiatrist, Dr. Donal F. Early. Glenside Museum houses paintings and drawings by Dennis Reed, a celebrated artist who has drawn paintings of life in Glenside during 1950s. Glenside Museum's collection includes an exhaustive range of images and paraphernalia used at Glenside Psychiatric Hospital. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) equipment is also on display at the Glenside Museum. Though entry to Glenside Museum is free, donations are encouraged from visitors.