Queen Square, Bristol

Queen Square may look serene today, but its past is anything but silent. Laid out in 1699 and named for Queen Anne, it quickly became prime real estate for Bristol鈥檚 merchant elite鈥攃lose to the harbour, perfect for keeping an eye on both ships and fortunes. Grand Georgian townhouses framed a well-kept garden at the centre, a statement of prosperity that didn鈥檛 last uninterrupted. In 1831, political reform riots tore through the city, leaving parts of the square charred and battered. The polished fa莽ade had been well and truly cracked.

Skipping to the 20th century, and the square took on a new, less glamorous role: traffic island. A dual carriageway cut right through its heart, and by the early 鈥�90s, some 20,000 vehicles a day rumbled across it. The place was more exhaust fumes than evening strolls. In 1999, Bristol reclaimed the space for people, diverting cars and restoring the square to something closer to its 18th-century glory.

Now, the lawns are broad, the trees mature, and the Georgian fronts have had a careful facelift. At the centre, William III sits on horseback, surveying the scene from a plinth he鈥檚 occupied since 1736. The square hosts everything from food festivals to open-air concerts, and when it鈥檚 not buzzing with events, it鈥檚 a favourite spot for a picnic or a pause in the middle of a city wander.

And location? Spot on鈥攔ight between the Harbourside and Old City, making it an easy detour for anyone who likes their history served with a side of fresh air.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Bristol. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "黑料吃瓜网: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

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Create Your Own Self-Guided Walk to Visit This Sight

Sight Name: Queen Square
Sight Location: Bristol, England (See walking tours in Bristol)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Bristol Introduction Walking Tour

Walking Tours in Bristol, England

Create Your Own Walk in Bristol

Creating your own self-guided walk in Bristol is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.

Famous Bristol Statues Walking Tour

Throughout its more than 1,000-year-long history, Bristol, England, has generated a wealth of cultural and historical heritage. Reflecting it now, and in some way matching it too, are a number of statues that celebrate personalities who made their mark and once graced the city with their association. These statues are scattered throughout the city, each with its unique story and importance.

The... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.6 Km or 1.6 Miles

Bristol Introduction Walking Tour

If you listen closely, Bristol doesn鈥檛 just speak鈥攊t mutters, shouts, and occasionally winks. This southwest city in England has been shaping itself for over a thousand years, starting as a settlement where the rivers Frome and Avon meet. Long before that, the surrounding hills hid Iron Age hillforts and Roman villas. Its name, Brycgstow in Old English, meant 鈥減lace at the bridge鈥濃€攁... view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles

Banksy Tour in Bristol

Bristol wears its street art like a second skin鈥攍ayered, loud, and impossible to ignore. In the middle of this visual conversation is a figure who went from spray-painting in the shadows to shaping the way the world looks at graffiti: Banksy. Growing up here in the 1970s, he first made his mark in the late 鈥�80s and early 鈥�90s with crews like the DryBreadZ Crew, working freehand under cover... view more

Tour Duration: 3 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 6.9 Km or 4.3 Miles

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