Donning my favourite black, heeled ankle boots and dragging my bright purple with orange lining, 20 kilogram-heavy suitcase behind me, I stepped off the Great Western Rail service from London Paddington and curiously looked around me after travelling from London to Bristol by train, eagerly ready for my short and sweet 24 hours in Bristol. Nothing particularly stood out. The platform was a stock-standard railway platform with a wide-domed ceiling reinforced with black steel beams stretching out above me, and it had red brick walls with various archways carved into them and windows positioned so that the small amount of sun Bristol sees beams through at particular points throughout the day.
People crowded the platform, most of them disembarking the service, as I was. I stepped to the side, out of their way, to examine Google Maps and find out where the hell I was headed next. Once I got my bearings, I passed through the ticket gates, out to the ticket hall, and then stepped outside the station whilst being welcomed with sun but also a gentle gust of cool wind.
I had made it to Bristol.
Bristol Temple Meads Railway Station is the city's main railway station; a transport hub connecting Bristol to various other UK cities such as London, Manchester, and Birmingham. Network Rail deem it the "railway gateway to the West Country" and its name takes from the land where it stands, having being owned by the Knights Templar in the 12th and 13th centuries. Opening in 1840, the station has seen multiple expansions over the years due to rising passenger numbers, however, the original architecture still holds strong, as I immediately witnessed when stepping outside the station. The station is a red brick, three-tiered building covered in windows, multiple spires, and possesses three curved archways that lead into the ticket hall with an almighty clock on display centred at the top of building. It really is quite magnificent.
Google Maps failed me miserably. I walk past a queue of taxi's - dragging my tremendously heavy suitcase across cobbled ground - only to realise I've walked the incorrect route. I backtrack and head in the opposite direction and, once again, Google Maps fails me. 20 minutes or so later, I eventually discover I need to take a different station exit, so I do so and I find myself in the neighbourhood of Temple Meads.
I was taken aback. In front of me, I was looking at completely modern architecture. Gone are the stone roads and 1800-style buildings, and in their place are an array of modern buildings abashed with glass floor-to-ceiling windows, various shades of grey tile-patterned pavements, a wide open space, and commercial businesses such as a convenience store, cafes, and a medical establishment. It was a wonderfully sunny day, so blue skies stretched far-and-wide, and I started towards my destination: the Ibis hotel. I crossed a seemingly newly built pedestrian bridge that paved a way over a canal and, to my surprise, I had arrived five minutes later. Whilst making my way, I noticed how strangely quiet it was. It was 10AM on a Tuesday morning, but crowds of people were non-existent; it was peaceful, and I felt completely at ease.
I love staying at Ibis Hotels, because you know exactly what you're going to get. The rooms are the same in every location and, in my experience, they're more on the modern side and very clean. I found this was accurate at the Temple Meads location, but the aspect of my stay that surprised me the most was the profoundly friendly and helpful customer service I received at reception. The front counter attendant welcomed me, checked me in early and, before I headed to my room, he provided me a map of Bristol and walked me through the locations I should visit during my time in the city, circling these spots and providing me with information around the best means of public transport from one place to the other.
Grateful, I headed to my room, dumped my belongings, placed my Air-pods into my ears and ventured out into the city, with the annotated map in my hand.