The name Black Boy Hill is a hint to Bristol's involvement in the slave trade which peaked between 1730 and 1745.
There is a poignant plaque to the countless African men, women and children whose enslavement and exploitation brought prosperity to the city.
So did the export of coal, lead, and animal hides and imports into Bristol included wine, grain, slate, timber and olive oil.
It was once the second largest port in England after London and the harbour area is still buzzing.
However, tourists now, thankfully, help boost the economy and help erase memories of the past.
Restaurants, bars and hotels are concentrated around the harbour area which appropriately houses the M Shed museum which is packed with films, photographs and interactive exhibits telling the story of the city.
SS Great Britain
In my view the city's star exhibit is the SS Great Britain just along the quayside.
Brunel's ship is billed as the ship that changed the world and it was launched in 1843 with a ground-breaking screw propeller, a move away from the then traditional paddle wheels.
But there is more to Bristol than that. Concorde also made its mark on aviation history after its inaugural flight from Bristol in 1969.
It's iconic shape dominated the sky just as the the Clifton Suspension Bridge dominated Bristol's skyline when it was built and still does. There are spectacular views from the top.
Bristol Zoo is nearby and is home to 400 species of animals including seven gorillas. It is easily accessible from the city centre by bus.
Bristol Aquarium is also popular and it is just behind the restaurants at Harbourside.
And the imposing cathedral is nearby as are the shops and main theatres, The Hippodrome and
The Bristol Old Vic. Several passenger ferries operate in the harbour area.
An open top bus
The best way to see the city is on the award-winning hop-on, hop-off open top bus which starts from Harbourside and the tour takes 75 minutes.
There are two loops, the Clifton Village and West End and the Old City and Cabot Circus loop. Both are worth the time. Tickets are available from the driver and online.
Cycling the city
The Adventurous Activity Company runs organised tours with bike hire included and it also organised water, forest and other activities.
www.adventurousactivitycompany.co.uk
SS Great Britain
It is claimed to be Bristol's No 1 visitor attraction and you can explore this Victorian masterpiece from the first-class sleeping and dining areas to the doctor's surgery and the on-board abattoir. Not to be missed.
Concorde
Concorde : The exhibition celebrates 50 years of the iconic plane, helicopters and space.
Concorde was designed, built and tested in Bristol and the first plane flew from Filton Airfield on April 9, 1969. You can get on board and hear stores of who flew on the aircraft. It is surprisingly small inside.
CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE: This spans the Avon Gorge linking Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset and was opened in 1864. Another unmissable attraction.
Bristol Zoo
This is the world's fifth oldest zoo and houses 400 species in nine animal houses. Compact and interesting with a tremendous water exhibit.
The Arnofini
The Arnofini is one of Europe's leading contemporary art galleries with exhibitions, live performances and indie cinema. Admission is free.
Bristol Aquarium
Tropical marine and freshwater creatures living in naturally-themed surroundings. Children under three go free
The Matthew
The Matthew, which is outside the M Shed is a replica of the boat sailed by John Cabot when he discovered Newfoundland in 1497.
Walk-on trips are available when she is in dock and it sails to the Avon Gorge and round the harbour.
The Old City
The Old City is only minutes from Harbourside but it has bags of character with cobbled streets lined by some of the city's oldest buildings.
The oldest continuously-working theatre in Britain, the Bristol Old Vic, is housed there and West End shows are regularly staged at The Bristol Hippodrome.
Bristol Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral has been the site of worship for over 1,000 years and is one of the world's finest examples of a hall church. It is also a popular film location.
John Wesley's Chapel
This is the oldest Methodist building in the world and boasts a new multi-media centre.
Clifton Village
Clifton village offers chic boutiques, cosy cafes, Georgian terraces and leafy streets with highly-desirable property is the hallmark of this area tucked away from the centre of the city and which is home to the sensational Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Clifton Lido has been restored and offers year-round outdoor swimming and nearby are Clifton Downs, an area of protected parkland.
Shopping
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway just outside the city has 150 shops including department stores, high-street top brands, restaurants and cafes as well as a cinema.
Broadmead is in the city and boasts high-street big guns including M&S and Primark.
Don't miss Gloucester Road which is claimed to be the longest independent shopping street in Europe or the Georgian St Nicholas Markets with more than 60 stalls.
Adjoining it is a food hall with Italian, Mediterranean and Asian food.
The smell is sensational. Park Street has a range of vintage clothing ships, jewellery and behind the Hippodrome stands Bristol's largest Oriental supermarket, Wah Yang Hon, and 200-year-old Averys, family wine merchants.
www.Bristolshoppingquarter.co.uk
Arnos Vale
A five-care home to the original Bristol Blue Glass factory and shop and the cemetery opposite has been the final resting place for notable citizens since 1837.
The garden cemetery offers a haven for wildlife and leisurely walks.
Wining and dining
Zizzi, Princess Victoria Street, Clifton Village
Clifton Village is a must-visit in busy Bristol. Elegant Georgian townhouses are prominent in the streets and crescents of the obviously, affluent Clifton where real estate, pictured in estate agent windows, is costly.
The village is also home to an eclectic mix of boutiques and quirky shops plus and trendy bars and restaurants.
Tourists, students and locals mix and nearby Clifton Downs are popular for kite-flying.
World-famous Bristol Zoo, the world's fifth oldest, nestles nearby in a compact area and, of course, Brunel's landmark Clifton Suspension Bridge spectacularly straddles the Avon Gorge yards from the village.
We'd completed the tourist trip and required refreshment. Zizzi came into view. Yes, it is part of a chain, and the size of the restaurant was a tad daunting at first, but the service was slick and the food good.
The wild boar meatballs with herbs, served with a rich tomato sauce and pasta topped with a crunchy crumble, arrived piping hot and had a distinctive taste. The Zizzi favourite, a Sicilianan merlot, proved an ideal accompaniment.
The pizza campagne was well-received as was the margherita and the bambini offering also disappeared rapidly, so did the rich, non-dairy chocolate torte.
Toilets were clean and in all, we enjoyed the experience.
www.zizzi.co.uk/italian/restaurants/bristol/clifton
Bristol Lido, Oakfield Place, Clifton
A local guide book indicated that Britsol Lido was different so we had to give it a try, however we needed to use our sat nav to find it as it is tucked away in side streets near Clifton Village.
Basically, the lido is a restored Victorian swimming pool, the original opened in 1850 and the pool was finally closed in 1990 and redevelopment as flats was threatened for several years.
Thankfully, the site was bought by established Bristol restaurant group, Glass Boat Company, and underwent a huge facelift, re-opening its doors over ten years ago.
It is open to the public for swimming and it also boasts relaxed dining overlooking the outdoor pool which is heated throughout the year.
Ladies who do coffee and love to chat sit beside young mums and businessmen and this superb coffee shop, which leans heavily towards health foods.
It overlooks the 24m outdoor swimming pool which is heated throughout the year.
The blurb says: "In a spirit of hedonism rather than health, the Lido restaurant and poolside tapas bar offer amazing food served in a buzzy yet uniquely chilled-out setting."
We loved the buzz and the offering.
Distinctive tea and coffee and an interesting menu. Highly-recommended the loos were five-star.
The Jersey Lilly, Whiteladies Road, Bristol
This popular pub sits in a prime corner site near the top of Whiteladies Road, only a short walk from the extensive Downs area.
The unassuming grey-painted external does not provide a hint to what lies through the door.
The low ceiling heightens the atmosphere and the cosy establishment was busy with families and groups of men getting together at the end of the working week. The mix worked.
This looks like a fine community pub and we received a warm welcome from the chatty barmaid.
She allowed us to sample the beers on offer and we eventually settled on a local, thirst-quenching brew.
This atmospheric pub also boasts a wide range of plus extensive array of spirits.
The food looked good too but we did not have time. We'll be back.
Food and Drink Bristol
Food and Drink Bristol is a comprehensive guide to eating out and it is available from the Harbourside tourist office.
Sport
Bristol is home to Gloucester Country Cricket Club and the ground will host matches in the 2019 ICC World Cup.
The city has two professional football teams in Bristol City and Bristol Rovers plus a professional rugby club, Bristol Bears, and a basketball club in Bristol Flyers.
Badminton horse trials take place in Gloucestershire, not far from the city which is also home to an indoor climbing centre. You can, of course, climb the rigging on the SS Great Britain.
https://www.bristolrovers.co.uk
https://www.bristolbearsrugby.com
https://wwwbristolflyers.co.uk
Festivals
Bristol has a Harbour Festival, puppet festival, food festivals including the British Dal Festival and Food Connections plus a balloon fiesta and Christmas events including a market, ice skating and light installations.