The Centre, Bristol
The Centre is the long open space in the middle of Bristol where the River Frome runs hidden beneath your feet. It links the old city to the Harbourside, and most visitors pass through it on the way to somewhere else, so it pays to know what you're looking at.
Photos
Roger Turner
A river under the pavement
The space follows the line of a channel dug in the 1240s for Bristol's growing docks. The upper part of St Augustine's Reach was covered over in 1893, and a culvert between St Augustine's Bridge and Broad Quay was started in 1938. For decades this was the Tramways Centre, the busiest tram terminus in the city, which is where the name comes from.
What to look for
Walk the promenade and you'll find a lead statue of Neptune dating from 1723, now Grade II* listed, and a bronze of Edmund Burke from 1894 in Magpie Park. The Bristol Cenotaph, unveiled in 1932, is still the focus of the city's remembrance services. The empty plinth where the Colston statue stood until it was pulled down in June 2020 is part of the story too. The fountains installed in 2000 were removed in 2025, which has opened up the southern end.
Using it as a base
The Centre works best as a starting point. Many bus routes stop here, harbour ferries leave from the landing stage at the head of St Augustine's Reach, and the Watershed, the waterfront and the old city around Corn Street are all a few minutes on foot. Pick up a coffee nearby and head south along the water.
Highlights
- Built over the culverted River Frome
- Grade II* listed lead statue of Neptune (1723)
- Bristol Cenotaph, unveiled 1932
- Ferry landing at the head of St Augustine's Reach
- Major bus interchange in the city centre
Good to know
- This is a busy road interchange as well as a public space, so use the marked crossings.
- Harbour ferries leave from the landing stage at the southern end.
- Remembrance services are held at the Cenotaph each November.
Frequently asked questions
Nearby
Sources: en.wikipedia.org