Totterdown, Bristol

infobox UK place
country = England
official_name= Totterdown
latitude= 51.4388
longitude= -2.5660
map_type= Bristol
civil_parish=
population =
unitary_england= Bristol
lieutenancy_england=Bristol
region= South West England
static_

static_image_caption=Totterdown houses
constituency_westminster= Bristol South
post_town= BRISTOL
postcode_district = BS
postcode_area= BS
dial_code= 0117
os_grid_reference= ST607712

Totterdown is a suburb of Bristol, England, situated area just south of the River Avon and south-east of Temple Meads railway station. It rises relatively steeply from the river bank to a largely terraced Victorian housing area which is notable for its painted homes - often in bright colours - that can be seen from some distance. There is a tight network of extremely steep roads in eastern Totterdown, of which Vale Street, although very short, is alleged to be the steepest residential road in England. For safety cars can only be parked on it at an angle to the kerb.

Once mainly a working class area and built for the nearby railway industry, in the mid to late 19th century, Totterdown has become a popular area for the younger generation taking up work in the city centre.

Food and drink

Totterdown has several local pubs some of which attract a younger clientele with DJ nights. Pubs offering music include the [http://www.theshakey.co.uk Shakespeare] [http://www.pubsgalore.co.uk/pubs/509/ New Found Out] and the [http://www.thethunderbolt.net Thunderbolt] (previously known as "The Turnpike").

Banco Lounge, a smart cafe bar based in the old YWCA building on Wells Road, opened in July 2006. In December 2006 the Cumberland on St Lukes Road was given a makeover and opened as a gastro pub called the [http://www.thestaranddove.co.uk/ Star and Dove.]

The Bocabar opened in the [http://www.paintworksbristol.co.uk/ Paintworks] (formerly Central Trading Estate) in 2005 and serves tapas, pizzas, cakes, cappucinos with a licensed bar.

Mrs Brown's Cafe opened in Victoria Park in spring 2007, serving Fairtrade coffee and cakes from a caravan.

Local facilities

The area also has a Tesco Metro, Patco shop (selling the usual fags and booze plus Herberts bread, wholefoods and 'foreign' foods), The Banana Boat fruit and veg shop, The Powerstation Gym (offering gym, aerobics, yoga, etc plus treatment rooms), various hairdressers and beauty treatment rooms as well as a doctors surgery, and is well served by buses into town and across to Clifton. There is also a mosque, close to Victoria Park.

Children

Totterdown is popular with young families. There are daily toddler groups at Totterdown Baptist Church. Victoria Park has a good newish play area at the top of the park, as well as tennis courts, basketball courts, football pitches, skatepark, and more. Perretts Park is a natural amphitheatre with benches around the top along Bayham Road and Sylvia Avenue: a fantastic spot to sketch the city and watch the balloon ascent during the summer Balloon Fiesta. It also has a play area suitable for the under 10s.

Art

In the last few years the Totterdown Art trail [http://www.frontroom.org.uk/ Frontroom] has been gaining in popularity. This event invites visitors into the houses of artists in this area of Bristol to view a large range of local artwork.

There is an amateur [http://www.afour.demon.co.uk/weather weather] site in Totterdown that has a useful website for local climate details.

External links

* [http://www.tresa.org.uk/ Totterdown Residents Environmental and Social Association]
* [http://www.somerset.gov.uk/archives/Maps/OS62htm/0607.htm Map of Totterdown circa 1900]