Bristol

Bristol is a city, unitary authority area and ceremonial county in South West, with an estimated population of 433,100 for the unitary authority in 2009, and a surrounding Larger Urban Zone with an estimated 1,006,600 residents, it is sixth, and the eighth most populous city, one of the group of English Core Cities and the most populous city in South West England. Bristol received a in 1155 and was granted County status in 1373. From the 13th century, for half a millennium, it ranked amongst the top three English cities after, alongside, on the basis of tax receipts, until the rapid rise of and during the Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 18th century. It borders the counties and is also located near the historic cities of to the south east and to the north. The city is built around the River Avon, and it also has a short coastline on the Severn Estuary, which flows into the Bristol Channel.