The Central Library has a beautiful main reading room and free internet access. A good place to read, study and reflect. It's possible to take a tour of the building. The haunted yarn given by the librarians sounds like they've seen the opening scenes in Ghostbusters one too many times.

College Green, BS1 5TL;
tel: 0117 903 7200;
www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Leisure-Culture/Libraries/central-library.en

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A giant redbrick warehouse sitting between the River Avon and the entrance to the floating harbour in the Cumberland Basin. It's home to environmental think-tanks and the City Council's sustainable development unit. It has a gallery and cafe open to the public. The best part of the centre is the attached Ecohome which anyone is welcome to nose around.

Smeaton Road, BS1 6XN;
tel: 0117 925 0505;
www.bristol-city.gov.uk/ccm/content/Environment-Planning/sustainability/create-centre.en

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The excitingly designed Harbourside concert hall by architects Behnisch & Partners was set to do for Bristol what the Guggenheim had done for Bilbao. A shameful Arts Council decision cut the funding and the project has never been revived. With this turn of events At-Bristol, with its stunning all-reflective planetarium, became the centrepiece of the Harbourside development. The centre mixes art, science and nature. It includes an Imax cinema, the interactive 'Explore' science museum and 'Wildwalk', a walk through a living section of rainforest.

Harbourside, BS1 5DB;
tel: 0845 345 1235;
www.at-bristol.org.uk

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Bristol has numerous beautiful private interior spaces that never get seen. Over the second weekend of September each year there's an opportunity to do so. Most striking are the haunting Redcliffe Caves that take you underground in the heart of the city and date back to the 15th Century.

Buildings across the city;
www.bristoldoorsopenday.org

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A converted river police station turned restaurant. The building's architecture is impressive as are the olives and bread. Upstairs the atmosphere can be a little formal. The downstairs cafe bar is a lot more relaxed and spills out onto a waterfront balcony.

The Grove BS1 4RB;
tel: 0117 914 4434;
www.riverstation.co.uk

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A trio of brightly coloured rooftop cubes make it easy to find. The rejuvenation of this formerly dilapidated Victorian paint and varnish factory is a fine example of urban renewal. It's now an ever evolving hub of studios with an art gallery on-site. There's also the Brasilian Bocabar providing good food and drink to reward you for a trip off the beaten track.

Bath Road, Arnos Vale, BS4 3EH;
tel: 0117 972 8838;
Take bus numbers 1, X39, 178 & 349 from the city centre or from Bristol Temple Meads train station;
www.paintworksbristol.co.uk

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Striking church that wouldn't look out of place in Gotham City. Elizabeth I declared it to be the "fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England" on a visit to the city in 1574. A large whalebone hangs above the north porch door brought back by John Cabot to give thanks for his voyage of exploration in 1497.

Redcliffe Way, 5 minutes walk from Bristol Temple Meads

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Back when Bristol was a gateway to the New World the first American consulate was established here in 1792. The square became the focal point of the violent Bristol riots in 1831 against the lack of voting rights, one of the worst outbreaks of urban rioting in 19th century Britain. During the 1980s a brutalist road was ploughed straight through it. Nowadays the road is gone and its been restored to its former Georgian self. A green spot to hang out in in the old city centre.

Queen Square, BS1

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Distinctive footbridge spanning St Augustine's Reach in the old docks. A symbol to the contribution of black people to the development of the city and to the role Slavery had played in making Bristol a wealthy city in the past. Pero was a man of Afro-Carribean origin who was brought to Bristol in 1783 as a slave from the island of Nevis by the Bristolian merchant John Pinney. Pero became the Pinney family's personal servant and remained in the city until his death in 1798, aged 45.

Narrow Quay & St Augustine's Reach

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Downstairs there is a bar and cafe with a decent menu to choose from and bean bags to recline in. Upstairs there is exhibition space for artists and a theatre. On the third Sunday of every month there is an ever popular market selling local and organic produce. Architect George Ferguson's salvage and renovation of this building has done a great deal to revive this part of south Bristol. A great place to visit for those with an interest in urban regeneration or who may just fancy a bevvy.

Raleigh Road, Southville BS3 1TF;
tel: 0117 963 0960
www.tobaccofactory.com

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It provides exhibition space, contains a specialist bookshop and architects' offices and runs a series of lectures and events on design and the built environment. A place to glean ideas and to learn more about Bristol's escalating development.

Narrow Quay BS1 4QA
www.architecturecentre.co.uk

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Brunel never lived to see it completed but if he had he may have topped it off with faux-Egyptian sphinxes on each of the bridge's towers. It's had a recent refurb with new lighting installed to show it off by night and with its' Avon Gorge backdrop remains a potent symbol of the city and the reckless engineer who designed it.

Sion Hill, Clifton BS8
Take the Number 8 from Bristol Temple Meads to Clifton Village.

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