Bristol is the unofficial capital of the West Country of England. Bristol is the United Kingdom???s eighth most populous city and the most populated city in South West England, making it a core city in England. It received a Royal Charter 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 London, alongside York and Norwich, until the rapid rise of Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester during the Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 18th century. It borders the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire and is also located near the historic cities of Bath to the south east and Gloucester to the north. The city is built around the River Avon, and has a short coastline on the estuary of the River Severn where it flows into the Bristol Channel. Although it???s often overlooked as a tourist destination, Bristol has a lot to offer of its own and is also an excellent base for exploring the West Country, with relatively inexpensive accommodation compared to some of the main ???tourist traps??? (such as nearby Bath) and a huge choice of bars, restaurants and shops. It is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in the South of England, hosting a wide variety of visual arts, theatre, speciality shopping and live music.