The floating harbour is one of Bristol's most iconic landmarks. It has a long history dating back to the 1800s, when it was once a commercial docks, and is now a popular attraction with museums and galleries on the water's edge.
But if you look past what you can do at the harbour, be it paying a visit to the M Shed, having a pint in the sunshine or even paddle boarding, you'll find out it is home to a "lovely community" of people who live, work, and holiday on the water.
Just as you would expect in any neighbourhood, Bristol's boaters are friendly and all know each other. Most of the people who reside on the docks exchange messages in a WhatsApp group, I am told, and help each other out when they need it.
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I took a visit to Princes Wharf on a sunny Thursday afternoon in the Easter holidays. Of course, the wharf was bustling with tourists and locals alike, with queues for boat tours and ice creams, and people enjoying a picnic on the old Harbour railway.
If you walk a bit further down you'll find a row of beautifully presented houseboats. One is adorned with a colourful selection of rubber ducks, another actually does resemble a house. Also along the wharf you'll find a houseboat belonging to Trevor Gray and Molly Petts, whose planning "hell" ended last year when the council finally allowed them to finish building their dream boat. You can read their story here.
Of course, not everyone lives in the boats. My hopes of talking to people whose vessels are moored at Princes Wharf were somewhat quashed when I realised most of them are vacant. Most are owned by people who berth there and use their boats for holidaying.
That was the case for Pete and Janet* who own Peggy, the oldest wooden houseboat in the harbour. "We don't live on Peggy," they said, disembarking the boat. "We use it to travel to France sometimes. It's basic but has everything you need on it, from running water to toilets and a proper kitchen."
Pete says the houseboat community at the harbour is "lovely" and there is a "great exchange of support" there. "There could be a lot more boats here though," he said.
Janet also said there is a lot of noise at the harbourside, which is a downside. "It's a really nice lifestyle, but there is a lot of noise at night." Pointing to metal 'no entry' signs in front of gangplanks, she said: "People get drunk and want to walk on the boats, that's why those signs are up."
Pete and Janet urged me to visit Bristol Marina, known to be a popular spot for boat dwellers in Bristol. I spoke candidly with a few houseboat owners, some of whom have resided at the Marina for years, who told me what they love most is the "sense of community." BristolLive visited boat dwellers at the Marina in 2017, who opened up on their experience living on a boat.
And what about those who work on the water? A few hundred yards from the SS Great Britain you'll find Bristol Packet Boat Trips, which offers harbour tours and river cruises which last around 45 minutes. George Young, 25, from Radstock, works there during peak season and says he loves the "laid back vibe" of the harbour.
The river cruise is full to the brim with customers keen to find about more about the docks' history. George doesn't live on the water, but says it is "really nice here and everyone is lovely."
Do you live in a houseboat? We would love to talk to you to find out more about the community. Please get in touch by emailing beth.cruse@reachplc.com
*Pete and Janet: Not their real names.
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