The Bristol Crocodile Featured in Underfall Yard’s Meet the Traders Series
- Jul 18
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 22
We’re delighted to share that The Bristol Crocodile has been featured in Underfall Yard’s Meet the Traders series.
For us, Underfall Yard has always been more than a place to stock our books. It is one of those wonderfully distinctive Bristol locations where history, craftsmanship, wildlife, boats and the waterfront all come together - exactly the kind of place that can spark a child’s imagination.
The feature gave us the chance to talk about how The Bristol Crocodile began, why Bristol is at the heart of everything we create, and how a simple idea inspired by a local story has grown into a collection of books and family-friendly ways to explore the city.
The story behind The Bristol Crocodile
The Bristol Crocodile began with a question: what if Bristol had its own crocodile story?
The idea first came from a story about a crocodile reportedly being spotted in the River Avon. As someone born and raised in Bristol, I immediately loved the possibility of turning that unusual local tale into something imaginative that families could enjoy together.
The idea stayed with me for years. I kept returning to the character, developing stories and experimenting with different ways to bring him to life. Eventually, I realised that The Bristol Crocodile could be more than a single children's book.
I wanted to create a character that could help children discover Bristol through stories, encourage families to explore the city together and make familiar places feel a little more magical.
That is the idea at the heart of The Bristol Crocodile: Bristol children's books that connect imagination with real places, local stories and family adventures.
From one Bristol children's book to a growing collection
What began as one long-held idea has grown into a wider collection of books and activity products.
The range now includes:
The Bristol Crocodile
The Bristol Crocodile Around the Harbourside
ABC with The Bristol Crocodile
The Bristol Crocodile Colouring Book
Greeting cards and other activity products
The books have also found their way into independent retailers and some of Bristol's best-loved attractions, while children in nurseries around Bristol are enjoying the stories too.
That growth has been incredibly exciting, particularly because the original idea was developed over such a long period before finally becoming a reality.
The most rewarding part, however, is still seeing children interact with the character. Whether they are reading a story, colouring a picture, recognising the crocodile or becoming excited about visiting somewhere they have seen in a book, those moments are what make the whole project worthwhile.
Bristol is part of every adventure
The Bristol Crocodile is a Bristol-based children's book brand, and the city is not simply a backdrop to the stories. Bristol is part of the character's world.
When developing adventures, I look for places that already have something to say. Bristol is full of locations that can make children curious: the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the Harbourside, colourful waterfront buildings, hidden spaces and historic places such as Underfall Yard.
The aim is to encourage children to look more closely at the city around them.
A story might introduce a child to a Bristol landmark, and then a family can visit that place together. Hopefully, a familiar location can feel completely different when a child recognises it from a book and starts imagining what adventures might have happened there.
That connection between Bristol books for children and real family experiences is one of the things that makes The Bristol Crocodile so special to us.
The books can be enjoyed at home, but they can also become the starting point for a Bristol family activity: a walk along the Harbourside, a visit to a local landmark or an afternoon discovering somewhere new.
Why Underfall Yard is such a natural part of The Bristol Crocodile's world
Underfall Yard has appeared in The Bristol Crocodile's adventures because it captures so much of what makes Bristol interesting.
It is a place where the city's maritime heritage is still visible in everyday life, with boats, workshops, traditional skills and working spaces continuing alongside the modern waterfront.
For children, that creates endless opportunities for questions and imagination. What are the boats used for? How do the cranes work? What happens inside the workshops? What might be hiding around the next corner?
That sense of discovery is exactly what we hope to encourage through The Bristol Crocodile.
We are also particularly grateful that Underfall Yard has supported the brand by stocking The Bristol Crocodile books in its Visitor Centre and Café. Having our books available in a place so closely connected to Bristol's heritage and waterfront is incredibly meaningful.
Creating something inspired by Bristol, with Bristol at its heart
Because The Bristol Crocodile is inspired by Bristol, supporting local businesses and creativity has always been important to the project.
Where possible, we work with Bristol and UK-based businesses to create the books and products. This allows us to build relationships with the people involved in making them, focus on quality and support the wider creative and independent business community.
In many ways, The Bristol Crocodile belongs to Bristol. The stories are inspired by the city, the adventures take place in its streets and landmarks, and the project continues to grow through relationships with local retailers, attractions and organisations.
That makes being featured by Underfall Yard particularly special.
Thank you, Underfall Yard
A huge thank you to the team at Underfall Yard for including The Bristol Crocodile in the Meet the Traders series and for supporting our books.
We are incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share the story behind the brand and for the warm welcome we have received at such a special Bristol location.
If you would like to learn more about how The Bristol Crocodile began, the inspiration behind the character and the journey from an idea to a growing collection of Bristol children's books and family activities, you can read the full Meet the Traders interview on the Underfall Yard website.
We hope The Bristol Crocodile continues to encourage children to read, imagine, explore and discover more of the wonderful city around them - one Bristol adventure at a time.
