Nailsea

Nailsea
Nailsea and Backwell viewed from Backwell Hill
Nailsea Location within Somerset
Population	15,630 (2011)[1]
OS grid reference	ST473703
Civil parish	Nailsea
Unitary authority	North Somerset
Ceremonial county	Somerset
Region	South West
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	BRISTOL
Postcode district	BS48
Dialling code	01275
Police	Avon and Somerset
Fire	Avon
Ambulance	South Western
UK Parliament	North Somerset
List of places UK England Somerset 51°26′N 2°46′W / 51.43°N 2.76°W / 51.43; -2.76

Nailsea is a town in North Somerset, England, 8 miles (13 km) southwest of Bristol,^[2] and 11 miles (18 km) northeast of Weston-super-Mare. The nearest village is Backwell, which lies south of Nailsea on the opposite side of the Bristol to Exeter railway line. Nailsea had a population of 15,630 in the 2011 Census.^[1]

The town was an industrial centre based on coal mining and glass manufacture, which have now been replaced by service industries. The surrounding North Somerset Levels has wildlife habitats including the Tickenham, Nailsea and Kenn Moors biological Site of Special Scientific Interest and Bucklands Pool/Backwell Lake Local Nature Reserve. Nailsea is close to the M5 motorway and Bristol Airport, and its railway station, Nailsea & Backwell, has services operated by the Great Western Railway.

Secondary education is provided by Nailsea School (rebuilt in 2009), and primary education by St Francis School, Grove Junior School, Kingshill School and Golden Valley. Churches include the 14th-century Holy Trinity Church and Christ Church, which was built in 1843.