Bristol City Breaks

A guide to Bristol

Bristol is firmly established as one of the most popular city break destinations in the UK, and has wide-ranging appeal to visitors of all ages. This lively University City boasts interesting attractions, a busy cultural scene, exciting nightlife and the best shopping in the South West, and the River Avon makes a picturesque focus to the lively city centre. An absorbing hotch-potch of architecture includes Georgian house, Victorian churches and fine squares like Queen Square and Portland Square, and Bristol is especially well endowed with cafes and traditional pubs. Art lovers will enjoy the handsome Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, and graffiti art from the legendary Banksy. Guided walks, open-top bus tours and River Avon boat trips are all great ways to explore the city.

Family holiday attractions

Visitors tend to gravitate towards the River Avon, and the fascinating Old Harbour area is home to the SS Great Britain, a superbly restored Victorian ocean liner. Trips should include a visit to the 19th century Clifton Suspension Bridge and the National Brunel Archive, with sightseeing highlights also including Bristol Cathedral and an enjoyable collection of galleries and museums. Children will enjoy Bristol Zoo, Bristol Aquarium, Bristol Clifton Observatory and the huge IMAX 3D Cinema. Family holiday attractions also include the Bristol Blue Glass Factory and the interactive At-Bristol science and technology centre.

Lively nightlife

Bristol is a deservedly popular choice for a lively weekend away. You will find an enjoyably varied choice of pubs and nightlife venues in the Old City, on Harbourside and in Clifton Village, and you could organise an entire weekend around contemporary arts venues, comedy clubs, independent cinema and classic theatres like the Bristol Old Vic and the Bristol Hippodrome. City breaks to Bristol are especially enjoyable during the Harbour Festival in July. Other highlights include Slimbridge Wetlands Centre, Berkeley Castle and Wookey Hole Caves, and you can enjoy excursions to Bath, Stonehenge and the spectacular Avon Gorge.