The home of Banksy – the incognito street artist – and award-winning music bands Portishead and Massive Attack, it’s unsurprising that Bristol is a place full of art and entertainment.
It’s the ideal destination for an English city break, and a great base for exploring nearby Bath, Somerset, and South Wales. From bustling markets in the center to family attractions on the outskirts, a trip to Bristol is a joy.
City of culture
When in Bristol, checking out the city’s port district is a must. The epicenter of the town is full of restaurants, shops, and cafes. However, the culinary highlight of the week is the harborside market, which springs into action along the waterfront every Saturday and Sunday, attracting bustling crowds from all over the city to taste the delicious menus on offer.
Fresh lemonade, steamed dumplings, decadent pizzas – you’ll find flavors from all over the world served up by a range of stalls, pop-ups and food trucks at this weekly fixture.
Walk along Nelson Street, a color-splashed stretch of boutiques and independent shops and pick up a quirky souvenir of your time in the city. Less than 10 minutes’ drive away, you can admire the magnificent, thousand-year-old Bristol Cathedral, overlooking the spacious College Green.
In this area, you’ll also find the Bristol Aquarium and with just a short drive out to the suburb of Clifton Village, you can also pay a visit to the Bristol Zoo. Whatever your preference, Bristol offers plenty of attractions for solo travelers and families alike.
Feats of engineering
After dark, make sure you visit the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This iconic railway bridge, built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in the 19th Century, towers over the city at 245 feet, dramatically set against the backdrop of the Avon Gorge cliffs.
If you're not free in the evening, you can make an equally memorable trip during the day by joining the one-hour guided tour from the toll booth on the Bristol side.
Admire more of Brunel's genius with a trip to the SS Great Britain, a majestic ship berthed at the Great Western Dockyard. The prolific Victorian engineer was also behind this innovative and luxurious vessel – one of the most important passenger ships of its time.
Day trips from Bristol
In such a beautiful corner of the country, a road trip beckons. Bath is only 45 minutes away by car along the A4. The Georgian university town is one of the most beautiful places in the UK, with an equally fascinating history, from Roman Baths to Jane Austen. For a relaxing pit-stop, park up outside the Thermae Bath Spa and enjoy the natural spring-waters just like the Romans once did nearby.
If you’re looking for a quintessentially English experience, head west along the M5 to Weston-super-Mare. In just 45 minutes you’ll arrive in the classic seaside town with ice cream and fish ‘n’ chips to be enjoyed. From here you can continue west towards Somerset and Devon to lap up the natural beauty of the English countryside.
Bristol is a fantastic destination – a sociable center of art and culture with the wider south-west region within easy reach. Whether you’re traveling for a Banksy pilgrimage or enjoying a seaside break, car rental in Bristol will let you do it in comfort.