Starting 10 January 2010, we offer a higher frequency to and from Bristol.
Bristol has everything to offer tourists: it is exciting and unique, with its own traditions and history.
Bristol is best known as a port and industrial city, but it is also one of the most beautiful cities in England. The Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain, the world’s first steamship with an iron hull, are certainly worth a visit. But don’t forget to pay a visit to the magnificent cathedral and the St. Mary Redcliffe Church, the most beautiful parish church in England. You can also visit the Theatre Royal, which is the oldest theatre in England
Bristol’s dock area can certainly offer a wide range of experiences. It is always fun to spend some time in the typical dockside pubs.
City centre
Introduction
The ever expanding, pulsating centre
of Bristol breathes life through narrow
winding roads and up steep streets
to the waterfront. Here the city’s
artistic atmosphere is evident at
every turn, with on-trend boutiques
and unique galleries.
Hotels
One of Bristol’s newest
hotels, the Radisson Blu (Broad Quay, tel. (0)117 934 9500, radissonblu.co.uk/
hotel-bristol, rooms from €85/£75)
opened in October last year and boasts
a prime waterfront location in a striking
glass-fronted building. Book one of
the rooms on the higher floors for
spectacular harbour and city views.
Cultural
The Bristol City
Museum and Art Gallery (Queens Road)
is host to a cornucopia of ancient
treasures and contemporary art.
Starting in May is Art from the New
World, which looks at the artistic
spectrum of modern-day Los Angeles.
St George’s Bristol (Great George
Street), meanwhile, is the south west’s
leading concert hall. This month sees
some fantastic events, including Indian
percussionist Sandeep Raval on 15 May
as part of the Migrations programme.
Shops
Park Street is
a fashionista’s paradise. Visit Cara (26)
for fabulous shoes and Cooshti (57)
for urban designer brands such as
Maharishi and G-Star.
Welsh back
Introduction
Water is vital to the centre of the city,
lending a feeling of space and
tranquillity to an area packed with bars
and restaurants. You can pass many an
hour in style on Welsh Back, enjoying
waterside cocktails and laid-back dining.
Restaurants
The Glass Boat (Welsh Back,
tel. (0)117 929 0704) is a Bristol
institution. Go down for ‘Soul Sundays’,
when brunch can be enjoyed to funky
chilled-out sounds all day long. The
scrambled duck egg is a phenomenon
in its own right. For something more
continental, the recently redeveloped
Aqua Italia (Welsh Back, tel. (0)117
915 6060) has a new lease of life as
a contemporary Italian. The fish is
consistently fabulous, and don’t forget
to finish things off with one of the
signature bellini cocktails.
Night Clubs
Stay away from
the heaving waterfront and make your
way to Thekla (Welsh Back); a bar and
club aboard a moored ship that reflects
the flipside of Bristol nightlife. Mercury
Prize-winner Speech Debelle will be
appearing on 22 May.
Clifton
Introduction
The climb up Whiteladies Road is well
worth it to experience the Clifton vibe.
Observe how the village manages to
juggle quirky and classy at the same
time before taking a deep breath of
fresh air on the Downs.
Hotels
The chic Berkeley
Square Hotel (15 Berkeley Square,
tel. (0)117 925 4000, cliftonhotels/
berkeley-square, rooms from €161/
£145) stands majestically over the
leafy Georgian square. The hotel has
its own private members’ club and
contemporary art gallery.
Restaurants
Sands (95 Queens Road, tel.
(0)117 973 9734) is an old favourite for
Lebanese cuisine. The mezze platters
are made for sharing and the garden is
a gorgeous place to while away the time
on warm evenings.
Pubs
At Amoeba (10 Kings
Road), try a few of the various beers on
offer. The British banana bread beer is
an acquired taste, but endlessly popular.
Redcliffe
Introduction
Bars, restaurants and hotels are
springing up around the spire of
St Mary Redcliffe, with an individual
feel being created for the area.
Hotels
You’ll find sumptuous
rooms and a luxurious spa at Mercure
Bristol Holland House (Redcliffe Hill,
tel. (0)117 968 9900, mercure.com,
rooms from €106/ £95).
Restaurants
Byzantium (2 Portwall Lane,
tel. (0)117 922 1883) serves fine tapas.
Population
Currency
Telephone
Bristol International Airport
Bus: The Bristol
International Flyer
connects the airport
to Temple Meads Rail
Station and Bristol
Bus Station, with
drop-off points
around the city
centre including
Clifton. Services run
every 15-20 minutes
between 5am and
12.10am from Temple
Meads. A return
ticket costs €10/£7.
Taxi: A single journey
from the airport to
the city centre costs
around €23/£16
and takes about
30 minutes.
Tourist information: The central tourist
information is at
Wildwalk-At-Bristol,
Harbourside (tel.
(0)906 711 2191,
visitbristol.co.uk).