Considered the “capital of the West,” Bristol served as Britain’s largest inland port for centuries. Today, Bristol’s sea trade heritage is one of its biggest attractions, with much redevelopment centered around the historic Harbourside.
Dockside storehouses have been converted into restaurants, pubs, galleries and wine bars, convenient to your Bristol hotel accommodations. Enjoy this sophisticated shopping district, or for a little more fun, take a “pirate walk” in the district with Pirate Pete. While you’re there, be sure to see the SS Great Britain, the world’s first luxury ocean liner, launched in 1843. Then stop at Arnolfini, a groundbreaking contemporary arts center housed in a former tea warehouse.
From your Bristol hotel, you can take a stroll to the riverside and enjoy the view from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, a marvel of engineering when it was begun in 1831 (it’s still in use today). Old City features medieval streets and buildings and the St. Nicholas Market, where modern merchants sell arts and crafts, books, and produce.
A short drive from your Bristol hotel, you’ll find Cheddar Caves and Gorge, one of England’s most scenic locations. Bristol and the surrounding region hold many unexpected delights for the visitor.
