Stretching along the banks of the River Avon, the city of Bristol is a buzzing commercial center famous for the Clifton Suspension Bridge. If you’re driving into the city, you’ll cross the river further down over the Bedminster Bridge. Across the water you’ll find a lively English town full of independent stores, historic architecture and plenty of cultural hotspots.
Bridges and Banksy
Bristol has an eclectic identity, combining industrial landmarks, cutting-edge music and a strong student population. There’s plenty to see and do throughout the year, with weekly gourmet food markets popping up by the harbor and street art tours proudly showing visitors the city’s collection of original pieces by the mysterious street artist Banksy.
The first stop on your Bristol vacation should be the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Spanning the Avon Gorge, this is one of England’s premier industrial landmarks. Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the iconic railway bridge captures the spirit of Bristol’s industrial past and attracts photographers and artists in droves.
Meanwhile, fans of contemporary art flock to the Stokes Croft area. It’s in this cultural quarter of the city you’ll find Banksy's earliest street graffiti, with some of his most famous work still on public view.
The natural world
Head to the city center to visit the Bristol Aquarium, walking through a maze of underwater tunnels while creatures from the deep swim overhead. From here, it’s just a 15-minute drive to Bristol Zoo, which is another fantastic attraction if you’re traveling with kids.
Round off your trip with a feast by the water. Huddle into a traditional pub for all the English classics or head to the weekend markets on the harbor side to enjoy flavors from around the world on Saturdays and Sundays.
Road trips from Bristol Airport
Less than an hour away, Bath is a charming place to spend a day. The hot, spring waters are the main attraction here, with both the Roman Baths and the modern Thermae Bath Spa providing a relaxing experience, the former spiced with history.
The honey-colored Georgian architecture conjures up images of period costume dramas, especially in the Royal Crescent district. There’s plenty to see outside of the city too, with attractions such as Stonehenge, Avebury and Longleat Safari Park all within an hour’s drive of Bath’s center.
For a quirky day trip, head to Cheddar – a small countryside village in Somerset, famous for its cheese and limestone. This is a paradise for geologists, rock climbers and cheese-lovers and it’s only 20 minutes’ drive from Bristol Airport.
Equally captivating for both business and pleasure, renting a car at Bristol Airport is a great way to experience this lively corner of the British Isles.
