When to Visit Bristol, United Kingdom
One of the sunniest cities in the UK, Bristol enjoys warm, sunny summers and cool, cloudy winters. For the most pleasant weather, plan your visit during July or August, when temperatures usually reach the low 70s. Hotel prices are generally highest in summer, however, so plan your visit during the spring or fall if you want to see sunny skies without breaking the bank. If you don't mind some clouds and temperatures in the 40s, visit during the winter, Bristol's off-season.
As such a festival-friendly city, you might want to plan your visit around one of Bristol's many special events. Mark your calendar for mid-May and attend the Foodies Festival at The Downs, where the city's top chefs demonstrate their culinary magic. In July, don't miss the NASS Festival, an action-packed event with live music and BMX competitions. In August, the colorful Bristol International Balloon Fiesta lights up the skies and offers plenty of family-friendly fun.
Below is a chart of the current pricing seasonality of hotels and motels in Bristol, United Kingdom:
Bristol, United Kingdom: Prices by Star Rating Class
Below are 3 charts illustrating avg. nightly cost trends by star rating class in Bristol, United Kingdom. Browse these illustrations to calculate the best months to stay in Bristol for upcoming travels.
Luxury Hotels in Bristol, United Kingdom
4 Star Average Prices: £97.54
From castle accommodations to city hotels, Bristol has it all. Live it up at one of these top luxury hotels in Bristol.
Enjoy contemporary luxury at the Hilton Bristol, located on the north side of the city. This large hotel has over 160 rooms, with choices that range from double and king guestrooms to Double Hilton Deluxe accommodations. All options feature amenities like LCD TVs with cable programming, desks, and wireless Internet access. Fit in a workout in the health club, go for a swim in the indoor pool, or relax in the spa tub. Start your day with meal at the Hilton's restaurant, or order room service. Book the 2,000 square feet of event space for a conference or business meeting.
Also in North Bristol, the Aztec Hotel & Spa has 128 guestrooms with amenities like espresso makers, refrigerators, and complimentary Wi-Fi. After a busy day of meetings or sightseeing, plan some relaxation time at the on-site spa, which offers massages and body treatments. Enjoy dinner out on the terrace or have the concierge book you at one of Bristol's finest restaurants.
Treat yourself to a luxurious stay in the heart of the city at Berkeley Suites. This boutique property has just five guestrooms, and all boast ample space, kitchenettes with refrigerators and stovetops, and 42-inch flat-screen TVs. Disconnect and relax in the garden, or stop by the restaurant for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. Tour the nearby Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery and finish your night with a cocktail at the on-site lounge.
Feel like royalty when you stay at Thornbury Castle, just minutes from Bristol city center, Berkeley Castle, and Cattle Country Adventure Park. Choose from a deluxe room, deluxe suite, or the Gate House and spread out in one of just 26 individually decorated rooms. Relax with amenities like complimentary Wi-Fi and digital programming, or explore the castle grounds. Visit the on-site winery, have a peaceful afternoon on the terrace, and sit down to a meal in the restaurant or a drink at the bar. In the morning, tuck into a complimentary English breakfast.
Best Budget-Friendly Hotels in Bristol, United Kingdom
3 Star Average Prices: £106.75
Whether you're looking for a spot in the heart of the city or in a more rural location, you'll find budget-friendly accommodations throughout Bristol. Check out these top affordable options in the city.
If you're traveling on a limited budget or you just want to save for excursions, the Homestay Bristol - Hostel offers some of the most affordable rooms in town. Choose from four- or eight-person dormitory rooms, or get a little more personal space with a double or triple room. While the rooms have limited amenities, the hostel offers free Wi-Fi and a complimentary buffet breakfast each morning. Right outside, you'll find many of Bristol's top attractions.
Located between Bristol and Bath, The Riverside Inn offers easy access to both cities. Choose a double or premier room if you're traveling with a significant other, or book a quadruple room that fits the whole family. This small inn has just four guestrooms, but each has essentials like a coffee maker, wireless Internet access, and cribs upon request. Have a meal at the restaurant before setting out to explore the West Country.
On the south side of Bristol, the Westfield Lodge is convenient to Bristol International Airport and the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Stay in one of the 12 budget-friendly guestrooms and enjoy amenities like flat-screen TVs, DVD players, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Make your meals in the lodge's communal kitchen to save on dining out during your trip. The lodge offers a complimentary airport shuttle on request.
Enjoy an affordable rural stay at Mezze at the Ship & Castle. This small inn features a handful of individually decorated suites with iPod docking stations, DVD players, and flat-screen TVs. Relax in the inn's garden or enjoy the Mediterranean cuisine. You'll save even more with free self-parking.
Best Value Options in Bristol, United Kingdom
If you're looking for mid-range accommodations, take a closer look at some of the best value options in town. You'll find comfortable rooms and all the amenities you need without overspending.
When you stay at The Coach House, you'll be just north of Bristol and convenient to the M4. All of the 15 guestrooms include basics like coffee makers, cable programming, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Wake up to a complimentary full breakfast, and relax in the property's garden. If you're traveling with children, note that cribs and extra rollaway beds are available for an additional surcharge. With free self-parking, you can look forward to saving on pricey parking fees.
Book a double or twin room, and enjoy a country stay at Ring O Bells, located south of Bristol in the Mendip Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. Rooms include basics like DVD players and complimentary Wi-Fi, and the inn offers free breakfast in the morning. Enjoy the views from the terrace, and finish your evening with a drink at the Ring O Bells lounge. If you're traveling with pets, contact the property directly to confirm policies and fees.
You'll feel right at home at Hillcroft Self Catering, which offers homelike accommodations with families in mind. Choose either the one-bedroom or two-bedroom chalet, and take advantage of all it has to offer. Rooms include kitchenettes with refrigerators and stovetops, as well as private patios and complimentary Wi-Fi. Park on site for free, and explore the Bristol and West Country area at your own convenience.
Near the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, The Washington is convenient to the University of Bristol and Cabot Tower. Choose from single, double, or family rooms and enjoy conveniences like flat-screen TVs, coffee makers, and Wi-Fi available for a surcharge. Plan a leisurely night in and order the inn's 24-hour room service, or head out to explore the best of Bristol.
Best Hotel Discounts in Bristol, United Kingdom
If you're traveling with a small or large group, many hotels in Bristol offer significant discounts on room rates. If you're booking just one room, you'll typically get the best deals by traveling during the winter off-season.
Can’t-Miss Attractions in Bristol, United Kingdom
You won't want to miss a trip to any of Bristol's most famous attractions. Start with a visit to the Clifton Suspension Bridge, an engineering marvel built in the mid-19th century. The bridge spans the cliffs of the Avon Gorge and offers pedestrian access and magnificent views of both the gorge and the surrounding towns. Nearby, the Clifton Observatory stands tall on Clifton Down, where it features a camera obscura and a limestone cave.
Get to know Bristol's maritime history with a visit to the harbor. Here you can kick back and watch the action or hop on a ferry to explore a new part of the city. Don't miss your chance to tour Brunel's SS Great Britain, known as the world's first great ocean liner. Explore the decks and inside the ship itself, or make plans to visit during a curator-led talk or special event. For more harborside fun, head to the Bristol Aquarium, a family-friendly attraction that has both freshwater fish and tropical sea life.
Immerse yourself in Bristol's museums and visit the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, which covers art and history from ancient times to the present day. Stop by M Shed, right on the harbor, to learn about the history of Bristol from prehistoric times to today. Catch an independent film, a music performance, or a festival at the Watershed, the city's celebrated performing arts venue.
From maritime history to contemporary art, Bristol has something for everyone. Don't miss your chance to visit this hotspot in the United Kingdom's West Country.
'Life is made up, not of great sacrifices or duties, but of little things, in which smiles and kindness, and small obligations given habitually, are what preserve the heart and secure comfort.
Sir Humphry Davy, one of the most revered scientists of all time, wrote these words in a bid to elucidate his views on what makes one's life worth the while spent doing things of import and things of no meaning, things of gravity and things of no consequences.
Sir Davy was born in Bristol and spent much of his later life there. This little insight into his thinking might tell us what values the city of Bristol takes pleasure in complying with.
Bristol of today is a megapolis with approximately half a million people calling it her their home. It is the second most heavily populated city in the South of England, second only to London. It is also a major cultural, tourism, educational and industrial hub, with all the facilities that a city of 21st century should possess.
Tourism in Bristol has taken off quite headily in last three to four decades or so, as tourism revenue generated in the city during these decades has steadily risen at an astonishingly high rate of over 15% each year. In 2014, over 3 million tourists are estimated to have visited Bristol, for purely tourism reasons.
If Bristol has struck your fancy and you wish to visit there sooner rather than later, this little run down of hotels in Bristol will help you get an idea about the hospitality scene here.
Affordable Hotels in Bristol
The total number of Bristol hotels exceeds 300 mark quite easily. Considering the overall activity that this city endures, it would be clear to seasoned travelers that Bristol is home to many cheap hotels that can help tourists cut down on their travel expenses with ease.
A cheap hotel of this kind, however, will not be able to provide you the kind of comfort or luxury that you might wrongly expect from it. Most of them, however, will definitely provide a safe and cosy place to crash at night.
Victoria Square Hotel is a representative of all such cheap hotels. Located centrally, Victoria Square is famous for its simple outlook and neat, clean rooms that exude homely warmth.
Ibis operates 2 budget establishments in Bristol under the names Ibis Bristol Centre and Ibis Bristol Meads Quay. Avon Gorge Hotel is also a great option if you love American-styled motel-outlook of a hotel room.
Opulent Hotels in Bristol
If living on a tight shoestring budget is not really your idea of a great trip to Bristol, then you can easily move on to more opulent hotels in Bristol that allow you to relax, rejuvenate and let go of all the stress and tensions that a modern lifestyle brings in as a side effect.
Hotel the Bristol is perhaps the most easily recognisable hotel in this segment. Located in the very heart of the city centre, it is an antique property that is known to have hosted the likes of John Lennon and Marlene Dietrich.
In the city centre, there are two more luxury establishments that are quite popular for their extreme comfort levels and a host of amenities they accord to their guest. These are: Novotel Bristol City Centre and Holiday Inn Bristol City Centre.
Sightseeing Around Bristol? Read This!
Sightseeing around Bristol can be a monotonous affair if all you focus on is some time out in the sunshine by one of many beaches that Bristol is blessed with. There are a few sights that you might add to your roster in order to make it more encompassing, diverse and interesting.
Clifton suspension bridge is one among these sights. It's not a magnificent bridge like the Golden Gate of San Francisco, but it still has its charm of English architecture. The Brunel's SS Great Britain, parked permanently at Bristol dock, is turned into a naval museum that you can spend one evening visiting.
Wills Memorial Building and Cabot Towers are two more culturally and historically interesting sights that will make your trip to Bristol a multi-dimensional and engaging one.
Hotels Near Airport in Bristol
The Bristol International Airport is usually not the first choice point of entry for tourists visiting Bristol. Most of them choose to land in London and hail a bus or cab straight down to Bristol.
That said, there are a few tourists who have further journey planned out from Bristol, and for them, it is a reasonably sound idea to hunt for cheap Bristol hotels that will offer convenience as well as affordability.
Bristol Int. Airport is located just outside the city limits of Bristol, at an approximated distance of 10 km. So, arriving in Bristol city centre is not really a troublesome prospect, even if you land at the Bristol Int. Airport. Hence, the whole business of trying to narrow your hotel search down based on the distance of a hotel from the airport will ultimately turn out to be a pointless one.
Perfect Time to Travel to Bristol
From a wider point of view, the best and the most ideal time to travel to Bristol will be all year round, excluding winter months. This means that most of spring and summer present a pleasant prospect, weather wise. From April to late August can be your best bet if you are traveling to Bristol just for sightseeing. Warm and balmy weather will allow you to explore the city on foot, as well!
That said, it should also be noted that May and June are two of the busiest months in Bristol, marking the height of summer with many food and music festivals. So, if you choose these months for your trip to Bristol, you will have to ensure that you have planned your tour really well, including advance hotel bookings. Being left high and stranded in beautiful sunny May just because there are no hotel rooms available will be a sure fire trip spoiler.