Bristol is a fantastic city to live in, not just because of its fantastic amenities and vibrant culture, but because it’s so well connected to other interesting places. If you live in Bristol and want to take a day trip out of the city, here are 7 of the best nearby places to visit!
1. Cheddar Gorge
Head south out of Bristol (on the A38) and you will soon find yourself in one of the country’s most breathtaking beauty spots: Cheddar Gorge. A winding road in the bottom of the gorge takes you between sheer cliffs, and you can park up and go for a hike in the countryside, visit the Cheddar Gorge Cheese Company to discover how cheddar cheese is made, or check out the prehistoric caves. More adventurous souls can enjoy caving and rock climbing – and it’s all right on Bristol’s doorstep!
2. Cardiff
If you’re after more of a city experience, why not hop on a train to Cardiff? The vibrant capital of Wales is just over the river from Bristol, and it offers all sorts of delights to the curious day-tripper, including a fantastic variety of shops, restaurants and bars, the Doctor Who Experience for sci-fi fans, the Millennium Stadium for a spot of rugby, and the bay area for a tour of the city’s most impressive modern architecture, including the Welsh Assembly and the Millennium Centre.
3. Tyntesfield
Who doesn’t love a good stately home? Accessible from Bristol by bus, this stunning National Trust property is set in 150 acres of beautiful parks, gardens and woodland. You could pack a picnic and spend a pleasant afternoon roaming the paths and fields, and visiting the home farm, the Orangery and the Paradise arboretum. Don’t forget to take a turn round the house as well, where you can see restored rooms, as well as priceless antiques and paintings.
4. Weston-super-Mare
For those sunny summer days, nowhere is better than the beach, and Bristol is lucky enough to be just an hour from one of the UK’s longest naturally occurring beaches: Weston-super-Mare. It’s easy to get to Weston by car and by train, and once you’re there you can soak up the sunshine, try your hand at sandcastle-building and even ride a donkey! What’s more, the Grand Pier boasts amusement arcades, a soft-play area for little ones, and 14 exciting rides including a House of Horrors and Britain’s smallest rollercoaster.
5. The Cotswolds
Looking to escape to the country? Northeast of Bristol is the beautiful Cotswolds, one of Britain’s Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty. With its rolling hills and quaint stone villages, the Cotswolds is a wonderful place to make your temporary escape from city life. For your countryside adventure you can discover lions and meerkats at the Cotswold Wildlife Park, soak up nature in the stunning Cotswold Gardens, or take afternoon tea in one of England’s prettiest villages, Bourton-on-the-Water.
6. Bath
Bath, the UK’s spa city, is less than 15 minutes away from Bristol by train (or if you’re feeling adventurous, you can cycle there on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path). This beautiful city boasts gorgeous, honey-coloured limestone buildings, as well as the iconic Royal Crescent and the Roman Baths. Come for the boutique shops, the unforgettable architecture and the extensive history. Other attractions include the Jane Austen Centre and Bath Abbey.
7. Tintern Abbey
Just a quick hop across the River Severn will take you to Wales and the historic Tintern Abbey. This impressive 13th-century Cistercian abbey inspired Wordsworth’s poem of the same name, and you can wander around this Gothic ruin and soak up the magic and the history of the place. Events held here include talks, medieval reenactments and even stargazing, so take a trip out of the city to come and discover this gem.
Are you interested in moving to Bristol? Contact Gough Quarters today to find out more.
Image sources:
Cheddar Gorge by Matthew Robey via Flickr under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license
Cardiff Millennium Centre courtesy of Pixabay
Tyntesfield by Chilli Head from Weston-super-Mare, UK (Tyntesfield, Somerset) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Weston-super-Mare courtesy of Pixabay
Cotswolds courtesy of Pixabay
Roman Baths by Diego Delso [CC BY-SA 4.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Tintern Abbey by Saffron Blaze (Own work) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
