Inflight Magazine of Brussels Airlines

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United Kingdom : Bristol - March 2008

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Getting around

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. , visitbristol.co.uk).

OLD TOWN

The city’s bygone wealth lives on in the splendour of the old town. Bars and restaurants are always springing up among the district’s glowing golden architecture.

Sleep soundly – Treat yourself at Mercure Holland House Hotel & Spa (Redcliffe Hill, tel. , mercure.com, rooms from €93/£69). Get your skin ready for spring with the spa’s seasonal signature Rose Radiance Facial. Thistle Bristol (Broad Street, tel. , thistle.co.uk, rooms from €174/£130) offers elegant rooms and an enviable location.

Must eat – Tyrells (Broad Street, tel. ) on Thistle’s ground floor is well worth a visit regardless of where you’re staying.

Dance the night away – Named after Duke Ellington, The Old Duke (45 King Street) is located on one of the city’s cobbled streets, and is heaven for jazz fans, with live music every night.

PARK STREET

This steep street is worth the climb for drinks, snacks and shopping.

Sleep soundly – There’s only one place to stay in this part of the city – Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel. Ideally situated on the green, it has sumptuous rooms and the most fantastic indoor pool.

Culture vultures – Just beyond the top of Park Street is Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery (Queens Road). Throughout March you can see the ‘Love’ exhibition, featuring work by artists as diverse as Raphael and Grayson Perry.

Must eat – Boston Tea Party (75 Park Street, tel. ) is perfect for breakfast or lunch in a cosy setting. The white hot chocolate is heavenly.

Must drink – Across the road is the Bristol branch of Browns (38 Queens Road), in a building based on the Doge’s Palace, Venice.

CLIFTON

Towards the magnificent suspension bridge is Clifton, the refined district stretching the length of Whiteladies Road, the Downs and the village itself.

Sleep soundly – The Washington Hotel is a bright, great-value hotel in a lovely location.

Must eat – Check out The Muset (16 Clifton Road, tel. ), a family-run restaurant serving English and continental delights. Max’s Italian Bistro (3 Worrall Road, tel. ) specialises in fresh Sicilian and Sardinian creations.

Must drink – Go cocktail crazy at Hausbar (52 Upper Belgrave Road).

MONTPELIER

Tucked away behind Stokes Croft is the bohemian suburb of Montpelier, full of independent treats.

Sleep soundly – Don’t miss the vintage fashion and quirky haberdashery at La Freak Boutique (47 Picton Street).

Must eat – Just round the corner is The Thali Café (12 York Road, tel. ), a Bristol institution that serves authentic Indian street food.

Must drink – The Cadbury House (68 Richmond Road) is a local favourite.

BATH

Only 12 minutes on the train from Bristol Temple Meads station is the World Heritage Site of Bath.

Sleep soundly – For a touch of class, opt for The Royal Crescent Hotel, which is housed in a Grade I listed building on Bath’s most famous street.

Culture vultures – For a touch of indulgence, visit Thermae Bath Spa (Hot Bath Street), where the pools are filled with natural thermal waters. The pool on the roof affords fantastic views.

Must eat – Ring O Bells (10 Widcombe Parade, tel. ) is Bath’s best gastropub. Or try Demuths (2 North Parade Passage, tel. ) for sophisticated vegetarian cuisine.

Compiled by Sarah Ellis