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United Kingdom : Bristol - June 2008

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Bisected by a broad sluice of water, punctuated with pockets of verdant green and surrounded by lush English countryside, Bristol’s a beautiful place in June. Visitors should make the most of the South-West’s temperate climate, dine outside and finish up with a few summery cocktails, says Sarah Ellis

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

Bristol’s richly layered history is flagged up everywhere in this elegant quarter, and there’s an almost continental feel to its waterside bars.

Culture vultures – Castle Park is gorgeous at this time of year and tremendously popular with Bristolians and visitors alike. Relax on the grassy banks beside the 11th-century castle.

Must eat – Set on a converted barge, Spyglass Barbecue & Grill is good for simple grilled meats and fish. Try Myristica’s (14 King St, tel. ) modern take on traditional Indian cooking – the ostrich kebabs and organic murgh come highly recommended.

Must drink – Drink in the early summer sunshine on the terrace at riverstation (The Grove) or on the deck at the Thekla’s café bar.

WATERFRONT

The area down by the docks gets packed during summer and the atmosphere quickly heats up. While away the hours by the water in the daytime, then step up the pace as night falls.

Sleep soundly – The Arnolfini was renovated last year and is now better than ever. People flock to the paved area outside when the sun shines, but should it slip behind a cloud there’s bags to do inside. Exhibitions planned for June include ‘Far West’, an interactive collection that features work by dozens of international artists.

Dance the night away – Right next to each other, The River and The Red Room (1 Canons Road) pull in up-for-it crowds with equally eclectic music policies.

PARK STREET

Bristol’s most famous street is a bit of a climb in the heat but you can break the walk up with snacks and shopping.

Sleep soundly – The Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel is at the foot of the street in the most stately surroundings. It’s got a great health club and a prettily tiled pool.

Must eat – Goldbrick House has a fantastic menu of modern British classics, a lovely terrace that catches the sun and a decadent champagne bar.

Shop til you drop – Try Blackwells for books, Culpepper (90 Park Street) for handmade, herbal remedies and Cooshti (57 Park Street) for young, urban fashion. After all that shopping, decompress with an aromatherapy massage at The Treatment Rooms (14 Park Row). Small but perfectly formed, this diminutive day spa provides welcome respite from the hectic dash of Park Street.

CLIFTON

Beyond Park Street and further up the hill, Clifton is arguably the most desirable district in the city.

Sleep soundly – Tucked away on a tranquil square behind the main thoroughfare, The Berkeley Square Hotel (rooms from €126/£99) seems a million miles from the city centre. It’s bright, modern and very reasonably priced. It does a great cooked breakfast, too.

Culture vultures – Clifton Observatory was once a snuff mill. The camera obscura here gives phenomenal views over the Clifton Gorge.

Must eat – Pick your own dinner from the huge fish tanks at Le Monde. Otherwise, polish up your ethical credentials at The Big Bang (46 Whiteladies Road, tel. ), where all food has been sourced from within a 20-mile radius.

Shop til you drop – Spoil yourself rotten at Grace & Mabel, which is stocked with high-end labels like Sonia Rykiel and Antik Batik. Continue along these lines at Atkinson’s (5 Waterloo Street), a charming little beauty parlour whose quaint, wood-panelled décor belies the range of high-tech treatments on offer.

Compiled by Sarah Ellis