48 hours in BRISTOL

Have a 'gert lush' (really lovely) break in this West Country city

- ZACHARY SWEENEY-LYNCH

From spectacular medieval buildings, through the engineering wonders of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, to the modern street art of Banksy, Bristol blends riveting history with contemporary cool. While nearby Bath might pull most of the tourists, there are plenty of reasons this vibrant city should top your list for a weekend getaway…

Buzzy harbourside 

Begin your tour at Bristol’s cobbled harbourside – once an industrial centre but now a thriving cultural hub. Picturesque, coloured houses teeter over the harbour, while steely cranes dot the waterfront.

For hundreds of years these docks were a hive of shipping activity, but today the old warehouses are filled with museums and galleries. The impressive M Shed is dedicated to Bristol history and is well worth a stop.

Floating museum