The city is your base to explore the wilds of the Welsh coast and the refined sights of Bath

The city is your base to explore the wilds of the Welsh coast and the refined sights of Bath

Set on the River Avon and with a long maritime history, Bristol itself is rich in attractions. But there are plenty more further afield for those who want to explore beyond the city. Whether you want to see areas of outstanding natural beauty or visit historic sights and picturesque villages, make your base in one of our elegant yet practical Bristol Mercure hotels for the best home from home.

Bath
Just 12 miles southeast of Bristol lies one of the UK’s most charming cities. Known for its ancient Roman-built baths, which date back to AD 60, the World Heritage Site is a West Country must-visit not just for its hot springs, but also for its shopping and the beautiful Bath stone Georgian architecture. Don’t miss the Royal Crescent, the Pump Room and the Museum of Bath Architecture to leave no stone unturned. Book lovers will also want to stop by the Jane Austen Centre – or book a walking tour of key places from the author’s novels.
Stroll the Welsh Beach
Although the Bristol Channel isn’t known for its sandy beaches, the city is within easy reach of pristine Welsh coastline. Under 2 hours’ drive away, you’ll find the natural beauties that await near Mumbles, where Swansea Bay and the Gower Peninsula meet. The photo-perfect Langland Bay is known for surfing, tennis and great beachside cafes, while a little further along, Caswell Bay is a family favourite. To get away from it all, take a walk at Gower’s Bracelet Bay or along Limeslade Bay near the lighthouse. Closer by, in Somerset, Weston Super Mare, Burnham and Minehead are also fun days out with a more traditional ‘bucket and spade’ ambiance.
Take a walk in the Cotswolds
Also on the must-see list are the rolling Cotswold Hills. Stretching 25 miles across and 90 miles long, from Stratford Upon Avon to Bath, they span several counties including Gloucestershire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. Packed with chocolate box-pretty stone-built villages and stately homes, the countryside is a paradise for hikers, antique fiends and foodies alike. Visit Castle Combe, just half an hour’s drive from Bristol. The 14th-century market town has plenty of charm and an authentic English medieval clock, still in use at St Andrews Church. En route, why not stop for lunch at the Mercure North Bristol The Grange Hotel
Tinturn Abbey
Drive half an hour over the River Severn via Chepstow to Tintern in Monmouthshire to see the place that moved many of Britain’s greatest artists. The Abbey, which dates back to 1131, famously inspired Lord Tennyson and William Wordsworth to poetry, and can be seen in several pieces by JMW Turner. Today, although it’s in ruins, it’s still the best-preserved medieval abbey in Wales and won’t fail to take your breath away.

So if you are looking to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life, why not visit Bristol and soak up the countryside fresh air over a long weekend.
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