The Best Hotels to Book in Bristol for Every Traveller

One of the advantages of staying in Bristol is that the countryside experience is nearby. Berwick Lodge, a privately owned manor house with 14 rooms, a fine dining restaurant and views across to South Wales, is only 15 minutes from the city centre, via the M5. Each room has its own personality, and the emphasis is very much on the classic and the luxurious, featuring open fires and large stained windows. The grounds even feature a marble statuary. If your ideal stay involves playing a character in a Jane Austen novel, this is the place for you.

There’s nothing quite as quintessentially British as booking a room in a historic pub. Bristol has a few, but for our money, the Wellington is the best. Run by local brewer Bath Ales, this place is big on convenience without compromising on style. The eight rooms are thoughtfully laid out, with trendy touches such as retro light fixtures and brick-effect tiles. In the pub downstairs, you’ll find a short but excellent menu of locally sourced food and a long list of locally sourced booze. Attractions including Bristol Memorial Stadium and Horfield Common are well within walking distance.

Set in the epicentre of Bristol Old Town, this Grade II-listed building has a colourful 150-year history, with famous guests including the Rolling Stones and Winston Churchill. The Mercure has really worked to keep up with Bristol’s changing dynamic, and now it strikes a near-perfect balance between classic and contemporary. In conjunction with the city’s Upfest festival, the hotel commissioned 500 pieces of street art that can be seen in rooms, corridors and common areas. With 182 rooms on offer, there’s the full range – from singles to suites – and the Keepers Kitchen and Bar features creative twists on traditional dishes in a changeable menu that provides plenty of reason to keep coming back.

Set against the rolling green backdrop of Somerset, Backwell House is a former Georgian estate that has been transformed into an idyllic nine-bedroom hotel, just a few miles east of Bristol. The 120-acre (49ha) grounds include a rose garden and a herb garden, and the hotel itself boasts a restaurant and a cinema room, as well as a variety of in-room treatments including Swedish massage and Indian head massage. If you’re keen to explore the area beyond the city, the quaint little village of Flax Bourton is on the doorstop, and the seaside town of Clevedon a short drive away.

Park Street is a photogenic block of Georgian buildings in Bristol, with the Berkeley Square hotel in the middle of it. The hotel does its utmost to match the classical vibe, and you’ll find fresh-ground coffee and fruit in your room upon arrival. There’s a restaurant and bar, and you get free entry to the Square – a members’ club with an award-winning restaurant inside. Much effort has been put into furnishing the 42 rooms with vintage comforts, and the suites in particular have a very inviting, living-room feel. The rotating complement of local art also ensures that you feel embedded into Bristolian culture.

Just a hop from the Clifton Suspension Bridge, the 122-year-old Avon Gorge is both stylish and well located. For years this spot had a terrible reputation, but Hotel du Vin has breathed new life into what was originally built as a spa – and a lot of that character has been retained. The bar offers views of the bridge, the restaurant is glass-walled and the staircases are marble. The 78 rooms include three suites and two garden rooms, and many feature quirky portraits of Victorian dandies with iPods and other modern paraphernalia. Guests will also find aromatherapy products in the tiled bathrooms, and a Nespresso machine on the desk.

Another Georgian building, No. 38 Clifton sits on one of Bristol’s high points, with views of Avon Gorge in one direction and Wills Memorial Tower in the other. Bristol’s maritime history is represented in the decor, with trunks, chests and bulkhead lighting fixtures throughout. The small collection of rooms are filled with a mixture of modern and vintage furniture, as well as Roberts radios and locally sourced, sustainable bathroom products. There’s no restaurant, but the Whiteladies Road area is a gateway to some of the city’s best dining options. The hotel offers breakfast in bed, as well as a buffet in the common area. Look out for the David Hockney in the downstairs toilet.

St Paul’s is one of the trendiest districts in Bristol, once a low-income area that has been elevated in recent years by independent businesses, street art and music venues moving in. There are plenty of places to stay here, but none can rival Artist Residence for charm. This 23-room former Victorian boot factory features a blend of industrial, vintage and modern decor, alongside high-quality creature comforts and a lounge area that also attracts a decent local crowd. If you really want to immerse yourself in the bohemian Bristolian atmosphere, this is the place to stay.