Car Rental Bristol - Exploring Bristol

Bristol makes an ideal base from which to explore the famous Roman town of Bath and the quaint town of Glastonbury, one of England’s first religious centres. Also within easy reach is Weston-super-Mare, a popular seaside resort. There are many areas of natural beauty near Bristol, such as the Cheddar and Avon gorges, as well as the Cotswold Hills, which feature timeless villages tucked away in hidden corners.

Most visitors head straight to Bath, a town founded by the Romans, who established the famous baths here. There is a beautiful abbey and some wonderful Georgian architecture on the hills overlooking the town. Designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage site, Bath is just 21kms from Bristol and can be reached via a cycling path or by walking beside the River Avon.

Glastonbury is famous as the place where Christianity first took root in England. The ruins of an imposing castle are perched on a hill overlooking the small town. On Midsummer’s weeekend each year (June 21), Glastonbury hosts one of the country’s most popular music festivals.

For a day by the sea, head down to Weston-super-Mare, the main holiday resort in the West Country. The Sealife Centre down by the sea and the Helicopter Museum at nearby Locking are both worth visiting. If you’d like to see a community of puffins, take a ferry from Bristol to the tiny island of Lundy, situated in the Bristol Channel.

Finally, the drive inland towards Cheddar Gorge, which lies in the Mendip Hills, affords spectacular views. Alternatively, you can drive west towards Gloucestershire to see cottages built of honey-coloured stone in the rural villages of the Cotswold Hills.