Family break near Bristol/Bath

[GoodtoBetter]

Hello,

We are hoping to spend a week in the UK (we are abroad) next Easter, roughly 21st to 28th March. We'll be staying with a friend in Swindon for some of the time, but wanted a few days in the Bristol/Bath area. Will be meeting other friends in Bristol one day so needs to be nearish to Bristol, near enough to have a day in Bristol without masses of trekking across the country iyswim.
Can't decide whether to look for a Bristol hotel for a night or two or try to have 2 or three nights somewhere a bit more "different". We don't live in the UK so something like a farmstay would be amazing for the kids (8 and 4) but only have a max of 3 nights.
Don't have masses of money either.
Any exciting suggestions or any Bristol hotel suggestions? Had thought maybe just Bristol for a night or two, see the friends and maybe do the Zoo.

Thanks.

The best things imo to do in Bristol is,

Clifton suspension bridge, there is a natural rock slide next to it that my dc love, if you carry on climbing up there's Cabot tower which has an underground staircase into a balcony over the gorge. There is also a park right by it.

Blaise castle is a must, the walk around is great. If it's slightly cold put wellies on and you can walk all up the river. There's also a castle and a museum.

I don't particularly like the zoo, the encloses are very small but Google Bristol zoo wildlife. They have a separate place with Wolf enclosure ect ect.

Longleat is expensive but amazing, it's a safari park between Bristol and Bath.

Bath abbey is lovely and the weir.

Glastonbury isn't far away, nor cheddar they're really great places to visit.

If you have a sunny day there's nothing better then heading into the centre by millennium square water features that the dc can play in. Also a ferry ride around is a great idea and the ss Britain boat.

Maybe a Bristol hotel is best as we will be flying in to the UK so self caterign would mean having to buy all the basics just for a couple of days or eating out all the time anyway.

Thanks BrandNew, that's great info. What I'm really looking for though is ideas for where to stay.

There's a cheap basic travel lodge (2 actually) in the centre of Bristol, there's also a premier Inn which is slightly more expensive but not massively so. There's also a travel lodge in Bath to. Prices around £75 for a family room per night but depending when you book it and what days of the week it may be cheaper or dearer.

There is also a centre parks by longleat, they are like holiday cottages with extras. That's worth a Google to op.

I looked at centre parcs but it's a bit expensive for us and also I'm thinking now that probably a hotel in bristol is better so we can eat in the restaurant or go out to eat. Otherwise we'll have to buy everything to self cater.
The premier inns are probably the way to go.

If choosing Premier inn would recommend the King Street one which is closer to the harbourside. The Haymarket one is converted office block close to the shops but less great for tourists.
There is also an Ibis hotel by the Harbourside as well.
If you don't have access to a car, you are better off staying near the city centre as public transport from rural areas isn't that great.
If you are staying near Swindon with friends then the Cotswold wildlife park may be an alternative to Bristol zoo (less expensive and larger site with large zoo animals such as elephants and rhinos which aren't at Bristol zoo).
At Bristol Science centre is good if you are looking for an indoor attraction for this age group. There is also the Mshed which is free entry (but with a fee for some special exhibitions) and other Museums and Art Galleries.

Thanks catslife, do you think a hotel is a better bet for only a couple of nights or an apartment?

We'll hire a car at Stansted, stay with friends in Swindon and then drive to Bristol area to see other friends. Can't basically decide whether to stay in a hotel in Bristol, an apartment (would have to buy all the basics in terms of food, whereas in a hotel we could have a rate with breakfast and then eat in the hotel) OR to stay somewhere NEAR not IN Bristol so the kids see something other than a city.
Cant' decide what is for the best.

Depends on whether you want to do self catering or not and whether your dcs are fussy eaters? At Premier Inn you only pay for breakfast for adults as children receive free breakfast. There are plenty of places to eat out or get takeaways (so you wouldn't have to use the hotel restaurant in the evenings) but there are also convenience stores where you can buy food locally if needed for self catering.

They eat v well and I don't really want to self cater but the apartment does have the advantage of not having to sit all in the dark while DCs are sleeping, there would be an area for adults to sit. But don't know if it's worth the hassle of sc for 2 nights. Saw these and thought they might be good?

www.booking.com/hotel/gb/premier-apartments-bristol-cabot-circus.es.html?aid=311090;label=premier-apartments-bristol-cabot-circus-Hbjmo_kwRy*Er9EZwNlUZgS29347387140%3Apl%3Ata%3Ap1%3Ap2600.000%3Aac%3Aap1t1%3Aneg%3Afi%3Atikwd-38454147533%3Alp1005493%3Ali%3Adec%3Adm;sid=305ed0fedbcbfefa71034251d613c5bb;dcid=4;dist=0;sb_price_type=total;srfid=8f5cd8f07e2caa557dd22b44e664749423ca8289X1;type=total;ucfs=1&

The Kings Street Premier Inn isn't free for our dates. If we have a car, is the Filton one an arse as I see it has a pool?

oops, this premierapartmentsbristol.com/cabot_circus

Looks like there are cafes and stuff there and apartments look nice?

I can't tell you what to do but personally I would choose the breakfast option with the hotel, it's usually an all you can eat. Get a pasty or bag of chips (fries) (there are loads of great cheap food on the go places not just crap like I've said) for lunch and go out for dinner. Buy cereal bars and a bag of apples for those I'm hungry but not to hungry times as well.

But that's just me, I cook for a living I certainly don't want to cook, wash up and clean on holiday. Most hotels have a laundry service and fresh towels daily.

I think you're right. I think the Premier Inns are probably going to be our best bet. Someone recommended the Kings Street one but only the Haymarket one is available for our dates.

The Haymarket one is converted council offices and so wasn't purpose built as a hotel. It's right next to a major roundabout (there are currently major roadworks by it) so am not sure if it would be noisy.
They are building a new Premier Inn in the city centre but am not sure when it is due to open.
Live in Bristol so haven't used the hotels myself but relatives have used the Hengrove one which is near a children's play park and cinema. There is free parking here but can also get to city centre by bus.
We have stayed at Premier inns as a family and used to camp out in the bathroom when dcs were asleep!

I'll have a look for the Hengrove one, thanks! Have looked at the Novotel too but it's quite a lot more money and I'm not sure it's worth it. We're going at the end of March, just before Easter so probably too soon for the new PI to be finished but will see what comes up.