Bath, Bristol, or somewhere else...

[StrangewaysHereWeCome]

DH and I need to be at a thing in Bristol on a late Sunday afternoon in August. I'm considering making a weekend of it (just Sat/Sun as I'm working late on the Friday. I'd thought about staying in Bristol itself, or perhaps Bath, but is there anywhere else within a 2 hr drive that I've not thought of?

We like history, literature-related stuff, music of all kinds, and eating out. 18yoDC1 might join us, but all of that applies to her as well.

The only other option is Stratford Upon Avon, which is 1.5 hr drive from Bristol and from where you can do a day trip to Warwick castle.

Cardiff? Frome, Stroud or Bradford on Avon might suit if you'd prefer somewhere smaller, or even Bruton?

Bath is cool. History - Jane Austin museum's good. Pump rooms, Roman spa, decent buskers in the main square, independent shops, canal etc.

From that description I think Bath probably has it! thank you all.

Cheltenham?? Though Bath is lovely and there is plenty to do…

Yeah Bath is amazing for someone of your interests, I’d stick with the plan for Bath!

Bath for history. If it’s balloon fiesta weekend in Bristol that could be quite something to experience (if the balloons make it up this year..)

I've just Googled and it is the balloon fiesta weekend! That looks really fun - we can see about going along on the Saturday evening.

Always a risk as it’s weather dependent but it’s quite spectacular when they are able to fly.

I would choose Bristol over Bath (I live between the two) if you're bringing a teenager with you.

If you are there on the Balloon Fiesta weekend, try to sort accommodation sooner rather than later. I’ve not been for years but I think they might close the suspension bridge to pedestrians as well as vehicles.

Bath is about a 10-15 minute train journey away if it is too wet and windy for the balloons to take off.

Both Bristol and Bath would be good. If you're in Bristol on a Sunday lunch time and need food, I'd recommend the Clifton Sausage. Or if you want an excuse for a lovely 'posh' meal on the Saturday, but in a chilled setting, Adelina Yard is stunning.

Bath is only ten minutes on the train and brilliant for a day trip. I'd recommend Mary Shelley's House of Frankenstein highly, but give the Jane Austen museum a swerve.

Some of the Bristol pubs have literary connections too.

Fool that I am I had no idea that the train between Bristol and Bath was so short! We are not very genteel, so perhaps Bristol will suit us better, with a jaunt over to Bath. Some kind of historic/literary mini pub crawl would be very much the ticket.

Have a google of the pubs on King Street.

Look at taking the ferry around Bristol Harbour. You can get hop on hop off tickets. There's stops all the way from the back of Temple Meads Station all the way to the Pump House pub at the Cumberland Basin end. There's also a stop by the SS Great Britain.

If you want a break from cider and beer etc, you might enjoy a spot of magic of an evening:

https://www.krowdkeepers.com/

If you decide to drive to Bath instead of the train use the P&R at Newbridge

https://travelwest.info/park-ride/newbridge-park-ride/

The journey will take you a lot longer than 10 minutes, though.

It’s not 10mins between Bristol and Bath on the train, more like 30-40mins.
Easy enough, but not 10mins!

This is a very random offering 🤣 Stratford upon Avon is across the country from both Bristol and Bath and is quite far from the only other option!

I agree! You’d literally have to drive across the northern bit of the Cotswolds to get to Stratford from Bristol so, while there are lots of lovely places to visit en route, it’s far from being the ‘only’ option!!

Bath and Bristol are both great to visit. Cheddar is also interesting & not far but can get very busy.

It’s 11-13 minutes on the train from Temple Meads to Bath but about 30-40 minutes if you drive!

If it’s balloon fiesta weekend I would avoid Clifton/downs/ashton area!
The balloons are lovely but the ‘fiesta’ is a parking and traffic nightmare.

There are so many good food choices in Bristol, you can’t go wrong really, look at Wapping Warf, Clifton Village, Welsh Back/Harbourside, St Nicks Market.

The Llandogger Trow is supposedly where Teasure Island was written; there are lots of walking tours, boat tours which will tell you all the local history.

Well, we did it a few weeks ago and it took 11 minutes.

https://www.mysteryguides.co.uk/products/bristol

We did the Bristol mystery guide recently and thoroughly enjoyed it. Other cities also available.