If I liked Bristol city…

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I spent a long weekend in Bristol centre a couple of months ago and really enjoyed it. Before booking to go back, I’d like to know if there’s anywhere else I should visit instead.

What I liked about Bristol:

• some excellent independent restaurants, with a focus on seafood - well priced!
• range of bars, from ‘dive bars’ to fancy independent bars
• felt very safe to walk around at night
• enjoyed the different areas/quarters of the city, which kept the visit varied
• quirky independent shops
• the waterfront was a bonus, but not essential

England or Wales please, as I’d struggle to reach Scotland for a weekend.

Sadly, Birmingham isn’t great although it had a moment a few years ago. I’d only recommend it as a city break if you’re planning a few days around a specific event tbh.

London!

Liverpool

Best of the best!

There’s a great cathedral in Birmingham, the canals, the jewellery quarter, museums, good restaurants …… no - nothing to see there!

Brighton
Oxford
Exeter
York

Norwich

Edinburgh

York
Newcastle/Tynemouth

i

Newcastle/Gateshead

Quayside for music (Glasshouse) and museum/arts (Baltic), hire a bike in the Cycle Hub Newcastle quayside side includes House of Tides (Michelin *)
Areas such as Ouseburn, Gosforth and Jesmond for indies and creative ventures.
Metro out to Tynemouth (25 mins) for O’Riley’s Fish Shack (on the beach).

Cardiff definitely, Birmingham potentially, other midlands cities potentially though 2 nights max as smaller. I know someone said Bath, and I love Bath but it’s just nothing like Bristol at all, it’s too touristy, too expensive and far far too crowded. (We live near Bristol and go into Bath regularly but avoid during Christmas market season and through the main summer as it’s unbearable.) If you come back to Bristol and fancy more water come out to Portishead, have an excellent pub crawl route too

The city centre is really depressing now. There are some good restaurants, but most are not in the centre. The museum has recently reopened, sure, but its current exhibition (Ozzy Osborne) is really not very good. I live here and will happily recommend restaurants and bars if needed, but it wouldn’t be in my top 10 recommendations for the OP - and the canals are far from the waterfront she’s hoping for.

No. I have lived in both and there is no comparison - its dirty, crime ridden and just does not have the lovely west country vibes of Bristol, Bath, Exeter, etc. 😞

For cities with ‘areas’ also consider Glasgow. Great public transport via the subway. Upmarket/student based West End, foodie Finniston, indie Southside (Shawlands, Battlefield). Very diverse.

Ahhh, the good old mild, mild West.

Exeter. We had a lovely short break there last year.

We like cities and have been to a fair few in the UK. We also particularly liked Newcastle. Belfast was good too. They all have waterfronts.

@GreenCandleWax Op is not living there! She wants short break and Brighton is pretty good for that. As is Chichester. Sea within easy reach and attractive enough centre.

Their proximity to London is what does them down, unfortunately.

Their proximity to London is what does them down, unfortunately.

Norwich is amazing. Similar vibe re independent restaurants and bars, but smaller. Well priced.

Agree that Belfast is great, if you fancy flying. Good pubs and restaurants. The Titanic museum is brilliant. Day trip to Giant’s Causeway. Botanical gardens.

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie My DD went on some sort of “Troubles” tour in Belfast and felt very uncomfortable. Vibes under the surface. I agree other sights are well worth it.

We did the bus tour, which was excellent. Also walked from some of the murals to the jail. Didn’t notice any bad vibes anywhere.

Brighton?

@RemusLupinsBiggestGroupie maybe just dd then but she talked about it when she got home and the religious divisions.

I’m sure there are still divisions, but nearly everyone we spoke to was just happy that tourists are now bringing money into the city. Been a few times now and really rate it.