Once you start heading north out of the city along Gloucester Road, you’ll pass several leafy suburbs before coming to the more spacious districts of North Bristol, where you can then go on to explore nearby areas such as the pretty village of Almondsbury, historic market town Thornbury, take a stroll along the Severn estuary to marvel at the two huge bridges crossing over to Wales, or do some wildlife spotting in Severn Beach.
Much of the northern part of the city of Bristol is actually part of South Gloucestershire. The area is well served by public transport with bus routes from the city centre and there is also a mainline rail station at Bristol Parkway, as well as a local train service to Severn Beach.
So whether you choose to hit the shops, go surfing, step aboard Concorde or have some animal encounters, we know you'll have a great time exploring the area!
Cribbs Causeway
The Mall at Cribbs Causeway and surrounding retail parks are an out of town shopping destination with many high street stores such as John Lewis and Marks & Spencer. There are also many family restaurants, a multiplex cinema and plenty of activities to keep all ages entertained, including trampolining at AirHop Bristol. Watch a game of ice hockey of Planet Ice, or test your skills at Ninja Warrior.
Adventure seekers have even more options in the area, including inland surfing lake The Wave (which also has its own accommodation on site) and outdoor pursuit centre Bristol Activity Centre and Mojo Active.
The Bristol Zoo Project is located just the other side of the M5 motorway offering a great day out for families wanting to see giraffes, zebras, cheetahs, meerkats ring-tailed lemurs, bears and lynxes, as well as exploring beyond among play equipment and miles of walking trails, offering views over the Severn Estuary.
If you’re looking to stay nearby, Mollie’s Motel & Diner is next to all of the Cribbs Causeway attractions and also has a great American-style diner where you can grab something to eat. For a more luxurious break, book a stay at the top-rated Aztec Hotel & Spa or country house hotel Berwick Lodge.
There are also several hotels closer to the M4 and M5 motorways if you want to have easy access to the rest of the region, including Almondsbury Inn & Lounge and Lodge at Bristol.
Blaise and Westbury-on-Trym
Blaise Castle House Museum and Estate features a 19th Century mansion set in 400 acres of parkland and woods and is a haven for dog walkers and families. There is a large adventure playground and café adjacent to the car park. Explore the grounds and find the folly castle.
Just across the road you will find the National Trust’s Blaise Hamlet; a delightful hamlet of nine picturesque cottages laid out around an open green. Also nearby is Kings Weston Roman Villa, featuring the remains of a dwelling from the late 3rd and 4th Centrury AD.
Filton and Frenchay
The area of Filton has a rich aviation history and is home to Airbus and Rolls Royce, as well as many other engineering and tech innovators.
The brilliance of British innovation, design and engineering is showcased at Aerospace Bristol , including Concorde Alpha Foxtrot the finest of the British fleet. You can also book an appointment to visit the Rolls-Royce Heritage Trust to see a selection of engines, plus an extensive archive of books, technical manuals, photographs, videos and more.
The University of the West of England (UWE) has its main campus just off the Avon Ring Road and much of the local area, particularly around Filton Avenue and Gloucester Road, has a student vibe about it. You can book a ticket to watch basketball team the Bristol Flyers at SGS Wise Campus.
For some nearby green space, head to the Grade II-listed Stoke Park with its woodland, fishing lake, Dower House (built in 1563) and local landmark Purdown transmitter.
For somewhere to stay in the area, Village Hotel Club has a large selection of high-tech bedrooms, a gym with over 100 classes a week to choose from, a steam room, sauna, and pool. There is also a Starbucks coffee shop and a restaurant on site.
