Where to stay in Bristol

Which part of Bristol should you stay in?

For a first Bristol visit without a car, start with our city centre and Harbourside apartments. Compare the home’s position with the sights you want to visit and your arrival point. Wapping Wharf suits waterfront plans, while Castle Park and Cabot Circus give you a different base for shopping and exploring the centre.

Choose Clifton when the Suspension Bridge, village shops and local restaurants are the main reason for your trip. If your evenings revolve around independent music venues, cafés and street art, compare Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft. A lively area can be convenient for going out, but check the individual home’s noise and access information before choosing it for an early night.

Arriving by train? Start with National Rail’s Temple Meads station map and onward travel information, then compare the route to your accommodation with your luggage and arrival time. The station has bus and taxi connections. For a stay without a car, check both the outward journey and the way home after dinner using the Travelwest journey planner. A central address alone does not tell you whether the walk suits your group.

Is it worth paying more to stay in the centre? If you want to walk to the harbour each day, price the Wapping Wharf apartment for your dates and include any overnight parking. If you’ll spend your days in North Bristol, compare the Filton studio with parking. Add the return fares or parking charges for everyone travelling on each day you’ll head into town. A lower nightly price farther out can still be a good choice for a single day of sightseeing, but less appealing for a whole weekend on the waterfront. Our Bristol parking guide covers overnight parking and Park and Ride.

For a family visit or work assignment, the best base may be close to the person or place you are visiting. Compare North and East Bristol for those journeys, or Pilning if a countryside setting suits your plans. Our work stay guide helps with team layouts and commuting, and our university visitor guide distinguishes the different campuses.

Clifton for character, food and a village feel

Clifton combines Georgian streets, independent places to eat and access to Clifton Village, Whiteladies Road, the Downs and the Suspension Bridge. It is a good area to compare when cafés, restaurants and exploring the neighbourhood are part of your visit.

Clifton sits higher than the city centre, so walking back can involve a steep climb. If hills would make the trip harder, compare a central stay or plan the bus journey. The Bridge Trust’s travel guide explains the walking routes and buses to Clifton Village and the bridge.

For a solo trip or two guests sharing a small double bed, The Vault studio in Clifton has a kitchenette with a fridge, microwave and kettle. For family or friends travelling together, our two bedroom apartment in Clifton Village sleeps four and has a full kitchen, dining space and laundry facilities.

Check the exact property location and parking arrangements against your plans. A Clifton address covers more than one part of the neighbourhood.

Compare all our Clifton apartments and studios, or plan time around the bridge, shops and green space with our Clifton and Whiteladies Road visitor guide.

Harbourside and central Bristol for exploring on foot

Wapping Wharf is a useful starting point for waterfront walks and the Harbourside. Our Harbourside apartment with a balcony sleeps up to four, with a double bedroom and two fold down single beds. It has a full kitchen, a dedicated workspace and a projector for evenings in. Parking is paid and nearby.

Around Portland Square, compare a smaller flat for two with a larger apartment for four. Our one bedroom flat near Castle Park has lift access, a full kitchen and a washer dryer. Our two bedroom flat by Portland Square has two bathrooms, a kitchen, a washer and a workspace.

For up to six, the three bedroom apartment near Cabot Circus has three beds, two bathrooms and a kitchen with dining space. There is paid street parking nearby.

Choose the layout that suits your group, then check the location against the places you plan to visit. The property pages show the beds, access details and facilities before you book.

For shopping and a central base around Portland Square, read our Cabot Circus and Castle Park guide. It compares flats for two or four with different parking and laundry arrangements.

Flying into Bristol? The A1 Airport Flyer connects the airport with Bedminster, Temple Meads and Bristol Bus Station. Compare the nearest stop and the final walk to the home before booking, especially with luggage or a late arrival. For sightseeing without a car, start with central Bristol apartments and check the route to the places you want to visit.

Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft for independent Bristol

Gloucester Road, Cheltenham Road and Stokes Croft put independent cafés, restaurants, shops and music venues close to your stay. Check the exact property location if a quiet bedroom or easy parking matters to you.

Our one bedroom apartment on Gloucester Road sleeps two, with a double bed in a rear bedroom and a kitchen. Travelling with more people? Our two bedroom flat by Gloucester Road sleeps four in two king bedrooms. It has one bathroom and a separate toilet, plus air conditioning and a dedicated workspace.

Open either property to check your dates and full price for a short break or longer visit.

Our Cheltenham Road and Stokes Croft guide looks more closely at the street art, independent shops, music and green space, with local flats to compare.

North and East Bristol for more space

North and East Bristol offer alternatives when your visit is centred on family, work or a particular part of the city. Compare the route from each home with your plans, as these neighbourhoods cover a wider area than the city centre.

For work around Filton, a Southmead Hospital visit or a stay in Bradley Stoke, compare our north Bristol accommodation guide, which brings the relevant homes and visitor information together.

For one or two guests in North Bristol, our Filton studio with parking has step free access, a kitchenette and a workspace. For a two bedroom option, compare the garden flat in Westbury on Trym, listed for up to four guests. Check the property page for its layout and the route to your destination.

For a larger group, our four bedroom home in Southmead sleeps eight, with four double bedrooms, two bathrooms and a private garden.

In East Bristol, our three bedroom home in Emersons Green sleeps six, with two bathrooms, a private garden and free driveway parking. Our Victorian cottage in Hanham sleeps seven, with three bedrooms, a kitchen and a private garden. Compare the bedroom arrangements and bathrooms as well as the total number of guests.

Moving to Bristol for six weeks while you look for a flat? Start with your work postcode and the neighbourhoods where you have viewings. For a city centre base, the Castle Park flat has a washer dryer. If work is in North Bristol, compare the Filton studio above. Check availability for the whole six weeks before counting on one home throughout. Our guide to staying between homes explains what to check if your move date changes.

Bedminster and Pilning for a different Bristol stay

For North Street’s independent shops, cafés, bars and restaurants, explore The Old Workshop in Bedminster. This converted workshop sleeps three across two bedrooms, including a mezzanine bedroom. It has a kitchen, utility room and private enclosed garden, with exposed beams and a vaulted living space. Look through the photos and layout to decide whether it suits your group.

For a countryside base, our two bedroom annexe in Pilning sleeps four at Wainbridge Farm, with a kitchen, living room, small private garden and private parking. Compare the location with your journeys rather than treating it as a city centre stay.

Check Bristol dates and prices for a short break, family visit, work trip or longer stay. Enter your dates and guest numbers to see available homes and the full price.

Open the properties you like to compare their photos, beds and facilities. Where both rates are offered, compare the non refundable and flexible options and read the cancellation terms before booking.

Our Bedminster and North Street visitor guide takes a closer look at the shops, street art, theatre and green space south of the river. If you are driving to any of these areas, use the Bristol parking guide to compare included spaces with local parking options.