4 Best Hotels in Bristol, The West Country

With Clifton Suspension Bridge at the end of the street and the Avon Gorge directly below, this elegant Georgian B&B offers classic views of Bristol from its windows. The thickly carpeted rooms are spacious and embellished by antique furniture and works of art, and the comfy lounge offers access to a generous lawned garden. The staff welcome guests with a glass of sherry and a slice of homemade cake. Breakfast, around a communal table, is a lavish affair with smoked salmon on toast and pancakes with syrup among the numerous choices.

This hip chain has brought high-tech flair to six former sugar-refining warehouses, built in 1728 when the River Frome ran outside the front door. Rooms are spacious and crisply contemporary, but retain many original industrial features, while the bathrooms have monsoon showers and roll-top baths. The bistro-restaurant specializes in modern but robust French fare. The hotel is close to the docklands and the city center. If you have a car, reserve parking when booking as spaces are limited.

The more palatial of Bristol's two links in this large chain has a superb location next to the medieval cathedral. The reborn Victorian hotel has imposing public rooms, an on-site Miller & Carter steak house, and top-notch health and business facilities. Some of the well-equipped guest rooms are on the small side; suites are spacious and plush.

In two mellow Victorian buildings overlooking one of Clifton's leafiest squares, this somewhat functional hotel makes a useful base for exploring this part of Bristol. Rooms are decorated in neutral colors and are mostly spacious; rooms 229 and 247 open directly onto a small walled garden. Hotel parking is limited but street parking is available with a permit (both options incur an extra charge). Bus 8 from Temple Meads station stops right outside.