20 Attractions to Explore Near Ashton Court Estate

The Ashton Court Estate was once the gracious home of the Smyth family, and is now a historic park just 10 minutes from the centre of Bristol. It covers 850 acres of woods and grasslands in total, designed by Humphry Repton. It is the venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct Ashton Court Festival, Bristol International Kite Festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. It is home to charity The Forest of Avon Trust.

Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of Bristol’s most recognizable structures. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The bridge’s spectacular setting on the cliffs of the Avon Gorge has made it the defining symbol of Bristol, drawing thousands of visitors a year just to stroll across for views of the ancient Avon Gorge, elegant Clifton, and the magnificent city beyond.

The Avon Gorge is a 1.5-mile long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. It forms the boundary between the unitary authorities of North Somerset and Bristol, with the boundary running along the south bank. As Bristol was an important port, the gorge formed a defensive gateway to the city. A nice attraction where you can spend some nice time.

A funicular railway cut out of the rocks of the Avon Gorge more than 125 years ago could be brought back to life as Bristol’s newest tourist attraction. A funicular railway cut out of the rocks of the Avon Gorge more than 125 years ago could be brought back to life as Bristol’s newest tourist attraction. After opening a museum, event space and café at the Camera Obscura site, Ian now has his sights set on restoring the funicular, which was built into the rock of Avon Gorge and opened in 1893.

Underfall Yard is a historic, working boatyard that welcomes visitors. There is an ever-changing landscape of boats to enjoy thanks to the skilled maritime businesses that call the yard home. Underfall Yard has been designated as a scheduled monument and from the 1970s onward many of the buildings at Underfall Yard have earned Grade II Listed Building status.

Clifton Observatory is a former mill, now used as an observatory, located on Clifton Down. The Observatory houses one of the only camera obscuras still open to the public in the UK. This iconic landmark of Bristol offers a unique viewing platform overlooking the Clifton Suspension bridge and the City of Bristol. The Observatory also offers visitors the chance to travel the underground passage to Ghyston’s Cave, cut out by William West, an artist who used the Observatory as a studio from 1828.

The Tobacco Factory is the last remaining part of the old W. D. & H. O. Wills tobacco factory site on Raleigh Road, Southville, Bristol. The building was used to process tobacco until 1985-6 when Imperial Tobacco, which W.D & H.O. Wills had latterly been a part of, relocated production. . It is now a multi-use building which houses animation and performing arts school, loft-style apartments, a café bar, offices and a theatre.

Spike Island is an international center for the development of contemporary art and design, home to a gallery, café, and working space for artists, designers and so more. Spike Island offers visitors a year-round program of exhibitions, events, and family activities in the expansive, well-lit gallery spaces, as well as providing artists’ studios and commercial workspace for both new and established designers and creative businesses.

Leigh Woods is a 2-square-kilometre area of woodland on the south-west side of the Avon Gorge. The woodland is a National Nature Reserve and Site of Special Scientific Interest. It’s the largest block of woodland in the Bristol area and is the home to over 500 veteran and ancient trees. One of the iconic location where you can spend some nice time in the middle of nature.

SS Great Britain is a museum ship and the world’s first great ocean liner, Bristol’s no.1 attraction and one of the UK’s top ten museums . it was the first screw-propelled luxury ocean liner, to carry passengers across the Atlantic. Eventually left to rust in the Falkland Islands, the ship was famously re-floated and transported back to Britain in 1970. It was now one of the iconic attraction in this area.

The Cathedral Church of SS. Peter and Paul is the Roman Catholic cathedral of the city of Bristol. Located in the Clifton area of the city, it is the seat and mother church of the Diocese of Clifton and is known as Clifton Cathedral. One of the iconic attractions in this area and also a major pilgrimage site.

Bristol Floating Harbour is located in the heart of Bristol's urban center. It is a large man-made standing body of water fed by the River Avon. . Now you can walk around a complete circuit of a substantial part of the old docks – a fine Local Journey with plenty of things to see on the way. It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river.

Brandon Hill Nature Park is located in the city center and is a haven for wildlife. It is a hilly park and popular picnic spot with a nature reserve and views from Cabot Tower. During spring and summer, there are many beautiful flowers that blossom here in the park, which give the park some colour. There are many activities around the park – children’s playground, workout areas and of course, Cabot tower – Bristol’s best viewing spot, climbing up many steep steps to reach the view 105ft up.

A majestic zoo and botanical garden which was set over 12 acres with a collection of over 400 species of exotic and endangered animals from across the globe. there are many other indoor exhibits including an insect and reptile house and aquarium meanwhile outside there are several aviaries and a seal and penguin enclosure. The lakes' islands are home to gorillas, tamarins, marmosets, gibbons and squirrel monkeys.

Clifton Down is an area of public open space in Bristol, England. The Downs are home to many major events, charity runs, circuses, funfairs and sponsored abseiling events, as well as being a relaxing environment for families to play and couples to stroll. It is also one of the major shopping centers.

A majestic tower in Bristol set in the gorgeous parkland of Brandon Hill near Park Street in the West End is a 105ft tower built-in 1897 to commemorate John Cabot's famous voyage from Bristol and the continent of North America four hundred years earlier. From the top of Cabot Tower, the whole of Bristol unfolds into the distance – making the steep climb well worth it, especially on a clear day.

The Clifton Pool and Victoria Public House is an historic lido and public house situated in Oakfield Place in the Whiteladies Road area of Clifton, Bristol, England. On one side of the building is the spa entrance to the Lido, with the pool on the other side. The public house was converted from part of the original lido buildings and was opened by 1867.

The Victoria Rooms, a familiar Bristol landmark, first opened its doors to the public in May 1842, and for many years served as the most important and lively cultural center in the West of England. One of the architectural wonder in this area.

The Royal West of England Academy (RWA), England’s only regional Royal Academy of Art, is Bristol's finest art gallery. Its magnificent Grade 2* listed building hosts five naturally-lit galleries acclaimed as one of the best exhibition spaces in the country. It was the first art gallery to be established in Bristol and is one of the longest-running regional galleries and art schools in the UK.

The Georgian House Museum is an 18th century, six-story townhouse just off Bristol's famous independent shopping area, Park Street. It includes a drawing room, eating room, study, kitchen, laundry, and housekeeper’s room house has been restored and decorated to its original glory, and is the perfect way to step back in time and imagine what life was like in this affluent area of the city hundreds of years ago.