During the 18th and 19th centuries, wealthy Bristol merchants transformed the former spa resort of Clifton into an elegant hilltop suburb packed with impressive Georgian mansions. Some of the finest examples can be seen along Cornwallis Crescent and Royal York Crescent. These days, Clifton is still the poshest postcode in Bristol, with fancy shops and a villagey atmosphere that's far removed from the rest of the city.
Lonely Planet's must-see attractions
12.39 MILES
Welcome to one of Northern Europe's most significant Roman sites. Today more than a million visitors a year come to see its historic finds, atmospheric…
21.62 MILES
Topped by the ruined medieval Chapel of St Michael, the iconic hump of Glastonbury Tor is visible for miles around, and provides Somerset with one of its…
27.14 MILES
You could be forgiven for thinking that Caerphilly Castle – with its profusion of towers and crenellations reflected in a duck-filled lake – was a film…
24.2 MILES
There's a medieval keep at its heart, but it's the later additions to Cardiff Castle that really capture the imagination. In Victorian times, extravagant…
24.08 MILES
Devoted mainly to natural history and art, this grand neoclassical building is the centrepiece of the seven institutions dotted around the country that…
0.68 MILES
This mighty, innovative steamship was designed by engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843. You get to wander the galley, surgeon's quarters and…
16.96 MILES
The haunting riverside ruins of this sprawling monastic complex have inspired poets and artists through the centuries, most notably William Wordsworth,…
St Fagans National History Museum
28.18 MILES
Historic buildings from all over the country have been dismantled and re-erected in the semirural surrounds of St Fagans village, 5 miles west of central…
Nearby Bristol attractions
0.26 MILES
Clifton's most famous (and photographed) landmark is the 76m-high Clifton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge. It was designed by master…
0.27 MILES
A natural cavern set beneath the Clifton Observatory & Camera Obscura. The cave mouth is set into the side of the cliff, offering spectacular views over…
3. Clifton Observatory & Camera Obscura
0.27 MILES
Set in a striking 18th-century windmill, Clifton Observatory features a viewing platform, a rare camera obscura and the cliff-side Giant's Cave. Together…
0.33 MILES
The grassy parks of Clifton Down and Durdham Down (often referred to as just the Downs) fan out from the Clifton Suspension Bridge and make a fine spot…
5. Clifton Suspension Bridge Visitor Centre
0.36 MILES
Engaging displays chart the story of Bristol's eye-popping suspension bridge, built by the innovative Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
0.54 MILES
It may be tiny (under a square mile), but Leigh Woods squeezes a lot into a small space: ancient trees, snaking walking trails and corking Avon Gorge…
0.66 MILES
Set in the small park of Brandon Hill, this 32m ornate red-brick tower was built between 1896 and 1898 to commemorate John Cabot's pioneering voyage in…
8. Girl with the Pierced Eardrum
0.67 MILES
A 2014 Banksy creation that re-imagines the famous Vermeer portrait, but uses an alarm box instead of the pearl earring. It's a little hard to find – head…