Local Attractions

Rockleaze House is ideally situated for visiting Bristol, Gloucestershire, Somerset, South Wales, and the Southwest in general.

We are in one of Britain’s biggest and most bustling cities, set amid one of the most beautiful regions in the world with rolling green hills, stately homes, nature, sporting activities from football, rugby, and cricket to trampolining, water sports, and even cheese rolling. That’s not all, here’s some of the highlights:

image © the mall cribbs

The Mall at Cribbs Causeway

Only one mile from our B&B, the Mall at Cribbs Causeway is the region’s largest shopping centre with every major chain imaginable, a full range of restaurants, cinemas and other activities including the largest trampolining park in Europe and home to the world famous Concorde at Aerospace Bristol.

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image: steelfish

Harbour Side - The Matthew, SS Great Britain

One of Bristol’s most picturesque areas is the Harbourside which combines museums (M-Shed), art galleries (Arnolfini), an arthouse cinema (Watershed), the Hippodrome theatre, and restaurants. You’ll also find two classic boats The S.S. Great Britain and The Matthew.

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image: Saffron Blaze http://www.mackenzie.co

Explore Gloucestershire

North of Rockleaze House you will find an area of outstanding natural beauty, the Cotswolds. Picturesque villages like Painswick and Birdslip dot these rolling green hills as well as popular tourist spots like Cirencester, the Cotswold Water Park, Bourton on the Water, and Bibury.

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image: Karen Roe flickr licence

Balloon Fiesta

Held at the beginning of August every year, the Balloon Fiesta is one of Britain’s great festivals. It’s not just hot air though, you’ll also find games, stalls, all kinds of food, and other entertainment including live music all set within the Ashton Court manor and grounds.

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Wild Place

Wild Place Project is a fun family attraction that provides outdoor adventure, play and learning. Meet amazing animals from across the world, from the mischievous lemurs of Madagascar to magnificent European brown bears. Every visit supports the charity’s conservation work.

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image: 123rf

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Built in 1864, five years after Isambard Kingdom Brunel died, the Clifton Suspension Bridge is the oldest and most magnificent of its kind. You can walk across for free though there is a toll for cars, visit an observatory above it, or take a guided tour of its deeper architecture.

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image: cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Derek Harper - geograph.org.uk/p/4924323

Shopping in Bristol

Bristol has always been a great place to go shopping, but since Cabot Circus was built, there’s now a greater range of high end options, including great restaurants and a luxury cinema. If you’re looking for something a little different, try Gloucester Road’s diverse offerings or head up Park Street to Clifton.

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image: cc-by-sa/2.0 - © Pam Brophy - geograph.org.uk/p/336473

Chepstow Castle

Overlooking the Wye River, Chepstow Castle is a quick drive from North Bristol across the Severn and into Wales. It’s one of the country’s most impressive castles. Nearby you’ll also find Tintern Abbey as well as the Roman remains at Caerwent and Caerleon.

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image: Andrew Gustar flickr licence

We The Curious and the Aquarium

Part of the Harbourside area of central Bristol includes the Aquarium and We The Curious. The latter is a re-branding of the iconic @Bristol interactive science and learning centre, which still includes the excellent planetarium.

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image: Adrian Pingstone

The City of Bath

Older than Bristol, the nearby city of Bath is iconic for its pale, yellow stone and Georgian architecture. Bursting with tourists, the city has a wide range of attractions from the Cathedral to the Royal Crescent. This also includes Pulteney Bridge.

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image: joyofmusiums

Bath - Roman Baths

Bath was founded as the Roman city of Aquae Sulis, the waters of the Goddess Sulis. It remains Britain’s only natural thermal spa, so its iconic Roman baths are not to be missed, nor the adjacent thermal spa.

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image: notfromutrecht

The Sights of Somerset

South of the river lies another beautiful county, Somerset. This is home to the long beaches of Weston Super Mare, the Arthurian mythology of Glastonbury, England’s smallest cathedral city (Wells), and the Chew Valley Lakes.

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Banksy's Mild Mild West

Banksy's Mild Mild West, Stokes Croft, Bristol was painted over three days in broad daylight in 1998. It was painted in response to various unlicensed raves and parties held in abandoned warehouses around Bristol in the 1990s, that drew increased attention from the police.

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The Wave

The Wave Bristol is the first inland-surfing destination of its kind, where people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities can experience the joy of surfing and its many physical and mental health benefits.

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To learn more about what’s on in Bristol check out: