Going to Bristol - got a few questions

Ivrytwr3

Hey all,

We have a the following hotel in Bristol booked for next this weekend and have a couple of questions:

Any codes/vouchers for the restaurant/bottles of wine etc?

Ramada Grange
Northwoods
Winterbourne
Bristol
BS36 1RP

Anyone been here? Nice? Tips?

We would like to go to the cinema either Friday or Saturday night, is there a multiplex near ie where we can get a drink or meal, before or after the viewing?

Is Bristol worth visiting? What about parking, places of interest? Nice place for a cup of coffee and lunch?

Same with Bath, worth visiting? What about parking, places of interest? Nice place for a cup of coffee and lunch?

Hope someone can help!!

Skiduck

never been, but what is your room number - I fancy a free night out.

Ivrytwr3

you want to join me and the OH? I could picture it if it was one or the other, but not both of us; lol

Ivrytwr3

no-one live in Bristol? lol!

Glad

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clairehas

Ivrytwr3 wrote:

no-one live in Bristol? lol!

i live 20 miles from bristol and bath!

bristol is good fo shopping and eating out, the centre of bristol known as broadmead is in a bit of a mess at the mo due to a new shopping centre being built so there is alot of congestion around the city centre - parking is quite expensive so it might be quicker to find a park and ride. there is also cribbs causeway which is on the motorway (but i dont really go there, so im no use to you!)


bath is lovely - has the roman baths which is worth a visit and also has lovely shops - it makes a great day out. there is a very good multi story car park right in the middle of the city! also maybe try the new bath spa - i think its £19 for 2 hours but its is brill!

hope this helps - i cant really help on the hotel side of things as obviously i have never stayed in bristol or Bath :rolleyes:

claire

HalfPint

Hi,

I live very close to bristol. It's a lovely city with loads of things to do, but parking in the city centre is a nightmare.

There is a Vue cinema at a place called cribbs causeway which is just of the M5 motorway. There is also a bowling alley there (must book in advance) Plenty of shopping at the Mall (at cribbs) For eating there is Harry Ramsdens, TGI's and a couple of other good eateries - and all this is in one place at cribbs causeway.

In Bristol, there is the SS Great Britain. It's a wonderful old ship, restored to her previous glory, with a museum in dry dock which is fantastic to visit and not too expensive. Obviously this is at the docks and there is parking there (it's signposted too). Closeby there is the transport museum - free of charge to enter and is again quite interesting. You can take a trip along the water too. Closer to the centre there is At Bristol http://www.at-bristol.org.uk/ Have a look as it's too lengthy to mention here. Again there is underground parking quite close and it's secure too.

If you like the theatre there is the Hippodrome, a wonderful old theatre. Though its Oliver opera style at the moment - depends if you like that or not.

Hope this helps, feel free to PM me if you want more information. I'm afraid I can't help with Bath, never been there yet (only lived here for 2 years :rotfl: )

Hope you have a lovely weekend

Laura xx

Savvy_Sue

HalfPint wrote:

Closeby there is the transport museum - free of charge to enter and is again quite interesting.

I think you mean the Industrial Museum, and that closed at the end of October to be transformed into the New Improved Museum of Bristol. However, the SS Great Britain is a MUST. And I agree with what everyone else has said. Parking can be a nightmare unless you know where you're going, they've been digging up every major road into Bristol forever and they're not done yet, the 'normal' buses are a disgrace. But Bristol is wonderful and you should come.

Here is a list of cinemas in Bristol. If you want the standard multiplex experience, we have the usual suspects. If you want something different, but a 'mainstream' film, then you can't beat the Orpheus - cinema as it used to be, where the staff actually CARE whether you enjoyed the film or not! (OK, I declare an interest, my eldest works there in uni vacations! :rotfl:) You can't pre-book, but they're only ever full if it's a VERY popular new release. Bistro 38 is very new, round the corner in North View and enjoyable, and there's a pub almost opposite which I haven't been to but it does food. Or not far away is Valentino's.

The Watershed and Arnolfini are closer to the SS Great Britain and show less mainstream films. Eating places either onsite or very close by. Watershed area in particular VERY lively at night (think clubbers, young people out having a very good time and the inevitable consequences of too much alcohol...)

The Cube is something else entirely. And the Imax is an Imax.

For coming into Bristol during the day there are three Park and Ride routes, and I'd recommend any of them, although there isn't one from the NE corner, and they all stop running about 7 pm which can be a bit limiting. Broadmead traffic is ghastly, BUT there's still usually somewhere having a closing down sale. Bottelino's often has an offer on lunches if you like Italian - between House of Fraser and Debenhams on the 'outside' of Broadmead (you'll understand when you get there! :rotfl:)

Lunch and a cuppa in Bristol: the Primrose Cafe in Clifton is always packed out but it's good. There are some other lovely places nearby as well like the Clifton Sausage Company and various other cafes whose names I don't remember ...

Actually the trouble is that there are so many good places ... all over the place! Bristol's quite big, and spread out, you see. But the natives are very friendly ... and so are the immigrants! Oh, the City Museum is free, and their cafe is super! In good weather climbing Brandon Hill to Cabot's Tower gives a stunning view. And the Suspension Bridge is a must. And the Camera Obscura - although I don't know if that opens in the winter. And ... and ... and ...

If you look at Visit Bristol or the Bristol City tourism page you can look for the kind of thing that you particularly like doing. Of course the trees at Winkworth Arboretum will be super.

Bath also has Park and Ride. Which would be my preference, TBH. Because they have closed bits of Bath to private cars entirely, and I'd get lost ... But the new Bath Spa complex is finally open (it was supposed to open soon after we moved to Bristol, and that's 7 years ago! :eek:) and looks good but pricey if you want to relax. Lunch in Bath: Sally Lunn's is always recommended, but there are other places less crowded. I don't go there often enough to know (although when the new Lakeland opens ...)

You know, this could take longer than a weekend ... :rotfl:

HalfPint

Hiya Savvy Sue,

DOH, dopey me....yes I did mean the industrial museum:rotfl: . I didn't realise it had closed thanks for that info. Have only lived here 2 years and preferring the country to city, I only go into Bristol when I have too:rotfl:

Cheers.

Laura. x

Savvy_Sue

Savvy_Sue wrote:

You know, this could take longer than a weekend ... :rotfl:

Seriously, for anyone coming back in the summer (April to October) the open top bus is well worth the money. You get to see lots of different bits of the city, the guides are hilarious and true Bristolians, and you can hop on and off when you want to visit somewhere. Bath has one too, but I don't know when that one stops running.

And don't worry about not knowing the Industrial Museum had closed, it's only a week ago!

Molanole

I lived in Bristol while I was at Uni and for a couple of years after. For money saving things to do I would wander up Park Street and window shop (not proper shop obviously) and then into Clifton as there are lots of one off independant shops to have a gander at. You can then go and marvel at the Clifton Suspension Bridge (sounds boring but actually is pretty stunning) and you could even treat yourself to a drink on the veranda at the Avon Gorge Hotel (but it might be crowded with students).

For nice pub food the Hope and Anchor down towards Hotwells from the Clifton Triangle was always excellent but it's years since I've been there. On Park Street itself the Boston Tea Party is nice for a good coffee, tea or yummy hot chocolate. I remember it being competitively priced against the big chains but again that might have all changed.

If you're there on a Wednesday try going to the Victoria Rooms for one of their free lunchtime concerts which take place every week (quite often with uni students performing and building up their portfolio). If you go, say hello to the friendly university porters. They made my degree for me as they were so nice to us all!

As someone has already said the Cabot Tower in Brandon Hill is worth a look, even if climbing the stairs means more excercise than most would be comfortable with.

I know very little about the redevelopment around the docks as it's all changed since I lived there but pay a visit to the Arnolfini if you like art.

There are loads of other places off the beaten track in the more bohemian parts of town but it really depends how long you're there for. I loved Bristol and would go back if the work was good over there for me but sadly I am stuck in London.

Enjoy your visit!