Driving in and around Bristol is a great experience and the city is well placed for car trips to a diverse and fascinating array of destinations.

The Cotswolds, England and Wales’ largest designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, is on Bristol’s doorstep. One after another, quaint villages packed with cottages built of limestone with thatched roofs appear along the pretty winding roads. Take your pick from Stow-on-the-Wold, Chipping Campden, Broadway and Painswick - each one beautiful in its own unique way.

Bristol is also an excellent starting point for a trip southwest to Somerset via the M5 through Western-super-Mare and Bridgwater, or using A-roads through Wells and Glastonbury. Must-see Somerset sights include the dramatic Cheddar Gorge and Cheddar Caves, as well as Wookey Hole and its Victorian paper mill.

Or, how about a trip north from Bristol to see England’s oldest occupied castle - Berkeley Castle? This regal highlight is close to Slimbridge Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust, a conservation centre that boasts the world’s largest collection of waterfowl.

Bristol is a city of contrasts. Its maritime heritage stretches back centuries but it always has an eye on the next new thing - whether that’s in art, music or architecture.

It’s a positive place with an air of economic success, but there’s also a raw creativity to the place that makes it even more compelling. Whatever you’re looking for - a sophisticated weekend with the girls, a fun family break, or a party city - you’ll find it here in Bristol.

Go back in time

In Bristol there’s more than one way to visit days gone by. Take a spooky tour of the city centre to see some of the most interesting buildings and hear the juiciest tales from 800 years of port history.

Or, perhaps a visit to College Green and the wonderful Bristol cathedral will be enough to bring history to life for you. The Georgian House Museum is another key attraction.

Many regard the Georgian period as Bristol’s heyday and wandering around the six-storey, intricately restored town house near the affluent Park Street gives a real sense of how life may have been for the slave traders and the African slaves who lived here all those years ago.

Visit a world-famous bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge is a remarkable feat of Victorian engineering. The Grade I listed structure spans the dramatic Avon Gorge and since opening in 1864 has become the definitive symbol of Bristol.

The work of famous engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the bridge is the result of a competition held to find the best design. Today, visitors can go on free guided tours of the bridge and those who visit between sunset and midnight can enjoy the Clifton Suspension Bridge in its full illuminated glory.

Take to the skies!

The sight of hundreds of brightly coloured hot air balloons ascending into the vast blue skies above Bristol city is one you won’t quickly forget. The Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is a four-day long annual summer festival that sees balloonists from across the globe flock to pit their flying skills against one another and take part in huge mass flights.

Although it may be the best known Bristol festival, the International Balloon Fiesta is by no means the only one. St Paul’s Carnival is another favourite, with its fabulous Afro-Caribbean music and food. Then there’s the Harbour Festival, a lively celebration of the city’s maritime history, and Pride, a particularly upbeat affair that sees the city streets pulsing with music and fun.

Go Harbourside

During the last two decades Bristol has revitalised and redesigned its harbour to create an engaging, attractive area packed with activities and attractions. It’s the perfect spot for simple shopping and eating excursions but it’s also a treasure trove for family fun.

Take a look the SS Great Britain. This former steam ship has been transformed into a fantastic museum that gives you a real taste of life at sea. Over at the At-Bristol Science Centre, there are brilliant hands-on exhibits and an interactive planetarium to explore.

Also not to be missed are the Watershed arts centre and cinema, and Bristol Aquarium. If it’s Bristol’s pirating past that has captured imaginations in your family, book yourself a place on a pirate walk. Delivered by a real life pirate, these are hour-long tours through the city's chequered history of slavery, trade and discovery.