Car hire Bristol

Bristol, the unofficial capital city of England's West Country, is famous for its mellow atmosphere and proud maritime history. Although Bristol's status has shifted after 500 years as one of England's top cities, Bristol still ranks among the country's top 10 most populated cities and boasts southwest England's largest population. Although Bath and Weston-super-Mare lie mere minutes away with a car hire in Bristol, Bristol itself offers plenty of attractions in its own right.

Transport

Bristol lies less than 13kms northeast of Bristol Airport, making car rental in Bristol the easiest way to travel around as there is no rail service between Bristol and its airport. Private vehicles are also the most practical way to drive around Bristol itself as taxis tend to cost above average.

Car Hire Bristol

Motorists can easily compare car hire deals online from Bristol Airport's Europcar, Avis, National and Hertz. It takes less than two hours to drive between Bristol and London along the M4, which connects with the M5 motorway near Bristol's city limits. Bristol and its airport are connected by the A38.

Driving

Before driving in Bristol, motorists should first take advantage of the free city maps available at Visit Bristol, the city's official tourism website. Free A3 blue tourist maps are also available at Bristol's harbourside tourist information centre as well as the Temple Meads railway station and numerous other city locations. These maps will provide great information to motorists trying to navigate Bristol's challenging one-way streets.

Things To See and Do

The 15-minute train journey between Bristol and the ancient Roman city of Bath is usually even quicker by car. Bristol also stands near another historic city, the Welsh capital of Cardiff across the Severn Bridge. Weston-super-Mare and its Weston's Pier have both successfully recovered from two recent severe fires and are back in business.

Best Time To Visit

Bristol's weather, like that of many other English cities, is often wet and unpredictable. This is especially true during Bristol's damp and cold winters, but temperatures begin to rise once the spring daffodils begin blooming and remain pleasantly warm well into September. However, rain is always a constant in Bristol so visitors should come prepared with umbrellas and rain gear no matter when they arrive.