Bristol the city where art meets engineering

The city of bridges, boats and Banksy.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s home town of Bristol is a great spot for a short break.

It isn’t a big city (a bit smaller than Edinburgh), but it does pack a punch with great restaurants, heritage attractions, funky nightlife and chic places to stay. Brunel was the greatest engineer of the Victorian era and his footprints are all over Bristol.

Wake up to a very satisfying full English breakfast at the Bridge Caf in the cosy Avon Gorge Hotel and over your morning cuppa you’ll find yourself looking out at one of the great man’s many achievements the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

The hotel can’t be beaten for location it’s in the heart of pretty Clifton, looking out over the spectacular Avon Gorge but still within easy walking distance of Bristol’s bustling centre and rejuvenated docklands.

After breakfast, you really must stroll across the iconic bridge, just for the view of the steep-sided gorge and the city.

Brunel’s greatest work took more than 30 years to complete it opened in 1864, five years after his death and 26 years before the Forth Railway Bridge and it still carries more than 11,000 vehicles daily.

Then walk down the river bank to the famous Floating Harbour yet another big Victorian exploit and two great attractions.

Brunel’s historic steamship SS Great Britain built in Bristol and launched in 1842 ended its working life as a derelict hulk in the Falkland Islands.

Towed back to Bristol in 1970, it has been painstakingly restored, and a visit takes you back into the past of the world’s first great steam liner.

If you’re feeling brave, you can even climb the mainmast (strapped into a safety harness) to a viewing platform and step out on to the mainyard, 100ft above ground level.

Back at sea level, you can take a peek at the Matthew, a full-scale replica of the ship in which navigator John Cabot sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland in 1497.

The city never looked back, growing rich from the Atlantic trade in salt cod, tobacco, sugar, rum and infamously African slaves. You can find more about Bristol’s past at M Shed, the city’s flagship museum.

After Brunel, Bristol’s other famous son is Banksy (John Cabot doesn’t count he was French). Love or hate the work of this mystery spray painter you can’t ignore him at least not in Bristol.

You’ll find his quirky murals everywhere, from The Grim Reaper, a spooky boatman on the hull of the Thekla a massive former freighter moored at East Mud Dock to the famous Mild Mild West on the wall of The Canteen, a good place to stop for a quick bite.

Banksy and his ilk have made Bristol the street art capital of the UK and instead of trying to remove or paint over their work the city celebrates their guerrilla art at places such as Nelson Street.

If you fancy a spot of shopping, stroll through the Old City area to the St Nicholas Market, where you’ll find everything from collectable LPs (remember those?) to vintage clothing, designer jewellery and cutting-edge fashion.

It’s a good place to take a lunch break too try Pieminister for a range of pies unlike any you’ll find in Greggs. Nearby on All Saints Lane, The Rummer is an excellent place for a winter warmer in front of a roaring fire.

For dinner, the Avon Gorge Hotel’s own restaurant has a solid menu and there’s that great view of the suspension bridge, which is lit up at night.

If you feel like venturing out, trendy Clifton is full of great places to eat and drink. Try The Cowshed, where your steak is seared to perfection right at your table.

Bristol is full of great things to see and do, but one experience that shouldn’t be missed is a swim in the outdoor pool at the 19th Century Lido, which also has a great-value poolside restaurant.

And if there is one more iconic sight you must take in, it’s the 800-year-old St Mary Redcliffe, regarded as one of Britain’s most impressive churches.