Aer Lingus operates twice daily flights to Bristol Airport from £79, plus tax. Ryanair operates twice daily flights to Bristol Airport from £60, plus tax. Approximate taxi fare into Bristol is £15 sterling.

Best Places To Stay

In Bristol we stayed at the family-geared Swallow Royal Hotel, a suitably impressive Victorian building now housing almost 250 en-suite rooms, with a leisure centre and The Palm Court gourmet restaurant. In Bath, we stayed at The Royal Crescent Hotel, (0044) 1225 823 333. This extraordinary hotel is situated in the central two houses of the Royal Crescent, one of the finest examples of Georgian architecture in Britain.

Not Many People Know This

Before the construction of Bristol's Floating Harbour in the 19th century, ships were at the mercy of the tides of the River Avon, the second highest in the world. A ship had to be very sturdily built to withstand such an ebb and flow, but Bristol-built craft were famous for their robustness. Hence the phrase "Ship-shape and Bristol fashion".

Forthcoming Events

From August 18th-29th, the Bath Shakespeare Festival takes place at the Theatre Royal, (0044) 1225 448 844. From August 29th-31st, the Bristol Kite Festival takes place at Ashton Court, (0044) 117 977 2002. For further information about Bristol/Bath, contact the British Tourist Authority, College Green, Dublin 2, or telephone (01) 670 8111.