© Copyright Colin Park and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.Bristol is a great place to visit, has been voted the best city to live in the UK by OnePoll (Oct 2009), MoneySuperMarket (Oct 2013) and The Sunday Times (March 2014) and was listed in the top 10 cities to live in the world by Forever Sports Magazine (2016) and was awarded European Green Capital 2015. If you are planning a trip to Bristol, then the Visit Bristol website has lots of useful information about accommodation and what’s on in the city. The tourist information office is situated on the Harbourside just beneath the Watershed (one of the festival venues).


See below for information on the conference venues, hotel accommodation, how to get here, getting around and directions between venues.

Conference Venues

© Copyright Linda Bailey and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
RWA, Queens Road

Day 1 of the conference takes place at RWA (B on the map below), which is located in the academic heart of Bristol and within easy reach the city’s main attractions, shopping areas and major motorway links. You will find the building on Queen’s Road, Clifton (where Queen’s Road meets Whiteladies Road), opposite the Victoria Rooms fountains. Registration on Day 1 of conference (9 Jan) is between 9.30-10.00.

Arnoflini, Narrow Quay
Arnoflini, Narrow Quay

Day 2 is at Arnoflini (A on the map below), which is located in the centre of Bristol on Narrow Quay, between the Harbourside and Prince Street. The top three floors are the City Campus of the University of the West of England, where the conference on Day 2 will be held. To access these floors, you need a swipe card so please let the information desk know if there is a problem in getting in. Student helpers will be able to let you in and out. You are requested to wait in the café on the ground floor in the morning of Day 2 (10 Jan) and you will be directed to the UWE campus areas at 10.20 for the start of the first session at 10.30.  


 

Hotels Near RWA

The Regency Bristol Hotel, 40-44 St Paul’s Rd, Bristol BS8 1LR. Tel. +44 (0)117 923 8788

Just 4 mins walk from RWA

Clifton House, 4 Tyndall’s Park Road, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 1PG. Tel.+44 (0)117 973 5407

This bed and breakfast is 3 mins walk from RWA. Single rooms start at £70, with a good breakfast included.

The Clifton Hotel St Paul’s Road, Bristol BS8 1LX. Tel. +44 (0)117 973 6882

This is 3 mins walk from RWA. Single rooms start at about £50, breakfast included. There are room only and book now pay  later options. Run by Clifton Hotels who also operate The Berkeley Square.

Channings Hotel, 20 Pembroke Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3BB. Tel. +44 (0)117 973 3970

This is 8 mins walk from RWA, set Bristol’s Clifton district and within half a mile of Clifton Down and the famous suspension bridge. This traditional hotel features a large beer garden and a bar.

The Berkeley Square Hotel, 15 Berkeley Square, Bristol BS8 1HB. Tel. +44 (0)117 925 4000

About 6 mins (uphill) walk from RWA, and 17 mins  (downhill) to Arnolfini. One of the best boutique hotels in the UK for under £100 (fifth according to the Guardian).


Hotels Near Arnoflini

Ibis Bristol Centre Hotel, Explore Ln, Bristol BS1 5TY. Tel. 0117 319 9000

This value hotel is situated in the Harbourside area, adjacent to Millenium Square and is about 5-10 mins walk from the Arnolfini on the other side of the river (quite a few delegates are staying here).

Bristol Royal Marriott, College Green Bristol, BS1 5TA. Tel. +44 (0)117 925 5100

This is a grand Victorian Hotel 5 mins walk from the Arnolfini and on the way to the RWA. It has a rather nice spa with a largish swimming pool and big Jacuzzi.

Radisson Blu, Bristol, Broad Quay, Bristol, BS1 4BY. Tel. +44 (0)117 9349 500

18-storey high rise right in the heart of the city centre. Rooms from about £70.

The Bristol Hotel, Prince St, Bristol BS1 4QF. Tel.+44 (0)117 923 0333

This is on the waterfront and very near the Arnolfini. There is a white baby grand piano in the window with pianist – 2 mins walk.

Bristol Harbour Hotel and Spa, 55 Corn Street, BS1 1HT. Tel.+44 (0)844 811 11 03

This is 10 mins walk from the Arnolfini and is in the old City.

Mecure Bristol Brigstow Hotel, 5-7 Welsh Back, Bristol BS1 4SP, UK. Tel.+44 (0)117 929 1030

4-star hotel located in Bristol city centre, about 8 mins walk from Arnolfini through the historic Queen Square and about 20 mins uphill walk from RWA, or get the No 8 or 9 bus up Park Street. 

Travelodge Hotel Bristol Central, 4A Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5TT. Tel. +44 (0)871 984 6223

About 8 mins from Arnolfini, 15 mins from RWA. Rooms from around £100.


Getting Here

By Car
M5(N) Junction 18 and follow A4 (Portway) to the city centre.
M5(S) Junction 15/M4 Jnt 19. Continue on M32 to its termination bearing right and follow signs for city centre.

Parking for Arnolfini
Long stay car park on The Grove, off Prince Street. Good evening rates. The NCP multi-storey car park next door to Jury’s Hotel on Prince Street, close to Arnolfini, but expensive. There is a short stay car park at the old Industrial Museum on the other side of the swingbridge. From The Grove, turn left at lights and take first right after the bridge. Metered street parking is available on Wapping Wharf and at Queens Square. There are two parking spaces outside Arnolfini for disabled drivers or passengers only. These spaces require a parking permit which can be collected from the front desk on arrival and are issued on a first come first served basis.

Car Parking for RWA
There are two multi-storey car parks within ten minutes’ walk of the RWA – West End (Berkeley Place), BS8 1EH and Trenchard Street, BS1 5AN – plus limited on-street parking nearby. Both car parks are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

By Coach
If you are traveling by coach, the nearest drop off point is Bristol Coach Station, Broadmead. Once at the Bus Station, you are able to catch buses 1, 2, 8, 9, 41, 42, 43  from the other side of the roundabout (via the pedestrian subway) to Queens Road, or Arnolfini is about a 15 minute walk.

By Train
If arriving at Bristol Temple Meads station, taxis are available to Harbourside and Queens Road. Bus Nos 8 and 9; ask for city centre stop for Arnolfini, or carry on up Park Street for the RWA. Bristol Parkway is approximately 5 miles from city centre, where taxi and bus services are also available. For more information go to National Rail Enquiries’ website or call them on 08457 48 49 50.

By Air
Bristol Airport is a short journey from Bristol City Centre.


Getting Around

For door to door journey information by all modes of transport just visit www.travelwest.info. Once in Bristol, visit the Tourist Information Centre on Harbourside to purchase day, season or multiple journey tickets for local buses, ferries and bus tours. Bristol Insight offer hop-on hop-off open-top bus tours of Bristol. Catch their bus from Explore Lane, behind the At-Bristol Planetarium in Millennium Square.

By Bus
Numbers 8 and 9 run a constant service from Temple Meads train station. Get off in the City Centre for a short walk to Arnolfini, or for RWA ask the driver to let you off at the Triangle, on the roundabout near the Victoria Rooms with its fountains, and find the RWA on the other side of the road. If you don’t fancy walking up the very steep Park Street you can catch the bus opposite the Bristol Hippodrome on the centre or on College Green. Use this journey planner or download the Moovit app.

By Ferry
Bristol Ferry Boat Company have ferry services from Temple Meads that alight on the waterfront around 1 minute walk away from Arnolfini. Please contact them on info@bristolferry.com.


Directions between Arnolfini and RWA

As many delegates will be staying around the waterfront, the directions being provided here are from the Arnolfini to the Royal West of England Academy (RWA).

Bristol Ferry Boat Brigantia passes Bristol Packet Boat Flower of Bristol, in Bristol Harbour, with The Arnolfini behind. Chris j woo
Arnolfini
From the Arnolfini, walk towards the centre, along the waterfront. Turn left onto Pero’s Bridge (named after a slave) at the junction with Farr’s lane (named after a slave owner!).

peros-bridge1
Pero’s Bridge
When you reach the end of the bridge continue straight on, past ZaZaBazaar and the Aquarium and veer right at At-Bristol towards Anchor Road. Cross at the crossing and walk up the steps through Cathedral Walk up to College Green. Across the Green, you will see Bristol’s medieval Cathedral and old library buildings.  

For a route without steps – turn right at the end of Pero’s bridge, along the waterfront past the Watershed. When you reach the end of the harbour, turn left up Park Street, past the Bristol Royal Marriott Hotel to College Green.

© Copyright John Baker and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Bus stop College Green, Park Street
Park Street is very steep so if you don’t feel like walking it, catch the No 8 or 9 bus opposite the Bristol Hippodrome Theatre on the centre, or on College Green.  

Half way up the Park Street, you will pass Great George Street on your left, where the Georgian House (a free Museum) is situated. This is where the enslaved African Pero worked as a servant. You will be near where Coleridge lodged with Robert Southey and where Hannah More ran a school with her sisters.

 

© Copyright Linda Bailey and licensed for reuse under this Creative Commons Licence.
Bristol Museum
At the top of Park Street you will pass the Bristol Museum, which features in Angela Carter’s Shadow Dance. Continue up Queen’s Square until you see the RWA on the right opposite the Victoria Rooms, with its elaborate fountains.