As a Bristol-based team, we’ll always champion the city, but sometimes even we need an escape. Luckily, Bristol is perfectly placed for weekend getaways, with stunning coastlines, countryside and market towns all within easy reach. From Devon to the Cotswolds, here are 10 of our favourite South West retreats, all just 1–2 hours away by car or train, so you can spend less time travelling and more time unwinding.
Top picks within 1 hour of Bristol
1 Timbrell’s Yard, Wiltshire
Set in the heart of postcard-pretty Bradford-on-Avon, Timbrell’s Yard is a relaxed riverside retreat with stylish Nordic-inspired rooms, an excellent restaurant and a buzzy bar. Come for waterside walks, great pub food and easy train links; stay for the warm service, comfy beds and laid-back charm.
Best for: Couples or friends.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Bradford-on-Avon (30 mins); the hotel is a 5-minute walk from the train station.
By car: Around 50 minutes from Bristol; there are 2 public car parks next to the hotel (daily charge).
2 Foxham Boutique Barn, Wiltshire
For a more rural, secluded option, how about this gorgeous former tractor barn on a working conservation farm? Foxham Boutique Barn comes complete with your own private lake, acres upon acres of tranquil countryside, and easy access to plenty of sites such as Lacock Abbey and Westonbirt Arboretum, if you fancy venturing out. Great for couples looking to hole up for an intimate retreat, or families seeking adventure and space to spread out.
Best for: Families.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Chippenham (30 minutes), then a 25-minute taxi ride from the station.
By car: The easier option. 40 minutes from Bristol, and there’s private parking at the barn for 2 cars.
3 The Rectory, Cotswolds
For a Cotswolds escape that feels worlds away from the city, The Rectory is hard to beat. Set in an elegant 18th-century house in the village of Crudwell, this is a great choice whatever the weather throws at you. On sunny summer weekends, explore the pretty garden and spend an afternoon by the heated outdoor pool, ordering cocktails to your lounger via walkie-talkie. For an autumn/winter break, admire the outdoors from the shelter of the hotel’s Glasshouse, cosy up by a log fire, then settle in for a candlelit dinner before retreating to one of 15 comfy bedrooms.
Best for: Couples.
By car: 50 minutes from Bristol, and there’s an on-site car park.
4 Tudor Farmhouse, Gloucestershire
If a home away from home is what you’re looking for, Tudor Farmhouse is the one for you. Nestled in a petite village in the Forest of Dean, this relaxed farmhouse hotel will treat you to warm and welcoming service, open fires, and charming bedrooms that set you up for a great night’s sleep. Food is the star of the show here, so don’t miss the 5-course ’20-mile’ tasting menu thought up by chef Rob Cox, which showcases local produce and seasonal ingredients.
Best for: Couples or families.
By car: 50 minutes from Bristol. There is a car park at the rear of the hotel.
5 The Swan Wedmore, Somerset
This lovingly refurbished inn makes for an excellent rural bolthole from Bristol, with just a handful of individually styled rooms above the bar. The Swan Wedmore is the sister property of Timbrell’s Yard in Bradford-on-Avon, and shares the same unfussy approach to good food and easygoing hospitality. Downstairs, there’s a lively atmosphere, a kitchen led by River Cottage’s Tom Blake, and plenty of cosy corners for a pint or a hearty supper after a day exploring the nearby Mendip Hills and Cheddar Gorge.
Best for: Couples or friends.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Bridgwater (45 minutes), plus a 30-minute taxi ride.
By car: 50 minutes from Bristol, and parking at the rear.
Top picks within 2 hours of Bristol
6 The Three Horseshoes, Somerset
Foodies, you’re in for a treat with this one. Reimagined by renowned chef Margot Henderson, The Three Horseshoes inn combines 5 large and gloriously comfortable bedrooms with a food offering that has helped put this corner of Somerset firmly on the map. Menus change regularly and with the seasons, and the surrounding countryside invites long walks between leisurely meals. Close to the lovely towns of Bruton and Frome, it’s a characterful base for exploring one of the West Country’s most exciting food regions.
Best for: Couples or families.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Frome (1 hour), then a 20-minute taxi.
By car: 1 hour from Bristol, and there is a car park on site.
7 The Plough Inn, Cotswolds
If your idea of a perfect weekend involves little more than good food, beautiful countryside and a cosy nest to retreat back to, The Plough Inn delivers all this in spades. Tucked away in the sweet little hamlet of Kelmscott, it’s surrounded by meadows and riverside paths, with walks along the Thames starting right from its doorstep. The nearby former home of William Morris lends its influence to the thoughtfully designed interiors, while a sunny garden provides the perfect spot to linger over a drink. Peaceful, characterful and excellent value, it’s a place that’s delightfully removed from the rush of everyday life.
Best for: Couples or friends.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Swindon (40 minutes), followed by a 25-minute taxi ride.
By car: 1 hour 20 from Bristol; free on-site parking.
8 Glebe House, Devon
For a weekend break with plenty of personality, Glebe House in Colyton is a real find. This intimate guesthouse feels more like staying with exceptionally stylish friends than checking into a hotel. Each of the 6 bedrooms has its own distinct character, filled with bold clashing colours, handpainted treasures and statement decor. But it’s the food that draws many guests here: inventive, ingredient-led cooking has earned the house a Michelin Green Star. Think elevated classics, original creations, fun drinks and wines handpicked from small European vineyards. Come hungry, and leave inspired and planning your next visit.
Best for: Couples.
By car: 1 hour 50 from Bristol, and there is free parking available.
9 Dillington Estate, Devon
Gather the family, or round up a group of friends, and make yourselves at home on the sprawling Dillington Estate. Spread across 3,000 acres of rolling Somerset countryside, the collection ranges from cosy cottages for four to substantial houses designed for larger gatherings, all finished with a polished yet welcoming feel. Days can be spent roaming woodland trails and parkland, lunching at a nearby village pub, or venturing to the Jurassic Coast in search of fossils and sea air. Some properties even come with hot tubs for a well-earned soak afterwards.
Best for: Families or groups of friends.
By train: Bristol Temple Meads to Taunton (35 minutes), and a 30-minute taxi ride.
By car: 1 hour 20 from Bristol, and all houses have their own parking.
10 Bridport Hideaways, Dorset
Right in the heart of Bridport, this pair of 1-bedroom apartments offers a peaceful sanctuary above an independent second-hand bookshop, set within a handsome Grade-II Georgian building. Interiors in the Bridport Hideaways are pared-back and soothing, designed for unwinding after a day of wandering the town’s antique shops, cafés and market stalls. Time your visit to coincide with an event from Bridport’s thriving cultural calendar – from folk and literary gatherings to the wonderfully eccentric hat festival. A simple, well-placed retreat close to the stunning beaches of the Jurassic coast, perfect for couples seeking a brief pause from the hustle and bustle of city life.
Best for: Couples.
By car: 1 hour 55 from Bristol; no private parking but there’s a long-stay car park 5 minutes’ walk away.
Looking for inspiration beyond the South West? Have a look through our collection of weekend breaks within 2 hours of London.
Date published: 22 Jun 2026