It was a bank holiday last week in the UK and the chance for a well-earned extra day of rest and relaxation. We escaped the big smoke and headed west to Bristol – just for a night, but it felt like a whole weekend. Our destinaton: Number Thirty Eight Clifton, a lovely, small boutique hotel in a refurbished Georgian merchant’s house at the top of the city. With stunning views down the hill to Clifton Village and the rest of the city further away, plus the leafy Clifton Downs behind, it was a perfectly peaceful getaway.
It felt very much like a home away from home, a discreet frontage, no formal reception but a comfy lounge with bright bunches of fresh flowers. Our room was one of the ones looking down to the city, lying on the bed you could see the bumpy, craggy rooftops and slowly moving clouds – it almost felt like we were floating on one of those clouds themselves. And with Classic FM languidly humming from the retro Roberts Radio in the corner, we breathed a sigh of relief and settled in for a night of calm and luxury. The sense of peace was further aided by the cosy – I assume Farrow & Ball(!) – sea green wood-panelled walls, crisp white linen, woollen blankets, dressing gowns and slippers. Ah it was lovely! And it’s the small details that count – I knew I had come somewhere special when I discovered the little REN skincare (my absolute favourite) bottles, magazines to peruse and crunchy Cornish biscuits to munch on with a cup of tea. Did I mention the roll-top bath too? Aaah…
The view from the bedroom
Slow starts…
The guest lounge
Breakfast was equally relaxed and restorative – buttery croissants, West Country butter and jams, smoked salmon and scrambled eggs, perfectly poached eggs and crispy bacon. Vintage music, the papers on standby and sunny views outside topped it off. One minor quibble – the espresso tasted like it was filter coffee in a smaller cup, but maybe I’ve just got too used to good strong coffee in the mornings…
All images my own
Number Thirty Eight Clifton
38 Upper Belgrave Road, Bristol
Don’t forget to check back here next week for a Bristol travel guide full of yummy places to go and things to see!
