This City Was Named the Coolest in UK in 2017… And It’s NOT London!

2017 is a big year for Bristol. Not only did the Rough Guides crown Bristol as the coolest city in Britain, the Sunday Times also named it best place to live in the country. This vibrant city in the southwest of England has beaten rivals like London, Oxford or Edinburgh, and should definitely be on the list for your next city break in the UK.

If that’s not tempting enough, we’ve put together some of the hidden gems this city has to offer (with the help of Sidonie Warren, co-founder of Papersmiths – one of the stylish folks we’ve had the honor of featuring in our house tours):

Papersmiths – This beautiful bookshop in Clifton village has a carefully curated selection of books and independent magazines, as well as cards, wrapping paper and more. While you’re there pop upstairs to their sister shop Two Palms, which sells gorgeous homeware and accessories.

Dig Haushizzle interiors for furniture and oddball finds. Cassie and Ed lovingly put together an eclectic mix of vintage furniture and completely out-there taxidermy. Their store is filled with plants too.

Pirrip Press – A quirky little shop (also a design and print studio) that specialises in screenprinting. Here you can find screenprinted cards, sketchbooks, tshirts, bags.

Poco for tapas. Tom Hunt has created an intimate environment in the heart of Stokes Croft. It feels like stepping into a haven of nourishing, wholesome, vibrant food. The best thing is Poco lead the sustainability movement in Bristol.

Jamaica Street Stores – Serving modern British food that is seasonally aware, Jamaica Street Stores is the new restaurant that’s focussed on creating raw plates and plant based dishes.

Anna’s Cake Couture is a high end cake shop in Clifton Village, serving cakes in smaller cube form, meaning you can order more to share with your friends (or not!).

Zitto and Bevi, another Stokes Croft food gem, is a tiny Italian on Nine Tree Hill. Cosy up in a corner with a gal pal, a carafe of red and a big plate of pasta. Scrum!

Canopy and Stars at Crane 29 – Why sleep in a hotel when you can sleep on a crane by the Bristol harbourside? Canopy and Stars at Crane 29 is “Bristol’s first treehouse”, providing not just comfort but some of the best views of Bristol.