Battery Point Bell

The Bell at Battery Point is a proper old pub that sits right on the water's edge near Bristol, and it's one of those places that feels like it's been there forever - because it has. The building itself is the draw here: solid stone walls, low ceilings, the kind of place where you duck your head going through doorways and half expect to see someone in a tricorn hat walk past. The views across the water are genuine - not Instagram fodder, just honest Bristol scenery that actually justifies the trip.

You're really coming for the atmosphere and a drink rather than an activity as such. It's the sort of spot where you might sit for two hours nursing a pint, or grab a quick pint and move on. The locals seem to appreciate it without making a fuss, which is the mark of a good pub. Walking the waterfront around here is lovely - the path connects to other bits of Bristol's riverside, so you can make an afternoon of it if you're bothered.

For families, it's workable but not a destination in itself - kids will get bored once they've looked at the water for five minutes. Walkers and history types will get more from it, especially if you're doing a proper Bristol riverside circuit. If you're staying at Somerset Glamping just down the road, it's well worth the short drive for an evening out rather than cooking at the site. It's free to visit the pub exterior and surroundings, obviously you'll pay for drinks inside.