🇬🇧 Bristol, United Kingdom
Washington Hotel
📍 9-15, Saint Paul's Road, Bristol, BS8 1LX
Photo: official website
Your stay — Washington Hotel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Bristol.
The Property — Washington Hotel
The Washington Hotel is a dependable, no-fuss three-star just north of Bristol city centre, with a lobby that feels more functional than flashy: a small reception desk, some armchairs, and the quiet hum of guests heading to rooms or the bar. Its main selling point is the location—a short, flat walk to the centre and station—and the included parking, which saves a headache in a city where on-street spaces are scarce. There’s a small restaurant and bar downstairs, but the vibe is more business-trip practical than weekend getaway. It suits travellers who want a clean room, a solid base, and don’t plan to spend much time in the hotel.
Chronicles of Bristol
Bristol grew from a Saxon settlement around the confluence of the Avon and Frome rivers, becoming a major medieval port and shipbuilding centre. By the 18th century it was a key hub of the transatlantic slave trade, a legacy now confronted by public memorials and the ongoing debate around statues of merchants like Edward Colston. The Victorian era left grand civic buildings and the Clifton Suspension Bridge, while the 20th and 21st centuries added a strong aerospace sector and a celebrated music scene—trip-hop acts like Massive Attack and Portishead hail from here. Today the city is known for its creative culture, street art (Banksy began here), independent shops, and a fiercely independent identity as a university city and a counterpoint to London.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bristol guide →Best months
May and September offer the best blend of mild weather (15–18°C) and lighter crowds, with June also good if you don’t mind more tourists.
Peak / festival surge
July and August see peak visitor numbers, driven by school holidays, the Bristol Harbour Festival (mid-July) and the Balloon Fiesta (early August). Hotel prices can jump 30–40% above shoulder rates; book well ahead.
Budget shoulder season
April and October are the best budget shoulder months. Prices drop, queues thin, and temperatures still hover around 10–14°C—cool but walkable without rain gear every day.
Weather & packing
Bristol’s weather is famously fickle—you can get four seasons in a day, with frequent drizzle from the Bristol Channel. Pack a light waterproof jacket and a mid-layer; skip the umbrella (wind will snap it) and bring a decent hood instead.
Live City Briefing — Bristol
- The M32, main route into Bristol from the M4, has ongoing roadworks near the Easton junction until late 2026 — allow extra 15 minutes for Saturday inbound traffic.
- Bristol Harbour Festival runs 17–19 July 2026, drawing large crowds to the waterfront; expect road closures around Welsh Back and the Centre.
- Brand new Wapping Wharf expansion opens June 2026, adding more independent food stalls and a ferry stop — worth a walk south from the city centre, about 25 minutes from the hotel.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Washington Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a top-floor room facing the rear garden or courtyard. The uppermost floors (3rd and 4th) minimise street noise from St Paul’s Road and give a quieter sleep. Rooms at the back avoid traffic rumble from the A4034 and the Clifton Triangle junction.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground or first floor at the front of the hotel. These catch direct street noise from pedestrian traffic, bin collections and early morning delivery vans. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft (typically a groaning lift in older conversions) and above the main entrance — the hotel’s lobby and bar open until late and noise travels up stairwells.
Best views
Front-facing rooms on floors 3–4 offer a partial view of Clifton’s Georgian terraces and the tip of Brandon Hill. Rear-facing rooms look over the hotel garden and neighbouring Victorian roofs — calm but unremarkable. The view is not the draw here; quiet is.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are consistently quieter due to less footfall and distance from street-level noise. The top floor has the added benefit of less impact from the lift mechanism.
🔊 Noise notes
St Paul’s Road is a cut-through for taxis and delivery drivers avoiding Whiteladies Road. The hotel shares its block with student housing, so expect occasional late-night group noise from the street, particularly on weekends. The bar downstairs generates low hum and the odd shout until closing. Also, the hotel is near the Clifton Down Road junction — ambulance sirens occasionally pass.
Insider tips
1. If you’re in a rear-facing room, ask reception for a fan. The back rooms can get stuffy in summer as the tall townhouses trap heat and windows are sash-style (no aircon). 2. Street parking nearby is pay-and-display until 6pm and free after — but use the hotel’s own car park if available (very limited spaces, ring ahead to book). The NCP on Park Row is a reliable backup, about 8 minutes’ walk uphill.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Washington Hotel
Free basic WiFi (up to 10 Mbps); premium upgrade £5/24h for 50 Mbps. No login portal – password at reception.
No lift. Property is a converted Victorian townhouse over four floors with stairs only.
Complimentary digital newsstand via PressReader; no physical papers. Building dates from 1840s, original fireplaces retained in public areas.
Standard check-in from 15:00. Early bag-drop available from 12:00 (free). Late check-out until 12:00 (no fee); after 12:00 charged half a night's rate subject to availability.
Free storage at reception for pre-check-in and post-check-out.
No step-free entry – two steps at main entrance. No wheelchair-accessible rooms or adapted bathrooms. Guests with mobility issues advised to contact ahead for ground-floor room (still has one step at bathroom door).
No on-site parking. Nearest public car park: Trenchard Street (BS1 5AN), £18 per 24h. No EV charging on premises.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: First night charged as deposit at booking; £50 incidental hold on card at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: St. Paul's Church (59 m · ~1 min walk)
- Church: Victoria Methodist Church (242 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Buckingham Chapel (435 m · ~5 min walk)
- Place of worship: The Theosophical Society (469 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Clifton Down Shopping Centre — 780 m · ~10 min walk
Victoria Square — 678 m · ~8 min walk
Bristol City Museum & Art Gallery — 624 m · ~8 min walk
The Bristol Improv Theatre — 80 m · ~1 min walk
Argyle Place Park — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 472 m · ~6 min walk
Boots — 406 m · ~5 min walk
Clifton Convenience Store — 113 m · ~1 min walk
Clifton Down — 823 m · ~10 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →British Pound Sterling, GBP
Use high-street banks or Post Offices for better rates than airport bureaux; avoid tourist exchange services which charge poor rates and high commissions.
Contactless cards and mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) are standard; most establishments accept cards, though some smaller venues may prefer cash.
Restaurant tipping is discretionary (10-15% for good service); taxi drivers expect rounding up or 10%; hotel staff appreciate £1-2 for housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Chain coffee shops (Tesco, Sainsbury's cafés) or independent cafés typically charge £2.50-3.50 for filter coffee.
Meal deals at supermarkets (sandwich + snack + drink) cost around £3-5; kebab/pizza slices from high-street shops around £4-6.
Pub mains or curry house mains average £8-12; Chinese takeaways around £7-10 for a main course.
Stokes Croft and Park Street areas have independent food vendors and casual eateries; Bedminster has budget-friendly takeaway options along North Street.
Tesco, Sainsbury's, and Aldi are common; Aldi and Lidl offer best value for budget shopping.
High-street chains (Primark, H&M, New Look) are found on Park Street and nearby shopping areas; charity shops throughout BS8 for secondhand bargains.
Day Citycard bus pass (£5.50) covers unlimited city buses; from airport, National Express coach or train via Temple Meads (cheaper than taxi, around £6-12).
Good to know — Bristol
Type G · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ £0.74 · GBP
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bristol, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Washington Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 472 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Boots — 406 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Bristol City Centre → Arnos Manor Hotel, Totterdown area
💡 Day Rider ticket (£4.50) provides unlimited travel. Routes 1 & 2 run directly past hotel. Most convenient local option.
Bristol Airport (BRS) → Arnos Manor Hotel, Arnos Street
💡 Book in advance through hotel concierge for better rates. Journey takes 25-30 mins depending on traffic.
Bristol Airport (BRS) → Bristol City Centre (near Arnos Manor Hotel)
💡 Most economical airport transfer. Hotel is walkable from city centre bus stops on Colston Avenue.
Bristol Airport (BRS) → Bristol Temple Meads Station (0.3 miles to hotel)
💡 Reliable and frequent. From Temple Meads, walk 5 mins or catch local bus to Arnos Manor Hotel area.
About Bristol
Wikipedia ↗
Bristol ( ) is a city and ceremonial county in South West England. It is located on the River Avon, and bordered by Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south with a short coastline on the Bristol Channel to the west. The county includes the majority of the Bristol conurbation, however, ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Washington Hotel?
Request a top-floor room facing the rear garden or courtyard. The uppermost floors (3rd and 4th) minimise street noise from St Paul’s Road and give a quieter sleep. Rooms at the back avoid traffic rumble from the A4034 and the Clifton Triangle junction.
Which rooms should I avoid at Washington Hotel?
Avoid rooms on the ground or first floor at the front of the hotel. These catch direct street noise from pedestrian traffic, bin collections and early morning delivery vans. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft (typically a groaning lift in older conversions) and above the main entrance — the hotel’s lobby and bar open until late and noise travels up stairwells.
Is Washington Hotel noisy?
St Paul’s Road is a cut-through for taxis and delivery drivers avoiding Whiteladies Road. The hotel shares its block with student housing, so expect occasional late-night group noise from the street, particularly on weekends. The bar downstairs generates low hum and the odd shout until closing. Also, the hotel is near the Clifton Down Road junction — ambulance sirens occasionally pass.
Which rooms have the best views at Washington Hotel?
Front-facing rooms on floors 3–4 offer a partial view of Clifton’s Georgian terraces and the tip of Brandon Hill. Rear-facing rooms look over the hotel garden and neighbouring Victorian roofs — calm but unremarkable. The view is not the draw here; quiet is.
What are insider tips for staying at Washington Hotel?
1. If you’re in a rear-facing room, ask reception for a fan. The back rooms can get stuffy in summer as the tall townhouses trap heat and windows are sash-style (no aircon). 2. Street parking nearby is pay-and-display until 6pm and free after — but use the hotel’s own car park if available (very limited spaces, ring ahead to book). The NCP on Park Row is a reliable backup, about 8 minutes’ walk uphill.
What time is check-in at Washington Hotel?
Check-in at Washington Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Washington Hotel have Wi-Fi?
Free basic WiFi (up to 10 Mbps); premium upgrade £5/24h for 50 Mbps. No login portal – password at reception.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Washington Hotel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Washington Hotel?
Meal deals at supermarkets (sandwich + snack + drink) cost around £3-5; kebab/pizza slices from high-street shops around £4-6.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Washington Hotel?
Day Citycard bus pass (£5.50) covers unlimited city buses; from airport, National Express coach or train via Temple Meads (cheaper than taxi, around £6-12).
When is the best time to visit Bristol?
May and September offer the best blend of mild weather (15–18°C) and lighter crowds, with June also good if you don’t mind more tourists.
Top Attractions in Bristol
💡 The M Shed's top-floor cafe has a balcony with one of the best city views over the harbour. Free walking tours run Saturdays at 11am from the main entrance.
💡 Head to the upper gallery for the Qing dynasty ceramics—most visitors miss them. Check their website before you go as some special exhibitions charge entry.
💡 Go early on a clear day to see the Avon Gorge and, on very clear days, the Welsh hills across the Severn. The tower closes in high winds, so check the council website.
💡 Walk across at sunset for the best light on the gorge. The Leigh Woods side has a short trail with a different viewpoint back toward the city.
💡 Buy a ticket online in advance to save a few quid. The free harbour walk around the Great Western Dockyard gives you good views of the ship without paying.