Large inlet to the river Severn in southwest Great Britain
Photo: Sean the Spook, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Bristol Channel is a tidal estuary in the United Kingdom. It separates South Wales from the West Country. Several seaside towns line its shores, including Tenby, Porthcawl, Barry, Burnham-on-Sea, Minehead and Ilfracombe. Wales's capital city Cardiff lies where the Bristol Channel meets the Mouth of the Severn.
Dartmoor National Park covers a large area of Devon in the West Country of England. It provides opportunities for geocaching, whitewater kayaking and canoeing in the winter months, rock climbing on the granite tors and outcrops, cycling, and angling for wild brown trout, sea trout and salmon (with permits).
The Pembrokeshire Coast National Park (Welsh: Parc Cenedlaethol Arfordir Penfro) is in south west Wales. The national park designation limits development, so the area has remained unspoilt despite its popularity as a tourist destination.
Glamorgan (Welsh: Morgannwg, historically known as Glamorganshire / Sir Forgannwg) is a traditional county in Wales. It is home to Cardiff, Wales' capital city, along with the city of Swansea.
Cornwall (Cornish: Kernow) is a county in the southwest of England. Lying west of Devon from which it is separated by the River Tamar, Cornwall is one of the more isolated and distinctive parts of the United Kingdom but is also one of its most popular with holidaymakers.
Devon (also known, far less commonly, as "Devonshire") is a large county in England's West Country. Uniquely amongst English counties, Devon has two coastlines: to the south, on the English Channel and to the north, on the Celtic Sea and Bristol Channel.
Somerset is a predominantly rural county in the West Country in England. The county is home to the Glastonbury Festival, one of the UK's major music festivals.
Gloucestershire is a county in south-west England. It comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean.
The beautiful Gower Peninsula (Welsh: Penrhyn Gŵyr) in Swansea was the United Kingdom's first designated Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty. The peninsula is famous for its stunning coastal scenery, wide sandy beaches and medieval castles.
By plane
Bristol Airport (BRS) lies approximately east of Weston-super-Mare by road. It is a medium-sized international airport with flights arriving from cities throughout the UK and Europe.
By train
Trains in the region are part of the National Rail network throughout Great Britian.
By car
From London and the South East, the is a direct link to the region. Exit at:
By bike
The English and Welsh coastlines are mostly hilly, with steep climbs on many routes.
By car
Having access to a car is essential in some parts of the Bristol Channel region, particularly in the rural Quantock Hills National Landscape, Exmoor National Park and Glamorgan Heritage Coast.
By boat
The Glasgow based paddle steamer Waverley regularly visits the Bristol Channel, offering day cruises for a couple of weeks in the summer.
Choose an airport to see hotels, stations, taxi ranks and car rental desks around it.
Cardiff · International · CWL
Loading places around the airport…
Bristol is a city in the West Country of England. Famous for its maritime history it also offers a great and diverse range of attractions, hotels, bars and events.
Cardiff (Welsh: Caerdydd) is the capital and largest city of Wales. It used to be an industrial city, but is now a lively and modern capital city and a tourism hot spot.

The City of Newport (Welsh: Casnewydd) is in the historic county of Monmouthshire, South Wales and stands at the mouth of the River Usk. It is a busy industrial and commercial centre.

This article is about the urban area of Swansea. Rural Swansea is covered in a separate article.
Lundy is an island 3 miles (4.8 km) long and ½ mile (0.8 km) wide off the coast of North Devon in the south west of the United Kingdom, where the Bristol Channel meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Articles and travel topics about Bristol Channel and United Kingdom.
Complete 2026 guide to the UK Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA). Check eligibility, the £20 fee, application steps, and transit rules.
7 min read
Complete 2026 guide to global tourist taxes and access fees. Compare entry fees in Venice, Bali, Bhutan, Kyoto, and Edinburgh, and learn how to pay them.
8 min read
Find the cheapest countries to fly to from the US and UK in 2026. Compare realistic round-trip flight deals, budget airlines, and prime booking windows.
8 min read
A complete guide to taking the Eurostar from London to Paris. Learn about check-in times, border controls, baggage limits, ticket tiers, and booking tips.
7 min read
Every section of the guide. Open one to read it in full.