It’s only a 30-minute drive from Bristol but the North Somerset town of Portishead has a holiday destination feel with its sea views, luxurious marina and seaside attractions.
Next to the Severn Estuary and with views across the water towards south Wales, Portishead is just 13km from Bristol but it’s attracting an increasing number of city dwellers because of its cheaper properties, schools and good transport links.
Walk around the town and you’ll find a mix of the old and new, with grand Victorian villas sitting alongside contemporary dwellings.
The Marine Lake with its boats-for-hire and the open-air swimming pool are two of the attractions, as well as a number of restaurants, cafes, pubs and bars.
Here are 9 photos of Portishead that will give you a flavour of why this former port is becoming so popular.
1. Pub with a view
The Royal Inn on Pier Road overlooking the Channel reopens on July 24 after several months of refurbishment by owners Chef & Brewer Collection. | Mark Taylor
2. Bridge the gap
The trains used to cross this old iron bridge over the river and may well do again when the railway reopens | Mark Taylor
3. Hit the buffers
The rusty of railway line for the Portishead station can still be seen 58 years after it closed. | Mark Taylor
4. Harbour
The entrance to the marina looks out to the Bristol Channel with Portbury docks on the nearby coastline | Mark Taylor