Number 38 Clifton
Intimate Georgian B&B meets private art house. Farrow & Ball colours, colonial shutters, retro Roberts radios, and freestanding copper baths. Smart and considered, not showy.
Request a parking permit from reception before you arrive — spaces are limited but it saves faff on the day
Why It Matters
Michelin Key 2025 recipient. Sunday Times Ultimate 100 British Hotels. Featured in The Cool Hotel Guide (The Times). One of the few genuinely intimate stays in Bristol — just 12 rooms in a 200-year-old townhouse, owned and curated by Adam Dorrien Smith, with an art collection that makes it feel like a gallery you can sleep in.
A 12-room Georgian townhouse built in 1820, sitting right at the top of Clifton with the wide green expanse of Clifton Downs out front and the Bristol skyline behind. It feels far more like staying at a well-appointed friend's house than checking into a hotel. The owner has filled the place with a serious personal art collection — including work by Hockney — scattered across all five floors. No restaurant, no pool, no gym. But there are Hypnos pocket-sprung beds, 100 Acres botanical toiletries, copper freestanding baths in the top suites, and a sun-trap terrace over the rooftops that earns its keep on a good Bristol afternoon. Picked up a Michelin Key in 2025.
Where You'll Stay
7 room types available
Dual Aspect Suite
The most unique layout in the house — Room 12 has its own private staircase and windows facing in two directions: park on one side, city on the other. Guests describe it as 'mega huge'. Super king bed, copper bath, walk-in shower. If you want the full experience and don't mind the extra outlay, this is the one to ask for.
Super King
East Loft Suite
Top-floor loft suite with super king bed and panoramic views over both the city and Clifton Downs. The real draw is the freestanding copper bath — you can soak and look out over Bristol at the same time. Also has a walk-in shower. Feels like the most dramatic room in the house.
Super KingHouse Room With Bath & Shower
A king-size room with panoramic city views and a proper bathroom with both a bath and walk-in shower. Compact but well-lit — one guest noted it 'didn't feel small' despite being the smaller category. All the same in-room essentials as the rest of the house.
King
Luxury Double With Bath & Shower
A front-facing room looking out over the park. Large by boutique-hotel standards — guests mention a 'very large bathroom' with a separate shower unit and a freestanding bath that looks across Bristol. Super king bed, sitting chairs, and the full suite of in-room amenities.
Super KingSuperior House Room (Shower Only)
A well-appointed room with park views and a walk-in shower — no bath here, but you get the same super king or twin bed configuration, 100 Acres toiletries, and Hypnos mattress as the higher categories. Good value entry point into the hotel.
Super King or TwinUniversity View Suite
A generous suite with a super king bed and the signature freestanding copper bathtub — this is the one guests rave about for the bath-with-a-view experience. Panoramic views over both city and park. One Instagram post from the hotel specifically called out this room's copper tub with a 'tubwithaview' hashtag.
Super KingWest Loft Suite
Top-floor loft suite, the western counterpart to the East. Same super king bed, same stunning dual city and park views, and that signature copper bath. Guest reviews are effusive — 'I have never felt so pampered by just staying in a hotel room' is the general tone.
Super KingThe Property
Eat & Drink
2 venues on property
Restaurant
On Property
How you'll actually spend your days.
The owner's private collection is displayed throughout the hotel's five floors — paintings, prints, and objects gathered from travels abroad. Includes work attributed to Hockney. Not a guided tour, just part of everyday life in the building.
Clifton Downs is right outside the front door — vast open parkland ideal for morning walks or an afternoon stretch. From the Downs you can walk down to Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge and look out over the Avon Gorge.
The library space can be privately hired for small meetings or informal dining. Enquire directly with reception.
Amenities & Practical Info
The details that matter for planning.
The main lounge serves breakfast and doubles as a relaxation space. Long log burner fires up in winter. Views across the Downs or the city skyline depending on which way you're facing. Magazines on hand.
A separate room from the lounge — good for a quiet read, informal meetings, or a drink. Can be booked for exclusive private hire (meetings, private dining). Enquire with reception.
Available throughout the property — in all rooms and common areas.
The owner Adam Dorrien Smith has hung his personal collection throughout the property — artworks and objects brought back from travels, including at least one piece by Hockney. Not a formal gallery with labels, more like staying inside someone's well-travelled life.
Each room has a well-stocked mini bar with champagne, beers, white and red wines (Avery Wines of Bristol), chocolate, and sweet and savoury snacks. Priced without the typical hotel mark-up, according to the property.
All rooms have Hypnos pocket-sprung mattresses with quality linens. Consistently singled out in guest reviews.
British botanical brand, 100 Acres — soaps and lotions made from essential oils and botanicals. Guests frequently cite these as a highlight. Waffle dressing gowns and slippers also in all rooms.
A sheltered terrace hidden among the Clifton rooftops at the rear of the building. Looks back over the Bristol skyline. Stylishly furnished and a genuine suntrap on clear days. Order drinks from reception before heading down.
On-street parking on Upper Belgrave Road. Pay and display available, or request a parking permit from the hotel in advance of arrival. Limited number of permits — worth sorting before you get there.
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