Bristol, Bath and the West of England is an outstanding destination for business events as well as a powerhouse of innovation, culture, and expertise. Find out all about why you should choose our region for your next event, what we have to offer here, the leading industries, centres of excellence and world-class universities plus notable accolades and facts about the region.
Why choose Bristol and Bath?
From Bristol’s iconic street art, harbourside buzz, and sustainable city accolades to Bath’s UNESCO World Heritage architecture, natural thermal waters, Bristol and Bath offer a perfect blend of history, creativity, culture and innovation. The region is a hub for business, tech, education and cultural exploration set amid stunning countryside.
Both cities combine to offer unforgettable venues such as The Roman Baths and Pump Room, Aerospace Bristol, Brunel’s SS Great Britain and Wake The Tiger, making it a memorable and enriching destination for business and incentive events.
Quick facts:
- Bristol is the largest city in South West England
- Bristol is famous for its street art and is the hometown of Banksy
- Bath is the only entire city in the UK that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a second UNESCO inscription for its spa heritage
- Bristol is the only UK city to win European Green Capital award
- The region is the UK's leading FinTech hub outside London
- There are 4 universities within the region
- 10+ world-leading aerospace companies
Bristol
Bristol is creative, quirky and colourful and the largest city in South West England.
Famous for its street art, the city is also known for being the hometown of the famously mysterious street artist Banksy. From the buzz of Bristol’s harbourside, to the Georgian splendour of Clifton Village and the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol makes sure to leave a lasting impression.
Sustainability credentials in Bristol
- Only UK city to win European Green Capital award (2015)
- Recognised as UK's greenest city (2019)
- UK's first Cycling City
- One of only two UK cities named a Gold Sustainable Food City
Bath
Just 12 miles from Bristol is the elegant city of Bath, full of traditional heritage, contemporary culture and green spaces. Bath is the only entire city in the UK that is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, with a second UNESCO inscription for its spa heritage, which has been an integral part of the city for over 2,000 years. The waters are still a big draw today, both at the ancient Roman Baths and the thoroughly modern Thermae Bath Spa, which houses the only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in.
Bath’s compact, visitor-friendly city centre is overflowing with places to eat and drink, plus outstanding independent shops, museums and theatres. Bath's stunning, honey-coloured Georgian architecture is straight from a Jane Austen novel, with highlights including the iconic Royal Crescent and the majestic Circus.
Heritage and cultural highlights in Bath
- Roman Baths and Pump Room
- Thermae Bath Spa (only natural thermal hot springs in Britain you can bathe in)
- Royal Crescent and The Circus
- Once home to Jane Austen and Mary Shelley
The Wider Region: Countryside and Coast
Bristol and Bath are nestled in beautiful countryside, close to areas of special interest such as the stunning Cotswolds (~30 mins), the Mendip Hills National landscape, the North Somerset coastline, and Stonehenge (~45 mins), meaning that there is plenty to entice delegates to extend their trips post conference.
Key Industry Sectors and Centres of Excellence in the region
The Bristol and Bath region is the centre of world-leading expertise across multiple industry sectors.
Our region is home to a vast network of remarkable centres of excellence, providing leadership, best practice and research with international significance. From the Bristol Robotics Laboratory to Bottle Yard Film Studios, the innovation generated within these dedicated centres has national and global impact.
Centre of Excellence Map
The region is Europe's aerospace powerhouse, with 10+ world-leading companies and specialist expertise in composites, robotics, and additive-layer manufacturing.
As a hotbed of green innovation, Bristol and Bath is at the forefront of developing and deploying zero-carbon energy solutions, driving the global transition to a sustainable future.
Driven by industry giants Airbus, GKN Aerospace, and Rolls-Royce, the West of England is at the forefront of advanced composites, additive manufacturing, and industrialization.
Bristol and Bath are the UK's third-largest media hub. From the iconic Aardman Animations to groundbreaking video games, our creative talent is world-renowned.
Our region is a leader in tech and innovation and Bristol is a leading Smart City with capabilities that are already some of the best in the UK.
The West of England is a thriving hub for financial, legal, and professional (FPS) services, supported by a well-established ecosystem and leading industry players such as Lloyds, AXA, and Hargreaves Lansdown.
The West of England is the UK’s leading FinTech hub outside of London, with a thriving ecosystem of over 90 FinTech firms.
Our region is a dynamic centre for food and drink innovation, boasting a strong network of businesses, academics, and research institutions.
From medical technology to synthetic biology, and digital health to advanced therapeutics, our region is thriving.
A world leader in quantum technologies home to the UK’s largest dedicated quantum technologies innovation facility.
The West of England is home to a diverse space sector, with multi-national and SME companies active in the space ecosystem.
World-Class Universities in the West of England
The region's four esteemed universities contribute a pipeline of talent and research partnerships across all major sectors.
Frequently Asked Questions
What makes Bristol good for business conferences? Bristol offers a combination of world-class venues, strong digital and aerospace industries, excellent rail and air connectivity, and a reputation as the UK's greenest city, making it highly attractive for sustainability-focused organisations.
Is Bath suitable for corporate events? Yes. Bath's UNESCO World Heritage status and unique venues like the Roman Baths and Pump Room provide a distinctive backdrop unavailable in most UK cities. Its compact city centre also makes delegate movement easy.
How far is Bath from Bristol? Bath is 12 miles from Bristol and approximately 15 minutes by train, with frequent direct services. Bristol and Bath is often successfully used as a dual city destination for events.
What industries are strongest in the Bristol and Bath region? The region has particular strength in aerospace, FinTech, quantum technologies, creative and digital media, life sciences, and clean energy.
