Clifton Observatory

You'll climb up through Clifton's Georgian streets to reach this Victorian folly perched on the edge of the gorge, where the views alone justify the trek. The observatory itself is a proper piece of Bristol history, built in 1828, and the café makes the most of those sweeping vistas across to the Suspension Bridge and beyond. The coffee's solid rather than spectacular, but you're really here for the setting – floor-to-ceiling windows frame some of the best panoramic views in the city. The cake selection does the job nicely, and on clear days you can sit outside and watch the hot air balloons drift past. It's touristy, sure, but even locals find themselves coming back for that unbeatable perspective on their city.