Clifton is Bristol's most elegant neighbourhood — a Georgian and Regency townscape on a steep hillside above the Avon Gorge, with crescents, squares, and terraces that rival Bath in their ambition and execution. The whole district was developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when Bristol merchants competed to build the most impressive town houses on the available heights.
The neighbourhood is centred on a small shopping area called Clifton Village, with independent bookshops, delis, clothing stores, and cafes clustered around the crossroads. The streets around The Mall, Regent Street, and Princess Victoria Street give the best architectural impression. From the edge of the Downs — the large common above Clifton — you can see across the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the gorge below. The neighbourhood has a strong independent food scene, several good pubs, and a Saturday farmers market.