Quaint village near the M4 has a garden centre and an idyllic pub

It's incredibly peaceful despite being so close to the motorways

05:00, 17 Aug 2025

Motorists familiar with Bristol's roads will likely have heard of Almondsbury, thanks to the busy interchange of the same name where the M4 meets the M5. It was the first four-level motorway crossing in Britain when it opened in the 1960s, but the village itself has a rich history dating back centuries to Saxon times.

Even today, Almondsbury retains historic buildings like St Mary's Church, which was reportedly consecrated by four bishops in 1148.

Its much more modern patterned lead spire is still a focal point of the village's skyline, along with some impressive homes. Thirteen houses[1] here have sold for more than GBP1m in the past two years, according to my envious scroll of Rightmove records as we took a sunny walk around the village last weekend.

We had been enticed by the well-rated pub lunch at The Bowl, which was awarded an AA Rosette for Culinary Excellence in 2024 following a major refurbishment a couple of years earlier[2].

We parked at the car park opposite, which is pay-and-display but is free for customers as long as you remember to validate your registration number at the bar.

With colourful flowers tumbling out of the hanging baskets out front, it's no wonder some people were choosing to sit on picnic tables at the pub's pretty entrance, taking in views of the church. We went out back into the paved beer garden, where the lack of lawn is made up for by its view of a sprawling field just over the fence.

As part of the Butcombe portfolio, expect familiar local brews on tap such as Rare Breed and Butcombe Gold. Sadly there was no Ashton Press but cider lovers could instead try a Thatchers Juicy Apple.

I enjoyed a crisp, refreshing half pint of Underfall lager, which was all the better for being enjoyed on the pretty terrace.

It felt very European with the fringed sun umbrellas and the Aperol spritz on the drinks menu, along with other tempting cocktails and trendy small plates.

I didn't fancy a roast dinner beneath the beaming sunshine, so ordered a slightly eclectic mix of picky bits - a mackerel pate starter (GBP8.20) with sides of aioli potatoes (GBP5.50) and a small Caesar salad (GBP5.90). It was all delicious but there were a few bits missing compared to what was promised on the menu - no crispy onions on the potatoes nor Pecorino cheese on the salad, as far as I could detect.

Everyone else at my table had a Sunday roast, which range from GBP17.90 for the veggie option to GBP24.50 for the trio of roasted meats. The beef was not medium-rare as advertised but the rest was really tasty, especially the fluffy Yorkshires and flavourful gravy.

We'd previously tried to book another pub elsewhere but were told they had no high chairs, which immediately raised a red flag about whether or not we'd be welcome.

Thankfully there was no such issue at The Bowl, where there were a few other babies and children around and lovely smiling staff who seemed to enjoy waving at our one-year-old.

Although the pesky wasps did their best to derail our experience, we still enjoyed a relaxing lunch in the sunshine and set off afterwards to walk it off around the village. There is a high point near the pub which surprised us with distant views of both Severn bridges, leaving us wishing we had brought binoculars for a closer look.

After a pleasant stroll, looping round to pass the community shop and village hall, we made the short drive up the hill to Almondsbury Garden Centre. It's a massive place with a drive-through facility for heavy items like soil bags and stones, and an on-site cafe that always seems to be busy.

On any other day I would have been keen for a piece of their homemade cake, but there is currently no outdoor seating there as building works begin for the cafe's expansion.

Instead we grabbed some ice creams and fancy-looking biscuits from the shop and ate them in the sunshine outside, with a view of the nearby playing fields.

The burr of motorway traffic was barely audible in the background - Almondsbury itself is a world away from the busy junction that most people will know it for, offering a peaceful day out within easy reach of the city.

References

1. ^ houses (www.bristolpost.co.uk)
2. ^ following a major refurbishment a couple of years earlier (www.bristolpost.co.uk)