One night stay at Bristol or Bath? We have a rental car

Bristol is prone to traffic jams and driving in & out of Bath also has slow going traffic at times - although the centre of the city is relatively traffic free. It might be best for you to stay somewhere in the surrounding countryside which also means greater chance of parking. Being as you are heading to Stonehenge & Gatwick, probably best not to be a bit further west - such as Bristol.

Bath has more small hotels as it’s a tourist city. In Bristol I can only think of Brooks Guesthouse that is independently run but it doesn’t have parking.

For one night I’d probably recommend Bath. It’s smaller so it’s easier to get a feel for it in a short space of time and you’re more likely to find the type of accommodation you want. Although I’m not really sure whether this area has a ‘rich regional culture’. Bath is a wealthy city only 100 miles from London which is an expensive and pleasant place to live. It’s small so as you can guess most people actually work elsewhere (London/Bristol/remote) or are retired.

Not sure when the flight is but you have a drive and the M25 plugs up especially in the 9:30 to 6:00 positions (noon is north) that you have to drive.

Consider staying near Gatwick and visiting nearby Hever Castle the day you fly out. It’s a great visit.

For a one-night stop with a rental car, Bath is a total no-brainer over Bristol. Bristol is a fantastic, vibrant city, but driving in just for an overnight stay is a bit of a logistical nightmare between the traffic and the Clean Air Zone. Plus, since you are heading to Stonehenge and Gatwick next, Bristol just drags you further west, meaning you will have to backtrack the next morning. Bath is way better positioned for hopping right onto the A36 straight down to Stonehenge. On the hotel front, definitely look at boutique options on the outskirts of Bath or in the surrounding villages like Bathampton or Limpley Stoke. You will get that authentic country manor vibe, great food, and most importantly, guaranteed parking, which is a massive headache in the city centre.

Would it make sense to stay in Salisbury, less than half the distance from Bath to Stonehenge?

Thank you all your input. Our flight departure is 6pm. Thinking starting the day at Bath 9am then Stonehenge next then drop off car 3:30 for 6pm departure. Too rush?