Bristol is a city and ceremonial county located in South West England, situated on the River Avon. The city is bordered by Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south, with a short coastline on the Bristol Channel extending westward. Bristol's administrative boundaries encompass the majority of the Bristol conurbation, though the urban area extends beyond the city proper into neighbouring districts including South Gloucestershire, Bath and North East Somerset, and North Somerset.
As a major urban centre in South West England, Bristol serves as the principal city of the region and forms part of a larger metropolitan area that spans multiple local authority districts. Its geographic position on the River Avon and proximity to the Bristol Channel have historically influenced its development and importance as a settlement in south-western England.