Four out of every five Europeans live in towns and cities today, making the naughties a challenging time for European conurbations. With the credit crunch already affecting major European hubs, minds might be on other elements. Notably in November, the Czech prime minister Mirek Topolanek said: "We can't fight for the climate at the expense of our competitiveness."

However, for Amsterdam in the Netherlands, Freiburg, Munster and Hamburg in Germany, Bristol in the UK, Oslo in Norway, Copenhagen in Denmark and Stockholm in Sweden, the environment is a pressing issue and each city will be stepping up its campaign to impress European Commission judges up until the award is announced in 2010.

Case study: Bristol

Why should you stay in a green city? Well, why would you want to stay in a polluted one? The more cities that sign up to this ethos, the greener and cleaner your holidays will be. Stay in one of the hotels in Bristol in the UK, for example, and you will be supporting its bid as well as seeing what all the fuss is about.

Why is this city green?

Clifton Down is a large area of green space in the city. Located next to the observatory is a big rock slide that has been used by residents for generations. It has since been polished and become an attraction, making this green space, not only healthy but fun too. Brandon Hill provides stunning views of the city and Ashton Court Estate offers a mansion house, deer parks, a golf course and mountain bike trails. There’s also access to a stunning coastline and countryside from the hotels in Bristol.

Green policies

The city is home to UK cycle network Sustrans and The Soil Association, which holds an organic food festival each year, which is touted as the largest in Europe. It also hosts regular farmers markets, where visitors can buy healthy and wholesome local produce. Travelling around Bristol is easy on bus, ferry or on foot. Bristol was chosen as the UK’s first cycling city earlier this year. Go on First Great Western before May 2009 and your ticket will get two people into some of Bristol's sights for the price of one. Green attractions include an Echohome, Bristol Zoo Gardens and Westonbirt National Arboretum .

Environmentally-friendly hotels

Some Bristol hotels are participating in the Green Tourism Business Scheme to promote best practice within the tourism sector. Three-star Arnos Manor is among them with award-winning food. It is located within walking distance of the city centre and is near the train station. Four-star Ramada Plaza has also got the green award. It is 30 minutes away from the heart of the historic city and the major attractions as well as providing contemporary comfortable rooms.

Eating and drinking

There are harbour side restaurants and brasseries with on-the-go lunch stops at The Glass Arcade. Choose from local food or foreign cuisine and park your bike at the Mud Dock Cycleworks and Cafe for a shower and a bite to eat in the restaurant above the bike shop that serves up European cuisine.

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Pork pies and cider are fresh from the fields around a Somerset inn that was crowned England's Pub of the Year by the AA.

The Queen's Arms in Corton Denham is an hour's drive from some of the most affordable accommodation in Bristol – but you can stay here from £60 a night.

Commonly, people come here to choose from the Queen's wide variety of home cooked food that comes from the pigs and hens reared here.

Rashers and eggs are fresh in the all-days breakfast and the meat in the pub's signature dish, honey glazed confit of pork belly with cider jus, is definitely juicy.

At the bar are a collection of farm ciders and real ales, such as Otter Bitter and Roosters Body Warmer.

The devil is in the detail and owners Rupert and Victoria Reeves were commended on just that at the awards ceremony on Wednesday.

AA hotel services manager told The Publican Simon Numphud said: "We selected the Queens Arms as Pub of the Year, England because they demonstrate an exceptional attention to detail which is evident in every aspect of their business from the food and drink to their accommodation and marketing,"

The Bush Inn, in St Hilary, Monmouthshire, was named Pub of the Year, Wales, and the Torridon Inn, in Torridon, Highland, picked up the Pub of the Year award for Scotland.

The Queen's Arms was listed as one of the 25 coolest places on earth by Arena magazine and has appeared in numerous guides and reviews.

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The 14th century Manor House in Castle Combe is an hour's drive from Bristol and sports several luxurious bedrooms and a few huge dining rooms dripping with opulence and chandeliers.

They are too stuffy for evening drinks, according to the Telegraph. But other guests give the décor stunning reviews.

A lack of a spa separates the Manor House from most other hotels of its calibre in the vicinity, but it does benefit from an 18-hole golf course.

Enthusiastic chef Richard Davies is going for Michelin stars in the dining room with his take on fine cuisine.

There's a range of free-range chickens and pigs to choose from – not to mention catching his own brown trout in nearby Bybrook River should he feel he should.

Guests can stay in the main house or mews cottages at the Manor House from £125 for a double room.

Outdoor Shakespeare performances make August and there's champagne in store for September.

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Treat yourself to one of the best hotels in Bristol. Because you deserve a break.

Travel News brought to you by Eurobookings, the experts in cheap hotel bookings for all major European cities including Bristol.

A Bristol exhibition commended for leaving visitors visibly "moved" is coming to a close.

Breaking the chains, an exhibition marking the 200th year of the abolition of the British Transatlantic Slave Trade has been praised as "carefully researched" and "sobering".

The entire top floor of the British Empire and Commonwealth Museum in Bristol is devoted to artefacts, film, music, images, video and personal testimonies.

Multimedia has proved an excellent educational pathway for schools and children with a family activities booklet available free to work through as well as resources for schoolchildren.

In particular the exhibition focuses on Africa, Europe and the Caribbean .

Visitors can record their thoughts about the exhibition at a vox box which can transmit views aurally or visually.

Breaking the Chains is at the Museum in Bristol until October 1st from 10:00 to 17:00 BST with tickets priced at £7.75.

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