To the west of the bustling city of Bristol lies the mainly rural county of North Somerset, which is one of the fastest growing parts of the West of England. Its coastline along the River Severn estuary draws tourists throughout the year, and increasingly draws retirees to the area. Some of the towns and villages in North Somerset are easily commutable to Bath or Bristol, and many offer a more picturesque, safe, affordable, and family-friendly alternative to city life, but the main towns like Weston-super-Mare have plenty of cultural and entertainment attractions.