Bristol must be one of England’s most overlooked tourist destinations. Why this should be is a bit of a mystery: with its rich history and vibrant modern culture the city has something to offer every type of visitor. Here are some of the best things to do in Bristol – the list is not exhaustive, because there is always something new going on…
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Why Visit Bristol?
Bristol has plenty to offer the conventional tourist. It has a long medieval and maritime history; it is also noted for its engineering history and connection with Isambard Kingdom Brunel. This means that it is full of historic buildings, varied architecture, and quirky pubs and restaurants.
The River Avon dominates the city, giving opportunities for boat trips and further exploration of the city’s history. Then there are numerous museums, galleries and independent shops.
But there’s more… Bristol has become known as a centre for contemporary culture. It hosts live performances, festivals, and all manner of other events during the year. It has a lively street art scene (boosted of course by local artist Banksy). And it is a UNESCO City Of Film. You will never be short of something to do here!
Explore The History Of Bristol
Bristol has had a long and varied history, its location on the west coast of England making it an ideal trading location in the Middle Ages and later a departure point for explorers setting off to the New World. In Victorian times it was a centre for industrialisation and engineering innovation and in recent times the city has reinvented itself once again as a lively centre for the arts.
The Medieval City
This was once the third largest town in England and, although wartime bomb damage destroyed some of the medieval city, there is still a lot to be seen. Medieval Bristol can be discovered in the old town area, in Redcliffe, and around Bristol Cathedral.
Read more – Medieval Bristol: A Walk Through The Middle Ages.
Georgian Clifton
As with other prosperous cities, Bristol experienced a building boom in the Georgian era. Queen Square, in the city centre, was built in the early 18th century and was surrounded by grand houses. However, the low lying area close to the river was soon deemed unhealthy and wealthy citizens started to build their new houses uphill in Clifton village.
Clifton soon became the fashionable area of Bristol and remains the best place for exploring the Georgian city. It is full of fashionable terraces, of which the most spectacular is Royal York Crescent. This is the longest crescent in Europe, with a raised pavement built over vaulted cellars. Another terrace not to miss is the Paragon, which has amazing views over the Avon Gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.
Elsewhere in Clifton you can see the site of the Hotwells Pump Room, which once attracted thousands of visitors, and the remains of the Colonnade, once a shopping area. The two are connected by the rather steep Zigzag Path – if you walk down this spare a thought for the sedan chairmen who once had to carry their passengers up and down the path!
Maritime History
The river and the sea have always been central to Bristol’s history. In the Middle Ages there was an important sea trade with Ireland, later extended to France and Iceland. And the explorer John Cabot set off from here in 1497 to discover what became known as Newfoundland, a feat later celebrated by the building of the Cabot Tower, a hill top landmark that is visible from many points in the city.
The maritime connection has led to Bristol’s connection with many legendary figures such as the notorious Blackbeard and his fellow pirates, or Alexander Selkirk, later immortalised as Daniel Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe.
Unsurprisingly the best way to explore Bristol’s maritime history is via the river – see below.
Along The River Avon
The Avon has always been a major transport route, connecting the city with the sea in one direction and running inland to Bath and beyond in the other. The floating harbour, a non-tidal body of water that bypasses the river, was created in the 13th century.
Bristol Harbour
For many visitors Bristol Harbour is the focal point of the city. Today it is buzzing with activity, and the area is full of restaurants, bars, shops and museums. It is the starting point for many guided tours and the scene for outdoor entertainments such as the Bristol Harbour Festival.
The SS Great Britain
A 20 minute walk (or short boat trip – see Waterbus below) from the harbourside takes you to the SS Great Britain. This steam ship, built in 1843, was one of Brunel’s greatest achievements, and today you can explore both the ship itself and the adjoining museum which tells you more about the engineer’s remarkable legacy.
The Bristol Waterbus
The Bristol Waterbus is a hop-on, hop-off service, allowing you to explore the city from the water. It runs from Temple Meads to the city centre and on to Hotwells. From here you can walk (around 25 minutes) uphill to the Avon Gorge and Brunel’s Clifton Suspension Bridge. Nearby is the Clifton Observatory and Camera Obscura.
Read more – A Day Out With The Bristol Waterbus.
Museums, Galleries And Other Attractions
The city has numerous museums, galleries, historic buildings and other attractions for the visitor. Many of these are free to visit, and many have changing exhibitions, ensuring that there is always something new to see. Just a few of them are listed below, but you can find a more complete list here.
M Shed
M Shed is a free to enter museum housed in a former dockside goods shed. It is home to numerous artefacts telling the story of Bristol, its people, its transport, and its role in the transatlantic slave trade. Outside the museum, and visible even when it is closed, is a collection of historic cranes, trains and boats.
We The Curious
We the Curious is an essential stop for families, an educational science and arts centre with numerous interactive exhibits. It includes a 3D planetarium, mock TV studio, Space Gallery and much more.
Arnolfini
Located on the harbourside, Arnolfini is a centre for the contemporary arts. Here you will find a programme of temporary exhibitions, music and dance performances, talks and much more. The building also includes a café and an art bookshop.
Bristol Aquarium
Another one for the whole family is the Bristol Aquarium. This is home to thousands of aquatic creatures, both tropical and native species. It also features an “Urban Jungle”, a vast botanical house with hundreds of plant and tree species from around the world.
Contemporary Culture
Quite apart from the museums Bristol is known for its events, performances and other cultural attractions. Two particular facets of its contemporary culture are street art and film.
Street Art And Banksy
Bristol is the home of the famous street artist Banksy and you can enjoy a number of his works as you walk around the city. But he is not the only artist at work here, and you will see vibrant murals wherever you go. Not to be missed is Leonard Lane in the city centre, a medieval alleyway covered with art on both sides (and even on the floor…)
You can hunt down the art yourself or join in a walking tour. I enjoyed the Blackbeard to Banksy tour (which also covers many other aspects of the city) but you could also try Visit Bristol’s weekly street art tours.
UNESCO City Of Film
Bristol became a UNESCO City of Film in 2017, a recognition of its status as a world leader in film and television. It was the birthplace of motion picture pioneer William Friese-Greene and of the film actor Cary Grant. It has had an important BBC radio and TV studio since 1934 and today is the home of the BBC Natural History Unit. The city has also been used as a location in many major productions.
For the visitor this means the possibility of attending one of Bristol’s film festivals such as Cinema Rediscovered, which revives great films of the past, and the Encounters Film Festival, a celebration of new and innovative film making. And several walking maps are available if you want to visit filming locations for your favourite shows.
Day Trips From Bristol
If you are staying in Bristol for more than a few days there are lots of possibilities for day trips. If you have access to a car you could try the Wookey Hole Caves, Westonbirt National Arboretum, or Tyntesfield (a Gothic Revival house run by the National Trust). A little further afield is the Slimbridge Wetland Centre, a haven for wildlife.
If you prefer a city visit, both Bath and Salisbury are easy to get to by train. Or you could take a bus to Wells or Glastonbury.
Eating And Drinking In Bristol
Whichever part of Bristol you are in you will find an enormous range of places to eat and drink. There are gourmet restaurants and fast-food outlets, gastropubs, traditional inns and cocktail bars. And every variety of cuisine from Caribbean to Asian to Middle Eastern. And, of course, there are plenty of options for family-friendly eating.
But a particular pleasure of eating and drinking in Bristol is the many historic pubs. The oldest is The Hatchet, dating back to 1606. Other recommended pubs are the Hole in the Wall, built around 1700, which was once a smuggler’s hideout and possibly the inspiration for Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island, and the 17th century Llandoger Trow, where Daniel Defoe is said to have met Alexander Selkirk, the real life inspiration for Robinson Crusoe.
Where To Stay In Bristol
There is a wide choice of places to stay in Bristol. Recent openings include the Hotel Gotham, a fabulous-looking building in the old Guildhall, and the Hotel du Vin Bristol City Centre, in a former 18th century sugar warehouse. If you have a car and would like to stay outside the city, Thornbury Castle Hotel offers a fabulous experience in historic surroundings (you can read about my visit to Thornbury).
How To Get To Bristol
- Direct trains run to Bristol from several major cities. The train time from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads is 1 hour 40 minutes, making it possible to visit as a day trip from London.
- The city is also served by bus and coach services.
- Bristol Airport is around 13 km away. A direct bus connects it to Temple Meads Station.
- If you are arriving by car there are several Park and Ride car parks around the city. You can also drive to Bristol Parkway Station and take the train into the city centre.
- Within Bristol you can get around by bus or on local train services.
This article is now featured on GPSmyCity. To download this article for offline reading or create a self-guided walking tour to visit the attractions highlighted in this article, go to Walking Tours and Articles in Bristol.
