Things To Do In Bristol

Bristol Cathedral In Bristol

Exploring Bristol: Best Things to See and Do in a Day (Travel Vlog)

Youll find Bristol Cathedral on College Green at the foot of Park Street and close to the harbour area. You will be very welcome to join one of the regular public services in the Cathedral, or to walk around the Cathedral when there are no services taking place. Take time to look at all the stained glass windows both ancient and modern and walk up the Nave to the Choir where you can see the carved wooden stalls, organ and lacy carved stonework.

The Abbey of St Augustine was founded in 1140 but was destroyed in the 16th century and the new Bristol Cathedral built on the remains of the old. I recommend that you take a look at the patterned marble floors to the side of the choir and also walk down the cloisters towards the Buttery where you can have a cup of tea or a sandwich.

Take time to look into the Norman Chapter house, a room in the original abbey there the monks would gather. Theres also a small enclosed garden which can be accessed from a door near the buttery. Entry is free although donations are welcome for the upkeep of the Cathedral.

Read my article about a contemplative lunch at Bristol Cathedral.

The choir stalls at Bristol Cathedral

University Of Bristol Botanic Garden

The University of Bristol established a botanic garden back in 1882 and it is now home to a wide variety of plant species. It also has 640 square meters of greenhouses divided into cool, warm-temperate, sub-tropic and tropical zones. This is a must for nature lovers and as you already know, we never shy away from visiting a botanic garden.

Address: Stoke Park Rd, Stoke Bishop, Bristol BS9 1JG, UK

See Whats Going On At Millennium Square

Situated behind the V sheds, the Millennium Square plays host to an array of seasonal activities, festivals, and plenty of interesting art and sculpture.

From a large mirror ball to an LED light-bearing tree, the area is a hive of activity. You can spend plenty of time here wandering around, having a drink, and checking out the quirky installations. Theres even a Ferris wheel if youre keen to get a birds-eye view of the city.

If youre feeling hungry, theres also plenty of restaurants and eateries to grab a bite at.

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Fun Things To Do In Bristol England For Food & Drink Lovers

Bristol is getting quite a name for itself as a culinary centre within the UK. A focus on local products, independent producers and multi-cultural cuisine make it an exciting place to explore international food made local as well as a place to celebrate historic foods of the region. So, food & drink are certainly some of the best things to do around Bristol.

Enjoy Shopping On Park Street

Park Street is one of the main shopping streets in Bristol. It basically links the city centre to Clifton. You can find the Bristol Museum, the main University Building alongside various shops, restaurants and cafes. It’s a lovely walk up the hill, but make sure to wear your comfortable footwear.

Address: Park St, Bristol BS1 5NT, UK

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Places To Eat For Your Bristol Bucket List

Bristol’s history leaves it with a wonderfully diverse range of eating options

But for some different flavours and unusual places to eat in Bristol, here are the highlights

THE GLASSBOAT BRISTOL

A Bristol institution, this cute little place gets its name on account of being a boat. With a lot of glass. It’s a lovely atmospheric spot made for special occasions with a French bistro menu. Oh, and highchairs and a lovely approach to young children so head along early in the evening for all of you to enjoy the place.

Its sister property, The Lido, also looks intriguing, housed in a former open-air swimming pool. I’ve had coffee there but am yet to taste their dinner menu.

ST NICHOLAS MARKET, BRISTOL

A weekday wander through the narrow lanes of this indoor/outdoor market is absolute bliss with a babe in pushchair So many colours! So many scents! So many flavours!

RIVERSTATION BRISTOL

Pastries At Blackbird Bakery

I visited Blackbird Bakery every single day that I was in town if that tells you anything. This is such a cute spot to hang out and people watch but of course the real draw is the sweets.

If you can think of a pastry, they probably make it. Their pastry counter is enormous and packed full of delicious things. I had a very hard time choosing what to get.

Their coffee is really good too so this is a great mid-morning stop. Or afternoon pick-me-up whichever you prefer.

Youll see that this one is singled out from the Eat Your Way Through Bristol because honestly, its that good. This is a non-negotiable when you visit.

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People Watch At The Harbourside

The harbourside is a bustling and thriving area of Bristol, especially on warm evenings, and is a great place to go to take a relaxing walk, grab a drink in one of the pubs dotted along the harbour, or to just sit and watch the boats go past. There are multiple benches along the riverside, as well as ample room for sitting on the edge with your legs dangling over.

Vintage Winter Wonderland In Millennium Square

24 Best Things to do in Bristol, UK

Anchor Road, Bristol, BS1 5DBAt the harborside winter wonderland, you can enjoy stunning views 40 meters high above Bristols harbour on the Observation Wheel. The market has festive tipple with mulled wine, mulled cider and hot chocolate available at stalls. You can also enjoy the vintage dodgems and vintage Chair-o-Planes with friends.

Times11th Nov 3rd Jan, 10.00am – 11.00pm

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Get Scientific In Some Modern Museums

Open seven days a week, the free Bristol Museum & Art Gallery has Egyptian mummies and the famous Bristol dinosaur. A particular favourite with children is the large stuffed gorilla, Alfred.

There’s also the free, state-of-the-art M Shed, which pays tribute to the city’s seafaring and industrial past. They have some large exhibits, like the Fire-boat Pyronaut try and catch the water-spraying show at the harbour while you’re on board. There’s also We the Curious, a science centre which has the UK’s only 3D Planetarium. Elsewhere, the Georgian House Museum is open during the spring and summer.

Find Banksy Art In The Place Where It All Began

After settling in , we headed up Park Street to see if we could view some of the Banksy art throughout the city. The world-famous street artist was born in Bristol in 1974, and its a rare treat to find some of his earliest works in the city where it all began. We immediately found Well Hung Lover, painted on the side of a sexual health clinic and best viewed from the small bridge on Park Street that crosses Frogmore Street.

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John Wesley Chapel In Bristol

Tucked away in the middle of the Broadmead shopping area you could easily hurry past the John Wesley Chapel, known as The New Room, on your way to Boots or Marks & Spencer. Walk through the small paved courtyard with benches and espaliered fruit trees and you will enter the oldest Methodist Chapel in the world, built in 1739.

The chapel is beautifully simple and open with wooden benches and galleries and was founded by the preacher, John Wesley, one of the leaders of the Methodist religious movement. Upstairs above the chapel are several rooms which are laid out with information about John Wesley and his brother Charles, and show where he slept and worked. Entry is free although donations are welcome for the upkeep of the chapel.

Take A Day Trip To Bath

Lots of people who come to Bristol decide to take the short journey over to its neighbouring city, Bath. An attractive, historic, and popular place, Baths roots stretch way back to Ancient Rome!

Indeed, its main attraction is The Roman Baths, a 2000-year old site that was used by the Romans for, you guessed it, bathing. You can also unwind in the thermal pools at the Thermae Bath Spa, indulge in some retail therapy on the busy Bath high-street, or delight in the myriad dining opportunities. Oh, and if you love Jane Austen novels, youll be interested to know that she once lived here! Head on over to the Jane Austen Center to learn more about her.

Like the sound of getting some exercise at the same time? Check out the 13-mile long Bristol and Bath Railway Path that connects these two popular British cities. Whether you walk it, run it, or hire a bicycle to cycle along it, this cool track provides easy access to Bath and allows you to get some fresh air at the same time!

Alternatively, trains go here regularly too , or you can hop in a car and take the 35-minute journey by road.

For guided day trips to Bath departing from Bristol, click here.

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A Bristol Bucket List For Kids

The renovated docklands of Bristol Harbourfront are a key part of town and feature clearly on every tourist map.

This area also happens to be perfect for travel with young children. It’s flat! There are spaces they can run around! There are loads of museums with changing facilities and cafes designed for babies to sleep.

There’s also a host of vegan restaurants which makes it easy to find healthy food for baby weaning or breastfeeding.

Oh yes. And many of the attractions are designed with children in mind -)

See The Ss Great Britain

Located in the harbor, the S.S Great Britain was the worlds first steam-powered passenger liner. It took its maiden voyage in 1845 and was actually the longest ship in the world for almost a decade. .

Unfortunately, since it was so big it took a long time to build and the owners went bankrupt not long after it was launched. It ran aground not long after and was sold for salvage. After being repaired, the ship was used to ferry passengers to Australia from 1852-1881 when the ship was converted to all-sail. It was scuttled and sunk in the Falkland Islands in 1937 where it stayed for 33 years until it was recovered, hauled back to the UK, and turned into a tourist attraction.

Great Western Dockyard, +44 0117 926 0680, ssgreatbritain.org. Open daily from 10am-5pm. Admission is 18 GBP.

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Walk Across Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge is the most iconic image associated with Bristol. The bridge was designed by the great Isambard Kingdom Brunel and has been used as a toll bridge since 1864. Although it costs £1 to cross it in a car or on a motorbike, its free to cross by bicycle or on foot, and the views you get of Avon Gorge and Bristol when walking across it are fantastic!

Attend An Open Air Cinema Or Theatre Showing

Exploring all the best FREE THINGS TO DO in BRISTOL

There are various opportunities for an open air cinema date in Bristol. Your best bet with these would be to join a few Facebook groups, or keep an eye on the Cult Screens website, as theyre usually announced on there. Equally, nearby National Trust property, Dyrham Park has a Shakespeare open air theatre showing every year. Keep an eye on the NT website for details.

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Get All Retro With Some Pokmon Go

The hugely popular mobile phone game, Pokémon Go, is not only a fun game, but is great for helping you get to know a new city or area. Theres a thriving gamer community in Bristol so whether youre hunting for Pokéstops, Gyms or just Pokémon, youll likely spot a number of other people playing the game at the same time as you. Sound fun? Check out our guide to all things Pokémon Go in Bristol.

Scour The Fashionable Streets Of Bristol Shopping Quarter

There are more than 500 stores around here, from big name luxury retailers to more independent local shops. St Nicholas Markets are also nearby. The Glass Arcade, Covered Market and the Exchange are some of the finest buildings in the city, and have been serving Bristolians since 1743. Elsewhere, Clifton Arcade has been restored to its former Victorian glory. It’s a great place to find small, independent shops selling vintage clothing, jewellery and antiques.

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Free Things For The Whole Family To Enjoy In And Around Bristol

You don’t need to spend a penny to enjoy a fun day out

You really don’t need to spend a fortune on a brilliant day out – in fact, you don’t have to spend anything at all.

It’s the simple things in life that are often the most fun and you can make some awesome memories in Bristol for free.

From feeding ducks and climbing towers to going back in time and enjoying adventure trails, you’ll never be at a loss for something to do in our brilliant city.

Below is a list of places you can visit and activities you can enjoy without having to get your wallet out, with something for all ages.

Visit the M Shed

From prehistoric times to the present day, M Shed tells the unique story of Bristol and its place in the world. See amazing film and photographs, listen to moving personal stories, encounter rare and quirky objects and add your own memories of Bristol.

Kids will love boarding the famous green Lodeka bus, finding their home on the satellite floor map, getting hands-on with the interactive displays and meeting Bristol’s very own dinosaur!

Where: M Shed, Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol, BS1 4RN

Step inside St Mary Redcliffe Church

The pinnacle of Bristol’s skyline famously described by Queen Elizabeth I as “the fairest, goodliest and most famous parish church in England”.

Explore the high ceilings, stained glass windows and statues. There is also a reasonably priced cafe within the museum, plus a lovely little garden to explore.

Where: Redcliffe Way, Bristol, BS1 6RA

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Check Out The Christmas Steps

Constructed in 1669 Christmas Steps is a historic street in the city centre. There were lots of tradesmen in the area and nowadays you can still find some cute boutiques and a traditional pub. The steps look especially nice during the night time when the place becomes a bit eerie and atmospheric.

Address: Christmas Steps, Bristol BS1 5BS, UK

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Visit The M Shed Museum

M Shed is a fantastic free museum on Bristol Harbourside covering the social history of the city, and easily one of the best free things to do with kids in Bristol.

Set in a converted 1950s dockside transit shed, youll find loads of unusual and interactive displays on the history, people and places that make Bristol such an exciting city.

Kids can meet Bristols very own dinosaur Thecodontosaurus, uncover buried treasure, climb on board a disused double-decker bus and plenty of other fun immersive activities.

During the holidays, you can also take a train or crane ride along the dockside, or a trip on the water in one of the museums several historic ships.

+ Fun Things To Do In Bristol England + Bristol Tourist Map

Staff

Welcome to our Bristol guide: Fun things to do in Bristol England, including top Bristol attractions as well as some great options of additional things to do near Bristol. We also include the Bristol Tourist Map an interactive Google map with 50 things to do around Bristol

In 2017 Bristol was voted the best city to live in England. I actually grew up just south of Bristol, in Somerset, and on regular visits back to Bristol the rapid evolution of the city in the last 15 years has been amazing to see.

The city was founded sometime before the early 11th century, and over time became one of the most important ports in the UK. With its famed Street art and maritime history, youll find modernity and the past co-exist in an exciting harmony. Plus, the importance of good, local food and drink has pushed Bristol forward as the west countries foodie capital.

From landmarks, to historic attractions, foodie activities and some of the best craft beer and cider in Bristol. Discover our top picks for fun things to do in Bristol England below.

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Go Partying On Gloucester Road

For Bristol’s most varied, multicultural and crazy neighbourhood, visit Gloucester Road. It sure comes to life after dark, when most restaurants and bars become packed with young locals looking to party. You can pick from bars, through modern restaurants to really nice traditional pubs. Don’t forget that in the morning you can also go to the cafes and vegan restaurants which serve an epic full English breakfast and awesome coffee.

Address: Gloucester Rd, Bristol BS7, UK

Check Out Interesting And New Street Art At Upfest

Bristol: 13 Great Things to Do

Bristol has never shied away from its strong ties to the street art and graffiti world. In celebration of that, an annual street art festival called Upfest calls for local artists to make their mark on the various shopfronts and buildings within Southville and Bedminster . The festival is usually held at the end of July, but theres also nothing stopping you from walking the streets of these two districts at other times of the year in order to see the artwork.

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