Blog & Guides

Welcome to the Visit Bristol blog, your one-stop shop for ideas, inspiration and handy tips to make your time in Bristol that bit better!

From suggested itineraries to festival round-ups and unmissable things to do, our guides aim to showcase the best of the city, whatever the time of year. We publish new blogs every week and keep our blog posts up-to-date with the latest information, so you can trust that you’re getting the most accurate and useful tips for your trip.

Planning a trip with the family? Check out our guides on Places to stay with kids in and around Bristol and Things to do with teenagers. We’ve also got a list of 60 free things to do to keep costs down.

Coming here to sample as much of the food scene as you can? Have a read through our list of Bristol’s Michelin-starred restaurants, top cocktail bars and pub gardens, or find the best places to go for vegan food while you’re here. We’re sure you’ll also want to try a tasty Sunday roast while you’re here – we've rounded up a few of the best of those too!

If you’re local to Bristol, or here for a few days, we’ve also got plenty of suggestions for day trips to the north, south, east and west of the city so that you can experience as much of the region as possible. Maybe you want to tick off all of the World Heritage Sites near Bristol, or discover our most accessible outdoor attractions.

We’ll also have seasonal guides to help you get the most out of Summer in Bristol, from rooftop bars to scenic cycle routes, or find out what’s on for Christmas in and around the city.

Keep checking back for more brilliant Bristol inspiration!

A frosty morning at Dyrham Park, Gloucestershire ©National Trust Images, Rachael Warren

Celebrate the magic of Christmas with the National Trust around Bristol

Nov. 05, 2025

As the festive season approaches, two of the National Trust’s most loved places near Bristol are preparing to unwrap unique Christmas experiences. Whether you love fairytales or history, twinkling lights or woodland trails, there’s something truly special waiting at Tyntesfield and Dyrham Park this…

Neon Tree at Westonbirt Arboretum by Culture Creative - credit Sony Music

Christmas light trails in and around Bristol

Nov. 04, 2025

Grab a warm coat and a woolly hat and head out to experience some Christmas magic. Create your own new Christmas traditions with a festive lights walk in and around Bristol. Remember to tag us in your photos and videos on Instagram and TikTok, and include #MerryBristmas in your posts! Jump on board…

Sunday lunch roast chicken at Coppa Club in Clifton, Bristol - credit Coppa Club

Bristol's best Sunday roasts

Oct. 31, 2025

You’re never too far from a great Sunday roast in Bristol. Bristol has an eclectic mix of venues to enjoy a classic roast dinner, from cosy pubs to stylish restaurants. Many restaurants and pubs in Bristol are passionate about sourcing ingredients locally from great producers, in addition to having…

Christmas Day lunch at Coppa Club in Clifton, Bristol - credit Coppa Club

Where to go for Christmas Day lunch in Bristol

Oct. 30, 2025

Want to take the stress out of the big day? Gather your family or friends and book a table at one of these restaurants or pubs, which are serving a special lunch on Christmas Day. Hort's Townhouse Cosy up in this sprawling city centre gastropub and tuck into three indulgent courses for your…

Mysterious figure on St Nicholas Street - credit Charlie Revelle-Smith

Itinerary: Take a dark tour of Bristol

Oct. 29, 2025

Local author of the Weird Bristol history books, Charlie Revelle-Smith, takes us on his personal tour of some of Bristol’s macabre and gruesome history. From haunted pubs to bloody murder, wrap up warm and retrace the steps of our city’s darkest days… The Tour Map The route is approximately two…

A group of balloons lifting off in a mass ascent at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta - credit Paul Box

60 free things to do in Bristol

Oct. 28, 2025

A visit to Bristol doesn’t need to be an expensive one, in fact we’ve got 60 ideas for totally free things to do in Bristol. 1. M Shed Located in a huge 1950s transit shed right on Bristol’s Harbourside, the M Shed museum explores over 2000 years of Bristol’s history and is free tlo enter. Learn…

Lounge and fireplace at Berwick Lodge - CREDIT Alicia Victoria

Itinerary: 4 spooky places to discover in Bristol

Oct. 27, 2025

Bristol is a city bustling with strange stories and mysterious tales – built on a history stemming back to Iron Age forts and Roman villas by the rivers Frome and Avon as early as the 11th century. There’s even a story behind the name. ‘Bristol’ is thought to derive from the Old English ‘Brycgstow’…

A view of Christmas Steps in central Bristol at night

11 of the most haunted places in Bristol

Oct. 24, 2025

As Halloween is fast-approaching, it’s got us in the mood for goose bump-inducing tales of supernatural, mystical goings-on. We asked Bristol ghost Pundit John, of Haunted and Hidden Walking Tours, to reveal his top 11 most haunted places in Bristol, visited on his excursions around the city. From a…

The Book of Mormon production credit Paul Coltas

Review: The Book of Mormon at Bristol Hippodrome

Oct. 23, 2025

Find out what Laura from the Visit Bristol team thought of The Book of Mormon, which is lighting up the Bristol Hippodrome until 8 November 2025. If you’re looking for a night out in Bristol that’s outrageous, hilarious and full of heart, look no further than The Book of Mormon! The musical comedy…

People dining outside in Wapping Wharf on Bristol's Harbourside - credit Hey What

The food lover's guide to Bristol

Oct. 22, 2025

Bristol is known for its fabulous food scene, from sizzling street food markets to glamorous speakeasies, and more award-winning restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Here are our recommendations for a food-tastic trip to the city... 1. Book a food & drink tour One of the quickest ways to get…