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!

Aircraft waiting to depart at Bristol Airport - Credit Bristol Airport

The best places to stay near Bristol Airport

Mar. 08, 2023

Bristol Airport is just a few miles south of Bristol City Centre (around 20-25 minutes away) with direct services to destinations across Europe. It's also in the middle of some beautiful Somerset scenery, giving you the perfect opportunity to combine a city break with some glorious English…

The Bristol hotel exterior - credit The Bristol - Doyle collection

Bristol Harbourside hotels with waterfront views

Mar. 08, 2023

Many of Bristol’s hotels and apartments have views of the river and beyond, but if you’re after something a little closer to the water’s edge, here’s our selection of Bristol Harbourside hotels with impressive waterfront views. The Bristol Located on the quay next to Pero’s Bridge, The Bristol’s…

22 Bristol breaks for every kind of traveller

Mar. 08, 2023

Discover what makes Bristol’s accommodation offering special and make the most of limited-time and year-round offers. Whether your idea of the perfect hotel has a storied past, gives a warm welcome to pooches or has a spa you can escape to – Bristol has accommodation you’ll love. To give you an idea…

Bed with red headboard and blue bedding - Credit Berkeley Suites

Bristol on a budget: Get the best deal on accommodation

Mar. 08, 2023

It doesn’t matter how far your budget stretches – there are ways to get a great deal on accommodation in Bristol. Whether you prefer to rest your head in a cheap and cheerful hostel or a luxury hotel, here are our four top tips for getting more for your money: Look for special offers on…

A suite in Artist Residence boutique hotel in Bristol

Bristol's best dog-friendly hotels

Mar. 07, 2023

In Bristol you’re never far from green space, the city is home to over 400 parks and gardens and it’s just a short journey out of the city centre to beautiful countryside. Add to that some fantastic dog-friendly hotels and you have a great city break with a dog in tow. So, instead of leaving a…

A 2 silver airstreams on a roof - Credit Brooks Guesthouse

B&Bs, cottages and guesthouses for your next Bristol break

Mar. 07, 2023

Traditional bed and breakfasts, cosy cottages and elegant guesthouses – we've got them all in Bristol, both in the city centre and just beyond on the greener fringes of town. From refurbished historic homes to cottages on a working farm, here are some top picks to consider for your next Bristol…

Berwick Lodge Aerial view - CREDIT Richard Lewis Photography

Country house hotels near Bristol

Mar. 06, 2023

Birdsong or Bansky? Hedgerows or Harbourside? If you can’t decide between a city break or a country retreat, do both. North Somerset, South Gloucestershire, the Cotswolds and the rolling hills of the Mendips are all within a hop and a skip of Bristol city centre. Dress like a city weekender, but…

The golf course at Bowood in Wiltshire, credit Bowood Hotel, Spa & Golf Resort

5 ways to get golfing in Bristol

Mar. 05, 2023

Golf fans know the season doesn’t truly begin until the beautiful Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia appears on our TV screens at the Masters. The lush, verdant greens framed by hot pink azaleas are instantly recognisable and signal many relaxing afternoons ahead on the fairway. Whether you’re a…

The death of Chatterton painting by Henry Wallis

Bristol’s Shakespeare: The life and legacy of Thomas Chatterton

Mar. 02, 2023

If people have heard of Bristol-born eighteenth-century poet Thomas Chatterton (1752–1770), it is most often in terms of his tragic death aged just 17— as depicted in an oil painting by Henry Wallis. For too long this has been the case, overlooking what is an actually fascinating life; Chatterton…

Swans at WWT Slimbridge near Bristol - credit WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

The story of WWT Slimbridge Wetland Centre

Feb. 28, 2023

Forty minutes North of Bristol lies the village of Slimbridge in Gloucestershire, best known as the home of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust (WWT). Due to the huge variety of wildlife that benefits from the river Severn, WWT’s founder, Sir Peter Scott, realised that it would make an ideal…