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People dining at The Granary - credit The Granary

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!

Category: Christmas

A mother walking with her two young sons through the grounds of Westonbirt Arboretum near Bristol - credit Johnny Hathaway

Bristol’s best winter walks

Nov. 04, 2024

Crisp air, frost-coated foliage and beautiful views - an invigorating wintry walk is the perfect way to experience Bristol this season. So head out on one of these head-clearing strolls around Bristol… The Harbourside When the mist rises on a chilly winter’s morn, the Harbourside is a sight to…

Bristol Christmas lights on Park Street 2023 - credit Bristol City Centre BID

Travel the season with First Bus

Oct. 31, 2024

Whether you’re coming to Bristol to do your Christmas shopping or for a festive evening with friends, why not forget about the stresses of traffic and parking and hop on a First Bus instead? These are some of our favourite things to do in Bristol, and how to get there by bus. Quick links: Fare…

Bristol Christmas Market and Christmas lights 2023 - CREDIT James Bridle

Shop local at Bristol Christmas Markets

Nov. 13, 2023

During the festive season, there are countless Christmas market stalls in Bristol to potter around – more than enough for you to give Santa and his elves a good run for their money on the present-sourcing and yuletide-treat-eating front. So don your thermals, savour the street food and get your…

Mercure Bristol Grand bedroom - Credit Jose Coello

Places to stay in Bristol for Christmas shoppers

Nov. 08, 2023

Take any stress out of Christmas shopping in Bristol this year by extending your day trip into an overnight stay or short break. Allow us to guide you through the best areas for gift shopping and the remarkable places to stay in each. Jump on board First Bus to explore shops, markets and more across…