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! 

Where to celebrate Lunar New Year in Bristol

Bristol has plenty going on to kick off the Year of the Horse – join in the celebrations at these special Lunar New Year Events. Top events Lunar New Year at Wai Yee Hong, 21 February Chinese supermarket Wai Yee Hong hosts the biggest free Lunar New Year celebrations in the city. Dance and martial…

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26 Things to do in Bristol in 2026

With a seemingly never-ending list of sights to see and experiences to tick off, how can you pack the best of Bristol into your year? Our list of 26 things to do in 2026 is here to help, covering everything from uniquely Bristol attractions to outdoor adventures. Plan the perfect city break around…

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60 free things to do in Bristol

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…

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Christmas light trails in and around Bristol

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…

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24 Festive things to do in Bristol

Christmas markets, winter wonderlands, enchanting light trails, festive events and experiences, not to mention the magnificent theatre productions – Bristol is brimming with exciting things to do this Christmas. Everyone's welcome to our place this Christmas. Here's our round-up of what’s on this…

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Review: The Book of Mormon at Bristol Hippodrome

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…

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Top 10 music venues in Bristol

Bristol has a vibrant music scene beating behind the doors of its many characterful venues. From musical legends in revered concert halls, to 25-piece Samba bands strumming under Banksy-covered walls, from indie hangouts to gigs afloat an old German boat, these music and arts venues cater for all…

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6 top tips for Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the most popular and striking outdoor events on the calendar. This year, the world-renowned free Fiesta returns to Ashton Court between Friday 8 August and Sunday 10 August 2025. Each morning and evening of the fiesta, you can join one of the fiesta's…

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8 ways to make the most of #SummerInBristol

From soaring hot air balloons to bustling Harbourside festivals, incredible live music to new cultural event spaces, food festivals to family fun; there’s something very special about #SummerInBristol... Read on to find out why Bristol is always a good idea: find out what’s coming up and how to make…

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10 things to do at Bristol Pride 2025

Bristol Pride is back for 2025 with an amazing and diverse line up of events happening across the city, from 28 June to 13 of July, with the main festival Pride Day taking place on Saturday 12 July on the Downs. With four stages filled with dance, music, and performance, alongside the circus tent…

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