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: Family

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

Christmas light trails in and around Bristol

Dec. 12, 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…

Christmas circus show at Wookey Hole near Bristol - credit Wookey Hole

24 Festive things to do in Bristol

Nov. 10, 2025

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…

Woman walking a small white dog through bluebells in a wood in Bristol

Top 10 dog walks in Bristol

Aug. 26, 2025

Unlike a lot of cities, you’re never far from green space in Bristol. The city is home to over 400 parks and gardens offering outdoorsy fun and fantastic walks for owners and their dogs. Beautiful countryside surrounds on all sides, making Bristol a good base for long rambles in nearby South…

Flamingos at WWT Slimbridge near Bristol - credit Amy Alsop

Motorway breaks near the M5 and Bristol

Jun. 27, 2025

Travelling along the M5 this summer? Long car journeys don’t have to mean constant cries of ‘are we neeearrrly there yet?’, expensive, soggy service station sandwiches and hours and hours of pure motorway. If you’re passing through the West Country along the M5 this summer, there are some great…

Dinosaur Valley at Wookey Hole - credit Wookey Hole

Have a dinosaur-themed day out in Bristol

Jun. 19, 2025

Ahead of the Jurassic World: Rebirth release this summer, Bristol is going dino-mad! From Jurassic takeovers to T-rex encounters, plan the perfect day out for the dinosaur lover in your life... Dinosaur Valley at Avon Valley Adventure Park Get up close with the largest collection of animatronic…

Mercure Bristol Grand lobby with street art - Credit Jose Coello

Where to stay for parents visiting students in Bristol

Jan. 10, 2024

Dropping your son or daughter at university for the first time or visiting throughout the year is the perfect excuse to book in a short break to Bristol. You can get to know the city they've chosen to spend their uni days in a bit better and make your way around the many attractions on offer at the…

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…

Mini Jeep Safari at Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park near Bristol - credit Avon Valley Adventure & Wildlife Park

Inclusive family attractions in Bristol

Aug. 05, 2022

Local blogger and mum-of-two Jade from The Autism Page has kindly penned this guest post for us, sharing her top recommendations for inclusive family-friendly attractions in Bristol. Over to Jade… Bristol is full of fantastic inclusive family attractions. Knowing that an attraction is disability…