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: Historic and Heritage

A view of the Stonehenge monument near Bristol by day

6 World Heritage Sites to visit near Bristol

Apr. 09, 2025

Bristol makes a perfect base to explore the historical wonders of the region. Here you’ll find ancient countryside and world-famous landmarks that sit proudly alongside their diverse and unique UNESCO World Heritage Site counterparts such as the Pyramids of Egypt and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef…

Train on the track at Avon Valley Railway near Bristol - credit Avon Valley Railway

Train rides and railway attractions in Bristol

Mar. 07, 2025

Enjoy a day out a local heritage steam railway, or take the family along to a miniature railway! 2025 marks the 200th anniversary of the birth of the modern railway. Bristol has its place at the centre of UK railway heritage, with Isambard Kingdom Brunel engineering the Great Western Railway between…

Black and white photo of a woman on a horse being led by a man

16 incredible Bristol women

Mar. 03, 2025

For some International Women's Day inspired reading, check out our list of amazing women who have helped shape Bristol. Image - Adela Breton with her guide in Mexico, Pablo Solorio. Courtesy of Bristol Museums. Adela Breton – Explorer Adela, brought up in nearby Bath, was no normal Victorian…

Bristol Pride Parade walking through Horsefair - Credit Bristol Pride

Landmark tales from Bristol's LGBTQ+ past

Feb. 03, 2025

These days, Bristol enjoys a vibrant and friendly LGBTQ+ scene, with a fantastic variety of gay districts and nightlife, gay-friendly accommodation, shopping and culture. Every July the city also hosts one of the best Pride events in the UK. Throughout history, Bristol has also played its own role…

A view of Christmas Steps in central Bristol at night

11 of the most haunted places in Bristol

Oct. 23, 2024

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…

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

Itinerary: Take a dark tour of Bristol

Oct. 16, 2024

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…

Weston-super-Mare beach and Grand Pier - credit Visit West

The story of The Grand Pier

Oct. 03, 2024

The Grand Pier, located in Weston-super-Mare, has a rich history dating back to the late 1800s. As seaside towns became popular, thanks to the railway network and more leisure time for workers, Weston-super-Mare saw a surge in visitors. To cater to these tourists, a grand attraction was needed…

A family in a cave at Wookey Hole in Wells, near Bristol - credit Wookey Hole

The story of Wookey Hole

Jul. 02, 2024

Nestled in the picturesque Mendip Hills of Somerset, less than an hour's drive from Bristol, Wookey Hole has captivated the imaginations of visitors for generations. This enchanting destination, deeply ingrained in the hearts of Bristolians, is as iconic as Banksy, hot air balloons, and the…

A Bristol Packet Boat Trips boat in Bristol Harbour - credit Bristol Packet Boat Trips

The story of Bristol Packet Boat Trips

May 16, 2024

Over the past five decades, Bristol Packet Boat Trips have provided boat trips to the people of Bristol, and beyond, and are proud to have played a roll in some of the most important moments in people’s lives. From school trips to platinum wedding anniversaries and bustling club nights, they’ve…

A plaque commemorating the Bristol Bus Boycott of 1963 on display at Bristol Bus & Coach Station

The story of The Bristol Bus Boycott

Apr. 03, 2024

On the anniversary of the beginning of the Bristol Bus Boycott in 1963, Dr Roger Griffith MBE writes about this landmark event. The 1963 Bristol Bus Boycott was a landmark event for British civil and legal rights. Campaigners, vexed from signs that read ‘No Irish, No Blacks, No Dogs’, fought for…