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! 

Itinerary: Take a dark tour of Bristol

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…

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The food lover's guide to Bristol

Bristol is known for its fabulous food scene, from sizzling street food markets to glamorous speakeasies, and more award-winning restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Here are our recommendations for a food-tastic trip to the city... 1. Book a food & drink tour One of the quickest ways to get…

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Itinerary: A long weekend in Bristol

Planning to spend a few days in the city? Here's a list of must-sees in Bristol to get you started... Day one: The Harbourside Grab a coffee by the Harbourside and visit M Shed, a museum telling the story of Bristol’s past and present, before climbing aboard The Matthew on the quayside nearby. The…

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Swap London for Bristol: our top travel 'dupes'

Avoid the stress and bustle of the capital city and come to Bristol instead! We've listed some destination dupes where you can swap some of London's best-known attractions for a quieter (and often cheaper) version in our beautiful city. Swap The Cutty Sark for... Brunel's SS Great Britain The famous…

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A guide to slow travel in Bristol

If you’re looking to experience Bristol at a gentler pace, this guide is for you. Slow travel is about swapping whirlwind itineraries for meaningful moments, letting curiosity rather than checklists shape your days. Instead of rushing between sights, you’ll have time to savour what matters most to…

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Itinerary: Bristol in 60 minutes

Got an hour to kill in Bristol? Perhaps your train has been delayed, or you're pottering around until you can check into your hotel? Maybe you're looking for an interesting way to spend your lunch break or are just eager to squeeze even more lovely Bristol experiences into your day. Who can blame…

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A solo traveller's guide to Bristol

Planning a solo trip to Bristol? Bristol is a great option for independent travel, and has gained a reputation as a friendly, safe and fun city. Book the perfect solo adventure with our tips below... Skip to: Travel | Where to stay | Top things to do | Day trips Getting to and around Bristol…

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Go for a Chew Valley adventure with the X91 bus

Did you know that you can travel directly from the heart of Bristol to the beautiful landscapes of the Chew Valley by bus? The Big Lemon’s new X91 ‘Chew Valley Sprint’ bus service connects the city directly to the scenic slopes of the Mendip Hills, as well as the banks of the spectacular Chew Valley…

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Itinerary: Explore Brunel's Bristol

Legendary engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel is one of Bristol's icons - he may have been born in Portsmouth, but many of his greatest engineering achievements were right here in Bristol. Two of the city's best-known attractions, the Clifton Suspension Bridge and SS Great Britain, were designed by…

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Gromit Unleashed 3 locations in Bristol

Tick off all of the locations from this year's Gromit Unleashed 3 trail, with sculptures of Wallace, Gromit, Feather’s McGraw and Norbot dotted in and around the city! The Gromit Unleashed 3 trail is running from Monday 30 June until Sunday 31 August 2025, so you'll have plenty of time to visit all…

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