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! 

10 ways to have a sustainable break in Bristol

Looking to minimise your impact on the environment or city when you come to Bristol? We've got plenty of eco-friendly ideas to help with planning your trip, from transport choices to activities and tasty food and drink. First of all, if you've picked Bristol as a place to visit, you've already…

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Itinerary: The Outlaws-themed break in Bristol

Stephen Merchant’s comedy thriller The Outlaws was set and filmed in and around Bristol. The series follows strangers from different walks of life who are forced together to complete a community payback sentence in Bristol. Throughout the series you’ll be able to spot many of the city’s famous…

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Itinerary: the ultimate Skins-themed break in Bristol

Set and filmed in and around Bristol, the cult classic teen drama Skins has become synonymous with the city since it broke onto TV screens in 2007. The show follows three generations of Bristolian teenagers as they navigate the struggles they face during their two years at sixth form, and…

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Itinerary: Explore Cary Grant's Bristol

Did you know that Hollywood legend Cary Grant started his life as Archibald Leach in Bristol? Find out where one of the most iconic film stars called home, learned his trade and is now commemorated in the city. The Cary Grant Statue Start your Cary Grant tour of the city by seeking out the statue of…

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8 ways to have an 1980s ‘Rivals’-inspired break in Bristol

The adaptation of Dame Jilly Cooper’s novel ‘Rivals’ is a shocking and steamy antics tale of the social elite of 1980s England. The series was filmed in and around Bristol, so we've put together a list of locations where you can experience some ‘80s nostalgia once you've watched the show on Disney+…

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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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Beautiful towns and villages near Bristol

Bristol is the confluence of the beautiful counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, home to varied landscapes, rolling countryside, stunning natural wonders, and plenty of charming historic villages! Here are some of our favourites, all waiting for you on the city’s doorstep... South…

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Itinerary: Discovering local histories in Bristol

Learn more about Bristol's communities and local stories at these museums across the city. For these journeys you can take a return train between Bristol and Weston-super-Mare, or purchase a Freedom Travelpass for West of England for unlimited train and bus travel within Bristol, Bath, North…

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Itinerary: Experience the visual arts in Bristol and Bath

Experience the best of Bristol and Bath's art scene, and minimise your carbon footprint at the same time. For these journeys you can take a return train between Bath Spa and Bristol or purchase a Freedom Travelpass for West of England for unlimited train and bus travel within Bristol, Bath, North…

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Itinerary: Discovering photography in Bristol

Experience the best of Bristol's pioneering and inspiring attractions using public transport, and minimise your carbon footprint at the same time. For these journeys around Bristol, you can use a Freedom Travelpass for West of England for unlimited train and bus travel across Bristol, Bath, North…

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