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! 

The local's guide: Lesser-known things to do in Bristol

Blue O’Connor is a proud Bristolian, keen adventurer and travel writer. We asked him for his must-do itinerary of hidden gems for any Bristol resident or visitor, and this is what he came back with... 1. Hop on a steam engine train at Avon Valley Railway This historical railway line, which…

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The local's guide: Cliftonwood

Bristol-based photographer Jess Siggers guides us around Bristol's most colourful neighbourhood... Not Clifton, not Hotwells, but sandwiched in between… Cliftonwood (so called due to the small wood we have in the middle, which forms part of Goldney Hall gardens) is a (surprisingly peaceful…

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The local's guide: Weston-super-Mare

There's much more to this coastal town than just the seafront and tourists. Karen Blake shares a few of her favourites in Weston-super-Mare in this nifty itinerary... Weston has had a revival in the last few years, with multimillion-pound investments to enhance and improve the seafront, and a…

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The local's guide: Southville

Street art, street parties and street food - just a few reasons to visit this vibrant corner of South Bristol. We asked local resident Claire Greville to share some of her Southville favourites in this handy itinerary... There is some debate amongst us locals as to where Southville ends and where…

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The local's guide: Horfield

Want to get the lowdown on the best places to go around the north end of Glocuester Road? We asked family travel blogger Angharad Paull to tell us her favourite places to go in her patch of Bristol, Horfield. Read on for Angharad's handy itinerary... I’ve been a Bristolian for over 20 years now, and…

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The local's guide: Easton

Just outside Bristol city centre lies Easton. Often overlooked in favour of trendy Stokes Croft and the star attractions of central Bristol, the area has some great eateries that are worth a trip. Here's a handy beginner's itinerary for the area, written by a local resident. Bristol Sweet Mart, St…

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The local's guide: Clevedon

Looking for a day out by the coast near Bristol? We've got just the itinerary for you! About half an hour’s drive away from Bristol city centre is the seaside town of Clevedon. Known as one of the locations for the hit ITV drama Broadchurch, there is lots to do, whether you are visiting with friends…

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The local's guide: Thornbury

In need of an itinerary for the historic town of Thornbury? Andy Clarke tells us why it is worth venturing out of Bristol to explore this South Gloucestershire market town... It is easy to come to a city and only venture to places you find on foot, never venturing far from your hotel or the train…

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The local's guide: Cotham and Kingsdown

Want the inside scoop on where to eat in the foodie districts of Cotham and Kingsdown? Check out this itinerary from a local resident. Gin peddler, cocktail connoisseur and food fanatic Danny Walker tells us why this hilly suburb of Bristol is worth the climb... Kingsdown is a happy little suburb…

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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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