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: Local's Guide

A view of the Beeses riverside pub on the banks of Conham River Park in East Bristol - credit Paul Box

The local's guide: Hanham

Mar. 20, 2026

Riverside walks, hidden nature reserves and a High Street that still feels like a community If you’re looking for a Bristol neighbourhood that balances proper green space with everyday local life, Hanham is a brilliant place to explore. Sitting on the eastern edge of the city, it offers riverside…

A view of Troopers Hill park in East Bristol - credit Visit Bristol

The local's guide: St George

Mar. 02, 2026

Heading eastwards in Bristol? We asked St George local Helen Applin for a one-day itinerary and her top tips on what to see and do while you're visiting... Bristol City Centre seems to have it all: shopping, restaurants, bars. Then there’s the tourist meccas, Brunel's SS Great Britain and Clifton…

A balloon from the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta flying over the Totterdown area of the city - credit Paul Box

The local's guide: Totterdown

Feb. 10, 2026

Close to Temple Meads station and within walking distance to the centre, Totterdown’s popularity is growing as a place to both live and visit. Thriving local businesses, award-winning cafes and a warm, community feel make this suburb well worth exploring. Faye Jenkins tells us about her home turf in…

A view of the harbour area in the town of Keynsham near Bristol - credit Nick Smith

The local's guide: Keynsham

Jan. 19, 2026

This rural market town is nestled on the south-eastern borders of Bristol. We asked local resident Monika Komar to share an itinerary and tell us some of the best spots to seek out... Hop on a train from Bristol Temple Meads, and a mere eight minutes away is Keynsham; part Bristol suburb, part…

A wide shot of a steam train on the track at Avon Valley Railway near Bristol - credit Avon Valley Railway

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

Jan. 13, 2026

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…

A row of multi-coloured houses in the Cliftonwood area of West Bristol - credit Jess Siggers

The local's guide: Cliftonwood

Dec. 19, 2025

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…

A view of the beach and Grand Pier at Weston-super-Mare near Bristol - credit Dave Peters

The local's guide: Weston-super-Mare

Dec. 15, 2025

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…

'The Six Sisters' artwork by Bex Glover, Lucas Antics, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits on North Street, Bristol - credit Hannah Judah

The local's guide: Southville

Dec. 08, 2025

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…

Shop fronts on the Pigsty Hill section of Gloucester Road in North Bristol

The local's guide: Horfield

Dec. 01, 2025

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…

A view of the Junction 3 housing development in the Easton area of East Bristol - credit Paul Box

The local's guide: Easton

Nov. 24, 2025

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…