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 Portishead Quays Marina in the town of Portishead near Bristol - credit Laura Valentine

The local's guide: Portishead

Apr. 12, 2024

Overlooking the Severn Estuary, just a short drive from Bristol, lies the charming coastal town of Portishead. With its rich maritime history, stunning waterfront views, and a burgeoning food scene, Portishead is the perfect destination for a day trip or a stop off along the M5 motorway. In this…

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

The local's guide: St George

Jan. 05, 2024

Heading eastwards in Bristol? We asked St George local Helen Applin for 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 The SS Great Britain and Clifton Suspension Bridge. Venture out…

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

The local's guide: Keynsham

Jul. 15, 2023

This rural market town is nestled on the south-eastern borders of Bristol. We asked local resident Monika Komar to 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 independent market town;…

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

Jun. 20, 2023

Blue O’Connor is a proud Bristolian, keen adventurer and travel writer. We asked him for his must-do checklist 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 originally opened in 1869…

A cyclist on the Bristol & Bath Railway Path - credit Sustrans

The local's guide: Fishponds

Apr. 19, 2023

Local writer Natalie Burns gives us a run down of her top parks, pubs and pit stops around Fishponds in East Bristol. Fishponds isn’t necessarily the top of the list when you think of places to visit in Bristol (firstly, it's got a weird name!). However, there’s more to Fishponds than the slightly…

Freakshake at The Beehive Coffee House in Downend - credit The Beehive Coffee House

The local's guide: Downend

Feb. 09, 2023

Downend, a small suburb to the north-east of Bristol (and actually located in South Gloucestershire), is not somewhere many would think of travelling to, unless you’re coming for the now famous ‘Freak Shakes’ at The Beehive Coffee House! So here's a quick guide on what to see, what to do and where…

The pond at Windmill Hill City Farm in South Bristol - credit Windmill Hill City Farm

The local's guide: Windmill Hill

Jan. 10, 2023

Local foodie & film buff Tim Popple gives us a tour of this cosy corner of South Bristol... Windmill Hill is only half an hour’s walk from the centre, but you'll be surprised how little temptation there is to venture into town when there's so much to do here! Windmill Hill City Farm I would be…

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

The local's guide: Brislington

Jun. 30, 2022

We asked local stand up comedian Mark Olver for his recommendations on where to go in this leafy suburb of south east Bristol... Image - Beeses Riverside Bar I have lived in Brislington all of my life (apart from university and a few years "at sea" in Cotham, Clifton and Redland). Many parts of…

Woman walking through Redland Green in North Bristol - credit Bristol Barkers

The local's guide: Redland

Apr. 11, 2022

Frankie Wallington tells us the best bits about this leafy area of North Bristol... OK, so I haven't strictly stuck to one area, but I live at the very top of Redland (practically on the Downs) and it’s a bit of an unknown area at times, unless you live here and then you know it’s awesome. So, I’m…

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

The local's guide: Cliftonwood

Nov. 24, 2021

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…