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: Music

Stage and crowd at Dot to Dot Festival 2022 - credit Dot to Dot Festival

Top 10 music venues in Bristol

Aug. 20, 2025

Bristol has a vibrant music scene beating behind the doors of its many characterful venues. From musical legends in revered concert halls, to 25-piece Samba bands strumming under Banksy-covered walls, from indie hangouts to gigs afloat an old German boat, these music and arts venues cater for all…

Black Honey at O2 Academy at Dot to Dot Festival 2022 - credit Dot to Dot Festival

A music lover's guide to Bristol

May 07, 2025

As the city that gave the world acts such as Portishead, Roni Size and Massive Attack, Bristol has a well-deserved reputation for an incredibly varied, thriving music scene. From legendary artists playing in iconic concert halls, to bluegrass twanging under Banksy-decorated walls, music lovers are…

Jungle performing on the stage at Bristol Sounds with audience in foreground - credit Bristol Sounds

Unmissable live music in Bristol 2025

Apr. 25, 2025

Known as the birthplace of ground-breaking music from legendary acts such as Massive Attack, Portishead, Roni Size and more recently, IDLES and George Ezra, Bristol is world-famous for its vibrant and varied music scene (listen to this Bristol playlist to hear some of the tunes to come from here)…

Interior of the Rough Trade record shop in central Bristol - credit Rough Trade

9 of Bristol's top record stores

Apr. 07, 2025

Love nothing more than geeking out over vinyl at a good record store? In keeping with the city's musical reputation, Bristol is home to stacks of friendly record shops, run by staff with encyclopaedic music knowledge. Here are nine of Bristol's best record stores where you can get rummaging for…

Bar at Flight Club Bristol - credit Flight Club

Things to do at night in Bristol

Aug. 28, 2024

No matter what time it is, there is always something to do in Bristol. Nightlife in Bristol is legendary, whether you are a party-goer or want a more cultural night out. Here are some of our top picks for things you can do in Bristol at night. Activity bars to play and socialise Not one for…