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: Summer

A group of balloons lifting off in a mass ascent at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta - credit Andrew Varcoe

6 top tips for Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Aug. 05, 2026

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta is one of the most popular and striking outdoor events on the calendar. This year, the world-renowned free Fiesta returns to Ashton Court between Friday 7 August and Sunday 9 August 2026. Each morning and evening of the fiesta, you can join one of the fiesta's…

People swimming at Lido Bristol and chilling by the pool

Outdoor swimming pools and splash parks in Bristol

Jul. 10, 2026

Make the most of warmer days and cool off at these alfresco swimming spots, from Bristol Harbourside to open air lidos, marine lakes and more. Jump to: Outdoor swimming pools - Open water swimming - Splash parks Outdoor pools Bristol Lido Tucked away down a quiet street in Clifton, this Victorian…

Hot air balloons at Bristol International Balloon Fiesta - credit George Blagdon

8 ways to make the most of #SummerInBristol

Jul. 08, 2026

Bristol is a city made for summer. From soaring hot air balloons to bustling Harbourside festivals, incredible live music, family fun and outdoor adventure; there’s something very special about #SummerInBristol... Read on to find out why Bristol is always a good idea: find out what’s coming up and…

Ships and Giggles: A summer of games and adventures at Bristol Dockyards

Jul. 03, 2026

Looking for the ultimate family day out this summer? Bristol Dockyards – home of the legendary SS Great Britain – has something brilliant in store from 18 July to 2 September 2026. Ships and Giggles is a summer packed with interactive games and challenges inspired by the real stories of the SS…

Valley at Wookey Hole near Bristol - credit Wookey Hole

Magical summer adventures at Wookey Hole - with 20% off!

Jul. 02, 2026

Looking for a great-value family day out this summer? Around 40 minutes’ drive from Bristol, deep into the stunning Somerset countryside, Wookey Hole is offering the perfect combination of adventure, entertainment and discovery - now with 20% off advance tickets between 25 June and 2 September 2026…

Five people in sit-on-top kayaks on Bristol Harbour pose together for a photo with Bristol’s famous colourful terrace houses on the hill in the background. They are smiling and look relaxed, having a good time on a unique urban adventure.

8 of Bristol's best water-based activities

Jul. 01, 2026

With our lovely harbour at the heart of the city, it’s no surprise that Bristol is awash with water-based things to do. These range from a leisurely cruise on a boat tour right up to a day of adventure on a canoe or stand up paddleboard. Here are eight of Bristol’s best water-based activities to…

Beach and Knightstone Island in Weston-super-Mare near Bristol - credit Dave Peters

Beaches and seaside towns near Bristol

Jun. 28, 2026

Bristol is only a few miles from the coast, so if you're looking for places to enjoy a long walk, do some watersports or take a dip, here are some of the places within easy reach of the city. Beaches near Bristol Sand Bay One of the most scenic spots along the North Somerset coast, Sand Bay has a…

Outdoor theatre in and around Bristol this summer

Jun. 01, 2026

Watch dramatic Shakespeare performances and family-friendly shows alfresco this summer! Here's our guide to the outdoor shows you won't want to miss, both in the heart of the city and nearby countryside... As You Like It at Boiling Wells Amphitheatre (Sun 21 June) Head to a tucked-away corner of St…

Unmissable live music in Bristol 2026

Apr. 22, 2026

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)…

Forwards Festival Bristol 2024 - credit Eljaybriss

Bristol’s festival line-up in 2026

Apr. 20, 2026

Ready for dancing to live music, tucking into delicious street food and sipping pints of cider in the sunshine? Bristol’s festival calendar is jam-packed in 2026. There’s a festival for everything in Bristol, from ballooning to music headliners, cider to cinema. Avoid any inkling of Glastonbury FOMO…