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! 

Bristol’s festival line-up in 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…

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Alternative stag and hen do ideas in Bristol

Stag and hen parties (or 'sten' dos!) can be more than learner plates and pub crawls. Here are our suggestions if you fancy doing something a bit different with your group in and around Bristol. From river cruises around Bristol's iconic harbour to trampoline parks and even making your own gin…

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Explore the city with Bristol Walk Fest 2026

From 1-31 May, there are hundreds of walks on offer all around the city as part of this year's Bristol Walk Fest. More than 80% of them are free, and they cover all abilities and interests. Whether you are a casual walker who fancies a gentle stroll to explore new parts of the city or an…

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6 World Heritage Sites to visit near Bristol

Bristol makes a perfect base to explore the historical wonders of the region. Here you’ll find ancient countryside and world-famous landmarks that sit proudly alongside their diverse and unique UNESCO World Heritage Site counterparts, such as the Pyramids of Egypt and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef…

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Banksy and other street art hotspots in Bristol

Visiting Bristol is like browsing an outdoor urban gallery. Tour the city’s streets and you’ll struggle not to find a brightly coloured, cutting-edge piece of spray can art embellishing the walls. The birthplace of Banksy, Bristol’s constantly evolving graffiti culture has made street art one of its…

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Where to watch the Six Nations in Bristol

The Six Nations is back, keeping rugby fans on the edge of their seats over five weekends from 5 February to 14 March 2026. Unless you’re lucky enough to be watching inside one of the six host stadiums, the next best thing is the atmosphere at a packed-out pub or bar. Our handy round-up of places…

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26 Things to do in Bristol in 2026

With a seemingly never-ending list of sights to see and experiences to tick off, how can you pack the best of Bristol into your year? Our list of 26 things to do in 2026 is here to help, covering everything from uniquely Bristol attractions to outdoor adventures. Plan the perfect city break around…

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The Story of The Wardrobe Theatre

This year marks a major milestone for The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol’s leading fringe theatre: 10 years since it opened its doors in Old Market. From humble beginnings to becoming a hub for collaboration and creativity, their story is one of grit, community spirit and risk-taking. We asked the…

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Where to have a digital detox in Bristol

We all need time to relax and recharge, and there’s no better place to take some time away from technology and chill out for a few hours... Skip to: Parks | Food | Spas | Workshops | Museums | Retreats | Sports Take in the greenery at a local park Leigh Woods Leigh Woods, located just over Clifton…

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60 free things to do in Bristol

A visit to Bristol doesn’t need to be an expensive one, in fact we’ve got 60 ideas for totally free things to do in Bristol. 1. M Shed Located in a huge 1950s transit shed right on Bristol’s Harbourside, the M Shed museum explores over 2000 years of Bristol’s history and is free tlo enter. Learn…

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