10 min readLooking to minimise your impact on the environment or city when you come to Bristol? We've got plenty of eco-friendly ideas to help with planning your trip, from transport choices to activities and tasty food and drink.
First of all, if you've picked Bristol as a place to visit, you've already chosen wisely if you're looking for a trip with green credentials - not only is Bristol a former European Green Capital, the UK's first Cycling City and a Gold Sustainable Food City, we're also a huge champion of our local businesses, one of the top places in the world for vegan diners and have over 400 green spaces for you to enjoy!
Here are our top tips for a sustainable break in Bristol...
1. Support our independents
The first thing you'll notice during your trip is that Bristolians are passionate about our indie businesses, and we want you to enjoy them while you're here too! Get a flavour of the city by booking a table at one of our fantastic independent restaurants, snacking on street food at neighbourhood markets, or browsing our local shops.
In the city centre, St Nicholas Market is home to a wealth of small, independent traders, including jewellery makers, local crafts, clothing and food on the go. Over on the harbourside, the shops and restaurants in Wapping Wharf are all 100% independent, and you'll also find more high streets full of businesses unique to Bristol in Clifton, Bedminster and Gloucester Road.
Image - Wapping Wharf. Credit Jon Craig
If you want to give someone a Bristol-themed gift, a Love Bristol Gift Card is a great option, where you can choose the amount to include as credit, which can then be spent at over 160 venues across the city, including hotels, attractions, shops, bars, restaurants and entertainment venues.
Give the gift of experiences rather than stuff with The Indytute, where you can book memorable local experiences with local makers and businesses. You can also book a range of independent tours, cookery classes and workshops with Yuup Bristol
Image - A group of people on a foraging course, via Yuup
2. Choose a sustainable place to stay
Where you decide to stay is another important part of keeping your trip as green as possible, and Bristol has a wealth of accommmodation which has won awards and certifications for their commitment to sustainability. Moxy Bristol and Leonardo Hotel Bristol City are two of the most sustainably built hotels in the city, while local B&Bs such as Brooks Guesthouse and Berwick Lodge use a range of local suppliers and eco-friendly products. If you want to be more in touch with nature, stay at one of the campsites just outside Bristol, where you can combine a city break with countryside views.
You can usually get the best rates or extras by booking direct with accommodations providers, and we also recommend visiting midweek or extending your trip beyond the weekend to avoid peak times and higher room rates.
Image - Hotel du Vin & Bistro
3. Get around by bike
Bristol is a great city to explore by bike, whether you choose to take in the sights on a Harbourside Loop, enjoy countryside views on the Strawberry Line, or look out for the relics of a former steam railway line on the Bristol and Bath Railway Path.
There are bike paths throughout the city, in addition to many marked routes heading into the nearby countryside. You can rent bikes from Cycle the City, join them on a bike tour, or try something a bit more adventurous on a mountain biking adventure with Pedal Progression.
Image - Cycle the City
4. Respect our green spaces and wildlife
You're never far from a park, garden or nature reserve in Bristol. Castle Park and Brandon Hill make up two of the largest green spaces in the city centre, but you'll also find larger parks to roam around on the edges of the city, including Ashton Court Estate, Stoke Park and Blaise Castle Estate.
Avon Wildlife Trust manages and cares for 30 nature reserves in Bristol and the surrounding area. There are many nationally important sites which you can visit, from Brandon Hill Nature Reserve in the city centre, to Chew Valley Lake, Prior's Wood and Willsbridge Valley just outside the city.
Explore nature trails, walking routes and see what wildlife you can spot - but please follow any signs while you visit, keep to marked paths where requested, and if you can't find any bins to dispose of your rubbish, please take it with you.
Image - Stoke Park Estate
5. Pick a low-impact activity
Take it slow while you're here and get into the West Country pace of life. Check out local walking routes, with leisurely options if you want to take it easy, or more challenging routes for experienced hikers. There are also many walking tours where you can get to know Bristol, or self-guided options to explore, from street art apps to treasure hunts!
See the harbourside from a paddleboard with SUP Bristol, in a kayak with the Adventurous Activity Company, or get to grips with sailing on a day out with All Aboard Watersports. Just outside the city, you can wander through the treetops on a high ropes course in Ashton Court, have a go at Frisbee Golf at Mendip Activity Centre, or explore ancient cave systems at Wookey Hole.
Image - Paddleboarding in Bristol
6. Visit our green attractions
As well as our numerous parks, Bristol also has plenty of attractions which put sustainability at their core. Visit one of the city's four city farms to learn more about local ecosystems and pick up some local produce. Windmill Hill City Farm has a shop where you can buy Bristol-made gifts, and the Orchard Sauna, which is powered by electricity and uses recycled water.
Image - The Orchard Sauna at Windmill Hill City Farm
Noah's Ark Zoo Farm have won multiple awards for their sustainable efforts, which include generating their own energy with wind turbine, biomass boilers and solar panels, using recycled Christmas trees as enrichment for their animals, and recycling rainwater.
In addition to their conservation work across the globe, Bristol Zoo Project has ambitious sustainbility targets, including eradicating single use plastic and becoming carbon neutral. The paths and woodland walks across the site have been kept as wild as possible to encourage biodiversity, and they also work with Avon Gorge & Downs Wildlife Project to highlight the importance of the Avon Gorge and Clifton & Durdham Downs as a habitat for native species.
Image - Bristol Zoo Project
Wake The Tiger is keen to push the message of building a better world in its exhibits, which use recycled and repurposed objects throughout. The cafe has a plantbased menu, and the team arse also committed to reducing energy and water use, leading to Wake The Tiger becoming the UK’s first B Corp-certified visitor attraction in early 2025.
Science centre We The Curious was the first attraction of its kind to declare a climate emergency in 2019 and has also pledged to be carbon net zero by 2030. Get hands-on with exhibits designed to get you thinking about people and planet in their 'Project What If' exhibition and Food Zone area.
Image - We The Curious
The Create Centre and Ecohome is free to enter with a programme of changing exhibitions, events and activities throughout the year. The Ecohome itself is a demonstration of a sustainable house, showcasing eco-friendly DIY ideas and inspiration for how we can live in a more environmentally-minded way in the future.
The Wave is an inland surfing lake just outside Bristol, which is powered by on-site solar panels and is on a mission to bring blue health to more of the population through surfing and swimming.
Image - The Wave
7. Eat the best of the west
We're lucky to have some of the best produce on our doorstep here in Bristol, whether it's vegetables from local farm, game from a country estate, or top quality seafood from the nearby coast.
Take a trip to one of Bristol's breweries, vineyards and distilleries to sample some of our locally-made tipples, or book a food tour to try the best of what the region has to offer.
Many of Bristol's top restaurants also offer a seasonal and locally-sourced menu, with Wilsons in Redland awarded both a Michelin Star and Michelin Green Star for its commitment to sustainable sourcing and practices. The Canteen on Stokes Croft has a fully vegetarian and vegan menu showcasing Bristol suppliers, while nearby Poco has had a longterm commitment to composting almost 100% of its food waste.
Bristol is often picked as one of the top destinations in the world for vegan diners, with oodles of choice at wholly vegan cafes and restaurants including Koocha Mezze Bar, VeBurger, Ooowee Vegan and Cafe Kino. Many restaurants also have a dedicated plantbased menu, such as COR, Three Brothers Burgers and The Cosy Club.
Image - The Canteen
8. Shop sustainably
There are over 100 independent businesses in Bristol Shopping Quarter, including homeware shops such as PRIOR and Fig.1. SPARKS Bristol is a sustainable department store in Bristol, packed with vintage clothing, locally-made artworks and jewellery, exhibitions and more.
As well as browsing our independent boutiques, you can also find Bristol-made products at markets such as St Nicholas Market, Tobacco Factory Market and Windmill Hill Market.
Don't forget that you can order a Love Bristol Gift Card to spend at local businesses across the city.
Image - Prior Shop
9. Use public transport
Bristol is well connected by bus and train to other destinations across the UK, as well as to get around the city and surrounding area. Download the First Bus app to make the most of local ticket offers, or check GWR's latest deals on train travel. You can also see a list of local transport offers here.
You can also rent e-bikes and e-scooters from locations across the city, or hop on a ferry to travel around Bristol's waterways!
Image - Metrobus
10. Explore more
Escape the crowds by getting out of the city centre and discover some lesser-known areas and attractions that Bristol has to offer. Use our Locals Guides to get the inside scoop on different neighbourhoods, or read more about the top things to do in these areas of the city:
- East Bristol
- North Bristol
- Arnos Vale & Brislington
- Keynsham & Avon Valley
- Coastal North Somerset
- Rural Somerset & Mendips
- South Glouestershire & South Cotswolds
Image - Hanham Lock in East Bristol
Read more:
