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!

A red dog sat on a grey bed in the corner of a room - Credit Jamie Street

Bristol's best dog-friendly hotels

Mar. 09, 2026

In Bristol, you’re never far from green space; the city is home to over 400 parks and gardens, and it’s just a short journey out of the city centre to beautiful countryside. Add to that some fantastic dog-friendly hotels, and you have a great city break with a dog in tow. So, instead of leaving a…

Black and white photo of a woman on a horse being led by a man

16 incredible Bristol women

Mar. 03, 2026

For some International Women's Day inspired reading, check out our list of amazing women who have helped shape Bristol. Image - Adela Breton with her guide in Mexico, Pablo Solorio. Courtesy of Bristol Museums. Adela Breton – Explorer Adela, brought up in nearby Bath, was no normal Victorian…

Hero Fiennes Tiffin, Dónal Finn and Natascha McElhone in Young Sherlock

Young Sherlock filming locations in Bristol

Mar. 02, 2026

The exciting new series from acclaimed director Guy Ritchie is full of action, mystery, and a fresh approach to the classic detective stories. The series stars Hero Fiennes Tiffin as Sherlock Holmes, as he meets his soon-to-be foe James Moriarty (Dónal Finn) at Oxford University, and goes on to try…

Interior of the Redgrave Theatre in Clifton, Bristol

The Story of the Redgrave Theatre

Mar. 01, 2026

As the Redgrave Theatre approaches its 60th anniversary, we asked the team to tell us more about the history behind this much-loved venue... Hidden away in the beautiful suburb of Clifton, the Redgrave Theatre is one of Bristol’s most popular and distinctive performance spaces. With its tiered…

People on a walking tour with costumed guide - credit Show Of Strength Theatre Company

An A-Z of top Bristol trivia

Feb. 27, 2026

Are you looking for some tantalising Bristol tales to impress your friends? Or learn more about the city's lesser-known stories? We asked Sheila Hannon from Show of Strength Theatre Walks to tell us some of her favourite trivia about the city - Show of Strength runs several guided walks in Central…

Pre-theatre dining in Bristol

Feb. 25, 2026

Bristol has theatres and venues dotted across the city, and many restaurants offer special pre-theatre dinner deals and early bird menus when you show your theatre ticket or eat before 7pm. Here are some of our suggestions for where to grab a bite before a show... Skip to restaurants near: Bristol…

Banksy's Mild Mild West mural in Stokes Croft, Bristol - credit Morgane Bigault

Banksy and other street art hotspots in Bristol

Feb. 23, 2026

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…

Creedy carver duck breast and celeriac dauphinoise

Michelin-starred restaurants in Bristol

Feb. 20, 2026

Bristol is home to two Michelin-starred restaurants and several more that have been awarded a Bib Gourmand, Green Star or Michelin Plate. Here's the full list of restaurants that have been given an award in the city... Michelin Star Bulrush Bulrush has been making waves in the city for its dazzling…

Where to find classic British food in Bristol

Feb. 18, 2026

If this is your first visit to Bristol or the UK, no doubt top of your list is trying some well-known dishes like fish and chips, afternoon tea or a good old-fashioned roast dinner. We’ve rounded up some of the best places to find traditional British dishes in Bristol, and it’s up to you whether you…

A plate of stacked pancakes with berries and cream on top - Credit Mollie's Motel and Diner

Where to go for pancakes in Bristol

Feb. 17, 2026

We’re lucky to have stacks of places in Bristol where you can fill up on pancakes. If you don’t fancy faffing around with the frying pan and whisk at home this year, get yourself to one of these restaurants instead. The Pancake Man Tuck into a stack of pancakes at this little cafe in Wapping Wharf…