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 best Sunday roasts

You’re never too far from a great Sunday roast in Bristol. Bristol has an eclectic mix of venues to enjoy a classic roast dinner, from cosy pubs to stylish restaurants. Many restaurants and pubs in Bristol are passionate about sourcing ingredients locally from great producers, in addition to having…

Read More

Where to go for Christmas Day lunch in Bristol

Want to take the stress out of the big day? Gather your family or friends and book a table at one of these restaurants or pubs, which are serving a special lunch on Christmas Day. Hort's Townhouse Cosy up in this sprawling city centre gastropub and tuck into three indulgent courses for your…

Read More

Itinerary: Take a dark tour of Bristol

Local author of the Weird Bristol history books, Charlie Revelle-Smith, takes us on his personal tour of some of Bristol’s macabre and gruesome history. From haunted pubs to bloody murder, wrap up warm and retrace the steps of our city’s darkest days… The Tour Map The route is approximately two…

Read More

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…

Read More

Itinerary: 4 spooky places to discover in Bristol

Bristol is a city bustling with strange stories and mysterious tales – built on a history stemming back to Iron Age forts and Roman villas by the rivers Frome and Avon as early as the 11th century. There’s even a story behind the name. ‘Bristol’ is thought to derive from the Old English ‘Brycgstow’…

Read More

11 of the most haunted places in Bristol

As Halloween is fast-approaching, it’s got us in the mood for goose bump-inducing tales of supernatural, mystical goings-on. We asked Bristol ghost Pundit John, of Haunted and Hidden Walking Tours, to reveal his top 11 most haunted places in Bristol, visited on his excursions around the city. From a…

Read More

Review: The Book of Mormon at Bristol Hippodrome

Find out what Laura from the Visit Bristol team thought of The Book of Mormon, which is lighting up the Bristol Hippodrome until 8 November 2025. If you’re looking for a night out in Bristol that’s outrageous, hilarious and full of heart, look no further than The Book of Mormon! The musical comedy…

Read More

The food lover's guide to Bristol

Bristol is known for its fabulous food scene, from sizzling street food markets to glamorous speakeasies, and more award-winning restaurants than you can shake a stick at. Here are our recommendations for a food-tastic trip to the city... 1. Book a food & drink tour One of the quickest ways to get…

Read More

Bristol's most accessible hotels

Looking for an accessible room in Bristol? Here are some of our recommendations, with adjusted bathrooms, lift access and more. Future Inn Bristol Cabot Circus Located in Bristol city centre, directly opposite the shops and restaurants of Cabot Circus, this hotel boasts spacious and air-conditioned…

Read More

Bristol's cosiest hotels for autumn hibernation

‘Tis the season of colourful leaves, crisp sunny strolls, beautiful misty mornings and cosying up by a log fire. Make the most of this snuggly time of year with a bit of ‘hygge’ at one of Bristol’s cosiest hotels for autumn hibernation. Harbour Hotel Bristol Step out of the cold and hunker down in…

Read More

Latest blogs

Find something to do

Get some inspiration for your trip to Bristol...