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 spa breaks

We all need a bit of chill out time, so whether you’re after a romantic getaway, a girls’ (or boys!) pamper day or just some well-earned ‘me-time,' come and get blissed out in Bristol… Harbour Hotel Bristol & Spa Restore yourself to full marvelousness with a prosecco lunch above ground in the…

Read More

Bristol film & TV filming locations

In celebration of the city's status as a UNESCO City of Film, we take a look at Bristol: the TV and movie star. Many film productions have beamed Bristol onto the big screen and as well as being a featured location, the city has often played film double and production base for many movies. We’ve put…

Read More

Things to do in Bristol on a Sunday

In town on a Sunday and stuck for entertainment? Well, just so happens we have a few ideas. From *free* dance classes to *free* gigs, there’s no excuse to be holed up in your hotel room watching The Antiques Roadshow… Take a tour Get to the know the city on a guided walking tour - the Blackbeard to…

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

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

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

Yarr! How to have a pirate-themed day out in Bristol

It's been over 300 years since the death of the notorious pirate Blackbeard. Previously known as Edward Teach, the infamous Bristol-born buccaneer terrorised the West Indies and eastern coast of the USA before meeting his demise in America in 1718, when he was captured and killed by the Governor of…

Read More

A solo traveller's guide to Bristol

Planning a solo trip to Bristol? Bristol is a great option for independent travel, and has gained a reputation as a friendly, safe and fun city. Book the perfect solo adventure with our tips below... Skip to: Travel | Where to stay | Top things to do | Day trips Getting to and around Bristol…

Read More

Bristol's brewery taprooms

Bristol is a beer lover's paradise, with over 20 breweries in the city and surrounding countryside, and you'll be pleased to hear that many of them have tap rooms that you can visit! Not only can you enjoy a great pint, but there's usually the option of booking on to a tour of the brewery too. Most…

Read More

Latest blogs

Find something to do

Get some inspiration for your trip to Bristol...