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!

Tag: Southville & Bedminster

David McMillian painting a mural at Upfest street art festival in Bristol

The Story of Upfest

May 06, 2026

Upfest, Bristol's street art festival and the largest of its kind in Europe, returns to the city from 15 - 31 May 2026. We asked the festival's founder, Steve Hayles, to tell us about how the festival has developed over the years... So many things collided in the creation of Upfest, it’s difficult…

Beautiful towns and villages near Bristol

Mar. 26, 2026

Bristol is the confluence of the beautiful counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire, home to varied landscapes, rolling countryside, stunning natural wonders, and plenty of charming historic villages! Here are some of our favourites, all waiting for you on the city’s doorstep. If you don't drive or…

A balloon from the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta flying over the Totterdown area of the city - credit Paul Box

The local's guide: Totterdown

Feb. 10, 2026

Close to Temple Meads station and within walking distance to the centre, Totterdown’s popularity is growing as a place to both live and visit. Thriving local businesses, award-winning cafes and a warm, community feel make this suburb well worth exploring. Faye Jenkins tells us about her home turf in…

The community gardens allotments at Windmill Hill City Farm, Bristol - credit Windmill Hill City Farm

The story of Windmill Hill City Farm

Jan. 23, 2026

Based in the heart of Bedminster, Windmill Hill City Farm has been a fixture of the area for decades. In fact, this beloved community space is celebrating its 50th anniversary this September! In honour of this fantastic achievement, we would like to share the inspiring story of how this little farm…

'The Six Sisters' artwork by Bex Glover, Lucas Antics, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits on North Street, Bristol - credit Hannah Judah

The local's guide: Southville

Dec. 08, 2025

Street art, street parties and street food - just a few reasons to visit this vibrant corner of South Bristol. We asked local resident Claire Greville to share some of her Southville favourites in this handy itinerary... There is some debate amongst us locals as to where Southville ends and where…

The pond at Windmill Hill City Farm in South Bristol - credit Windmill Hill City Farm

The local's guide: Windmill Hill

Oct. 14, 2025

Local foodie & film buff Tim Popple gives us a tour of this cosy corner of South Bristol with a short and sweet itinerary... Windmill Hill is only half an hour’s walk from the centre, but you'll be surprised how little temptation there is to venture into town when there's so much to do here…