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: Theatre

Matilda The Musical UK Tour 2025 - Matilda The Musical Company (photo by Manuel Harlan)

Review: Matilda the Musical at Bristol Hippodrome

Jun. 04, 2026

Find out what Laura from the Visit Bristol team thought of Matilda the Musical, the RSC's beloved adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic story, currently at the Bristol Hippodrome until Saturday 27th June 2026. If you're looking for a night out in Bristol that's joyful, mischievous and genuinely moving…

Exterior of Bristol Old Vic - credit Philip Vile

The story of Bristol Old Vic

Jun. 03, 2026

As Bristol Old Vic celebrates its 260th birthday in May 2026, we asked the team to talk us through the history of this grand theatre... The story of Bristol Old Vic is hard to pin down. Theatre is all about storytelling, and this theatre has been telling stories for 260 years, which is quite a lot…

Outdoor theatre in and around Bristol this summer

Jun. 01, 2026

Watch dramatic Shakespeare performances and family-friendly shows alfresco this summer! Here's our guide to the outdoor shows you won't want to miss, both in the heart of the city and nearby countryside... As You Like It at Boiling Wells Amphitheatre (Sun 21 June) Head to a tucked-away corner of St…

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…

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…

A performer on stage at The Wardrobe Theatre on Old Market, East Bristol - credit Paul Blakemore

The Story of The Wardrobe Theatre

Jan. 13, 2026

This year marks a major milestone for The Wardrobe Theatre, Bristol’s leading fringe theatre: 10 years since it opened its doors in Old Market. From humble beginnings to becoming a hub for collaboration and creativity, their story is one of grit, community spirit and risk-taking. We asked the…