Let us inspire you with the variety of trips you or your group could enjoy in Bristol. Check out our series of themed sample itineraries below, which include all the practical information you’ll need to make each a reality.
Whatever your reason for visiting Bristol, we've got a guide that can help shape your trip, from Banksy and street art hotspots to historic towns and self-guided walks around the city.
To get you started, here’s an idea of what visiting history buffs could enjoy in and around Bristol in just a couple of days:
Day 1
Morning
Start by taking a guided tour of Berkeley Castle, a Norman fortress, turned magnificent family home just outside Bristol. The state apartments contain collections of furniture, rare paintings and tapestries. Garden enthusiasts can enjoy a stunning display of roses, rare plants and flowers in the terraced gardens in June and July.
Afternoon
There’s no need to break the historical theme for lunch. Head to the resplendent Thornbury Castle nearby, a Tudor palace once used as a honeymoon retreat for none other than Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn, now a stunning luxury hotel. The grand dining rooms offer modern dishes and traditional favourites, all made using only the finest and freshest local ingredients.
Evening
In the heart of central Bristol, head to the beautiful Bristol Cathedral overlooking College Green. Here, you’ll notice that the nave, choir and aisles are all the same height, making the Cathedral one of the few hall churches in Great Britain. Explore the building more with one of the free maps available or arrange a guided group tour, and don’t miss Choral Evensong at 5.15pm every weekday and 3:30pm on Sundays.
Day 2
Morning
Step aboard Brunel’s SS Great Britain, sitting on the Harbourside in the very same dry dock in which she was built. Designed by legendary Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, this extraordinary time machine has sailed around the world 32 times, and has plenty of jaw-dropping stories to tell.
Explore the decks inside and out, venture beneath the spectacular glass sea to discover the innovative iron hull and learn more about the man behind the machine in the ‘Being Brunel’ museum. Visitors will be transported by sights, sounds and even smells as they discover what life was like for the passengers and crew who sailed upon this magnificent ship.
Afternoon
What better way to spend the afternoon than out on the water? Bristol Packet Boat Trips offer private Cream Tea Cruises that will whisk you past all the sights of the Harbourside, from modern art gallery Arnolfini to local history museum M Shed and its iconic cranes, all while serving up delicious freshly baked scones with clotted cream and homemade strawberry jam.
Evening
No trip to Bristol is complete without marveling at the Clifton Suspension Bridge, another of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s engineering masterpieces. The bridge looks particularly spectacular when lit up at night, with the dramatic cliffs of the Avon Gorge in the shadows beyond. Take in this iconic view (and a nice tipple) from the terrace of The White Lion Bar at The Avon Gorge Hotel.
