If summer were a city, it'd be Bristol. Everything is just that little bit more special. Whether you’re after one-of-a-kind festivals, a short break with the family or your significant other, a day out with the kids, or a longer stay, you’re in the right place!
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Your quick guide to Bristol in the summer
Enjoy long days of sunshine in Bristol and book a stay in the city this summer. From stylish modern hotels, elegant apartments, family-friendly digs, cosy guesthouses and even campsites, experience a summer holiday to remember in Bristol. That way you can fully experience the city, the attractions, street art, food and drink, shopping and nightlife.
Children under 16 can travel by bus for free across Bristol and the surrounding area throughout the summer school holidays. Plan your journey with TravelWest or First Bus.
The home of summer events and festivals
Bristol’s renowned annual event line-up truly comes into its own every summer. Find out what’s happening when with our What’s On page, and check out our special offers to help you save on days out while you're here.
From huge free events like Bristol Pride, Bristol Harbour Festival, Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and Old City Sounds to food festivals and exhibitions, there’s never a dull moment during summer in Bristol!
Great value short breaks this summer
There are loads of ways to make sure you have the best value short break to Bristol this summer, from accommodation special offers to free events, accommodation deals, free bus travel for under 16s and more.
Kids Go Free until 2 September at Bristol Dockyards - for every annual pass for one adult, you'll get an annual pass for a child, so you can visit as many times as you want for a whole year! You'll find more summer discounts at Bristol Aquarium, We The Curious and Noah's Ark Zoo Farm.
A range of Bristol attractions are offering a discount if you travel by train - visit Days Out Guide to see what you could save.
Family fun in the summer holidays
If family fun is what you’re after, Bristol has more than enough to keep the kids entertained over the summer. Head over to one of our award-winning attractions, such as Bristol Dockyards, Aerospace Bristol, We The Curious, M Shed, and Glenside Hospital Museum, where exhibits are brought to life with interactive displays, or take a trip to Bristol Aquarium or Bristol Zoo Project for a cute animal fix.
One of the best ways to see the city is by boat - hop on and off at stops around the city centre with Bristol Ferry, or take a cruise around the harbour with Bristol Packet or The Matthew.
Explore some of the top attractions just outside Bristol, with hours of fun to be had at Wookey Hole, animal encounters at Noah's Ark Zoo Farm, karting and arcade games at The Grand Pier, interactive exhibits at the Somerset Rural Life Museum, or little ones can drive their own mini safari Jeep at Avon Valley Adventure Park.
Book a family getaway to Mendip Basecamp to enjoy a range of outdoor activities and family entertainment throughout the summer holidays.
We've also rounded up all the family-friendly events taking place over the summer to help you bust any boredom over the school holidays.
Head outdoors
Bristol's glorious parks and gardens are bursting with life in the summer months and are the perfect place to enjoy a picnic with family and friends. Tyntesfield and Ashton Court Estate, both just outside the city, boast acres for you to explore or picnic.
If you’re looking to delve into Bristol’s outdoor offerings, check out our Experiences for outdoor fun and memorable days out. With everything from treetop high ropes to stand-up paddleboarding and cycling to inland surfing, there are a multitude of ways to enjoy the city’s unique landscape. There’s also the option to try hot air ballooning in the skies above the city!
Summer food and drink
Spend balmy evenings dining alfresco on a harbourside terrace, find a bustling pub garden, or relax with a cocktail on a rooftop bar. Bristol's exceptional food and drink scene will be serving up plenty of memories for you this summer.
Stay for longer
As you can see, there's so much going on in Bristol this summer, so why not stay for a night or two and make the most of your time here! Novotel Bristol Centre is perfectly placed next to Temple Meads Station and is just a short walk from the harbourside, with pet-friendly rooms available. Moxy Bristol is a fun and modern hotel next to Bristol's main shopping district, with accessible and family-friendly rooms.
Getting to and around Bristol
It's easy to get to Bristol by public transport, with rail one of the most convenient and green options. Temple Meads Station has direct services from London, Scotland, Wales, Manchester and Birmingham. If you're travelling in a group of between three and nine adults, get 1/3 off standard off-peak tickets when travelling together using GroupSave. Family Tickets are available with big savings, and don’t forget: children aged 5-15 get a 50% discount on most tickets and under 5s travel free! Book direct at GWR.com or using the GWR app.
Children and young people under the age of 16 can travel for free on buses across the West of England this summer with First Bus, Stagecoach, and The Big Lemon - no bus pass or registration is required. The scheme covers all school-age children from 5 to 15, including those in secondary school. And there's no need to travel with a fare-paying adult, perfect for older kids who want to travel independently or with friends. For more information, visit the Travelwest website.
Free bus travel for under-16s will continue to be available across the region during the school summer holidays until at least 2029, thanks to funding from the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority.
You can also hop on a coach service to Bristol from National Express, Megabus, FlixBus and Falcon, who all offer services from across the UK.
If you're thinking of bringing the car, consider using the Park & Ride services for day trips.
