A weekend in Bristol: travel guide, attractions and things to do
Everything you need to know for a city break in the ‘Mild Mild West’
Why you should visit Bristol
Home to Banksy, a hot air balloon fiesta, and Brunel’s SS Great Britain and beautiful Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol has become one of the UK’s most popular city break destinations. Picked by The New York Times as one of the top places to go in 2018, this “edgy” and “creative” city in south-west England is a “cultural powerhouse”.
The rumours “are true”, said the Independent, Bristol is “banging”. With its sweeping Georgian crescents and “pulsing” centre, this is one of England’s coolest cities and is heaving with arts, food revolutionaries and people with passion that make it “a special place to be”.
Bristol “doesn’t like to brag”, said Condé Nast Traveller. In fact, it’s the “precise opposite”. It would be “easy to pass through the city without realising how special it is”. But walk in any direction and there’s “no mistaking” Bristol’s charm. As the Banksy mural in Stokes Croft reminds us, welcome to the “Mild Mild West”.
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Top attractions in Bristol: things to see and do
Brunel’s Bristol
Bristol’s most impressive landmark is the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, which was designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1831 and completed in 1864 after his death. The legacy of the “most famous honorary Bristolian” can be found all over the city. Other popular Brunel landmarks include the mighty SS Great Britain ship, which is located at the Great Western Dockyard, and Temple Meads Station.
Harbourside
Once a busy dock where sailors and merchants would “trade goods and set sail for voyages of discovery”, Bristol’s Harbourside is now a modern development “filled with restaurants, bars, shops and hotels”, said the Visit Bristol tourism board. Things to see and do here include the SS Great Britain, Bristol Aquarium, Watershed and M Shed.
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Banksy and street art
Born in Bristol in 1974, Banksy is the most famous graffiti artist “of our time”, said Black Tomato. Spotting “a Banksy” has become a “badge of honour”, and the best place to do this is in Bristol, “where the magic started”. Home to many Banksy art locations, fans can go on walking tours around Bristol to discover more. Although you can find graffiti and street art everywhere here, there are some “hotter” areas, said the Blocal travel and street art blog. Nelson Street was the location of “See no Evil”, Bristol’s first street art festival, while other colourful areas to visit include Stokes Croft, “the hipster heaven”, and Easton, “where Banksy supposedly lived”.
Shopping
Bristol has plenty of shopping options and markets. For high street brands and independent stores head to the Bristol Shopping Quarter in the city centre, which includes Broadmead, The Galleries, The Arcade, Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars. There’s also lots of independent shops to be found on Park Street, Queens Road, Gloucester Road, Stokes Croft, Clifton Village and the historic Christmas Steps. Out of town near the M5, Cribbs Causeway has The Mall, retail outlets, food and entertainment options.
Music and ‘Bristol time’
Home to popular acts such as Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky and Roni Size, Bristol has had a vibrant music scene for decades. What makes the place “so appealing” is the “quiet confidence it has in its own rhythms” – “Bristol time, as it’s known”, said Condé Nast Traveller. “It can be heard in its famously slow sound, known as trip hop, pioneered by Massive Attack and Portishead in the 1990s.”
Hot air balloons
Look out over the skies of Bristol and you’ll regularly see hot air balloons flying high. Every August Bristol plays host to the International Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s biggest hot air balloon event. The next Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place from 10-13 August 2023.
The Wave
Located just off the M5 at Easter Compton, The Wave Bristol is the first inland-surfing destination of its kind. Visitors can hit the waves, learn to surf and even stay at The Camp.
Bath and surrounding areas
Many visitors to the West County combine a dual city break by going to both Bristol and Bath. The Roman city of Bath is just a 15-minute train ride away and is definitely worth a visit. With Bristol’s location, and having junctions on both the M4 and M5 motorways, it also means you are very close to the rural delights of Somerset, Gloucestershire and South Wales.
Hotels in Bristol: best places to stay
For a hotel with amazing views check in to the Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin, said the Independent in its “best for” list of Bristol hotels. Located in Clifton, the hotel boasts panoramic views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge itself. For those on a budget, Brooks Guesthouse is “plumb in the middle” of Bristol. Here, you’ll find a “cute and good value” guesthouse that’s an “ideal base for exploring the city centre”.
Located “within a whisper” of the city, on the rural edge of north Bristol, Berwick Lodge is a “homely Edwardian mansion” with “sumptuous” rooms, magnificent bathrooms and an award-winning restaurant, said The Telegraph. Berwick Lodge is one of two hotels to be given a 9/10 expert rating by The Telegraph, the other is the Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa – a boutique hotel (on Corn Street in the centre, not on the harbourside) which is “a tribute to imaginative and traditional design”.
Mollie’s Motel and Diner is not located in the city centre, it’s actually just north of Bristol, close to the Cribbs Causeway shopping complex and the brilliant Wild Place Project, said Time Out. “Don’t be dissuaded though” – this is a “fun, modern and bright” place to stay which is easy to access from the M5. “Book in here if you’re a fan of proper burgers, extra-large shakes and all things Americana.”
Restaurants and bars in Bristol: where to eat and drink
Bristol is home to two restaurants which have one Michelin star: Paco Tapas and Bulrush. “Buzzy” Spanish tapas bar Paco Tapas has “appealing menus” which provide “plenty of choice and include all the favourites”, said the Michelin Guide. Modern British restaurant Bulrush might appear quite modest at first glance, but this “sweet neighbourhood restaurant comes with an appealingly relaxed and cosy feel”. “Top-notch” seasonal ingredients are either foraged or organic, “original” combinations provide “plenty of contrasts”, and flavours are “clear and natural”. Other restaurants recommended by the Michelin Guide include BOX-E (modern British) and Root (vegetarian), which both have a Bib Gourmand.
Bristol, “you are brilliant” and the city is serving up “some seriously tasty stuff”, said Sammy Jones in Time Out. And the restaurants? “Sorry, we just need to clean up some drool from the keyboard.” At tapas bar and restaurant Bravas you can get “a true taste of Spain”, while its sister restaurant, Gambas, is based at the harbourside and focuses on fish. Other top places to eat include The Ethicurean, Poco, and Souk Kitchen.
Freddy Bird, head chef and founder of littlefrench, was born and raised in Bristol. Speaking to Country & Town House magazine, he also picked out Bravas as one of Bristol’s best restaurants. After a long service, a “favourite pit-stop” of his is Mayflower, which is open to 3am and serves the “most delicious” and authentic Chinese food.
If you’re having a mooch around town and fancy a bite, there are plenty of options on Park Street, Whiteladies Road or Gloucester Road. As well as many chain restaurants and pubs, you’ll also find independent eateries, bars and cafes.
The Avon Gorge by Hotel du Vin is also home to the White Lion pub, which has a terrace overlooking the gorge and Suspension Bridge. A perfect spot for a pint with a view...
Transport: how to get to Bristol
By far the easiest way to travel to Bristol is by train to the city’s two main railway stations. Bristol Temple Meads station, which is close to the city centre, has direct trains to Bath Spa (15 minutes), Cardiff Central (50 minutes), Birmingham New Street (1hr 21min) and London Paddington (1hr 40min). Bristol Parkway, to the north of the city, also has direct trains to Paddington, Cardiff and Birmingham. Temple Meads to Parkway takes around 13 minutes.
Located near to both the M4 and M5 motorways, Bristol is easily accessible by car – but traffic can sometimes be quite bad near the junctions where the motorways cross. Parking options in the city centre “aren’t the best”, said BristolLive. “Anyone who drives into the city centre, particularly on weekends, knows that parking can often be a major issue.” The M32 into Bristol is accessed via junction 19 of the M4.
For visitors coming into the West Country via plane, Bristol Airport is located about nine miles south-west of the centre. The A1 Bristol Airport Flyer bus service operates between the coach station, city centre (Broadmead), Temple Meads, Bedminster Parade and the airport.
Mike Starling is the former digital features editor at The Week. He started his career in 2001 in Gloucestershire as a sports reporter and sub-editor and has held various roles as a writer and editor at news, travel and B2B publications. He has spoken at a number of sports business conferences and also worked as a consultant creating sports travel content for tourism boards. International experience includes spells living and working in Dubai, UAE; Brisbane, Australia; and Beirut, Lebanon.