Things to do in Bristol and Beyond

Last updated February 2014

This list is aimed at visitors from outside the UK but should have something for locals too. The best single place to start is Visit Bristol, which has links to many of the other things on this page.

In Bristol

• Visit Bristol
• The fun-events google calendar
• The fun-events mail list is run by people at the University of Bristol.
• What's hot in Bristol covers "what's hot (and what's not) in the world of Bristol pubs, restaurant and entertainment, as well as links to discount vouchers and free offers."
• Wikipedia page on Bristol
• Wikipedia: Architecture of Bristol

• Ashton Court Estate
• Clifton suspension bridge (see here for tours) and environs
  • Observatory, camera obscura and cave on the hill overlooking the bridge
  • The terrace of the avon gorge hotel has a great view of the bridge
  • There's a little bridge museum in a cabin very near the bridge on the side across from the city.
  • Between the bridge and observatory is a rocky slope which people slide down. I've always resisted the temptation.
• City museum and art gallery
• The MShed is a museum about Bristol
• Royal West of England Academy has art exhibitions. Entry is 5 pounds.
• Bristol Industrial Museum
• Bristol cathedral
• St. Mary Redcliffe
• Foster's Almshouses
• Colston's Almshouses
• Christmas Steps
• The Exchange / St. Nicholas Market
• Redcliffe caves can be toured by special arrangement
• Brandon Hill park has great views
• Historic houses
  • The Red Lodge
  • The Georgian House
  • Blaise Castle
• The Architecture Centre has exhibits and events.
• A 90 minute tour to the top of the Wills building can be arranged by emailing Dave.Skelhorne@bristol.ac.uk. 3 pounds for University of Bristol members and 4 for others
• Blaise Hamlet
• University of Bristol Botanic Gardens
• University of Bristol Goldney Hall Tour
• Bristol zoo
• St. Werburghs City Farm

• Zvents
• hugecity
• Events list at visitbristol.co.uk
• Couchsurfing Bristol group organises events
• Bristol Active Social Club (apparently about 10 years older on average than the couchsurfers above)
• Bristol Science Cafe
• St. Werburghs' Community site

• Balloon Fiesta (Summer)
• Festival of ideas (Year-round)
• Mayfest theatre festival
• Harbour Festival (Summer)
• St. Paul's Carnival (Summer)
• Doors Open Day (September)
• Bonfire night/Guy Fawkes Night is 5 November (and sometimes there are events the weekend before). There are bonfires (mainly away from the city centre) and fireworks (search the web for locations. Brandon Hill park and the suspension bridge are good bets. Even if there isn't anything official, people will be setting off their own fireworks and floating lanterns).
• There has been a German Xmas market in Cabot circus from November to December for years.
• Bristol Jazz and Blues Festival (March)

• Paintball at the North and South Bristol paintball centres. Student discounts here.
• Pirate walks. A guided 1-hour walk around the harbour focusing on Bristol's maritime history. 2pm Saturdays and Sunday year round, or by appointment.
• Double decker open-top bus tour
• Hire bikes and ride to Bath (13 miles) on the railway path which mostly runs beside the Kennet and Avon Canal. Another 10 miles or so brings you to Trowbridge. This is one of the most scenic rides in the south of England. Optionally take the train one way.
• Frome valley walkway
• Download free audio walking tour guides

• Articles on cycling in Bath
  • Bath two tunnels circuit ride
  • Bath cycle tunnel

• Harbour cruise (or longer trip) on the Tangaroa
• Harbour cruise on the Matthew
• Tour the harbour on a taxi boat
• Visit the SS Great Britain
• Cruise to bath on the Bristol Packet
• Rent a narrowboat and tour the UK canal network
• The Balmoral and Waverley have some cruises in the Bristol channel in the summer and Autumn.

• Theatre Bristol
• Adventure golf in Cabot Circus
• The Invisible Circus has occasional shows
• Circomedia centre for contemporary circus and physical performances
• Bumpclub run roller discos
• Cube microplex is a cinema and event venue (with a mailing list)

• The Canteen
• The Old Duke has live Jazz and Blues every night
• The Blue Lagoon and the prom have live music almost every night
• The Tunnels
• Future Inns at Cabot Circus has occasional Jazz in their bar
• The Events list at visitbristol.co.uk seems to cover the following venues.
  • Colston Hall has music and other performances, including some free concerts in the foyer
  • St. George's Hall has music

• Amazon's books on bristol
• The Story of Bristol
• West of England Flight before 1910

• Thali Cafe
• Pieminister
• North African place in the St. Nicholas market (lunch only)
• Pellegrino's Fish & Chips (on the Christmas steps)
• The hope and anchor has great pub food

• Sunday roast
• Fish and chips
• Mushy peas
• Pie and mash
• Pork pie
• Pasties
• Ploughman's lunch
• Full English breakfast
• Cream tea
• British cheeses
• Balti
• Deep-fried Mars bars

• Campaign for Real Ale (Bristo)
• Cider Pub Guide to Bristol and Bristol Cider House off Portland Square
  • beerintheevening
  • Real ale hunter
  • CaskFinder for the iPhone
• Zero degrees microbrewery

• Trustedhousesitters.com lists homes that need someone to look after them (Bristol listing here)
• Summer Accommodation in University Halls
• Couchsurfing helps you find someone with a free couch

Beyond Bristol

• Cotswold Olimpick Games
• Bristol Traveller's Club for getting away from Bristol
• Nerdy Day Trips
• Bath
• Wells
• Glastonbury
• Montacute
• Castle Comb
• Cotswolds
  • Bourton Upon the Water
  • Slaughter
  • Chipping Campden
• Stonehenge and related sites nearby
• Hill figures
• Westonbirt arboretum
• Visit Steep Holm
• The Wye Valley
  • Tintern Abbey
• South Gloucestershire Council Leisure and culture page
• Weston-super-Mare has a Grand Pier
• Clevedon has Clevedon Pier

• Visit Bath
• Lonely Planet's top things to do in Bath
• Tour the Roman Baths or visit the modern spa
• Bizzare Bath guided walking tour. I've heard this is good. Daily, but does not run in the winter.
• The Holburne Museum
• The Skyline walk is a 10km circuit around Bath which includes Prior Park
• The Skyline open-top bus tour is a hop-on hop-off service.
• Visit Bath Abbey and take a guided tour which includes the roof (212 steps).
• Look at the Royal Crescent and visit the museum there
• See the views from Beckford's tower (154 steps).
• Alexandra Park has views over the city.

• Lonely Planet's itinerary for a perfect day in London
• British Museum
  • Type 'videos' in the search box
  • A history of the world in 100 objects. 100 part radio series.
• The V&A museum of art and design
• Kew Gardens
• John Soane's Museum (the Museum website and Wikipedia have very few pictures)
• The Wallace Collection. A beautiful mansion with collections of paintings, armour etc.
• Tower Bridge Exhibition
• The London Eye is a Ferris Wheel
• Cheap places to stay in London
  • The Penn club (5 minutes from the British Museum)
  • EasyHotel
• Good restaurants
  • Commonwealth Kitchen at the Commonwealth club
  • The Gay Hussar

• BBC
  • BBC history
  • All factual history programs currently available online
  • Coast
  • Industrial Revelations
  • A Picture of Britain
  • A History of Britain
  • Andrew Marr's History of Modern Britain
  • Meet the Ancestors
  • Springwatch
  • Timewatch
  • War Walks
  • What the Ancients Did for Us
  • What the Industrial Revolution Did for Us
  • What the Romans Did for Us
  • What the Tudors Did for Us
  • What the Victorians Did for Us
  • Wild In Your Garden
  • Open country podcasts "featuring the people and wildlife that shape the landscape of the British Isles"
  • Talking Landscapes