10 Best Things to Do in Bristol

Harbourside has the biggest collection of tourist sites in Bristol. The strangely named science centre, We The Curious, is thoroughly interesting and fun, the tall spires of Bristol Cathedral are easy to spot, M Shed art space has several original Banksy works to view, while families might enjoy a look around the aquarium. Accommodation wise, browse the family-friendly options in Harbourside. With large pedestrianised squares, the whole area is very easy to navigate.

Designed by legendary inventor Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843, the SS Great Britain changed shipbuilding forever with this revolutionary new design. Now docked in Bristol, you can explore the boat and find out more about Brunel’s inventions. 

But this is no dusty piece of history. The past is brought to life with guides dressed in period costume and even speaking to you like you’re a sailor on the high seas. It’s fun for all ages, but we don’t recommend climbing up the rigging unless you have a head for heights.

Just across the river from Harbourside, Wapping Wharf has a brilliant selection of restaurants to choose from. Being a cosmopolitan city, you can find some excellent international cuisine here, such as Caribbean fare at Calypso Kitchen or Chinese fusion at Woky Ko. The most unique restaurant in Wapping Wharf must be Box-E, which is built into a couple of repurposed shipping containers. Talk about fitting your environment! Even so, it’s surprisingly stylish inside.

Cabot Circus is an all-weather shopping centre in Bristol. It has the best selection of international brands and local designer boutiques. Containing over 140 stores, the highlight is a large Harvey Nichols department store. The curved glass ceiling and semi-outdoor design make Cabot Circus suitable for any weather. If you get hungry, there’s plenty of restaurants to choose from – everything from fast food to fine dining.

Standing proudly on the top of a hill in Brandon Park, Cabot Tower is one of the best viewpoints in Bristol. It was built in the 1890s to honour the 400th anniversary of explorer John Cabot’s discovery of the land that would become Canada.

The steep, narrow stairs are quite tricky, so be careful when climbing up and down. It’s a very romantic spot, with more than a passing resemblance to Rapunzel’s tower from the Brothers Grimm fairy tale. Brandon Park is walking distance from the city centre.

The mysterious urban artist known only as Banksy is heavily rumoured to come from Bristol, and the city has more artworks signed by this enigmatic figure than anywhere else in the world. You can take a walk around central Bristol and admire some of his protected urban art. 

Starting from Harbourside, you can find works of his in Wapping Wharf, Albion Dockyard, behind the Bristol central library on Lower Lamb Street, then up Park Street to Stokes Croft, the cultural hub of the city, which has a lot more excellent urban art to discover.

The route described will take about an hour – maybe more. Cabot Circus shopping centre is a good reference point, halfway along the route, and makes a good area for accommodation, too. Choose a hotel conveniently located close to Cabot Circus.

A famous Brunel design and perhaps his most famous for local Bristolians, the Clifton Suspension Bridge has spawned countless copies across the world. The best place to see this proud example of British engineering brilliance cross the Avon Gorge is from the Clifton Observatory, on the hills above the bridge. This popular picnic spot gets busy in summer, when you’ll find people playing football and flying kites.

Bristol’s museums present everything from naval aircraft to mental health issues but every first-time visitor should set aside a few hours for Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Housed in an Edwardian Baroque building, this eclectic museum is crammed with an array of Italian and Dutch Old Master paintings, and one of the best collections of Far Eastern glass, ceramics, and carvings you’ll find outside of Asia. 

There’s an equally strong showing for natural history, with one of Britain’s best-preserved dinosaur skeletons, and a fascinating display of taxidermy animals, including Alfred the gorilla, a former resident of Bristol Zoo who became a famous mascot for Bristol.

Bristol is a real hotspot for performance art, but there’s something special about the Old Vic. In fact, it’s the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world. This Georgian theatre holds a diverse programme of events, including theatre, comedy, dance, and music shows. There’s a cool bar inside the theatre and several restaurants close by.

Bar hopping in Bristol is the best way to finish the night. As a university city, and one with a strong counter-culture movement, you can find lots of interesting bars and clubs all over the city. A convenient spot to enjoy a few of those famous ciders is Millennium Square. Pubs like The Apple and Small Bar are popular stops on your way around the square. For live music, check out the The Old Duke for high level jazz and blues.

After a few drinks, it's probably a good idea to have your room within walking distance. Book your hotel close to Millenium Square if you're planning on hitting the bars here.