tourist information bristol harbourside

Explore Bristol Harbourside

Stroll along the Harbourside; home to a plethora museums, family attractions, galleries, bars and restaurants.

Bristol’s bustling Harbourside is a vibrant part of the city and a true outdoor-lovers dream. Take a stroll around the water’s edge where old and new icons sit side by side. Explore Brunel’s ss Great Britain, see Banksy’s ‘Girl with the Pierced Eardrum’ and then get stuck into the city’s fascinating museums, including At-Bristol Science Centre, Bristol Aquarium and M Shed, which tells the story of the city.

Art lovers should be sure to pop into the Arnolfini – one of Europe’s leading centres for contemporary arts – as well as multi-arts complex, Watershed. There are also weekly markets and a whole range of water sports including paddle boarding, rowing and yachting to discover too. If walking sounds too strenuous, hop on a ferry and see the sights from the water – Cliftonwood’s candy-coloured houses are one of Bristol’s prettiest and most colourful views.

Alternatively, take the kids for a splash about in Millennium Square’s fountains or simply find a restaurant or bar on the harbour’s edge and soak up a bit of Bristolian life with a glass of local cider.

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Discover secret Bristol on a budget

Uncover Bristol’s hidden treasures as the city’s most beautiful and quirky buildings open their doors to the public for free.

Location: Bristol

Cycle the City of Bristol

Classic Cycle hire with picnics makes for a great active break, and guides available with themed itineraries means you can see the sights.

Cycle Bristol’s Clifton Suspension Bridge on a free tour

Celebrate Bristol's year as European City of Sport 2017 and pedal to your heart’s content along its cycle-friendly routes.

Experience life at sea aboard Brunel’s ss Great Britain

One of the world's most important ships brought to life for modern-day visitors.

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Why we love Bristol

Cool creative Bristol is a must-see destination if you’re a fan of art, culture and action-packed adventure. And when it comes to great grub and welcoming pubs, the city’s no slouch. For a true taste of Bristol, head out on a street art tour to discover the works of the city’s most famous resident, Banksy. Delve into maritime history at the legendary SS Great Britain steamship, or discover awe-inspiring views on a tour of the historic Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Feel your adrenaline pumping at The Wave, the city’s inland surfing site, see historic works of art at Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, or savour local ale and cosy up in one of its eclectic bars, pubs or breweries. With shopping ranging from budget to blowout and an impressive music scene to boot, one thing’s for sure – Bristol doesn’t disappoint.

VisitBritain/Peter Beavis

Discover a world of art

Bristol needs no introduction to the street art scene , home to the world renowned stencil artist, Banksy - the city is bursting with colour creations round every corner. Hit up a street art workshop or explore the area on a walking tour to uncover the stories behind the city’s bright, and bold walls.

Nic Crilly-Hargrave

A festival for the taste buds

Great beer, delicious food and a brilliant playlist: what could be a better way to celebrate summer? The Bristol Craft Beer Festival showcases the city’s huge range of artisan breweries, alongside top British and international names. Enjoy diverse flavours as well as live music, DJ sets, and access to the street food market.

Andre Pattenden/Bristol Lido

Bristol, England

Whether it’s a cold winter’s day or a blissful summer evening, Bristol’s Lido has got you covered. Make a splash in the outdoor pool that’s located right in the heart of picturesque and historic Clifton. For a real treat, pamper yourself with a spa treatment, or find your zen in the hot tub and steam room.

lifeoutthere.photography

Hit the waves for a surfing session on Bristol’s in-land wave pool . Pick up the adrenaline with a ride out onto the water, or for a more relaxed trip, tuck into some tasty grub from the on-site Clubhouse. 

Eat like a local

At lunchtime, hungry Bristolians descend on St Nicholas Market . Dating back to 1743, this food market had city’s largest gathering of independent retailers: from artisan cheesemongers and award-winning bakers, to stalls piled high with spicy noodles, plump dumplings and much more. The cuisine hails from all over the world, but the ingredients are fresh and locally sourced.

Things to do in Bristol

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The Wave Bristol

Take to the waves for some serious surfing at Bristol’s innovative inland wake.

Bristol International Balloon Fiesta

Come and see 100 balloons take to the sky at Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain

Step aboard the world’s first great luxury liner, and discover the ship that changed the world.

ssgreatbritain

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Spanning the beautiful Avon Gorge, this is one of the world’s most architecturally ambitious bridges – a true work of art.

VisitBritain/Eric Nathan

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

From dinosaur skeletons to local inventions, this free museum puts one billion years of art, culture and nature at your fingertips.

SUP Bristol

On a paddleboard, you’ll witness the nature, beauty and relaxed pace of life on Bristol’s waterways.

Adventure Bristol

This outdoor activity centre is packed with challenges – so grab your mates and get stuck in.

Wake the Tiger

Step into ‘the world’s first amazement park’ – a place unlike anywhere you’ve ever been before.

Wake The Tiger

Bristol is famous for its graffiti – so why not have a go too? Get hands-on at these expert-led workshops.

Peter Hall/Graft

Christmas Steps Art Quarter

It’s a real adventure to dip into these tiny boutiques, many of which serve as artisans’ workshops too.

Delve into Bristol’s history at this locally-focused museum, discovering the human stories behind its most pivotal moments.

Quentin Lake Photography

Bristol Craft Beer Festival

Great beer, delicious food and a brilliant playlist: what could be a better way to celebrate summer?

Grab your mates for a night of live music, bowling, karaoke and more, at this fun-loving Bristol nightspot.

The Lanes Bristol

Old Market Quarter, Gay Village

Whether you’re looking for a sociable drink with like-minded people, a night of cocktails and dancing till dawn, or adults-only fun at a discreet bar and sauna – the Old Market Quarter is the place.

Getty Images/Image Source

Ashton Court Estate

This impressive stately home isn’t just full of history – it has mountain biking, orienteering and golf courses too.

This collection of boutique hotels is synonymous with luxe bedrooms, fantastic food and brilliant service.

The Pig, Hampshire

Jekka’s Herb Farm

Look out for supper clubs, art workshops and craft classes – all with a herbaceous twist.

Jekka's Herb Farm

Thornbury Castle

King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn stayed here on their honeymoon – and you can enjoy its luxury too.

Wills Memorial Building Tower

Enjoy magnificent views from this mighty landmark, opened by King George V and Queen Mary in 1925.

Yasmin Chakar

Royal Fort House

This historic spot is a haven for walkers and wildlife, and features art installations too.

Wapping Wharf

This up-and-coming shopping, dining and entertainment quarter has breathed new life into Bristol’s waterfront.

Bristol Shopping Quarter

With over 400 retail and dining brands, this city-centre mall has something for every style.

Park Street and The Triangle

Top fashion brands rub shoulders with independent vintage stores, jewellery boutiques and gourmet delis.

Poco Tapas Bar

Tuck into a menu of tapas, brunches and sharing plates, which champions sustainably-sourced local ingredients.

Benjamin Pryor Photography

Bristol and Bath Railway Path

Rather than driving or taking the train between these great cities, why not cycle instead?

Bristol Pride

Featuring a star-studded line-up of singers and drag cabaret – plus an awe-inspiring protest march through the city.

Bristol Bear Bar

One of the UK’s only purpose-built bear bars, it attracts a varied crowd and brings the beats of pop and dance music to the table.

VisitBritain/Simon Winnall

Queenshilling

Be dazzled by a 1920s Art Deco style and a welcoming atmosphere. Expect disco lighting and a swanky dance floor complete with podiums and a stage.

Proper Job Productions

UPFEST, Bristol

Welcome to Europe’s biggest graffiti festival, where the streets of Bristol are the canvas.

Glastonbury

This legendary gathering is on every music-lover’s bucket list – featuring a star-studded mix of bands, comedy and cabaret.

Andrew Allcock

Whether you’re horse riding, cycling, playing football or walking, this green space is glorious year-round.

VisitBritain/Rama Knight

Cheddar Gorge and Caves

Discover soaring cliffs and spectacular caves, sculpted by the elements over many thousands of years.

National Trust Images/John Mill

Sherlock Locations Trail

Released by the Bristol Film Office, this official walking guide reveals the city’s key Sherlock locations.

Hartswood Films

Frogmore Street

Be part of the city’s legendary LGBTQIA+ scene, with buzzing bars, nightclubs, entertainment and more.

Bristol Harbour Festival

A whole weekend of entertainment, with circus, music, dance and more – all for absolutely free!

Paul Box/Bristol Harbour Festival

Bristol Marina

The city’s maritime roots run deep, and its waterways host festivals, floating restaurants and more.

[email protected]/Visit West

Bristol Lido

Dip your toe into Bristol’s history at this beautifully restored bathhouse, luxury spa and restaurant.

Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa

With its hydrotherapy pools and luxurious treatment areas, this city-centre idyll is hard to resist.

Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road

Calling all bargain hunters and trend setters: these shops, galleries and delis are anything but ordinary…

Bristol Tours – Walking Tour

Exploring with an expert local guide, you’ll be immersed in the city’s sights, sounds and stories.

Where the Wall

Whether for walking tours or stencilling workshops, immerse yourself in the city’s spectacular street art.

Alamy Stock Photo/Lee Thomas/Upfest (Bex Glover, Lucas Antics, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton, Sophie Long and Ejits)

Bristol Cathedral

Discover the soaring Gothic architecture and exquisite stained-glass windows of this city-centre landmark.

Shutterstock / Alexey Fedorenko

This is the place to revel in Bristol’s free-spirited vibe, while shopping for clothes, antiques and crafts.

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Bristol’s harbourside

See Brunel’s iconic vessel, as well as one of Banksy’s most famous works at Bristol’s picturesque harbour.

anabdavhawar and craving.nirvana

Featured things to do

Street art walking tour

Add a splash of colour to your trip to Bristol on a tour of its creative graffiti and murals – from Banksy originals to international artists, you’ll find the city’s walls popping with eccentric artwork.

International Balloon Fiesta

Look up as the sky fills with hot air balloons for Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta, from sunrise flights to night time glows - the city is filled with a balloon extravaganza.

bristolferry

See Bristol from the water

Hop aboard an iconic yellow and blue Bristol Ferry for a unique way to see the city from its Harbour. For an added splash of fun, look out for a Gin Cruise for a liquid fuelled boat trip.

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Christmas in Bristol

Discover frosty winter walks around the city, and follow twinkling lights along the bustling streets for a real festive feel.

Places to stay in Bristol

Stokes croft.

Find the coolest vibe in Bristol, from local boutiques and artist studios to traditional pubs, hip eateries and trendy cafés.

Harbourside

Once where merchants and traders set sail, the Harbourside is now a trendy enclave with a great selection of places to eat, shop and stay.

Take in views of the awesome Clifton Suspension bridge, eat in bistros and stroll around its impressive Georgian architecture.

Explore nearby

An unmissable destination for travellers, London is a melting pot of history, culture and green spaces.

VisitBritain/Hazel Parreno

A wellness retreat for the Romans and Georgian architecture around every corner.

VisitBritain

Step into a land of castles, world-renowned rugby and a whole host of myths and legends.

VisitBritain/Ben Selway

Lush rolling pastures, pretty stone villages and rambling rivers - the Cotswolds has it all.

Cotswolds, England

Small but mighty, Exeter is a city with seriously cool credentials. Discover the top attractions and best things to do and see during your next visit here.

Exeter City Council

Getting to Bristol

England’s south west city, Bristol is served by Bristol International Airport with easy connections to the city centre on the Airport Flyer bus service. Bristol is easily accessible from across the UK by train and car, and boasts fast, efficient transport connections, from regular buses to trains running from Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway Railway Stations.

The train from London takes around 1 hour 40 minutes from London Paddington direct to Bristol Temple Meads with Great Western Railway . Coaches are also available from London to Bristol direct, via megabus , National Express and Flixbus with a journey time of approximately 2 hours 20 minutes.

Getting around

With bus services a plenty, find ticket prices and discounts across the city and the south west with FirstGroup . Being the UK’s first cycling city, Bristol is easy to explore by bike and on foot. Or head to the water aboard a ferry with Number Seven Boats and Bristol Ferry Boats for a unique way to visit major attractions.

With ticket stations at every stop, you can buy tickets for the city’s environmentally-friendly metrobuses before you board.

Save money on train and bus travel in and around Bristol and explore more with a Freedom Travelpass .

You can discover the best cycling routes and find out how to hire bikes and equipment at Better by Bike . 

Want to know more?

Get the inside scoop of all things Bristol from those in the know at Visit Bristol.

Harbourside

Top ways to experience Harbourside and nearby attractions

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Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.

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HARBOURSIDE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

  Walk in   Bristol    

With richie.

Harbourside

Bristol Harbour is the harbour in the city of Bristol, England. The harbour covers an area of 70 acres (28.3 ha). It has existed since the 13th century but was developed into its current form in the early 19th century by installing lock gates on a tidal stretch of the River Avon in the centre of the city and providing a tidal by-pass for the river. It is often called the Floating Harbour as the water level remains constant and it is not affected by the state of the tide on the river.

5 Nearest Attraction

1.  Bristol Aquarium   

    (0,1 mile - 2 min walking)

2. We the Curious  

     (0,1 mile - 1 min walking)

3. Arnolfini  

     (0,,2mile - 4 min walking)  4.

4. Millennium Square  

     (0,2 mile - 4 min walking)

5. Bristol Cathedral   

    (0,2 mile  - 4min walking)

Click to the postcode to check the map .

Richie's opinion :

Nearest Public Toilet

      Millennium Square car park public toilets

(Community Toilet Scheme)

Accessible Canons Way, BS1 5LL ​

Accessible 1 Cannons Road, Harbourside, Bristol, BS1 5TX ​

      (Community Toilet Scheme)

        Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RN

SS Great Britain

      Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol BS1 6TY

Create Centre

Accessible Smeaton Road, Hotwells, BS1 6X  

" My favorite place in the Centre. I can walk for hours on Harbourside, where the past, present and future are present at the same time. The roar of the seagulls, the ripple of the water of the Avon, fills the soul of man with reassurance. It is peaceful and alive at the same time: here you can really feel that alive, how this city is pulsating. "

Bristol grew up on the banks of the Rivers Avon and Frome. Since the 13th century, the rivers have been modified for use as docks including the diversion of the River Frome in the 1240s into an artificial deep channel known as "Saint Augustine's Reach", which flowed into the River Avon.

Saint Augustine's Reach became the heart of Bristol's docks with its quays and wharfs.

The River Avon within the gorge, and the River Severn into which it flows, has tides which fluctuate about 30 feet (9 metres) between high and low water.

This means that the river is easily navigable at high-tide but reduced to a muddy channel at low tide in which ships would often run aground. Ships had no option but to be stranded in the harbour for unloading, giving rise to the phrase "shipshape and Bristol fashion" to describe how ships and their secured cargo were capable of taking the strain of repeated strandings on the mud.

As early as 1420, vessels from Bristol were regularly travelling to Iceland and it is speculated that sailors from Bristol had made landfall in the Americas before Christopher Columbus or John Cabot. 

After Cabot arrived in Bristol, he proposed a scheme to the king, Henry VII, in which he proposed to reach Asia by sailing west across the north Atlantic. He estimated that this would be shorter and quicker than Columbus' southerly route. The merchants of Bristol, operating under the name of the Society of Merchant Venturers, agreed to support his scheme. They had sponsored probes into the north Atlantic from the early 1480s, looking for possible trading opportunities.

In 1552 Edward VI granted a Royal Charter to the Merchant Venturers to manage the port.

By 1670, the city had 6,000 tons of shipping, of which half was used for importing tobacco. By the late 17th century and early 18th century, this shipping was also playing a significant role in the slave trade.

In the 18th century, the docks in Liverpool grew larger and so increased competition with Bristol for the tobacco trade. Coastal trade was also important, with the area called "Welsh Back" concentrating on trows with cargoes from the slate industry in Wales, stone, timber and coal.

The limitations of Bristol's docks were causing problems to business, so in 1802 William Jessop proposed installing a dam and lock at Hotwells to create the harbour.

The £530,000 scheme was approved by Parliament, and construction began in May 1804.

The scheme included the construction of the Cumberland Basin, a large wide stretch of the harbour in Hotwells where the Quay walls and bollards have listed building status.

Launch of the SS Great Britain , the revolutionary ship of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, at Bristol in 1843.

The tidal new cut was constructed from Netham to Hotwells, with another dam installed at this end of the harbour. The Feeder Canal between  Temple Meads  and Netham provided a link to the tidal river so that boats could continue upstream to Bath. However, the new scheme required a way to equalise the levels inside and outside the Dock for the passage of vessels to and from the Avon, and bridges to cross the water. Jessop built Cumberland Basin with two entrance locks from the tidal Avon, of widths 45 and 35 ft (13.7 and 10.7 m), and a 45-foot-wide (13.7 m) junction lock between the Basin and what became known as the Floating Harbour.

This arrangement provided flexibility of operation with the Basin being used as a lock when there were large numbers of arrivals and sailings.

The harbour was officially opened on 1 May 1809.

Patterson's yard within the harbour was used for the construction of many ships notably Brunel's SS Great Western in 1838 and the  SS Great Britain  in 1843.

They were some of the largest ships to have been built at the time, and ironically hastened the decline of the city docks by proving the feasibility of large ships.

The SS Great Britain was to be towed away from her builders, to have her 1,000 hp engines and interior fitted out on the River Thames, but her 48 ft (14.6 m) beam was too big to pass through the lock. Thus the SS Great Britain  was moored in the Floating Harbour until December 1844, before proceeding into Cumberland Basin after coping stones and lock gate platforms were removed from the Junction Lock.

At one time there were dozens of Bristol shipyards, the largest in the harbour being Hilhouse, who became Charles Hill & Sons in 1845.

The harbour cost more than anticipated and high rates were levied to repay loans, reducing any benefit the new harbour had at drawing companies back from Liverpool.

In 1848 the city council bought the docks company to force down the rates.

They employed Isambard Kingdom Brunel to make improvements, including new lock gates, a dredger and sluice gates designed to reduce siltation.

By 1867, ships were getting larger and the meanders in the river Avon prevented vessels over 300 ft (91 m) from reaching the harbour.

A scheme to install a much larger lock at  Avonmouth  to make the entire river a floating harbour, and to straighten the sharper bends, was dropped after work began on the much cheaper docks at Avonmouth and Portishead.

The present entrance lock was designed by Thomas Howard and opened in July 1873. This has a width of 62 ft (18.9 m) and is the only entrance lock now in use at the City Docks.

From 1893 until 1934 the Clifton Rocks Railway provided an underground funicular railway link from the western end of the harbour, which is close to the locks, into  Clifton .

The docks maintenance facility was established on the land exposed by the damming of the river to construct the harbour and remains sited at this location to the present day. William Jessop had created a weir in the dam at Underfall to allow surplus water to flow back into the New Cut, this was known as the 'Overfall'.

By the 1830s, the Floating Harbour was suffering from severe silting.

Isambard Kingdom Brunel was, however, able to devise a solution to this problem.

In place of the Overfall he advised better use of three shallow sluices and one deep scouring sluice between the harbour and the New Cut, together with a dredging vessel. This drag boat would scrape the silt away from the quay walls. When the deep sluice opened at low tide, a powerful undertow sucked the silt into the river to be carried away on the next tide. The shallow sluices enabled adjustment of the dock water level according to weather conditions.

Several old buildings, which date from the 1880s, remain at Underfall Yard and have listed building status. The octagonal brick and terracotta chimney of the hydraulic engine house dates from 1888, and is grade II* listed, as is the hydraulic engine house itself.

It is built of red brick with a slate roof and contains pumping machinery, installed in 1907 by Fullerton, Hodgart and Barclay of Paisley, which powers the dock's hydraulic system of cranes, bridges and locks.

The former pattern-maker's shop and stores date from the same period and are grade II listed, as are the Patent slip and quay walls.

In 1908, the Royal Edward Dock was built in  Avonmouth   and in 1972 the large deep water Royal Portbury Dock was constructed on the opposite side of the mouth of the Avon, making the Bristol City Docks in the floating harbour redundant as a freight dock. In 1977 Charles Hill & Sons, the last shipbuilder at the Albion Yard, closed after delivering the 1,541 tonne beer tanker Miranda Guinness. 

Part of the yard reopened in 1980 when Abels Shipbuilders began operating, who still produce a steady stream of small ferries, survey vessels, tugs and other craft.

Amey Roadstone (formerly T R Brown and Holms Sand & Gravel) sand dredgers worked from Poole's Wharf in Hotwells until 1991. Occasionally coastal trading vessels enter the Cumberland Basin to be loaded with large steel silos manufactured by Braby Ltd at their nearby Ashton Gate works.

The old Junction Lock swing bridge is powered by water pressure from the Underfall Yard hydraulic engine house at 750 psi (5,200 kPa; 52 bar). The new Plimsoll Bridge, completed in 1965, has a more modern electro-hydraulic system using oil at a pressure of 4,480 psi (30,900 kPa; 309 bar).

Since the 1980s, millions of pounds have been spent regenerating the harbourside.

In 1999, Pero's Bridge was constructed, linking the  @Bristol  exhibition with Bristol tourist attractions.

In 2000, the @Bristol centre opened on semi-derelict land at Canon's Marsh and some of the existing Grade II listed buildings were refurbished and reused. It was funded with £44.3 million from the National Lottery, the Millennium Commission, South West of England Regional Development Agency, and a further £43.4 million from Bristol City Council and commercial partners, including Nestlé.

Private investors are also constructing studio apartment buildings.

The regeneration of the Canon's Marsh area is expected to cost £240 million. 

Crest Nicholson were the lead developers, constructing 450 new flats, homes and waterside offices.

It is being carried out under the guidance of The Harbourside Sponsors’ Group, which is a partnership between the City Council, key stakeholders, developers, businesses, operators and funders.

The Cumberland Basin & Baltic Wharf are used by a variety of small boats by Baltic Wharf Sailing Club and is surrounded by tourist attractions. The old hydraulic pumping station has been converted into a pub and is a Grade II listed building.

There are three active boat building companies in the harbour: Abels Shipbuilders, Bristol Classic Boat Company and the Slipway Co-operative at the Underfall Yard.

The harbour is now a tourist attraction with museums, galleries, exhibitions, bars and nightclubs.

Former workshops and warehouses have now largely been converted or replaced by cultural venues, such as the  Arnolfini art gallery , Watershed media and arts centre,  M Shed museum , Antlers Gallery and the  We The Curious   science exhibition centre, as well as a number of fashionable apartment buildings.

The Bristol Harbour Railway, operated by M Shed , runs between the museum and the CREATE Centre on some weekends and bank holidays. Historic boats are permanently berthed in the harbour.

These include  Isambard Kingdom Brunel's SS Great Britain , which was the first iron-hulled and propeller-driven ocean liner;[ and a replica of the Matthew, in which John Cabot sailed to North America in 1497.

The historic vessels of M Shed museum , which include the steam tug Mayflower, firefloat Pyronaut and motor tug John King, are periodically operated.

Bristol Ferry Boats and Number Seven Boat Trips operate ferry services along the harbour from near  Temple Meads station  to the Underfall Yard, serving landing stages in the city centre and close to most of the harbour-side attractions.

A separate cross-harbour ferry carries pedestrians from the ferry landing at the Great Britain to the new harbour inlet opposite.

Bristol Packet Boat Trips offer regular harbour tours with commentaries and river cruises on the Tower Belle up the River Avon to Conham, Hanham and Bath and downstream to  Avonmouth .

In late July each year, the Bristol Harbour Festival is held, resulting in an influx of boats, including tall ships, Royal Navy vessels and lifeboats.

Bristol Travel Guide

By: Author Tracy Collins

Posted on Last updated: December 6, 2022

O ur  Bristol Travel Guide  includes recommended places to visit and things to do, best day trips, accommodation options, tips and more for this English city. Everything you need to plan your visit and essential reading for any visitor to Bristol.

Plan your visit to Bristol

Located in England’s south west the city of Bristol is associated with 2 very famous (but very different individuals) namely Isambard Kingdom Brunel and Banksy! (And I shouldn’t forget it is also the birthplace of Wallace & Grommit as Nick Park the creator of Aardman Animations is also from Bristol)

Whether you plan to visit Bristol to enjoy the engineering genius of Brunel or the creative genius of Banksy there is plenty to do and see in the city to keep you busy.

Popular attractions include the SS Great Britain, Bristol Museum and Art Gallery, M Shed, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Known for its excellent cafes and craft beer Bristol is the perfect destination for foodies too.

What you will find in this complete Bristol Travel Guide

Map of Bristol

When is the best time of year to visit bristol, how many days do you need in bristol, what is the best way to explore bristol, 🚆 by train from london – bristol, 🚙 by car, ⭐️ attractions, things to do in bristol & surrounding areas, the bristol hotel, avon gorge by hotel du vin, 3 berkeley square guesthouse, 🎟 tickets, tours & attractions in bristol, best day trips and tours from bristol, books set in bristol, 💛 enjoy your visit to bristol.

📖 Bristol travel guide – Visiting Bristol FAQ’s

As with anywhere in the UK the summer months are a popular time to visit. This makes it more crowded and pushes up prices. This is also the time of year when many festivals and events are held in Bristol.

If you can visit at any time of year perhaps the best time to go is during the spring or autumn. The temperatures may be a tad cooler but the city will be quieter and less busy.

• Read more about the best time to visit the UK in my detailed guide.

There are a number of festivals and events held in and around Bristol during the year including one of the most famous music festivals in the world – Glastonbury (hopefully returning in 2022)

• Bristol Shakespeare Festiva l – TBA
• Beats and Eats Bristol – TBA
• Love Saves The Day – 27 May to 28 May 2023
• Foodies Festival – 12 May to 14 May 2023

We recommend a couple of days to explore Bristol (the perfect weekend staycation ) and to properly enjoy the culture, history, art and good food and drink Bristol has in abundance.

Bristol is a great city to explore on foot. There is a Metrobus which runs between the train station and city centre. There are also 4 Park and Ride locations available if you prefer to avoid driving into Bristol.

Take the ferry which runs two routes including stops at popular destinations such as the M Shed museum, SS Great Britain and Temple Meads.

What is the best way to travel to Bristol from London?

For timetables and tickets, we recommend the trainline . Take the train to Bristol for a short break or incorporate it into your UK train travel itinerary.

• Distance from London: 170 km
• Time taken by train: Just under 1 hour 30 mins
• Leave from: London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads

Tip – If this is your first time catching a train in the UK read our complete guide to UK train travel which includes all the information you need to know to make travelling around the UK by rail a relaxing and stress-free experience.

If using the motorways Bristol is a 2 hour drive from London on the M4. If you are thinking of parking in the city you will be pleased to hear there are over 11,000 parking spaces including many around the popular attractions such as the Harbourside and Bristol Shopping Quarter .

If you prefer to avoid the hassle of driving into a large city like Bristol there are 4 Park and Ride locations in Bristol where you can leave your car and catch a bus. Click here for more information about Bristol Park & Ride

Read – UK transportation guide

Click the links for more information about the best places to visit in Bristol and surrounding areas and counties.

THINGS TO DO IN BRISTOL

TOP 10 PLACES TO VISIT IN SOUTH WEST ENGLAND

BATH TRAVEL GUIDE

DORSET & JURASSIC COAST TRAVEL GUIDE

CORNWALL TRAVEL GUIDE

DEVON TRAVEL GUIDE

COTSWOLDS TRAVEL GUIDE

CARDIFF TRAVEL GUIDE

🏩 Bristol Accommodation

Accommodation quick picks for bristol.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Superb location for marina, bars, restaurants and city centre.

Best beer garden view in the UK! Luxury hotel with fabulous decor.

Beautiful property with fabulous breakfast. 

Find more special stays in my Accommodation Guide for England.

⭐️ CLICK FOR MORE INFO ABOUT OUR TRAVEL ITINERARY PLANNERS

As well as the many great things to do in Bristol itself the city is also a great location from which to explore the nearby cities of Bath or Cardiff.

Why not book a tour to Stonehenge or the Cotswolds?

We use Get Your Guide when choosing tours – they have a huge selection plus one of the best cancellation policies in the business (so no stressing if your plans change at the last minute)

Viator is another company we have used around the world. I have listed the best tours available from both companies to give you a lot of choices!

This guide will have provided inspiration plus practical information to help plan your visit to Bristol. These posts will also provide practical advice for travelling around the UK:

• UK train travel guide
• Salisbury Travel Guide
• Britain by train – top 10 UK rail journeys (+ map & tips)
• 17 Things to do in the Cotswolds
• Oxford Travel Guide (including tips, itinerary + map)
• 25 Best Places to Visit in Cornwall (+ map & tips)

Find more inspiration for your travels in my England Travel Guide which includes information about what to see, where to stay, how to get around, travel tips, recommended reading and more to make the most of your trip.

Related Guides:

• Bristol County

Bristol Tourist Information and Tourism

(bristol, england, uk), more bristol information / fast facts and orientation.

• Country: England
• Location: County of Bristol, south-west
• Area: 110 square kilometres / 42 square miles
• Population: 450,000
• Language: English
• Currency: Pound Sterling (GBP)
• Time zone: GMT / UTC and BST (British Summer Time), 5 hours from Eastern Standard Time
• Country dialling code: +44
• Telephone area code: 0117
• Religion: various religions
• Average daily January temperature: 7°C / 45°F
• Average daily July temperature: 22°C / 72°F

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Things to do in Bristol Old City – what to see and where to eat

The Bristol Old City quarter is one of the best places to soak up Bristol’s history as a thriving port. Ships from all over the world would arrive laden with wines, rum and sugar to be unloaded on the quayside. Peek through the doors of the elegant buildings of Corn Street and you’ll see the lofty banking halls that reflected the city’s wealth and importance.

Now these buildings have been turned into bars and restaurants that you can enjoy. Stroll along the cobbled streets by the river and have a drink in the old pubs that were a favorite haunt of sailors and pirates. I love writing about all the things to do in Bristol old town, so read on for my personal guide to the Old City of Bristol.

This article may contain affiliate links that provide commission on purchases you make at no extra cost to you. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Table of Contents

Let’s start from Bristol’s Harbourside

My weekend Bristol old city walk started at the fountains on St Augustine’s Parade, which are easy to find opposite the Hippodrome. As you stand on this spot, the harbourside is straight ahead.

You may not realise that the water once extended much further into the old town of Bristol. Where you are standing would once have been a busy quayside with a forest of masts, as ships unloaded their cargo from all over the world.

You’ll get a feel for the narrow cobbled alleyways of past centuries in old Bristol if you walk up Christmas Steps which once led up the hill from the harbour.

Read More: 10 cool things to do in Bristol Harbourside

Corn Street – the heart of Bristol Old City

From the fountains you can walk up Corn Street, into the heart of Bristol’s Old City. Here is where where much of the business and commerce took place. Be sure to look up at the impressive buildings that were built by the banks and financial institutions of Bristol.

Now transformed into bars and restaurants, you can still get a feel for the wealth if you pop into some of them. Check out the Cosy Club , The Commercial rooms, Pizza Express and the Sansovino Hall of the Harbour Hotel. All are former banking halls with lofty skylights and decorative plaster-work.

Discover Christmas in Bristol – 11 fabulous ways to feel festive

Corn Street is now pedestrianized and still buzzing, although not with commercial activity. There’s more of a lively bar and restaurant scene as well as regular street markets.

As I wandered through on a weekend there was a flea market selling antiques, vintage clothes and collectables. You’ll also find the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and the Street-Food Market on Tuesday and Friday.

If you reach the end of Corn Street and turn left into Small Street, you’ll find more impressive old buildings. Many were associated with the law courts and chambers. Their narrow openings lead through to courtyards and alleyways that look positively Dickensian.

We’ll explore this street in a bit but first it’s time to visit St Nicholas Market, which was the old Corn Exchange. This is where the merchants came to trade. Outside you can still see the metal tables where they made their deals, known as The Nails. It’s where the expressions “to pay on the nail” came from.

Read More: 25 Fun things to do in Bristol with your friends

St Nicholas Market – quirky shopping in the Old City of Bristol

Inside the Corn Exchange the room is packed with stalls of small traders. There’s a festival feel with a waft of incense in the air, silver jewellery and colorful scarves and clothes on sale. This is the place that local businesses selling handmade or specialist items start out. You’re bound to find something unique and unusual.

On the far side of the Corn Exchange building is the Glass Arcade. This comes alive around lunchtime as locals come to buy their lunch from their favorite food vendors.

Each stall sells something different, from salads and fresh juices, to sausages and pulled pork. You’ll also find Caribbean, Moroccan and Portuguese flavours. The market’s open on Saturday but closes on Sunday and in the evening, so the market is best for a lunchtime visit.

Get the most out of your visit to Bristol with a hop-on hop-off bus tour

Places to eat in Bristol Old City

The streets around St Nicholas Market are packed with unusual cafés, bars and restaurants. So, even when the food market’s closed there’s always something good to eat.

Want a taste of the fantastic places to eat in Bristol? Try the Eat Walk Talk food tour which is a great way to dip into Bristol’s food culture. The tour stops at different places around the Old City so you’ll always get a different flavour.

While I was out exploring on at the weekend I tried out a couple of places that would make great lunchtime stops. At the end of St Stephen’s Street is TukTuck , a small café that sells Asian street food to eat at their inside tables. Or, order some to take out and perhaps eat in Castle Park.

Discover exciting museums in Bath to visit

I ordered the Korean Bibimbap bowl of cooked rice topped with lightly cooked vegetables, shredded chicken, egg and some hot sauces to mix in to taste. It was very tasty and excellent value and my whole lunch was just under £11.

There are lots of other dishes such as Japanese gyoza dumplings, Kimbap (a Korean version of sushi) and Thai red curry. I saw lots of veggie and vegan choices on the menu too.

If you enjoy Asian food there’s plenty of choice in Bristol Old City so look out for Eatchu and Chilli Daddy in St Nicholas Market. Try Pho on Corn Street as well as Dangun on St Nicholas Street recently opened by the same owners as TukTuck.

Bristol’s burger culture

Another place I’d been wanting to try for ages is Burger Theory , which is on St Stephen’s Street. I’d heard they serve some of the best burgers in Bristol.

There’s a bit of a burger culture in Bristol, with lots of places that serve juicy pink beef patties served with tempting toppings. If you’re out and about in other neighborhoods of Bristol look out for The Burger Joint, Asado and Oowee if you love a proper juicy burger.

Burger Theory brand themselves as The Creative Burger people. They make all their burgers, sauces and pickles on site, using locally sourced and high welfare meat. The place had a nice atmosphere and relaxed vibe, with an outside area of tables too.

I ordered a Down n Dirty burger with a juicy beef patty topped with crispy bacon, melted cheddar, pink pickled onions and dirty burger sauce. They offered a choice of brioche, Italian herb, seeded wholemeal or gluten free bun.

I was really happy with my super juicy burger oozing with cheese and toppings and in danger of splattering the front of my shirt, just as you’d hope for in a good burger.

Street Art in Bristol Old City

After a great lunch I continued my wander around Bristol’s Old City Quarter along Small Street. This is where the law courts and legal chambers of Bristol were traditionally based.

Heading down Small Street will take you to the old gate and part of Bristol’s medieval city wall. Here you can pass through the arch under the church of St John in the Wall.

Read More: Bristol Street Art – so much more than Banksy

Beyond the city gate is Nelson Street, where you’ll find quite a few impressive street art murals. These murals were created as part of the See No Evil Street Art Festival that took place in 2011 and 2012.

The festival was a popular celebration of Bristol’s street-art culture. It was later replaced by Upfest , the Urban Arts festival that takes place in summer in the Bedminster neighborhood south of the city.

If you enjoy Street Art you should visit the Upfest Gallery on North Street. Here you can see the murals created during the festival when international street artists come from all over the world.

Stokes Croft

Stokes Croft is another area where you can see Bristol’s famous Street art scene and is around 10 minutes away from the Nelson Street murals. It’s also worth taking a street art tour with Where The Wall . They take you past the best street art murals that you may not find as a visitor and tell you the stories of each piece and the artists behind them.

Check out this ultimate walking tour of Bristol – from Blackbeard to Banksy : A fun, informative and educational tour through 1000 years of history and Bristol’s wealth of street art

Castle Park in Bristol Old City

As you walk back along Small Street you’ll be heading towards Bristol Bridge, the original bridge across the river. This gave Bristol it’s name of Brigstowe – the place by the river.

Old drawings show that the medieval bridge was much wider than the current stone bridge. There were shops along both sides and houses closely packed along the river.

This part of old Bristol was heavily bombed during the war. The houses overlooking the river had to be demolished and instead the area was made into Castle Park.

In the centre of the green space sits the shell of St Peter’s church, left as a memorial to the civilians who lost their lives in the bombings. The park is a beautiful place to walk or relax on the grass in summer. It’s a popular spot for locals working in nearby offices to come in the lunch-hour or after work.

Read More: 20 Free things to do in Bristol

Behind the church are stone sculptures as part of a water feature. Running along one side is a Physic garden, modeled on the medieval gardens that would be packed with herbs and medicinal plants used in cooking and healing. The scented garden is at its most beautiful at this time of year, with the roses and poppies blooming among the tangle of herbs and summer wild flowers.

If you want to explore across the river, the snaking footbridge, named Castle Bridge was recently completed to connect Castle Park with the Finzels Reach development on the other side.

Old Inns and Warehouses in Old Town of Bristol

Enjoy a wander in Castle Park (it’s a good place for a picnic), then walk back to Bristol Bridge and continue along the cobbled street by the river known as Welsh Back. Along this stretch are several boats and barges made into restaurants, such as Three Brothers serving burgers, craft beers and cider and The Apple , specialising in ciders.

Discover Bristol’s unique craft beer scene with a self-guided walking tour

This quarter of Bristol Old City was once full of warehouses and was a favorite drinking spot for the sailors who landed in Bristol’s harbour. You may notice the blackened timber beams of the Llandoger Trow that was built in the 17th century.

Llandoger Trow is thought to be the inn mentioned in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Treasure Island as where the young hero Jim Hawkins comes across a pirate’s treasure map. There are information signs around here for the Treasure Island Trail which follows the Bristol places mentioned in the Treasure Island book.

On a summer evening it’s a great place to sit outside on the wooden tables between the pubs. You may hear some jazz wafting from The Old Duke which is just opposite.

Along King Street you’ll see old buildings from different centuries. There’s the Georgian Bristol Old Vic Theatre which has undergone a complete renovation, to Victorian decorative brick warehouse buildings.

Many have swing arms at the upper windows that would have been used to hoist cargo up into their lofts. There are plenty of historic pubs and bars here if you want to spend an evening supping ale or West Country cider.

Queens Square in Old Bristol

Set behind Welsh Back is Queens Square, with grass, gravel walks and a central statue of King William III. It’s surrounded by shady mature trees and elegant Georgian buildings that are now mainly used as offices.

This area was marshy land in medieval times, but once it was drained the square was laid out in the 1720s, with houses built by wealthy Bristol merchants. In the 1820s many of the houses were destroyed during the Bristol riots, but were later rebuilt. The square is now a pleasant place to walk and admire the old houses or sit with a picnic, often also hosting festivals and events.

Check out this Bristol self-guided sightseeing audio tour

At one corner of Queens Square you’ll find the Hole in the Wall pub. This favorite sailor’s haunt was mentioned in Treasure Island and was known for having two entrances and a round “Spyglass” window. Through this window someone could keep watch for press gangs who might try take the sailors by force while they were drinking.

Walking back across Queen’s Square, you’ll find yourself back by the the harbourside where we started our walk around Bristol’s Old City. There’s lots to see in Bristol’s Old City and I hope that my guide has helped you dip into the city’s past as a bustling port and thriving commercial centre, while having a bite to eat and a drink or two along the way.

Where to stay in Bristol Old Town

If you’re looking for a place to stay in Bristol’s Old City Quarter there’s plenty of choice and here are a few that I’d suggest to suit all budgets.

Click here to check prices and book for more hotels in Bristol

Luxury Hotel in Bristol – The Harbour Hotel

For luxury take a look at The Harbour Hotel on Corn Street, a boutique hotel formed from two old banks. The rooms are colorful and individually designed, with luxurious bathrooms and some with roll-top baths. In the old bank vaults is the hotel’s urban spa and you should definitely have a cocktail in the Gold Bar and dinner in their Jetty restaurant specialising in seafood.

Check prices and book for The Harbour Hote l | Read my review of The Harbour Hotel

Stay at the boutique Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa in the heart of Bristol Old City

Read my review of the Bristol Harbour Hotel & Spa

Mid-range Hotel in Bristol – Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel

The honey stone hotel on Small Street has recently gone through a complete refurbishment. Rooms are contemporary but nod to the hotel’s Victorian heritage, as well as a bit of street art thrown in through their collaboration with Upfest.

Check prices and book for Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel | Read my review of the Bristol Grand Hotel

Stay at the stylish 4-star Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel in the heart of Bristol Old City

Boutique Guest House in Bristol – Brooks Guest House Bristol

Brooks Guest House is one of my favorite boutique guest houses within St Nicholas Market. There’s a courtyard garden and silver Rocket caravans on the roof that you can also stay in.

Check prices and book for Brooks Guest House | Read this review from Me and B make Tea

Stay at the Brooks Guest House – a small boutique hotel in the heart of Bristol Old City

For more Bristol hotel options read this article Where to stay in Bristol

More information on visiting Bristol and Bristol Old City

For lots of information on visiting Bristol check out the official tourism website of Visit Bristol . When you arrive there’s a tourist information centre in the harbourside, next to the Watershed Arts Centre. Here you can pick up leaflets, get advice and book tickets for many of the tours in Bristol.

Need a guide book for Bristol? We recommend The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset .

If you’re visiting other parts of Great Britain, you’ll find all the information you need on the Visit Britain website.

Need a guide book for Bristol? We recommend The Rough Guide to Bath, Bristol & Somerset

About Crooked

This article is brought to you in partnership with Crooked alcoholic sodas. My choice was the Midnight Stage which is a mix of blood orange and passion fruit and I found it fruity and light with a natural soda taste. The other flavours available are raspberry and lime Dayglo Skies or peach and pomegranate Mother Moon .

The Crooked alcoholic sodas are made with natural ingredients and are not as sweet as some other alcoholic sodas, so are ideal if you want something light and fresh and I could imagine drinking these at a summer picnic or festival.

If you try them be sure to drink responsibly and remember they are only for over 18s. Find out more on the Crooked Facebook page .

This article was sponsored* by Crooked

* More info on my policies page

This article is originally published at Heatheronhertravels.com

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Catherine Cane

Sunday 17th of February 2019

I live in Bristol and have done my whole life so it's lovely to see it from someone else's perspective! I love your photos, especially the street art pictures. That's my favourite street to walk down (I didn't actually know it's name until now, I suppose that's just how it is when you know the way around!)

Heather Cowper

Tuesday 19th of February 2019

@Catherine So pleased you enjoyed the article

Ursula (myVideoMedia)

Saturday 16th of June 2018

Thanks for this great travel tips. The old city is so charming. It has everything I like, beautiful architecture, markets and street art. Definitely a place to put on my bucket list.

@Ursula Do hope to see you in Bristol some time and then I can show you around

• 1.1 Orientation
• 1.2 Visitor information
• 2.1 By plane
• 2.2 By train
• 2.4 By bike
• 3.2 By foot
• 3.3 By e-scooter
• 3.4 By bicycle
• 3.5 By train
• 3.7 By boat
• 3.8.1 Parking
• 3.8.2 Park and Ride
• 3.9 By taxi
• 4.1 Harbourside
• 4.2 Old City
• 4.3 West End
• 4.4 Clifton
• 4.5 Eastside
• 4.6 Avonmouth
• 4.7 Churches
• 5.3 Listings
• 5.5 Theatre
• 5.8 The Bristol to Bath Railway cycle path
• 5.9 Wellness
• 7.1 Malls & shopping centres
• 7.3 Markets
• 8.1.1 City centre
• 8.1.2 Broadmead
• 8.1.3 Around the University of Bristol
• 8.1.4 North-east Bristol
• 8.1.5 South-east Bristol
• 8.1.6 East Bristol
• 8.2 Mid-range
• 8.3 Splurge
• 9.1 City Centre pubs
• 9.2 Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road pubs
• 9.3 Clifton pubs
• 9.4 Hotwells pubs
• 9.5 Bars with live music
• 9.6 Non-alcoholic venues
• 9.7 Adult entertainment
• 10.1 Budget
• 10.2 Mid-range
• 10.3 Splurge
• 11 Stay safe
• 12 Stay healthy
• 14.1 Towns and cities
• 14.2 Outdoor activities

Bristol is a city in the West Country of England . Famous for its maritime history it also offers a great and diverse range of attractions, hotels, bars and events. Bristol is one of England's top visitor destinations, and the best time to visit is in the summer when major festivals are held in the city.

Although cursed by some horrible post-war buildings, Bristol is nevertheless an amiable, grooved, laid-back city whose mellow vibe is reflected in the music of Massive Attack, Portishead and Tricky that perfectly captures the sultry, lean burn atmosphere of a warm summer's evening in this historic and cultured city.

Understand [ edit ]

Bristol is the United Kingdom's eighth most populous city (approximately 466,000 in 2020) and the most populated city in South West England, making it a core city in England. It received a Royal Charter in 1155 and was granted county status in 1373. From the 13th century, for half a millennium, it ranked among the top four English cities (after London and alongside York and Norwich) until the rapid rise of Liverpool , Birmingham and Manchester during the Industrial Revolution in the latter part of the 18th century. Bristol borders the counties of Somerset and Gloucestershire and is near the historic cities of Bath to the southeast, Gloucester to the north and Cardiff , the capital city of Wales , to the northwest. The city was built around the River Avon, and has a short coastline on the estuary of the River Severn where it flows into the Bristol Channel .

Although often overlooked as a tourist destination, Bristol has a lot to offer of its own and is an excellent base for exploring the West Country, with relatively inexpensive accommodation compared to some of the main ‘tourist traps’ and a huge choice of bars, restaurants and shops. It is one of the most culturally vibrant cities in England, hosting a wide variety of visual arts, theatre, speciality shopping and live music.

Young people have flocked to Bristol thanks to the city's stunning and brilliant music scene - the likes of Massive Attack, Portishead, Tricky and Roni Size have contributed some of the most outstanding back catalogue of albums in the history of British music - not bad for a city which even in the early 1980s was considered a backwater of the British music scene. Indeed, in 2010 it was voted Britain's most musical city. The success of the Bristol music scene began in 1991 when Massive Attack released their magnificent opus Blue Lines which included "Unfinished Sympathy" and social critiques such as "Safe From Harm" and "Daydreaming". Blue Lines was partly recorded at the Coach House studios in Clifton (now defunct). The album, and particularly the track "Lately," captured the atmosphere and vibe of the city. This track, with vocals by Shara Nelson, so perfectly captured the atmosphere of a summer's evening in Bristol — particularly on the Clifton Downs — that with its warm, laid-back vibe it is practically a signature song for the city.

Orientation [ edit ]

Bristol is a large city with various areas in its centre; a map is helpful to get to know the layout. The free map given away at the Tourist Information Centre at the Harbourside is excellent for this. At Bristol's core is the Floating Harbour - a stretch of water that snakes along the city centre which looks like a river in places but which is actually a dock. For centuries the Floating Harbour was where ships docked, bringing trade and prosperity to the city. It was created by diverting the River Avon in the early 19th century to the New Cut to the south, and by using various locks to create a non-tidal dock. Today, the industrial shipping has mostly gone and the Floating Harbour is a home for leisure, pleasure craft, upmarket waterfront apartments, and the occasional visiting sailing ship.

It's easiest to think about city locations as where they are relative to The Centre , or Central Promenade. (It's called "The Centre" as it used to be the "Trams Centre", until Bristol's tram system was scrapped in the 1940s after bomb damage. Now it's more of a bus centre.) The Centre is a broad avenue running north-south with fountains and trees and shops, and traffic, reaching the Floating Harbour at its southern end. The Centre is a major interchange for most city bus routes - you can ask a bus driver for a ticket to "The Centre" from anywhere in the city and you'll get back there.

To the east of The Centre is the core of historic Bristol - the Old City . Here major streets include Queen Square, King Street, Baldwin Street, and Corn Street. It has wonderful Victorian and Georgian buildings, historic and charming pubs, and many places to shop, drink and eat. To the north-east of the Old City is Bristol's main shopping area - Broadmead , centred on the Broadmead itself and related streets such as the Horsefair, Union Street and Penn Street as well as The Galleries shopping centre. At the east end of the Broadmead is the major shopping centre at Cabot Circus and a related development of more boutique shops at Quakers Friars. If you go east of Cabot Circus and across the dual carriageway you get to the less affluent area of Old Market, while if you go north of it you get to the St. Paul's area, which is a hotbed of culture but is best visited during the day.

To the north of The Centre are areas occupied by the city's hospitals, the bus station at Marlborough Street, and the University of Bristol.

To the west of The Centre is the Harbourside area, much of which has been a scene of heavy urban regeneration since 2000 and includes parts of what used to be called Canon's Reach. Here you'll find eateries in converted warehouses, Millennium Square with its attractions such as At-Bristol, and offices and smart apartments in new developments. It's a great place to spend time by the water. It continues to the south of the Floating Harbour at the M Shed museum of Bristol life, along to the SS Great Britain .

To the north-west of The Centre, and up Park Street, you head for the West End with its smart independent shops, the City Museum and other attractions, and if you keep going along Queen's Road you get to the upmarket Clifton area, known for its suspension bridge and elegant Georgian architecture.

Visitor information [ edit ]

• Visit Bristol website

Get in [ edit ]

By plane [ edit ].

There is no train link between Bristol's airport and the city, but there is a very useful bus service (bus A1) that takes about 35 min and has a frequency of up to every 10 min. It costs £13 for an adult return ticket (the second part of which can be used up to a month after the first), £8 for a one-way to the city centre, and £25 for a family return. There are student discounts on this service if you have a valid student photo ID. The Flyer bus is useful because route A1 takes you to Temple Meads station, then to the bus station at Marlborough Street.

There is a cheaper Falcon service by Stagecoach (£5 return) booked one day in advance via Megabus.com . The Falcon service terminates at Bond Street.

There is also a chepaer U2 service by First (£2 single under the England bus fare scheme), the bus station is The Airport Tavern, a 10-15 minute walk from the Terminal. The bus will get you to the city centre but watch out the timetable and the day of service.

The last cheper option would be the WESTlink services an 'on demand' bus services (£2 single) that cover the airport terminal and some limited area of south Bristol. It can get you to Parson Street Train station or somewhere closer to Temple Meads station along Bath Road and York Road (10 minute walk to Temple Meads station).

The alternative is to use one of the London airports or Birmingham airport and travel on to Bristol by train, car or bus. The most convenient are:

• Heathrow Airport ( LHR  IATA ) is about two hours drive straight down the M4 ( westbound ) motorway. The RailAir express bus service (running every 20 minutes) connects with the main London to Bristol rail service at Reading rail station; expect the total journey to take slightly over two hours. Another possibility is to use the Heathrow Express service to London Paddington and then take a train to Bristol Temple Meads from there, which is more expensive and slightly longer than the route via Reading, but possibly more convenient. There are also direct National Express and Megabus coaches from Heathrow to Bristol, which take about two to two and a half hours (depending on whether they depart from Heathrow Central Bus station or T4/T5) and are often cheaper than a rail fare, especially during (rail) peak times. National Express coaches terminate at Marlborough Street coach station in the city centre whilst Megabus services terminate at Bond Street near McDonald's and Cabot Circus.
• Birmingham Airport ( BHX  IATA ) is within quicker (and cheaper) reach of Bristol than London's two other airports, Gatwick and Stansted. By car it takes about 2 hours and you'll be avoiding the congestion-prone M25. Rail services connect Birmingham International to Bristol every 30 min at peak times with a change in Birmingham New Street. The journey takes 2-2½ hours.
• Gatwick Airport ( LGW  IATA ) is about 3 hours drive away via the M23 ( northbound ), M25 ( clockwise ) and M4 ( westbound ) motorways. Gatwick has its own built-in station and you can take a train from Gatwick to Reading where you change to take a train straight to Bristol for a rough total of £50 (although you can get relief by using a railcard and booking in advance). If you're on a budget, it can be cheaper to get the Gatwick Express train to London Victoria and from the nearby Victoria Coach Station take a bus to Bristol. There are also coach services provided by National Express and Megabus that take 3½ hours between the airport and Bristol.
• Stansted Airport ( STN  IATA ) is about 3 hours drive away via the M11 ( southbound ), M25 ( anti-clockwise ) and M4 ( westbound ) motorways. By train you must catch a Stansted Express train to London Liverpool Street station, the tube to London Paddington station, then follow the directions below; expect the total journey to take around 3½ hours. If you're travelling on a budget you can also take Route Express Bus A51 to from Liverpool Street Station to Stansted Airport. Costs £9 for a single, and only takes about 10 minutes longer than the train.
• Cardiff Airport ( CWL  IATA ) is about one hour west of Bristol, going northbound from Culverhouse Cross, to J33 of the M4, then Eastbound, to Bristol. Or take the train direct from Cardiff Airport, to Cardiff Central Station, then take another train to Bristol Temple Meads Station.

When coming from London, the cheapest way is generally by coach or rail.

By train [ edit ]

From London, you travel from Paddington station. There are several through trains an hour, the fastest of which takes 1 hr 13 min to Bristol Parkway and 1 hr 32 min to Bristol Temple Meads. Train times (from any location) can be found on the National Rail Planner or by calling ☏ +44 845 748 4950 from anywhere in the UK.

By bus [ edit ]

National Express operate services to Marlborough St Coach station in the city centre, from cities throughout the UK including London . The journey from London to Bristol takes about 2 hr 30 min. Tickets are much cheaper if booked in advance online (London to Bristol £3.50).

MegaBus also operate budget coach services from London Victoria coach station and cities thoughout the UK to a stop outside Black's Bond St. Tickets must be booked online and fares are demand responsive but can be cheap (£3.50). The journey from London to Bristol takes about 2 hr 30 min.

Flixbus also operate budget coach services from London Victoria coach station and cities thoughout the UK to a stop outside Black's Bond St. Tickets must be booked online and fares are demand responsive but can be very cheap (£2.00). The journey from London to Bristol takes about 2 hr 50 min.

South West Falcon operates a service connecting Bristol, Taunton , Exeter , and Plymouth . A single fare from Plymouth to Bristol is £27. Tickets can be booked online in advance and is cheaper, but reservations are not strictly required.

By bike [ edit ]

The Bristol-Bath Railway Path is part of the National Cycle Network (R4) and provides a cycle corridor between the city centres of Bristol and Bath . Travel time is about 90 minutes. The path is relatively flat, and has only 2 road crossings, making it very safe. In the morning and evening it is a busy commute route, so it may be advisable to avoid these peak hours.

By car [ edit ]

The M5 and M4 motorways intersect near Bristol and the M32, a motorway 'spur', brings traffic directly into the city centre. The M4 links London with Bristol with a driving time of less than 2 hours.

The city also has several Park and Ride facilities, Portway, Brislington, Lyde Green, Parkway North, Yate, and Long Ashton sites, for more information see the Bristol City Council website .

Get around [ edit ]

Maps [ edit ]

Visit Bristol , the official tourism website for Bristol has maps of the city to download . Distinctive blue A3 tourist maps which cover the city centre, the Harbourside and Clifton, are available for free from locations such as libraries, shops, Temple Meads railway station, hotels and the YHA hostel. These really are excellent maps and you should obtain a copy or two. They indicate main streets, attractions, hotels and areas of the city in the central area and in Clifton.

You can also buy commercially produced maps before you leave from sites such as Amazon. The pocket-sized "Bristol Pop-Out Map" is useful, as are the pocket-sized A-Z maps.

Bristol is also home to a branch of Stanfords , a very large supplier of maps and tour guides (e.g. their store at Covent Garden in London is the largest such store in the world). Maps of Bristol with all the city centre street names and destinations marked sell from £1.50. Stanfords can be found at 29 Corn Street, and the staff double as local travel experts.

By foot [ edit ]

Most locations in central Bristol (the Harbourside and Old City areas) are reasonably easily walkable, and there are plenty of attractive walking routes along the quaysides and in the pedestrianised central streets. The main rail station (Bristol Temple Meads) is a little further (about 15 min walk) but still accessible by harbourside walkways or by bus.

By e-scooter [ edit ]

The city has an e-scooter hire scheme operated by Tier . To use a Tier e-scooter, a smartphone with mobile phone number and internet access is needed, and riders must be at least 18 years old and hold a provisional or full drivers licence. This will need to be confined in the app.

Scooters are parked in ‘virtual bays’ across the city. The unlock fee is £0.99 and the cost per minute is £0.16. Daily passes are available. You must park your scooter in the designated areas which can be found on the app, otherwise you’ll continue to be charged by the minute. It’s not uncommon for parking bays to be full, so be prepared to travel further than planned.

By bicycle [ edit ]

Bristol has plenty of bike paths and routes and is at the centre of the National Cycle Network . Sustrans, which manages the network, is based in the city, and has a shop and information centre on College Green, next to the Marriott Hotel. The staff can provide information on cycle routes throughout the UK. Free cycling maps for the Avon Cycleway, Bristol and surrounding council regions (South Gloucestershire, North Somerset, Bath and North-East Somerset) can be obtained from the four councils' cycling website, BetterByBike.info .

Tier operate an app based e-bike hire scheme. Bikes are parked in ‘virtual bays’ across the city. The unlock fee is £0.99 and the cost per minute is £0.16. Daily passes are available. You must park your bike in the designated areas which can be found on the app, otherwise you’ll continue to be charged by the minute. A smartphone with internet connection is required to use it.

Bristol is a very cyclable city, but unless you're limiting your stay to the Floating Harbour and the Avon valley, hills are never far away. A mountain bike is highly recommended over a city bike, even if you don't plan to go off-road. Mountain bikes can also cope easier with the numerous potholes and generally deplorable state of a large part of the Bristolian road network. Litter, most annoyingly broken glass bottles, are a threat to inner tubes so the choice for a mountain bike with thicker tyres will reduce the chance of running flat as well. Especially in the inner city (Park Street, Baldwin Street) glass shards often plague cycle paths and crossings.

Bicycle theft is unfortunately relatively common in Bristol, so if you're hiring a bicycle, check that a decent D-lock or U-lock is included.

Several bicycle rental services are available in the city:

• 51.452137 -2.598067 1 Cycle The City , No.1 Harbourside, 1 Canon’s Road , ☏ +44 7873 387167 , [email protected] . closed Mondays . Bicycle rental service near the waterfront, they provide a bicycle, helmet and lock. ID card required for rental. £16/day . ( updated May 2018 )
• 51.439091 -2.589686 2 Bristol Tandem Hire , 3 Holmesdale Road , ☏ +44 7470 311592 , [email protected] . Rental service for tandems and bicycles, with pick up and drop-off points in around Queen Square, Victoria Park, and Temple Meads. ( updated May 2018 )
• 51.45134 -2.57736 3 Cycle Shack , 25 Oxford Street, Temple Quay, BS2 0QT , ☏ +44 117 955 1017 . Bike repair and rental under the railway passage behind the Temple Meads train station. Bike rental costs £40 for 3 days.  

If you run flat, almost all bicycle shops in Bristol can fix your tyre for £8-15, although some will do it while you wait.

• 51.44019 -2.55145 4 Briscycle , 151 Wick Rd, BS4 4HH , ☏ +44 7716 394633 . M 6:30-8PM; Tu Th-F 9:30AM-3PM, 6:30-8PM; F 9:30AM-4PM, 6:30-8PM; Sa 10AM-4PM . Bicycle repair shop in Brislington. Getting a flat tyre fixed will set you back £15 .  
• 51.45728 -2.59185 5 Halfords , Eastgate Centre, Eastgate Road, BS5 6XX , ☏ +44 117 9354041 . M-F 8AM-8PM, Sa 8AM-6PM, Su 10AM-5PM . One of the largest bicycle shops in Bristol, with many spare parts for self service and repair kits in stock. They also have a repair service while you wait. ( updated Dec 2020 )

The Severn Beach Line passes through Lawrence Hill and Stapleton Road in the East of the inner city, and then, Montpelier, Redland and Clifton Down in the north before heading north-west to Avonmouth and Severn Beach . The line has been voted one of the most scenic in the world by Thomas Cook. The line has two fare zones: Temple Meads to Clifton Down, and Clifton Down to Severn Beach. Trains run M-Sa at approximately 40-minute intervals from 6AM to 10PM, with a reduced Sunday service. Normally only one train in three goes to St Andrews Road (which is a request stop) and Severn Beach, with most terminating at Avonmouth. See council website on train services for more info.

Clifton Down railway station is close to the Clifton shopping district, including Whiteladies Road and Clifton Down Shopping Centre. Beyond here, the line runs in a tunnel under Durdham Down, emerging in the Avon Gorge. You can see one of the tunnel's chimneys on Durdham Down. The station at Sea Mills is next to the River Trym and the remains of a Roman harbour, and is also a good place to start walks. The line later runs through Avonmouth Docks, and beyond that alongside the River Severn Estuary. At Severn Beach, you can walk along the banks of the Severn and see the picturesque suspension bridges - the Severn Bridge and the Second Severn Crossing. All other stations along the line are in primarily residential or industrial areas.

CitySightseeing [dead link] offer open top bus tours with commentary during the summer months. 24-hr and 3-day passes are available. The circular route takes in most of the major visitor destinations including the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Bristol Zoo, City Docks, Temple Meads, old city and city centre.

Most bus services in Bristol are operated by First Bristol . By and large the buses are unreliable, so if possible check the bus times on the First website as the times on bus stops may be dated and incorrect. As most of Bristol's hotels and places to visit are near the city centre or are in the upmarket suburb of Clifton, First Bristol's number 8 is probably the most useful for visitors. It follows a route from Temple Meads station to Clifton, passing through the main shopping area (Broadmead), the city centre (also handy for the harbourside) and the West End on the way.

Almost all single adult tickets are £2. These can be bought on the bus with cash or card. Alternatively you can buy an ‘m-ticket’ on the First Bus app. This will give you a QR code that you must scan when you board. Concessionary fares are available for students and children. Other options include daily return tickets and day tickets - these may be more economical depending on your plans.

First buses also offer payment via a “Tap on, Tap off” system. Simply tap your contactless card (or phone with Apple or Google Pay) on the reader when you board and tap off on the exit reader when you alight. If you take a single trip you’ll be charged the usual £2. More trips will increase the cost, but this is capped at a daily rate of £6. Concessionary fares are unavailable for the “Tap on, Tap off” system, as of Dec 2023.

Other bus operators include Buglers and Abus .

By boat [ edit ]

Because of the way the city centre is intimately interwoven with the old 'floating harbour', a boat is a good way of getting around and of seeing a lot of interesting sites. Bristol Ferry Boat runs several ferry services around the harbour, stopping at various quays on route, and providing a commuter service between the city centre and the main rail station. Tickets must be purchased from the skipper directly and cost £2.50 .

The Bristol Packet offer city docks tours with commentaries daily during school holidays and at weekends throughout the year. They also run regular excursions to riverside tea gardens on the Avon towards Bath and Avon Gorge cruises under the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Avonmouth and back.

Number Seven Boat Trips also offer a ferry service during the summer months.

Bristol is quite a hilly city, but if you don't mind walking up hills the walk can be pleasant on a fine day.

Driving is probably the best way of seeing the surrounding region. A couple of the routes into Bristol during peak hours operate a car pool lane for cars with more than one occupant.

The centre of Bristol follows a one way city system, which can be frustrating and confusing for those not used to it. However, with patience and practice and a lot of circling around the same areas numerous times, it does become easier.

Parking [ edit ]

There are plenty of NCP car parks, and street parking. The cheaper street parking is in short supply in the centre, however Queen Square can usually be counted on to have a few spaces at off-peak times.

Park and Ride [ edit ]

There are three Park and Ride schemes operating in Bristol, with an additional Park and Ride for the busy Christmas period based at the University of the West of England (UWE) in Frenchay. The main park and rides are at Brislington, on the A4 opposite St Brendan's school. Another is in Shirehampton and a third is at the end of the A370 Long Ashton Bypass. These are recommended due to their cheaper fares and ease of access to the busy city centre.

For more information, see the Bristol City Council website .

By taxi [ edit ]

Due to the heavy traffic, taxis in Bristol can be quite expensive – and don't forget to allow extra time on your journey when taking a cab. There are about 700 licensed taxis (Hackney Carriages) and these can be distinguished as they are all painted a distinctive blue. Meters charged at a rate set by the council. There are a similar number of private hire vehicles (without roof signs) that need to be pre-booked. All legitimate taxis and private hire vehicles should have a predominantly yellow council-issued plate at the front and back of the vehicle. More information on taxis and private hire vehicles and a cab rank map can be found at Taxis and Minicabs in Bristol [dead link] .

Other options include apps like Uber , Bolt , and Veezsu .

See [ edit ]

Bristol is a very diverse city. From the historic Old City and Harbourside to Georgian Clifton, there is something to be found for everyone. Every neighbourhood has its own attractions and sights.

• Street Art . Street artist Banksy is from Bristol and some of his works can be seen around the city.  

• 51.48591 -2.56108 5 Purdown AA Battery . 24/7 . One of the best preserved heavy anti-aircraft defence sites of the Second World War in the UK. The site is on top of a hill overlooking the north-east of Bristol. During the Second World War, anti-aircraft guns including the iconic Bofors were stationed here, aided by search lights to intercept Luftwaffe bombers before they reached the city. Much of it is overgrown, and in recent years fell prey to graffiti vandalism. Now part of Stoke Park which itself is also worth a visit. Free . ( updated Jun 2024 )

Harbourside [ edit ]

The floating harbour is the jewel in Bristol's crown, and many of its attractions are on or close to the harbour:

• 51.45099 -2.59904 8 Bristol Aquarium , Anchor road, Harbourside, BS1 5TT ( In The City Centre ), ☏ +44 117 929-8929 . Daily 10AM-5PM . From the hidden world of UK waters, this amazing new aquarium transports visitors to the spectacular 'underwater gardens' of the Mediterranean and stunning beauty of tropical waters - home to everything from seahorses and puffer fish to living corals and tropical sharks. Adult £15.30; child 3-12 years £10 (must be accompanied by an adult); seniors & students £13.50; family of 4 £49.50 (2 adults and 2 children), all tickets 10% off if booked online but there is a £1.25 charge per transaction . ( updated Jun 2018 )
• The Matthew , ☏ +44 117 927 6868 . Dec-Apr: Sa Su 10AM – 4PM; Apr-Nov: Tu-Su 10AM – 4PM . The Matthew of Bristol is a replica of the 15th-century caravel that John Cabot sailed from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497. In 1997 she sailed across the Atlantic to mark the 500th anniversary of the historic voyage. You can buy tickets for its occasional special voyages. Free . ( updated May 2020 )

Old City [ edit ]

Within walking distance from the bustling shopping district of Broadmead, is old town Bristol where the town originated from. You'll discover old buildings and hidden alleys whilst walking along cobbled streets. Highlights include:

West End [ edit ]

Clifton [ edit ].

The old and up-market suburb of Clifton contains several more places of interest, and much of the city's student population:

Eastside [ edit ]

Bristol's Eastside is the multicultural centre of Bristol and offers visitors a refreshing alternative side of the city, made up of a colourful collection of neighbourhoods that boast independent retailers from all around the globe. The wonderful thing about this side of town is simply walking around it - and most of the good things to do and see are free!

Easton is possibly the most multicultural area in Bristol where people of all nationalities rub shoulders. Here you can find anything from anywhere in the world - black hair and beauty, saris, Moroccan and Somalian cafes. You name it, you'll find it in Easton! This area is quite rightly home to the World On Your Doorstep festival held every June on Stapleton Road. For fantastic cafes and specialist shops (including the locally-famed Bristol Sweet Mart selling a large range of south-Asian foods and ingredients) head to St Marks Road.

Stokes Croft/Montpelier , (pronounced Mont-pelly-err, rather than the French-accented Mon-pell-ee-ay!), the bohemian heart of Bristol and home to artists and musicians of all descriptions. The streets are often canvases themselves and you'll find work by famous graffiti artists around every corner. Great music, cafes, an independent cinema, and a treasure trove of vintage clothing.

Avonmouth [ edit ]

Avonmouth used to be a small village on the outskirts of Bristol. Today, it is dominated by the massive Avonmouth Industrial Estate and large wholesale and retail superstores catering for the greater Bristol area. Activity at the port, which first opened in 1877, is now focused on the import of fruit, vegetables, coal, animal feeds, grain and cars.

Churches [ edit ]

Parks [ edit ]

Bristol has many open spaces reasonably accessible from the city centre. The more notable include:

• 51.469 -2.621 27 Clifton and Durdham Downs . Adjacent to the Avon Gorge, the Suspension Bridge and Bristol Zoo, 400 acres of grassland, with views towards the Severn Estuary and the Mendip Hills.  

Details of other city parks can be found on the city council website .

Nearby [ edit ]

Do [ edit ].

• Ferry Boat Co. , Welsh Back (Ferry stops all around the city) , ☏ +44 117 927-3416 . Throughout the day . Catch a ferry and enjoy the exciting world of Bristol's Historic Harbour for a round trip tour, hop-on and hop-off, or getting from A to B; and to many of the harbourside attractions. Timetables are available online and at many places in the city.  
• Pirate Walks , Meet at Millennium or Anchor Square. , ☏ +44 7950 566483 . Join Pirate Pete for a 1-hour guided walking tour of Bristol's historic harbourside. Walking tours of Bristol's 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century Maritime History of discovery, trade, slavery and piracy (always call before visiting). Adults £6.00, children £3.50 .  
• Jump , 22 Concorde Road, Cribbs Causeway, BS34 5TB , ☏ +44 117 931-2733 , [email protected] . Daily 10AM-6:30PM; school holidays 9:30AM-6PM . Bristol Jump has enormous adventure play-frames: a space zone, a galleon and an enchanted castle. At 22,000 sq feet it is the largest dedicated indoor soft play centre in England and it is tucked away in the back of Cribbs Causeway! There are also huge inflatables, an indoor football pitch, ten-pin bowling and an enormous zone just for toddlers. They also offer themed party rooms, a café and different activities every day. Babies: £1.00; 1 to 3 years: £5.50; 4+ years: £6.50; adults: £1.75; OAPS: £1.00 (on production of a bus pass) .  
• 51.471768 -2.576339 1 Undercover Rock , Mina Road, BS2 9YT St. Werburgh's ( St.Werburgh's Church, look out for the tower ), ☏ +44 1179 413 489 , [email protected] . M-F 9:30AM-10PM, Sa Su 9:30AM-6PM . Climbing centre housed in the former church of St. Werburgh's, with numerous climbing walls of varying difficulty levels. Training for beginners is available as well. It's not possible to climb the tower, but the interior of this historic building will definitely leave you speechless while dangling on a rope! £7-9 . ( updated Apr 2018 )
• 51.44611 -2.56623 3 Wake The Tiger , 127 Albert Road, BS2 0YA . 10:00 - 18:00 daily . An experience best described as a mix of art installations in an overarching fantasy themed setting, focussing on audiovisual sensations. Visitors enter the parallel world of Meridia through a portal on a construction site, which through experimentation in the fields of Earth, Wind, Fire, and Water aims to solve its imminent environmental disaster. This indoor activity is suited for all ages, with accessibility for wheelchairs, and offers 2 to 3 hours of entertainment on rainy days. Booking tickets in advance is recommended, especially for families and groups. £15 . ( updated Aug 2023 )

Sports [ edit ]

• Bristol Bears play Rugby Union in the Premiership, the game's top tier. Their home ground is Ashton Gate, shared with Bristol City.
• Planet Ice is a public skating rink on Cribbs Causeway, north edge of the city. Bristol Pitbulls play ice hockey here Sept-Match in the National League, England's second tier.

Events [ edit ]

Bristol has a widespread range of festivals throughout the year. The most significant include:

• St Paul's Carnival . July (only some years) . African and Caribbean arts festival.  
• Bristol Balloon Fiesta is held on Ashton Court Estate (see above) in August, with mass ascents, night glows and a funfair. The next is 10-13 Aug 2023.
• Bristol Open Doors Day . weekend in early September, next 15 - 17 Sept 2023 . See a variety of buildings open on this weekend, including places which are not normally open to the public. You can just turn up for some of the more than 100 buildings, but many require advance bookings. ( updated Aug 2023 )
• Mayfest .  
• Festival of Ideas .  
• Bristol Harbour Festival has music, dance and maritime events. The next is 14-16 July 2023.
• Bristol International Kite Festival .  
• Bristol Vegfest .  
• Great Bristol Run has 10K and half marathon races passing many city landmarks including the Clifton Suspension Bridge. The next is probably Su 12 May 2024.

Listings [ edit ]

There are various websites publicising these events, but probably the best thing is to pick up a copy of Venue Magazine (analogous to London's Time Out ) from a stockist . Venue is no longer weekly and paid, but has been merged with the Folio free monthly lifestyle magazine, and new editions are usually available on the last Friday of the month.

Saturday's edition of the Bristol Evening Post has a free pull-out supplement called Seven that lists much of what is on offer in the city during the following seven days. Alternatively you can check out Bristol Music & Theatre listings online on Bristol Music [dead link] which also has contact details for all local venues and music contacts and reviews.

Headfirst is a local website and mobile app that offers detailed listings of what's going on in many of the bars and late night venues around the city, with an emphasis on live music.

Cinema [ edit ]

• Watershed , Canons’s Rd , ☏ +44 117 927-5100 . The primary hub for art-house film in the city centre with a lovely (WiFi enabled) cafe too.  
• Cube Microplex , Dove Street South . Hidden away not far from the bus station, this small non-profit making co-operative venue is housed in a beautifully shabby 1960s theatre. It's run entirely by volunteers and specialises in experimental film, music and performance. A unique experience.  
• Odeon Cinema , Union St , ☏ +44 117 929-0884 . Three-screen mainstream cinema located in the centre of Bristol  
• Vue Cinemas . There are two of these Warner Village cinemas in Bristol, one near the Mall out-of-town shopping centre at Cribbs Causeway (near the M5/M4 junction) and the other in Longwell Green, off the A4174 Ring Road. Both are modern multiplex type cinemas with approx 10 screens.  
• 51.44937 -2.56118 5 Showcase Cinema , Avonmeads, St Philips Causeway, BS2 0SP ( Avonmeads Retail Park ). Bristol's first multiplex cinema, the Showcase has been open since at least the mid-1990s. Rarely busy, so you always have plenty of seating choice. £7.95 . ( updated Oct 2018 )
• Arnolfini . Right on the water's edge at Narrow Quay, this contemporary arts centre includes a cinema showing alternative and arthouse films. And the quayside is a great place to soak up the sun with a beer from the cafe!  

Theatre [ edit ]

• Alma Tavern Theatre , 18-20 Alma Vale Rd , ☏ +44 117 973-5171 , +44 117 946-7899 (reservations) . Theatre on the first floor of the Alma Tavern & Theatre pub in Clifton, a short walk from Whiteladies Road. The theatre seats 50, with the bar on the ground floor.  
• Redgrave Theatre , Perceval Road, Clifton , ☏ +44 117 315-7620 . 320-seat theatre hosting amateur drama, Bristol Old Vic Theatre School productions and concerts.  
• Kelvin Studios , 253b Gloucester Rd , ☏ +44 117 959-3636 . Home to the Kelvin Players Theatre Company, an amateur theatre group on Gloucester Road.  

Music [ edit ]

• Victoria Rooms , Whiteladies Rd , ☏ +44 117 331-4044 , [email protected] . The University of Bristol's Department of Music. A wide range of music is presented in their free Wednesday lunchtime concert series, often given by established professional performers. Other [evening] concerts include the universities' symphony and chamber orchestras. Times and prices vary, contact the department for more information.  
• Bristol Beacon ( formerly Colston Hall ), Trenchard St , ☏ +44 117 203-4040 . Wide variety of concerts, gigs and performances. ( updated Mar 2022 )
• St George's , Great George St ( off Park Street ), ☏ +44 845 402 4001 . Wide variety of acoustic music including classical, world and jazz.  
• Bristol (O2) Academy , Frogmore St . Large gigs and club nights  
• SWX , Nelson St . Club nights, often with famous guest DJs.  
• Anson Rooms ( University Union ), Queens Rd . From comedians to live music, many renowned artists and the universities' students often perform here.  
• The Fleece , St Thomas St . Free on Monday and Tuesdays .  
• The Trinity Centre , Trinity Rd , ☏ +44 117 935-1200 .  
• Bristol Bierkeller , All Saints St. . Rock, Metal, Punk, Goth, Alternative.  
• Full Moon & Eclipse , North St./Stokes Croft . Formerly an important Metal and Punk venue but has now become a backpacker hostel with some music events targeted at their guests.  
• The Croft , Stokes Croft . The croft has a policy of supporting new music of every style and scheduling mainly homegrown talent. Free M-W before 10PM, and then a charge on Th-Su .  
• The Louisiana , Wapping Road/Bathurst Terrace . Bands that have played here include Coldplay, the Whitestripes, Kings of Leon, and Keane.  
• The Old Duke , King St . Jazz, Blues  
• Black Swan , 438 Stapleton Rd, Eastville , ☏ +44 117 939-3334 . A pub that regularly hosts alternative liberal, electronic dance, rave music events.  

Pubs offering live music of some sort are extremely numerous in most areas of the city.

Comedy [ edit ]

• The Comedy Box . Usually hosted above the Hen and Chicken pub on North Street, Southville but sometimes at the nearby Tobacco Factory (especially for more popular acts). Has hosted a number of major stand-up acts, including Mark Thomas, Sue Perkins, Ed Byrne and Marcus Brigstocke.  
• The Lanes , 22 Nelson Street , ☏ +44 117 325-1979 . Live stand-up every Friday and Saturday night.  
• Oppo Comedy , Channings Hotel, Pembroke Rd . Su from 8:30PM, hosted by Mark Olver £2+ .  
• [dead link] Thunderbolt Pub , Bath Rd . Occasional events  
• [dead link] Bristol Improv , 31-35 Cotham Hill, BS6 6JY . Bristol University's only improv troupe put on free and paid shows each month, with a regular show at The Hill  

The Bristol to Bath Railway cycle path [ edit ]

This showcase cycle path runs on a disused railway line from central Bristol to Bath . With its traffic free tarmac, gentle gradients, and only two minor road crossings on its 22 km stretch, it is ideal for cycling. At a leisurely pace the journey to Bath takes a good 2 hr through green suburbs and some attractive countryside. If you are too tired to cycle back, you can take your bicycle free of charge on one of the frequent trains from Bath Spa to Bristol temple meads station. The journey takes 10-15 min.

From Bath, you can continue cycling along the towpath of the Kennet and Avon Canal all the way to Bradford on Avon , taking another hour or so. Though not paved and somewhat narrower than the Bristol to Bath cycle path, the towpath is still traffic free and the scenery even more beautiful. There are two or three places to stop and eat or drink on the way. The aqueduct at Avoncliff is worth seeing. From Bradford too there are direct trains back to Bristol that carry bicycles.

Wellness [ edit ]

• 51.41349 -2.58472 11 Hengrove Park Leisure Centre , Hengrove Promenade, BS14 0DE , ☏ +44 117 937 0200 . M Tu Th 5:30AM-8:30PM, W 5:30AM-10PM, Sa Su 06AM-7:30PM . Gym, Olympic swimming pool, 4 court sports hall, dance studio, health suite, and an 8-m climbing wall to the south of Bristol. Swimming: £4.60 for adults, £3 for kids; Gym £6.70 for adults and £3.50 for kids . ( updated May 2019 )

Work [ edit ]

The largest independent employers in Bristol are the two universities, the Orange telecom company, Airbus, Rolls Royce, Hewlett-Packard/Compaq, AXA and various media companies including BBC Bristol (famed for its natural history department), ITV West Country and Endemol. The Ministry of Defence has a large site employing around 5000 people in Filton towards the north of the city.

Casual work, usually supermarket, call centre, bar and restaurant work is fairly easily available in Bristol. Many employment agencies are in the city centre. Bristol has the second highest job ratio of the eight English core cities (after Manchester) making it very good for employment opportunities.

Buy [ edit ]

Malls & shopping centres [ edit ].

Broadmead and Cabot Circus are the two major precincts in the city's central shopping district.

Broadmead remains a pretty dire indictment of post war planning and architecture; it contains The Galleries , Bristol's city centre mall. It is large, though the range of shops doesn’t offer much. Primark and TK Maxx are the remaining department stores. The now empty Debenhams store towers over the area. Other high street stores include Lush, Waterstones, and HMV (Updated 2023).

• Avonmeads . Between St Philips and Brislington, Avonmeads has a few out of town shops, restaurants, Showcase cinema and bowling. Shops include Boots, Currys, Brantano, Outfit, The Range, and M&S Simply Food. A short distance away is Sainsburys.  
• 51.44387 -2.59511 4 ASDA , East St, Bristol BS3 4JY , ☏ +44 117 923 1563 . Large supermarket in Bedminster, south of the Bristol city centre. One of the cheapest supermarkets in Bristol, ASDA is the best choice for travellers to restock on food and drinks. They also carry SIM card top-ups for the major UK carriers and necessary tools to make repairs to equipment (duct tape, etc.) It also houses a Gregg’s, McDonald’s and Cinnabon ( updated Dec 2023 )
• 51.433491 -2.618777 5 Sainsbury's , St Philips Causeway, Bristol BS4 3BD , ☏ +44 117 977 4887 . M-Sa 7AM-10PM, Su 10AM-4PM . Large supermarket close to Bedminster, a bit more expensive than ASDA in Southville, but offers a variety of prepared take-away foods such as salads and prepared noodle dishes that can be eaten cold. Don't forget to pick up a pack of plastic spoons or forks if you don't have any along, you'll find them in aisle 31. ( updated Mar 2018 )

Areas [ edit ]

• Park Street, Queens Road and The Triangle (marketed by the local traders as Bristol's West End) has a good range of fashionable clothes shops, book shops, restaurants, takeaways, record shops.
• Clifton Village contains a wide variety of smaller, more expensive boutique style shops, as well as some nice cafes and restaurants.
• Whiteladies Road has some small department stores, takeaways, restaurants, bars, Clifton Down shopping centre, electrical stores, bookshops, gift shops.
• Old Market Street/West Street is home to several of Bristol's massage parlours, along with a few adult shops several gay bars and a gay club called Flamingos. Nearby on Midland Road is The Club, and on Alfred Street, The Elite Retreat; both good massage parlours, although Central Massage on Old Market Street is the cheapest, and Adam & Eve on West Street is open 24/7.

Bristol also has quite vibrant district shopping centres. The best of these are probably:

• Christmas Steps area, mainly independent shops including many boutique type shops, including bookshops, hairdressers, vintage clothing stores and some bars.
• North St and East St, in Bedminster in the south of the city. A wide range of independent shops, also supermarkets, greengrocers, butchers, bars, cafes, delicatessens, charity shops.
• Gloucester Rd/Cheltenham Rd in the North, which offer a lot of cafes and restaurants, a number of instrument shops, many hardware stores and a good selection of independent butchers, bakers and greengrocers. At night, the restaurants and pubs attract lively nightlife.
• Fishponds Rd and Staple Hill in the East. Asian restaurants, thrift shops, bakers and independent stores.
• St Mark's Rd in Easton, in the east of the inner city, which is particularly noted for its mainly South Asian food shops and restaurants. It is also home to a modern vegetarian/vegan restaurant (Café Maitreya) that has won national acclaim.

Markets [ edit ]

There are also a number of markets in and around the city. St Nicholas Market [dead link] in the centre, near Corn St. is a permanent fixture and has stalls selling jewellery, books, CDs and fresh food. It also hosts the 'Nails' market on Fridays and Saturdays, a Flea Market on Fridays, and various special markets around the end of the year. There are a number of farmers markets (and similar events) held at different venues around the city. These include:

• Corn St. . Bristol Farmers Market on Wednesday mornings 9:30AM-2:30PM. Local producers from a 40-mile radius sell a massive range of food from cheese, fish, honey, cakes, vegetables to meat, game and poultry at this award-winning market. All the produce is grown, reared, caught, brewed, pickled, baked or smoked by the stallholders.  
• St Nicholas Market , Corn Street . Covered market M-Sa 9:30AM-5PM . Historic covered market, established in 1743, with about 50 stalls. Outdoors there is a Nails Market on Friday, Saturday; Farmers Market on Wednesday; Food Market on Fridwy. ( updated Aug 2016 )
• Straits Parade, Fishponds . Straits Parade is a grassy open space right alongside the busy Fishponds Road. Here the Market has come to its customers. Held on the Second Thursday morning each month it is gaining a strong local following. Good bus links to Emersons Green and Downend.  
• Sunday Market at theTobacco Factory , Southville . 10AM-2:30PM . It has around 30 stalls and leans strongly towards eco-friendly, fair trade and local products. ( updated Aug 2016 )
• Slow Food Market . 10AM-3PM . Corn St. on the first Sunday, hrs. It is the largest food market in Bristol, with the widest choice. Although it is the largest food market, Slow Food Bristol and Bristol City Council are committed to increasing its size and range further. They are aiming by next year to see the market going international with visits from food producers from France, Germany, Portugal, Spain and, of course, Italy.  
• Whiteladies Rd. . Due to its popularity with both stallholders and shoppers it is now fortnightly, alternating Fridays 8:30AM till 1PM, and Saturdays, 9AM till 2PM, at the corner of Whiteladies Road and Apsley Road.  

Eat [ edit ]

Bristol has a huge choice of bars and restaurants to suit all tastes and budgets. There are many around the Harbourside and the West End's Park Street and Whiteladies Road, but do not be dissuaded from trying those outside the centre as many are superior to those that attract passing trade due to their location. After a night out, or if your hotel allows food delivery, you will also be able to find many takeaways in Bristol , with different varieties of food.

Budget [ edit ]

City centre [ edit ].

• 51.454407 -2.592533 1 St Nicholas Market , The Corn Exchange, Corn St . There is a food aisle within the glass arcade at St Nicholas Market. Many international cuisines are represented, including Italian, Indian, West Indian/Caribbean, Moroccan and Portuguese. Can be a bit chilly, depending on the weather, so keep your coat on! ( updated May 2022 )

• 51.452939 -2.598909 2 Rendezvous Fish Bar , 9 Denmark St . Here you get fish&chips. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.454081 -2.59326 3 Portuguese Taste , St Nicholas Market, 43 The Glass Arcade . Amazing Portuguese food and great people running the shop. Offers delicious home cooked comfort food. Pasteis de Nata is amazing. Very friendly staff. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.449208 -2.59666 4 Princes Pantry , 61 Prince St . Simple and good tasting fast food. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.455274 -2.595354 5 Beirut Mezze , 13A Small St., BS1 1DE , ☏ +44 1179277937 . M-Sa noon-11PM, Su noon-10PM . Lebanese restaurant serving authentic food in sizeable portions. Their £5 meal deal (July 2019) features 6 different specialities including hummus, grilled chicken, and minced lamb. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.45269 -2.59756 6 Falafel King , Narrow Quay, at the Centre Promenade . M-Sa 11AM-7PM, Su 11AM-5PM . Snack stands in the centre, conveniently next to the bus stops! Excellent falafel customised to just about any preference. £6 (April 2019) . ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.454452 -2.592471 7 Matina , The Glass Arcade, St Nicholas St . Stunning Middle-Eastern food, all made fresh in front of you and quick. Really yummy wraps. Very friendly staff at the shop. ( updated May 2022 )
• You also find the chain restaurants of JD Wetherspoon, Greggs (bakery), Franco Manca and Eat A Pitta.

Broadmead [ edit ]

• 51.458174 -2.590724 8 Taste of Napoli , 32 The Horsefair . Welcoming staff, delicious food. Plenty of choice for vegetarians and vegans alike. Authentic Italian pizza, snacks (arancini, fried breaded mozzarella, etc ) and sandwiches. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.458563 -2.584912 9 Tortilla Bristol (Cabot Circus) , Concorde St . Amazing Mexican restaurant, great food, incredible staff. Tasty burritos. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.457958 -2.591907 10 Rana's Dhaba , Avon House, 1 The Haymarket . Very nice food, brilliant service. It's almost impossible not walk by and not get something as it smells so good. Best veggie samosa. Great veggie options all in all. ( updated May 2022 )

Around the University of Bristol [ edit ]

• 51.46031 -2.60109 11 Fresh Takeaway , 124 Saint Michael's Hill , ☏ +44 117 926 5959 . 10:30AM-10PM . Small Chinese takeaway restaurant, serving traditional Cantonese food. There is no indoor seating available. Try their fried pork rice for £5.30 (Jan 2019)! They have a daily lunch offer for £4.80 (Jan 2019). ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.45595 -2.606532 12 Taka Taka , Queens Row, 1 Queens Rd, BS8 1QE , ☏ +44 117 929 1785 , [email protected] . M-Sa 11AM-4PM, Su noon-midnight . Greek comfort food restaurant, with seating inside or takeaway. Decent sized portions of kebabs, souvlaki etc. served with Greek bread and/or chips, tzatziki, and a vegetable mix. £8.50 (July 2019) . ( updated May 2022 )

North-east Bristol [ edit ]

• 51.469476 -2.575351 13 Golden Spiced , 88 Mina Rd, Bristol, BS2 , ☏ +44 1179 552 419 , [email protected] . Daily 5:30PM-11:30PM . Take-away Indian restaurant with an extensive menu. Tikka Lamb starting at £7.50 (April 2018), but also many entries and vegetarian options available. Wait time usually around 10 minutes. Take-away only, no seating. ( updated May 2022 )

South-east Bristol [ edit ]

• 51.437172 -2.556038 14 Lodekka , Tramway Rd, BS4 3DS Brislington ( on the corner of Bath Rd and Tramway Rd ), ☏ +44 117 971 2975 . Daily 10AM-11PM . Grill restaurant aiming to provide the best value, translating in large portions of average quality grilled meat. The mixed grill for £11.49 (Aug 2018) is very good for its price. A great place for families or dinners with friends, not such a great choice for vegetarians. Indoor and outdoor seating available, and a playground for kids. You need to order food at the bar with mention of your table number and pay up front to the bartender, food is then delivered to your table. £5-11.50 (Aug 2018) . ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.44523 -2.55212 15 Pizza Factory , 200 Bloomfield Road, BS4 3QU Brislington , ☏ +44 1179774307 . Tu-Th 5-11PM, F-Su noon-11PM . A small privately owned fast food restaurant run by a family of highly motivated Indians. If you expect a wood-fired pizza oven here you'll be disappointed, but it will be hard to find better tasting pizzas for the price anywhere else in Bristol. Huge selection of toppings to choose from, the best opportunity to compose your own pizza. They also have a selection of drinks and desserts. Stay away from the chips, they're nothing special. No seating available, take-away only. £7-9 (Oct 2018) . ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.44067 -2.55558 16 Parsons , 35 Sandy Park Rd, BS4 3PH , ☏ +44 117 977 2744 . M-F 7:30AM-4PM, Sa 8AM-3:30PM . Family run bakery in the Sandy Park commercial district of Brislington. Sells a wide range of baked goods, sandwiches, donuts, and assorted snacks. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.445569 -2.56597 17 Loki Poké , 127 Albert Rd . Just what Bristol was crying out for, Hawaiian street food. (Like vertiginous pre-European Hawaii had anything so flat as streets?) Opened in 2021 and serving W-F 5:30PM-9PM and Sa Su noon-9PM. ( updated May 2022 )

East Bristol [ edit ]

• 51.45461 -2.54494 18 Good Taste , Unit 4, St. Annes Village Centre, Wyatts View, St. Annes Park, BS4 4WW ( get off the bus at Chapel Way ), ☏ +44 117 971 7170 . M W-Th 5-10PM, F Sa 5-11PM . Chinese, Malaysia and Thai take-away. Delicious food in large portions. No seating available, take-away only. £7.50 (Sept 2020) for a meal package . ( updated May 2022 )

Mid-range [ edit ]

• 51.4463 -2.59958 19 Bertha's Pizza , The Old Gaol Stables,Cumberland Rd, BS1 6WW , ☏ +44 117 929 0003 . W-F 5-10PM Sa noon-10PM (closed Su-Tu) . Unusual Pizzas, in the warm loft and interesting speciality deserts Pizza's £14 . ( updated Dec 2023 )
• 51.46027 -2.60106 20 Chris and Jo's Kitchen , 122 St. Michaels Hill, BS2 8BU , ☏ +44 117 239 5388 , [email protected] . Very cosy restaurant next to the University campus and a popular choice for casual lunch or dinner. Requires a hike to the top of St Michaels Hill! The interior is simple and the restaurant looks nothing special from the outside, but it's worth a visit. £10-25 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.4595 -2.55153 21 The Lock Up , 182 Church Road, BS5 9HX , ☏ +44 117 329 0707 . British and European cuisine. Great venue for a Sunday lunch or family event. £20-30 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.44084 -2.57478 22 Eat Your Greens , 156 Wells Road, BS4 2AG , ☏ +44 117 239 8704 , [email protected] . Simple restaurant serving British food, with plentiful vegetarian and vegan options. £12-22 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.45575 -2.6206 23 The Clifton Sausage , 7 Portland Street, BS8 4JA , ☏ +44 117 973 1192 , [email protected] . Simple but delicious British pub food. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.45617 -2.59391 24 The Bank , 8 John Street, BS1 2HR , ☏ +44 117 930 4691 , [email protected] . British pub serving typical Sunday roast, Yorkshire pudding included! ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.444194 -2.609981 26 Sonny Stores ( Birch ), 47 Raleigh Rd, Southville , ☏ +44 117 902 8326 . Opened in 2021 serves Italian. It's open Tu-Sa noon - 10PM. ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.466346 -2.587692 27 Thali Montpelier , ☏ +44 117 942-6687 . York Road, Montpelier, and also in Easton, Clifton, Totterdown, and North Street in Southville. The Thali specialises in vegetarian Indian food and in terms of volume of food, must be one of the best bargains in the city! Loads of courses for very little outlay. On Sundays there is normally live music and bargain thalis on a first-come-first-served basis (no reservations taken). ( updated May 2022 )
• 51.45653 -2.606993 28 wagamama bristol clifton , Queen's Road . A professionally run, good-value Asian noodle bar. Main courses are filling and of consistent quality. Walkable from the centre, or take a bus from St. Augustines Parade/College Green up Park Street. ( updated May 2022 )

Splurge [ edit ]

• 51.44722 -2.59854 29 Tare , Unit 14, Cargo 2, Museum Street, BS1 6ZA , ☏ +44 117 929 4328 . Tiny restaurant in a shipping container at Wapping Wharf. Making advance reservations is a necessity. £100+ . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.4491 -2.59348 31 River Station , The Grove, BS1 4RB , ☏ +44 117 914-4434 . The restaurant aims to be carbon neutral with naturally generated air-conditioning. Great location on the harbourside looking towards Redcliffe. Fresh locally sourced menu with a lean towards Mediterranean seafood. £30-40 . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.44726 -2.59401 32 Casamia , The General, Lower Guinea Street , ☏ +44 117 959-2884 . W-Sa 6:30PM-8:15PM, F Sa 12:15PM-1:30PM; book 1-3 months ahead . This Italian restaurant was awarded a Michelin star in 2009, and has moved to a more central location. £100+ . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.4469 -2.59898 33 BOX-E , Unit 10, Cargo 1, Wapping Wharf, BS1 6WP , [email protected] . Tiny restaurant in a shipping container at the Wapping Wharf. Their wines are lovely, but an advance reservations are a must. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.4495 -2.58929 34 Pasture , 2 Portwall Lane, BS1 6NB , ☏ +44 7741 193445 , [email protected] . Steak house with some vegetarian options as well. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.46274 -2.59796 35 Bulrush , 21 Cotham Road South, BS6 5TZ , ☏ +44 117 329 0990 , [email protected] . Th-Sa 12:30-14:30, Tu-Sa 18:30-20:30 . Fine dining restaurant with a Michelin star. £100+ . ( updated Feb 2020 )
• 51.44433 -2.6132 36 The Ashville , 15 Leigh Street, BS3 1SN , ☏ +44 117 939 6897 , [email protected] . Steak house also known for its burgers. £10-25 (Feb 2020) . ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.46787 -2.60524 37 Wilsons , 24 Chandos Road, BS6 6PF , ☏ +44 117 973 4157 . Fine dining restaurant with a 7 course tasting menu. ( updated Feb 2023 )
• 51.45043 -2.59248 38 Adelina Yard , Welsh Back, BS1 4SL , ☏ +44 117 925 6682 , [email protected] . Posh fine dining restaurant near Queen Square. £100+ . ( updated Feb 2023 )

Sweet [ edit ]

• 51.45273 -2.60006 39 Swoon Gelato , 31a College Green, BS1 5TB ( across from the Cathedral ), ☏ +44 117 929 0093 . 10AM-10:30PM daily . Regarded as the best ice cream in the city, although not cheap. Fairly posh interior, with indoor seating or take away. £4.5 for 2 scoops in a cone . ( updated Nov 2018 )

Drink [ edit ]

The fact that it's the home to around 44,000 students probably says a lot for the quality of the city's nightlife. Surprisingly, though, it's relatively expensive, with prices similar to those in London. Mainstream nightlife centres around 3 main areas - Corn Street in the 'old city', Park Street/Whiteladies Road, and the Harbourside. These areas get extremely busy, if not rowdy, at weekends, however there are plenty of places in Bristol where you can have a good time without mixing with more student type crowds. Venue magazine is a good source of information. The eastern end of King Street in the old city provides a slightly more relaxed, but popular, outdoor drinking area on sunny summer evenings, surrounded by historic pubs such as the 17th-century Llandoger Trow (reputed to have been the haunt of pirates and the model for the Admiral Benbow in Robert Louis Stevenson's novel "Treasure Island").

Amongst the hundreds of brilliant venues in the city, there are four outstanding areas:

• St Nicholas' Market , including Baldwin Street: on and around Corn Street, you'll find several chain bars, including Wetherspoons' the Commercial Rooms on Corn Street which was once a meeting place for Merchant Ventures. Other reliable venues include the Slug & Lettuce and Vodka Revolution on St Nicholas Street, All Bar One and Walkabout on Corn Street and O'Neill's and Reflex on Baldwin Street. However, those looking to get away from the familiar will definitely enjoy Start The Bus at the bottom of Corn Street, an established indie pub-come-club; also, Mr Wolf's on St Stephen's Street offers noodles and live music.
• Harbourside area : the regenerated waterside is a great place to drink, especially on summer afternoons. On Welsh Back, there's the famous Old Duke jazz pub and, opposite it, the famous Lladngoer Trow - plus, the Apple, a floating cider bar. Bristol's famous bar on a boat, the Thekla, is around the corner, and there are plenty of big chain and independent bars on Canon Road. Millennium Square has lots of chain restaurants and bars centred on the impressive mirrored 'Imaginarium' and fountains. The Waterfront by the hippodrome can be rowdy of a weekend and is best avoided.
• Park Street , Park Row , Clifton Triangle and Whiteladies Road : Whiteladies Road runs from the Downs on top of Blackboy Hill, past Clifton on one side and Cotham and Redland on the other; at the Triangle, traffic runs around the eponymous island of shops and bars before pushing down Park Street to the centre of Bristol. There are hundreds of bars and clubs along this busy thoroughfare: popular venues include the Tube, the Woods, Embargo, Brown's, The Jersey Lily and the Black Bear.
• Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road : the anarchic area of Stokes Croft is home to Bristol's big independent clubs, Blue Mountain, Lakota and Clockwork. Whilst not in Stokes Croft, Club Motion, hidden behind Temple Meads station is a relatively new addition to the Bristol scene, hosting similar nights and acts as these venues. A skate park by day, this huge (by any standards) club has become one of Bristol's most popular, is internationally known, and is well worth a visit for seasoned clubbers; after these monoliths, there are live music venues, pubs and bars to please the alternative crowd. Highlights include the Pipe and Slippers, the Croft, the Bell, the Flyer and the Prince of Wales.

If you're a tourist in Bristol, you may enjoy visiting one of the city's pubs and bars with historic and literary connections.

• Abolitionist the Reverend Thomas Clarkson stayed in the Seven Stars in Redcliffe while he researched the British slave trade in 1787.
• Samuel Taylor Coleridge and Robert Southey used to meet in the Rummer Tavern to talk about emigrating. An earlier pub on the same premises, known as the Greene Lattis, was the first pub in Bristol to get a license, back in 1241.
• Actor Cary Grant often stayed in the Avon Gorge Hotel , which has a terrace bar opening out onto Clifton's best view of Brunel's suspension bridge.
• Pioneers of the Bristol sound, Massive Attack, established the Tube , a bar/club at the foot of Park Street.

City Centre pubs [ edit ]

• 51.45492 -2.60357 2 Goldbrick House , 69 Park Street, BS1 5PB , ☏ +44 117 945-1950 . The bar is laid out over the top floor of a traditional Georgian building and spans four interconnecting rooms. It has a great intimate vibe as it creates the feeling that you are drinking, not in a bar but in someone’s house. The décor reflects this mood as there are contemporary yet comfy armchairs and sofas dotted around.  
• 51.45189 -2.59233 3 The Apple , Welsh Back, BS1 4SB , ☏ +44 117 925-3500 . A floating cider bar. A converted old Dutch Barge where the decks have been transformed into seating areas where you can sit and lull with the water whilst enjoying some of the West Country’s finest ciders. A really unique place to grab a drink. Just be wary of what cider you are drinking as some are rather lethal and could lead to a man-overboard situation.  

Stokes Croft and Gloucester Road pubs [ edit ]

• 51.46305 -2.59268 4 The Hillgrove Porter Stores ( The Hillgrove ), 53 Hillgrove Street North, BS2 8LT , ☏ +44 117 924-8234 . Winner of the CAMRA Bristol pub of the year in 2007, a freehouse with ten real ales and cider, perry. A wide mix of customers, good food and heated beer garden, open Su-Th 'til midnight, F & Sa 'til 1AM.  
• 51.47119 -2.57637 5 The Miner's Arms , 136 Mina Road, St Werburghs, BS2 9YQ , ☏ +44 117 907-9874 . This pub is the type of large, multi-roomed community local that is increasingly rare. Declared the Best Pub in Bristol by Venue Magazine in 2005, it has mirrored the resurgence of this vibrant community. ( updated Aug 2016 )
• 51.46731 -2.57559 6 Duke of York , 2 Jubilee Road, St Werburghs, BS2 9RS , ☏ +44 117 941-3677 . Winner of CAMRA's Best Pub in Bristol 2008, has a friendly atmosphere and quirky décor.  
• 51.4611 -2.59898 7 The Green Man ( formerly The Bell ), 21 Alfred Place, Kingsdown, BS2 8HD , ☏ +44 117 930-4824 . Opened in September 2008 as the first 'organic' pub in the city. The pub used to be the Georgian-built 'The Bell'. Notably, all the alcoholic drinks are organic and the freshly-prepared food is all organic or free range. Two of the six real ales are served on gravity from the barrel. ( updated Aug 2016 )
• 51.46149 -2.60244 8 The Highbury Vaults , 164 St Michael's Hill, BS2 8DE , ☏ +44 117 973-3203 . Winner of the CAMRA Bristol pub of the year in 2003, the Highbury Vaults is a classic traditional pub with 8 real ales available on cask. Popular with students and older customers alike, and with a large heated garden. Open until midnight.  

Clifton pubs [ edit ]

• 51.45295 -2.62387 10 The Portcullis , 3 Wellington Terrace, Sion Hill, Clifton, BS8 4LE , ☏ +44 117 908-5536 . Freehouse near Brunel's Suspension Bridge. A Grade II listed Georgian building, it has been a pub since the 1850s. On two levels, the bottom bar and main entrance is one of the smallest pubs in Bristol. ( updated Aug 2016 )

Hotwells pubs [ edit ]

There are a number of traditional pubs located around the City Docks, such as The Cottage at the Hotwells end of the Floating Harbour, Grain Barge and the Nova Scota. These pubs can be accessed by foot or by harbour ferry.

Surrounding area

• 51.39896 -2.63795 13 Dundry Inn , Dundry , BS41 8LH ( less than a mile from the city boundary ), ☏ +44 117 964-1722 , [email protected] . A small, friendly pub with cask ales opposite the church. Also 2 en-suite double rooms. Ambitious, home-cooked menu £5-15.50 .  

Bars with live music [ edit ]

• 51.4538 -2.59416 14 Mr Wolfs , 32 St Nicholas St, BS1 1TG . 6PM-3AM . Live music venue and noodle bar which has live music every night of the week from local bristol artists.  

Bristol's a gay-friendly city, on the whole, with a rounded and rich gay scene. Flamingo's on West Street is probably Bristol's biggest gay club with a 900-person capacity. The Pineapple on St George's Road is a sociable and well-established pink pub, and just down the road, the QueenShilling on Frogmore Street is a long-standing club that holds the Bristol heats of Mr Gay UK. And Club Wonky, held at Warehouse on Prince Street on the last Friday of the month where sleazy electro hits are cut with pop classics.

Non-alcoholic venues [ edit ]

• The Big Banana Juice Bar . Great juice bar in the centre of town at St Nicholas's Market on Corn Street. Fruit juices and organic wheatgrass. Into health and wellbeing. Juice promotions and promotional events.  
• Blue Juice , 39 Cotham Hill, Cotham . Also serves wraps and salads.  
• 51.4578 -2.59029 15 Shakeaway , The Arcade, Broadmead , ☏ +44 117 922 0446 . 11AM-6PM . Will make a milkshake out of pretty much anything, including Haribo, Mars Bars and Oreos.  
• Racks Bar & Kitchen , St.Paul's Road, BS8 1LX , ☏ +44 117 974-1626 . M-Th 7AM-11PM; F Sa 8AM-midnight; Su 8AM-10:30PM . In an old wine cellar (hence the name), Racks has been established as a go-to bar in Clifton for over 30 years.  
• 51.4569 -2.58993 16 Boswell's , Broadmead ( The Galleries ), ☏ +44 117 929 9964 . A café in The Galleries, similar to Starbucks, offering a large variety of coffee, tea and hot chocolate flavors. Comfortable seating with power sockets and internet access, this is an excellent venue for travellers to recharge laptop and phone batteries. ( updated Mar 2018 )
• 51.452891 -2.598372 17 You & Meow , 22 Denmark Street . Noon-7:15PM . Pub filled with friendly people and free-roaming cats. A true heaven for cat-lovers! ( updated Mar 2018 )
• 51.46163 -2.60809 18 Brace & Browns , 43 Whiteladies Road, BS8 2LS , ☏ +44 117 973 7800 , [email protected] . Trendy bar and restaurant next to the BBC building. Selection of decent food in good portion sizes, fairly priced. Not suitable for kids. Reservation in advance is recommended if you want to be sure of indoor seating. ( updated Sep 2018 )
• 51.46066 -2.60176 19 Mocha Mocha , 139 Saint Michaels Hill, BS2 8BS , ☏ +44 1173 763363 , [email protected] . M-F 07.45 - 17.00 . Small coffee shop specialising in hot beverages, snacks and breakfast. Their Cinnamon Latte for £3.40 is delicious! ( updated Sep 2018 )
• 51.45371 -2.59812 20 Doms Coffee House , 23-25 St Augustine’s Parade, BS1 4UL , ☏ +44 117 312 1040 , [email protected] . M-F 7:30AM-7:30PM, Sa 9:30AM-7:30PM, Su 10AM-4PM . Cold and hot beverages, and a selection of cakes, sandwiches and other snacks. Alcohol only sold together with food items. The ground floor is pretty small, but there is huge indoor seating on the first floor with a great view over the Centre in a Victorian setting. The globe in the far corner opens up and reveals a chess set! ( updated Sep 2018 )
• 51.45421 -2.60269 21 Gin & Juice , 47 Park St . noon-11PM daily . A charmingly decorated pub with nearly endless varieties of gin to try out, and freshly pressed juices and smoothies. ( updated Oct 2020 )

Adult entertainment [ edit ]

• 51.45314 -2.5969 12 Urban Tiger , 4 Broad Quay, BS1 4DA , ☏ +44 117 927 2181 . F Sa 9PM-4AM . Strip club near the Waterfront. ( updated Feb 2020 )

Sleep [ edit ]

There are a lot of hotels and guest houses in the Bristol area. A selection is listed below.

• The Washington Guesthouse Bristol , 11-15 St Paul's Rd, BS8 1LX , ☏ +44 117 973-3980 , [email protected] . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 11AM . A good value budget hotel in heart of Clifton with full English breakfast included in the price. £20/single or £20/double when booked more than 6 weeks in advance . ( updated Jul 2016 )
• 51.44977 -2.59723 1 Youth Hostel , 14 Narrow Quay, BS1 4QA , ☏ +44 845 371 9726 , [email protected] . A modern, clean and very central YHA youth hostel located in the Harbourside area; now with a newly revamped cafe on the quayside. Open every day all hours. £15/dorm bed, £39/private room. . ( updated Jul 2016 )
• Bristol Backpackers , 17 Saint Stephen's Street ( in Old City ), ☏ +44 117 925-7900 . Reception hours 9AM-11:30PM. Dorm rate £14 per person per night  
• Full Moon Eco Hostel , 1 North St, Stokes Croft, BS1 3PR ( near the '5102' apartments, opposite the large roundabout behind Debenham's department store and the bus station ), ☏ +44 117 924-5007 . Check-in: 3PM-10:30PM . This hostel is next to two of Bristol's biggest nightclubs with music going on until 5AM. Reception is closed from 11AM-3PM. £17.50/dorm bed .  
• Rock N Bowl Motel (at The Lanes) , 22 Nelson St, BS1 2LE , ☏ +44 117 325-1980 , [email protected] . Check-in: 3PM , check-out: noon . A youth hostel above a bowling alley, which doubles as a bar/nightclub, in a converted 1930s primary school. Perfect location in the Old City. Can be a bit noisy at weekends, but they offer free earplugs, and their indie-ish atmosphere means that the music's usually good and often live. From £10/dorm bed, £45/double .  
• The Clifton Hotel , St Paul's Rd, BS8 1LX , ☏ +44 117 973-6882 . A good value budget hotel in heart of Clifton that has its own restaurant/bar. from £20/single or £25/double when booked more than 6 weeks in advance . ( updated Aug 2017 )
• Arnos Manor Hotel , 470 Bath Road, Arnos Vale, BS4 3HQ , ☏ +44 117 971-1461 . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 11AM . Built in 1760 as the luxurious home of wealthy Bristol merchant William Reeve, this historic building boasts many original Georgian Gothic features. From £45 .  
• Holiday Inn, Bristol - Filton , Filton Road, Hambrook , ☏ +44 871 942 9014 . A 211-room hotel 15 minutes from the centre on 11 acres of land. It has its own fishing lake and free parking! From £60.  
• Premier Inn , The Haymarket ( near the Bus Station ), ☏ +44 870 238 3307 . Standard rooms, nothing fancy, has everything you need as a reasonable price. Not ideal for long stays as could get a bit depressing. £50-90 .  
• The Berkeley Square , 15 Berkeley Square , ☏ +44 117 925-4000 . If your visit takes you nearer to Clifton, this could be useful, just off Park Street (where all the best independent shops in the city are). The hotel is a lovely old 3* Georgian house; staying here also gains you access to the exclusive members-only bar in the basement. Rooms from £60 .  
• Brooks Guesthouse , Exchange Ave, St Nicholas Market BS1 1UB , ☏ +44 117 930 0066 . Bright and compact B&B with 23 rooms in a former office block. But the quirk is up on the roof, with four Airstream caravans parked on the astroturf. Assistance dogs only. B&B double from £100 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• SACO Serviced Apartments , ☏ +44 117 970 6999 . An alternative to staying in a hotel. 150 well-equipped apartments throughout the city in seven locations with friendly staff. From £65 .  
• 51.4556 -2.6198 2 The Rodney Hotel Bristol , 4 Rodney Place, Clifton, Bristol, BS8 4HY ( Clifton Village ), ☏ +44 117 973 5422 , [email protected] . Check-in: 2PM , check-out: 11AM . ( updated Aug 2016 )
• 51.448616 -2.587705 3 DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Bristol City Centre , Redcliffe Way, BS1 6NJ , ☏ +44 117 926 0041 , [email protected] . Check-in: 3PM , check-out: noon . 206 guest rooms and free Wi-Fi. There's a restaurant onsite, and meeting space for up to 300 attendees. ( updated Sep 2020 )
• 51.4557 -2.6065 4 Berkeley Suites Bristol , 6 Berkeley Crescent, BS8 1HA , ☏ +44 117 925-4000 , [email protected] . Check-in: 3PM , check-out: 11AM . These 5-star apartments offer the services of a top end hotel. Guests can enjoy complimentary use of Nuffield Health & Fitness Centre during their stay. ( updated Jul 2016 )
• Cadbury House Hotel , ☏ +44 193 483-4343 . This 4-star hotel is suitable for both relaxation and corporate visits.  
• Marriott Royal , College Green , ☏ +44 117 925-5100 . 4-star hotel, the most famous in the city. From £75 .  
• The Brigstow , Welsh Back , ☏ +44 117 929-1030 . A modern, contemporary hotel in the centre of all the action, near Broadmead/Corn Street. Overlooks a very attractive stretch of the floating harbour. £89-250 .  
• Hotel du Vin , The Sugar House, Narrow Lewins Mead , ☏ +44 117 925-5577 . Walkable from the centre. Has spacious rooms and a restaurant and winery.  
• Avon Gorge Hotel ( Clifton Village ), ☏ +44 117 973-8955 . Spectacular panoramic views of the Avon gorge and the Clifton suspension bridge. They have their own bar and restaurant on site. From £115 .  
• Mercure Bristol Brigstow Hotel , Welsh Back, BS1 4SP , ☏ +44 117 929 1030 , [email protected] . On Welsh Back with riverside frontage. Comfortable, modern bedrooms and there's a plasma-screen TV in the bathroom. ( updated Apr 2020 )
• Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel ( formerly the Thistle ), ☏ +4401179291645 . In the centre of Bristol, about a 2-minute walk from Corn Street and St. Nicholas's Market. It has its own health and leisure club. ( updated Apr 2020 )
• 51.44757 -2.59116 5 Mercure Bristol Holland House Hotel & Spa , Redcliffe Hill, BS1 6SQ ( next to the St. Mary of Redcliffe church ), ☏ +44 117 9689900 , [email protected] . Very posh hotel, with 4-star amenities and view over the floating harbour and city centre. Luxurious rooms, with indoor swimming pool and gym. Not at all cozy though, so considering the price only suitable for business travellers. £150 . ( updated Jan 2019 )
• 51.47 -2.617 6 Number 38 Clifton , 38 Upper Belgrave Road, Clifton BS8 2XN , ☏ +44 117 946 6905 . Elegant B&B with 12 rooms in Georgian merchant's house looking onto Clifton Downs. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £130 . ( updated Jul 2020 )
• 51.419 -2.719 7 Backwell House , Farleigh Rd, Backwell BS48 3QA ( A370 seven miles SW of city ), ☏ +44 1275 794502 . Country house hotel with 9 rooms, a few lapses but most visitors enjoy good service, comfort and dining. No children under 12 or dogs. B&B double £100 . ( updated Jul 2020 )

Stay safe [ edit ]

Like many other big cities in the UK, Bristol has its rough areas. Use common sense while getting around. While some of the following information may sound a little scary, many locals insist that Bristol is a lovely and safe city.

In the 2020s problems with drunken violence have become worse.

Drunken brawls can occur in the centre of town on Friday and Saturday nights as pubs and clubs close, especially near the waterfront area, the Centre, taxi queues and fast food joints. This has been reduced somewhat by a heavy police presence and security guards monitoring the taxi queues.

Avoid Baldwin Street at the 11PM and 2AM kickout times. Go somewhere else to hail a cab from some of the smaller, less busy ranks.

There are also specific areas that have a reputation after dark. The inner city districts of St Pauls and Easton are said to be rife with drugs and gangs but should not pose any danger to people outside the narcotics trade. The main areas of these districts are well monitored by CCTV. Pay attention to what is around you, and you should encounter no difficulties.

Also, some outlying suburbs such as Southmead, Knowle West and Hartcliffe have a bad reputation, but it is unlikely that a visitor to the city would travel to these parts.

Unfortunately there are more often than not individuals or groups of lowlifes who come out to look for someone to beat up. The best advice if you want to avoid any trouble is take a taxi back to your hotel, especially if your hotel is further out and you are coming home after 10PM.

Another problem is beggars as many will approach you on the street to ask for money.

Also, you may find people offering to sell you drugs. Those people have no drugs and will instead give you a bogus parcel (such as balls of cellophane or matches wrapped in newspaper) and run off with your money. They often have knives so avoid the people in the first place.

In the 2020s, knifepoint robberies have been on the rise. People have even been mugged for their bicycles at knifepoint in broad daylight. However, these such incidents usually occur in isolated areas of the city, and are unlikely to happen in any area the average tourist would visit. The best way to avoid such trouble is to stick to populated areas.

Be careful on matchdays especially when the Bristol derby(Bristol City and Bristol Rovers) are playing. Unfortunately fights are very common between the two teams. If you are extremely concerned about your safety, stay away from the stadium they are playing, don't go to pubs or at best, stay out of the city. Don't wear a City shirt in North Bristol and don't wear a Rovers shirt in the southern suburbs and the city. At least, you will get dirty looks. Unfortunately at worst you might get involved in a fight sometimes resulting being severely beaten up for wearing the wrong kit in the wrong place.

Stay healthy [ edit ]

• NHS Direct , ☏ 0845 46 47 (non-geographic number) .  
• Bristol Royal Infirmary Queens Building, Marlborough Street provides treatment for minor illnesses and injuries, assessment by an experienced NHS nurse, advice on how to stay healthy, and information on out-of-hours GP and dental services, local pharmacy services and other local health services. There is also a NHS Walk-in Centre at Knowle West Health Park, In the southern part of the city, For Opening times contact NHS Direct.
• Southmead Hospital Emergency Department and Minor Injury Unit open 24 hours every day
• Bristol Eye Hospital is a specialist hospital for eye conditions and has an accident and emergency [dead link] department with limited opening hours for eye conditions only.
• Bristol Dental Hospital provides the full range of Dental Specialties including Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Oral Medicine, Restorative, Orthodontics and Paediatric Dentistry. Emergency service [dead link] for dental conditions only (opening hours 8AM-10AM).
• NHS 111 operate a 24-hour helpline available by phone on 111 (free call). For all serious and possibly-serious complaints, they will probably refer the caller to a local General Practitioner or Accident and Emergency department.

Connect [ edit ]

As of March 2022, Bristol has 5G from all UK carriers. Free wifi is available in many public places.

The city libraries all have internet points and may allow brief guest use by non-members.

Go next [ edit ]

Map of places with Wikivoyage articles nearby

Towns and cities [ edit ]

• Bath , with its famous Regency terraces, Roman remains and spa facilities, is 12 mi (19 km) drive or 15 minutes train journey away, and makes an excellent day trip from Bristol.
• Wells , with its beautiful cathedral, is an hour's coach ride from Bristol.
• Portishead , the nearest sea-side resort town with plenty of nature, heritage, and outdoor attractions.
• Weston-super-Mare , resort with a sandy beach and plenty of entertainment suitable for young families. An adult day return from Bristol Temple Meads is £7.50 . If possible, taking the train to Weston-super-mare as an adult day return from the bus station will cost upwards of £8.

Outdoor activities [ edit ]

Two popular rural tourist destinations that are both an hour from Bristol:

• The Cotswolds
• The Mendips

Further afield the following are possible day trips and worthy destinations:

• Somerset , Dorset , Devon
• Forest of Dean
• Brecon Beacons

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Microadventures in Bristol and beyond

Bristol waterfront restaurants

Totting up the accolades on a regular basis, Bristol’s culinary scene has been having a moment for a while now and its star just keeps rising. Bristol has so many excellent restaurants, my ‘dining out’ wish list is always growing. It’s hard to beat Bristol waterfront restaurants if you’re looking for an epic dining experience. The area buzzes all-year round, but particularly in summer, when crowds flock to the docksides to dangle their legs over the water’s edge, cider in hand.

This is where the city’s historical charm meets culinary innovation; where you’ll find eateries in converted warehouses and floating restaurants, with Bristol’s iconic Harbourside as a backdrop.

Some of my most memorable birthdays have played out along Bristol’s water’s edge. Balmy July heatwave evenings, dining on Wapping Wharf’s terraces, while hot air balloons soar overhead and paddleboarders potter past make the al fresco summer nights of my dreams.

I’ve put together a round-up of restaurants on Bristol waterfront that cater to all tastes and budgets. From Brunel-designed former transit sheds to modern shipping containers and family-friendly eateries, if there are lovely Bristol water views visible, I’ve added it here.

Table of Contents

Bristol Harbourside restaurants

Harbour house.

With lofty vaulted ceilings and historic ironwork, Harbour House reflects its 19th-century beginnings as a transit shed. Designed by the renowned Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the venue boasts a prime waterfront location, offering stunning views of the Floating Harbour, the vibrant Redcliffe houses, and the majestic spire of St Mary Redcliffe Church from its outdoor deck. 

The menu, a blend of traditional pub classics with a focus on seafood, showcases the best of locally-sourced ingredients sourced from top suppliers in the South West. It’s especially delightful on sunny days.

Grain Barge

This 1930s Grain Barge spent its early life carrying barley and wheat across the Severn Estuary between Bristol and Cardiff. The historic vessel now resides in Hotwells, opposite Brunel’s SS Great Britain, and is one of the longest-standing restaurants on Bristol’s waterfront.

Managed by Bristol Beer Factory , it offers a wide selection of craft beers, local ciders, and wines alongside sustainable seafood, mains, small plates, and Sunday roasts made with seasonal produce sourced from their Five Acre Farm in Backwell. Enjoy the serene river views from the lower deck or bask in the sun on the outdoor drinking terrace, watching life go by on the water.

The Pump House

Sitting on the dockside, close to where the River Avon meets the city docks at the Cumberland Basin, The Pump House is a British gastropub housed in a Victorian pumping station. The historic building still retains many of its original features, making it an interesting dining spot, although in sunny weather, you’ll want to bag one of the outdoor waterside tables.

Helmed by chef Toby Gritten, it prides itself on serving seasonal dishes crafted from locally-sourced food and small independent suppliers. On tap, you’ll find a selection of regional brews including Butcombe and Bath Ales, while gin enthusiasts will delight in the extensive gin menu, which boasts over 400 varieties.

Under the Stars

Serving punters since 2010, Under the Stars is a floating tapas, cocktails and pizza boat moored in Bristol’s Harbourside. Guests can indulge in a selection of delectable small plates and some excellent cocktails while enjoying views of Bristol’s Harbourside. In warm weather, take advantage of this waterside position from their al fresco dining deck.

Watershed is an independent cinema on Bristol’s historic harbourside offering a programme of independent film and events, and occasional live music, with a brilliant cafe/bar. For the best waterfront views in the house, bag a spot on the (small) sun terrace to watch Bristol ferry boats buzz past and people bustle around the Floating Harbour. You can also take a seat at Undershed, Watershed’s outside bar on the Harbourside walkway.

Food-wise, you’ll find breakfast, lunch and evening meals, sharing plates and light bites as well as larger main meals like fish and chips, plus vegan and veggie dishes and a kid’s menu.

Cinema ticket holders can get 30% off any of the main dishes on Wednesdays from 12pm-8pm. 

Three Brothers Burgers

This independent burger and craft beer boat, Three Brothers Burgers , sits right at the heart of Bristol’s ‘Beermuda’ triangle on Welsh Back, with views over the river and Bristol Bridge. Quality ingredients are carefully sourced to create a selection of ‘steak’ burgers and hot dogs, shakes, sundaes and floats. Don’t rule it out if you lean more towards veggie though – there’s also a dedicated vegan menu.

Inside, the walls of the boat are covered in graffiti by Bristol street artist Silent Hobo, the vibes are upbeat and casual. The seating is split between the boat and the quayside and on warm days, the whole area buzzes with diners and drinkers. Great whether you’re looking for a quick, family-friendly affordable lunch or a more lively evening meal with friends.

Paco Tapas Bar

One of my favourite Bristol Harbour restaurants, Paco Tapas Bar is perched on the waterside at Lower Guinea Street – the site of Bristol’s handsome former general hospital. Tucked away in this little inlet, known as the Bathurst Basin, al fresco diners are treated to a different perspective of Bristol’s Harbourside here, almost like the backwaters of the Floating Harbour.

As tapas bars go, this is one of the best and it’s wonderfully atmospheric – with Andalucian vibes, beautifully patterned tiles and dishes whipped up in an open kitchen. The restaurant had a Michelin star up until 2024, and you’re guaranteed excellent nosh.

The Ostrich

One of the city’s oldest pubs (built in 1745), The Ostrich was taken over by Butcombe Brewery and revamped with quirky, modern interiors a few years ago. Its quayside terrace is one of the biggest pub gardens in the city and grants punters waterfront tables, where they can sink a pint, or tuck into pub-inspired street food from an outdoor kitchen during summer. 

The Cottage

Dating back to 1868 and sporting some stupendous Harbourside views, The Cottage is one of the most iconic Bristol Harbourside pubs. Bearer of one of the best pub locations in Bristol, thanks to its previous life as a timber store and Harbour Master’s Office, it’s a much-loved boozer (also under the Butcombe umbrella) for Bristolians and a must-go venue in the summer, when you’ll find punters spilling out onto the waterside, sipping cider and polishing off fish and chips.

Views from the beer garden look out over a hive of boating activity on the Floating Harbour to Clifton Wood’s rainbow-coloured houses, listed bond warehouses and Underfall Yard. 

The Olive Shed

The Olive Shed was my ultimate dinner date when I was at university in Bristol many moons ago. Back before the trendy Cargo shipping containers took over the Harbourside, this Mediterranean waterfront stalwart was, and is still, going strong.

Al fresco seating spills out on the Harbourside, metres from the old railway line, with gorgeous views over the water towards Lloyds Amphitheatre, the dockside cranes, and in sight of the setting sun.

Tapas is the order of the day here, with a couple of large plates – steak or market fish of the day, desserts and cheese platters.

Mud Dock opened as a bike shop and a café back in 1994 and has been a staple of the Bristol dining scene for almost 30 years. Downstairs you’ll find a range of bicycles, cycling gear, and accessories catering to both enthusiasts and casual riders, while upstairs is a restaurant with outside dining terrace and harbourside views.

The assortment of bikes suspended from the ceiling continues the biking theme, but the eatery is aimed at more than just Lycra-wearing, two-wheel aficionados. It’s a popular dockside hangout for visitors after tapas, meze and grill dishes on the water’s edge.

Riverstation 

Riverstation has been owned and run by London Brewery Young’s since 2017, and is popular as a bar and restaurant, thanks to its stunning waterfront location. The glass-fronted restaurant sits right on the water, opposite the rainbow houses of Redcliffe. Split across two floors, both capitalise on the views with outdoor balcony seating.

Enjoy a more casual bite in the downstairs Pontoon Bar which serves brunch, sharing boards and Great British classics on all-dining menus, or head upstairs to their restaurant for à la carte options.

Noah’s

Noah’s family-run fish and chip restaurant and seafood kitchen on Brunel Lock Road was named as the UK’s 3rd best Fish & Chip Restaurant in 2024 at The National Fish & Chip Awards.

Looking out to the red bricks of the B Bond tobacco warehouse on one side, and the banks of Cumberland Basin and Clifton Suspension Bridge on the other, Noah’s is a riverside restaurant that’s passionate about showcasing the best of British seafood (although there are fish-free and vegetarian options available too). The menu changes daily and seasonally, and alongside classic fish and chips, you’ll find beautiful grilled fish, plump hand-dived scallops, and shellfish plates.

With a view through a porthole or picture window from virtually every indoor seat in the house, come summer, diners can take a seat on their back terrace to enjoy the sunshine from June.

Children (and well-behaved dogs) are welcome.

Wapping Wharf restaurants Bristol Waterfront

Wapping Wharf is a collection of independent, intimate eateries housed in shipping containers on Bristol Harbourside. The diversity of excellent restaurants here have boosted the city’s reputation as a gastronomic hotspot, covering everything from street food, to fish and chips, artisanal ice cream, and sourdough pizzas. 

Gambas , a tapas bar, and sister restaurant of Bravas and nearby Cargo Cantina has some of the best views of the foodie businesses in the CARGO shipping containers, best enjoyed along with some summery drinks and snacks on the terrace.

If you’re after a harbour view, your best bets are grabbing some gorgeous veggie small plates at Root (part of the Pony group), proper pub grub at Bristol Beer Factory’s Junction , a chippy dinner outside Salt & Malt , bottomless brunch on Harbour & Brown’s covered terrace, acclaimed Japanese food at Seven Lucky Gods or treating yourself to a special dinner at Box-E , or 20-cover restaurant Tare .

Adelina Yard

Tucked away along a cobbled street in Bristol’s historic harbour district is Adelina Yard . Chefs Olivia Barry and Jamie Randall whip up innovative, photogenic, modern European dishes with a focus on high-quality local ingredients. From Wednesday to Saturday there is a set four-course lunch menu available at an affordable price (£38), while in the evenings guests can dine from its curated tasting menus. 

A small terrace at the back of the restaurant which overlooks the river if you want some scenery while you eat.

Za Za Bazaar

Za Za Bazaar on the Harbourside in Bristol is the city’s biggest restaurant. At 30,000sq ft, and able to seat 1000 diners, this all-you-can-eat world food banquet and bar is more of a fun, buzzy experience, rather than somewhere you would go to peacefully to enjoy the waterfront views. Neon signs hover above various kitchens cooking up – street market style – all kinds of cuisine from around the globe. Sushi, noodles, burgers, a chocolate fountain, Tex Mex, Italian, Indian curries, you name it, it’s here.

With such a huge range of buffet food on offer, much of your time here is spent piling your plate high, munching it at your table, then returning to discover what other culinary delights are on offer.

No.1 Harbourside

No.1 Harbourside is an independent bar, restaurant and live music venue situated on Bristol’s Floating Harbour. A cafe by day, and a restaurant, bar/live music venue by night, with tons of room inside, as well as seating out on the quayside, it’s an excellent spot to watch Harbourside life unfold, while filling up on delicious food sourced from producers based within 60 miles of the venue (whenever possible).

The weekend brunch menu is particularly special, at other times, towering burgers are hard to skim over. There’s also a varied and nutritious kids menu (although too healthy for my children #ffs) 

The Stable is a Bristol Harbour restaurant with a prime spot on the waterfront. Its freshly-made sourdough pizzas are award-winning and there are not one, not ten, not twenty, but 60+ varieties of cider on offer. So how does one choose what to go for? The cider tasting flight is a good starting point for working your way through their hefty selection. Don’t miss their live music Fridays.

Aqua Bristol Welshback

Large waterside dining establishment, Aqua Bristol Welshback offers al fresco dining (heated and covered!), Italian cuisine and cocktails. It’s one of three of the family-run Aqua restaurants in Bristol – the others are in Clifton and Portishead. Arrive before 7pm for 2 for 1 Bellinis and dine on brunch, lunch, Sunday Roasts and a la carte menus.

The River Grille

Located on the quay next to Pero’s Bridge, The Bristol hotel’s restaurant, The River Grille overlooks the Narrow Quay section of the Harbourside, with floor-to-ceiling windows that make the most of the waterfront views.

Everything from express lunch menus, excellent steak, afternoon tea, pre-theatre dining, and evening meals are catered for here in contemporary surroundings that defy the standard hotel restaurant experience.

Live piano and a jazz trio on weekends make this restaurant feel very grown up.

Spitfire BBQ

Spitfire Barbecue on the Harbourside at Hannover Quay loves all things BBQ and cooks its food in various styles of BBQ from across the Globe. From Texan style to South African Braai done on their wood fire grill. 

Book a whole brisket, take advantage of 2-4-1 cocktails from Monday to Thursday or challenge while you take in uninterrupted Harbour views.

Where to eat Bristol Harbourside attractions

Harbourside kitchen, brunel’s ss great britain.

Built by one of the greatest figures of the industrial revolution, Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Britain stands as one of the most important historic ships in the world. Sitting on Bristol dockside (where it was launched so many years ago), visitors can explore the magnificent vessel, as well as the fascinating Being Brunel museum, which takes a look into the mind of the man behind some of the most extraordinary feats of engineering of the Victorian age.

The attraction’s cafe, Harbourside Kitchen , also has a fantastic waterfront location (and you can grab a bite to eat there without entering the museum if you happen to be passing). Digest 175 years of history over a cup of coffee and cake, watching the world sail by on Bristol’s Floating Harbour. 

M Cafe @ M Shed

Located on the dockside, inside a former transit shed, the colourful objects, art and archival materials inside M Shed tell the story of the people of Bristol from prehistoric to modern times.

M Café , located on the ground floor of the museum and on the dockside immediately outside the museum, overlooks the Harbour, city centre and independent eateries housed in Wapping Wharf’s refurbished shipping containers next door. There are outdoor tables to sit on in fine weather and Fairtrade, organic drinks, local brews (the coffee comes from artisan roasters in Clifton), plus cakes, sandwiches and teatime treats for your delectation.

Chain restaurants on waterfront Bristol

Bristol’s waterfront has long been the playground of Friday and Saturday night drinkers who favour cheap booze and popular music than ambience or quality beer. 

If this is up your alley, you’ll want to check out Coyote Ugly Bristol , V Shed ,  Pitcher and Piano Bristol.

Riverside Bristol restaurant

Beeses .

Beeses Bar in Brislington is a cheerful place, sitting right on the edge of a wooded stretch of the River Avon, opposite Conham River Park. Its large, bunting-decorated garden has a pond, al fresco seating, large shady trees and is perfectly positioned for the evening sun.

Open seasonally (from the end of March until end of September), the best way to get here is by boat. Hop on a Bristol Ferry , Number Seven Boat Trips or Bristol Packet , which all offer ferry services to Beese’s at different times of the day to cater for lunch, drinks or dinner bookings. 

Alternatively, take a scenic stroll along the river, from Eastwood Farm Local Nature Reserve until you reach this little gem.

Sunday Roasts, cream teas and live music make this a delightful riverside destination.

Other waterfront restaurants Bristol

Lido bristol.

This Grade-II listed lido was built in 1850, but these days it’s a world away from its Victorian beginnings. Tucked away down a side road in upmarket Clifton, Bristol Lido has got everything for a luxurious, revitalising visit.

A stunning glass-fronted poolside bar and restaurant overlooks a heated, low-chlorine open-air pool. The place gives off ‘holiday abroad’ vibes and you’ll be longing to join the swimmers from your waterside perch. Dine downstairs on excellent tapas (OMG the olives and houmous), or go up to the second floor for a fancier affair.

To visit the spa you’ll need to book a package (unless you’re a member) to combine a swim with a treatment and/or meal, where you can potter from eucalyptus-scented steam room, to Scandinavian-style sauna, to outdoor hot tub.

A ‘slice of the ocean’ just outside Bristol, The Wave is a 180 metre-long state-of-the-art inland surfing pool that provides consistent year-round surf conditions to people of all ages and skill levels. Its Wavegarden Cove technology can generate up to 1,000 quality waves per hour, which curl out on two sides of the fan-shaped pool, divided by a central viewing platform.

Their onsite cafe bar serves hot and cold food, a great range of drinks and snacks. Choose a table near the window, overlooking the surfing lake, to watch the surfing shenanigans.

Liked this post on Bristol Harbourside restaurants and waterfront eateries? You might want to read:

Bristol restaurants with a view

Best Bristol date ideas

Angharad Paull

Posts by Angharad Paull

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Update on future of iconic Bristol Harbourside building after it was sold for redevelopment

The developers say they will turn it into 'one of the best office buildings in Bristol'

• 11:39, 28 MAY 2024
• Updated 16:51, 28 MAY 2024

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A “landmark” building within the Bristol Harbourside is set to be modernised and remain as office space. Canons House, which was formerly owned by Lloyds Bank for three decades, was sold to real estate firm Longstock Capital and investment firm Mactaggart Family & Partners last year.

Now the new owners of the two connected buildings, also known as the ‘doughnut’ and the ‘banana’, have unveiled plans to keep the former bank as office space whilst turning it into “one of the best office buildings in Bristol”. The building will be fitted with a new low-carbon retrofit and will allow for multiple tenants to be housed.

The new proposals focus on smaller changes including additions and alterations to bring the building “into the 21st century” without major changes to the historic building. Grade A office space will be developed with additional rooftop space.

READ MORE: Plans to demolish former training centre to build car-free housing

READ MORE: Five of the most expensive properties you can buy in Bristol

As part of the proposals, new retail units will be created on the ground floor and public spaces will be developed. The existing load bay would become a retail space and the existing canteen would also be a retail space which would open out onto public space.

Roof space will be better utilised according to the new plans, which indicates that rooftop extensions will be put into place which will create access to rooftop gardens. The building will also be powered by renewable energy “wherever possible”.

The owners, Longstock Capital and Mactaggart Family & Partners, said: “Our proposals seek to build on the existing high-quality design of the existing buildings and will fully celebrate the qualities of the existing buildings with no fundamental changes beyond additions and alterations to bring them into the 21st century.”

Canons House, which was built between 1988 and 1991, was one of the first buildings developed as part of regenerative efforts in the Harbourside. It replaced tobacco warehouses which had been on the site since the 1920s.

An in-person event is being held tomorrow for the public to meet the team behind the redevelopment and have their say. It is located at The Harbourside Pavilion from 2pm to 7pm. Following this, it is expected a planning application will be submitted to Bristol City Council next month.

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