bristol tourist info centre

  Walk in   Bristol    

With richie.

Tourist Information Centre

The Galleries, Ground Floor, Bristol, BS1 3XD

Official website: 

https://visitbristol.co.uk/

Tel: +44 (0)117 2397685

The Bristol Tourist Information Centre is for visitors and locals alike, and offers everything from help with bus timetables and accommodation booking to souvenirs and gifts.

Opening Hours:

Monday to Sunday 10am – 5pm

5 Nearest Attraction

Richie's opinion :

"I visited the Tourist Information Center several times ( when It was at the Watershed - see the pictures) and I have to say I really liked it. If I didn't have an idea to buy a gift, I  found something here, if I forgot to buy a monthly bus ticket and the Firstbus Office at Bristol Bus and Coach Station was closed, I visited them or  if I wanted to buy a ticket for a Boat trip or Bristol Zoo - they had very good offers.. The VisitBristol, which is part of VisitWest, it has given me a lot of ideas and inspiration for my own walkinbristol website, is worth following them on all platforms; Facebook and Instagram , but their Youtube Channel is also excellent. ;)"

1. Castle Park

     ( 413 foot - 2 min walking) 

2. Cabot Circus

     (486 foot- 2 min walking)

3. John Wesley's chapel - The New Room

    (0,1 mile  - 2 min walking)

     (0,2 mile - 5 min walking)

5. St Nicholas Market

    (0,3 mile - 7 min walking)

Click to the postcode to check the map .

Nearest Public Toilet

     The Galleries Shopping Centre

(You are HERE )

Accessible 25 Union Gallery, Broadmead, BS1 3XD

Cabot Circus Shopping Centre (Community Toilet Scheme) 

Accessible Glass House, Broadmead, BS1 3BX Lower ground floor and floor 3 management suite

About the Tourist Information Centre

Bristol’s Tourist Information Centre has moved to the ground floor of the Galleries.

Previously located next to the Watershed, the information centre had to move because of the cinema’s planned expansion.

Opening Times

Open from Tuesday to Sunday, the information hub offer services for both visitors to the city and for people who live in Bristol, such as help with public transport, as well as stocking themed gifts and souvenirs.

The store is selling locally made products, including mugs, jewellery, t-shirts, books and maps, all of which are available through  the Bristol Tourist Information Centre’s website .

Visitors and locals can also buy bus tickets, get keys for the city’s accessible toilets and find out about recently reopened attractions throughout Bristol and beyond.

Bristol Tourist Information Centre

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Also popular with travellers

BRISTOL TOURIST INFORMATION CENTRE: All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)

Bristol Tourist Information Centre

Top ways to experience nearby attractions

Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.

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

Also popular with travellers

Bristol Tourist Information Centre - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

Shutterstock / Dani Ber

Bristol is on the rise. Derelict docks are becoming leisure venues, heritage attractions ooze imagination and a world-class street-art scene adds colour and spice.

Best Things to Do

Leave the planning to a local expert.

Experience the real Bristol. Let a local expert handle the planning for you.

Attractions

Must-see attractions.

Brunel's SS Great Britain

This mighty, innovative steamship was designed by engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843. You get to wander the galley, surgeon's quarters and…

Set amid the iconic cranes of Bristol's dockside, this impressive museum is a treasure trove of memorabilia. It's divided into four main sections: People,…

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton's most famous (and photographed) landmark is the 76m-high Clifton Suspension Bridge, which spans the Avon Gorge. It was designed by master…

Bristol Museum & Art Gallery

You're in for a few surprises at this classic old Edwardian museum. Look out for the Paint-Pot Angel by world-famous street artist Banksy in the entrance…

Clifton Observatory & Camera Obscura

Set in a striking 18th-century windmill, Clifton Observatory features a viewing platform, a rare camera obscura and the cliff-side Giant's Cave. Together…

We the Curious

Bristol's interactive science museum is a playful, hands-on space where 300 'exhibits' fly the flag for curiosity, scientific collaboration and creativity…

Bristol Cathedral

Originally founded as a 12th-century monastery church, Bristol Cathedral was heavily remodelled during the 19th century. It's one of Britain's best…

The most striking thing about this replica of the vessel in which John Cabot made his landmark voyage from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497 is its size. At…

Top picks from our travel experts

The 15 best things to do in bristol - from banksy to bridges.

Leigh Woods

It may be tiny (under a square mile), but Leigh Woods squeezes a lot into a small space: ancient trees, snaking walking trails and corking Avon Gorge…

Cabot Tower

Set in the small park of Brandon Hill, this 32m ornate red-brick tower was built between 1896 and 1898 to commemorate John Cabot's pioneering voyage in…

Spike Island

Culture vultures should make time to visit Spike Island, a lively centre for visual arts that's home to a collective of studios, a contemporary art…

St Nicholas Market

The city's lively street market has a bevy of food stalls selling everything from Pieminister pies and mezze platters to pulled-pork rolls from barbecue…

Mild Mild West

This wry piece of graffiti art was painted by local lad Banksy. It features a Molotov cocktail–wielding teddy bear who's facing three riot police. It's…

Well Hung Lover

One of Banksy's best loved pieces of street art features an apparently two-timing wife, an angry husband and a naked man dangling from a window. That it…

Occupying the ground floor of an old office block, this community-run cafe-bar sums up Bristol's alternative character: it's all about slow food, local…

Plan with a local

Experience the real England

Let a local expert craft your dream trip.

Latest stories from Bristol

Aug 15, 2022 • 7 min read

Scored by the River Avon and scrawled in vibrant street art, Bristol is the ideal backup for when London has restricted room

Jun 21, 2022 • 6 min read

Jan 23, 2022 • 8 min read

Dec 17, 2020 • 1 min read

Mar 27, 2020 • 3 min read

Mar 10, 2020 • 2 min read

Feb 11, 2020 • 2 min read

Nov 1, 2019 • 2 min read

in partnership with getyourguide

Book popular activities in Bristol

Purchase our award-winning guidebooks.

Get to the heart of Bristol with one of our in-depth, award-winning guidebooks, covering maps, itineraries, and expert guidance.

• 1.1 Orientation
• 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.

The Tourist Information Centre can be found in the Watershed, a converted warehouse just off The Centre, just on the west side of the inlet of the Floating Harbour (St. Augustine's Reach). Walking south down The Centre, where the dock begins head to your right and under the colonnade. The Tourist Info Centre is a little way along.

• 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 free maps of the city for visitors. Distinctive blue A3 tourist maps which cover the city centre, the Harbourside and Clifton, are available for free from the Tourist Information Centre on the harbourside and also 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.  

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 7 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 26 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 .  
• Thekla , East Mud Dock . The famous club on a boat, sporting a Banksy graffiti work and prime location by Queens Square.  
• 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 10 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 )
• 51.44244 -2.56406 11 Diamonds , 363 Bath Rd, 3EW ( next to Bristol Blue Glass ), ☏ +44 117 977 4659 . M-F 10AM-8PM, Sa Su 11AM-8PM . Massages in a friendly atmosphere, nice for days with miserable weather. Reservation well in advance required. £60 . ( updated Apr 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

• Previous Destinations of the month
• Has custom banner
• Has map markers
• Airport listing
• Has mapframe
• Articles with dead external links
• See listing with no coordinates
• Do listing with no coordinates
• Buy listing with no coordinates
• Drink listing with no coordinates
• Sleep listing with no coordinates
• Has routebox
• Guide cities
• Guide articles
• City articles
• Somerset (England)
• All destination articles
• Has Geo parameter
• Pages with maps

Navigation menu

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.

VISITOR CENTER

CONSTRUCTION IN PROGRESS

BRISTOL, Tenn. (Wednesday, April 3, 2024) – Explore Bristol, the official Destination Marketing Organization for Bristol, Tennessee and Bristol, Virginia, broke ground today on its new downtown visitor center, which will be located along Volunteer Parkway, just south of the Tennessee-Virginia state line.

Pete Rosenboro, Bristol native and Assistant Commissioner of Welcome Centers for the Tennessee Department of Tourist Development, joined Becky Nave, Director of Destination Development for Virginia Tourism Corporation, city officials, Explore Bristol staff, and members of its board of directors for the groundbreaking.

Tennessee Department of Tourist Development Commissioner Mark Ezell feels the new interactive visitor center, which will feature digital screens and display areas to highlight major attractions in Bristol and the region, will be a tremendous benefit to the Bristol area.

“Visitors from around the world flock to our state for its breathtaking scenery, iconic music, rich cultural heritage, and historical landmarks like Bristol’s own Birthplace of Country Music Museum,” said Ezell. “The addition of Bristol’s visitor center will be an important asset to drive tourism in Northeast Tennessee.

“Congratulations to the team for their commitment to ensuring every visitor leaves with unforgettable memories of Northeast Tennessee.”

Nave, who is also mayor of Bristol, Virginia, says the new visitor’s center is a testament to the city’s commitment to tourism.

“The groundbreaking of Explore Bristol’s Visitor Center ushers in a new era of connectivity and exploration for our city,” she said. “This center will not only serve as a hub for tourists but also as a testament to our community’s commitment to fostering a deeper understanding and appreciation of Bristol’s unique heritage and charm.”

Bristol, Tennessee, Mayor Vince Turner feels the center is the perfect addition to the downtown area. “With this new center, we are thrilled to have an official front door to welcome visitors from around the globe and showcase the seemingly endless list of things to do, see, and experience during their time in our community. Located in the heart of our city, it is perfectly situated to serve as the jumping-off point to explore not only Bristol but also everything else our region has to offer.” The Explore Bristol Visitor Center will be located near the Parkway’s intersection with Anderson Street at the trailhead of the Wes Davis Greenway. In addition to serving as Explore Bristol’s primary office location, the 2,046-square-foot facility will feature ample display space for information on local and regional tourism assets from area businesses. Flexible indoor and outdoor spaces will also accommodate small meetings and music events.

Like the Pullman car and caboose that currently sit on the site, both of which will remain and be incorporated into the center’s offerings, the interior and exterior architectural features of the facility have been designed to acknowledge Bristol’s extensive railroad heritage. Adding a parking lot and updated lighting will also enhance the area for users of the roughly half-mile greenway currently emanating from the site.

While Bristol area attractions will naturally be highlighted, the visitor’s center is expected to position Bristol as a starting point for visitors to explore the greater region.

“Bristol is known primarily for racing, outdoor adventures, and music, and there are so many other remarkable attractions here and throughout Northeast Tennessee and Southwest Virginia for visitors to enjoy,” said Explore Bristol Executive Director Matt Bolas. “We’re also renowned as one of the friendliest, most hospitable regions in the country, and that also keeps bringing tourists back to the area time and time again.

“We’re very excited to finally have a place where the full Bristol experience is proudly displayed as soon as folks walk through the doors. It’s going to be a tremendous benefit for Bristol. Bristol’s tourism economy is booming, with record-number lodging tax collections and new major attractions opening this year, like the permanent Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Bristol and Tennessee Hills Distillery. This Visitor Center will assist in preparing Bristol to welcome these new visitors to our community.”

The visitor center is expected to be open by the early winter of this year.

For more information, please contact Explore Bristol at [email protected] or call 423-212-3637 .

Bristol Tourist Information Centre

"Bristol For You"

What's Nearby?

Email Collection

Share/invite, booking details, create new collection, cancellation page, cancellation status, edit collection.

There is a great opportunity in Bristol to visit places of interest, go on a shopping spree or eat out in one of the many varied eateries Bristol has to offer.

Bristol Panorama

With the history of Bristol reaching back to Norman times and its position as a port and major manufacturing area, it�s no wonder the city is of important historical interest. You�ll need a good few days to visit all the major sites but even if you only have one day there is bound to be something of interest. There are plenty of places to stay in Bristol suiting all budgets including hotels and bed and breakfast establishments. The influence of the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, Bristol�s position as a major port and the effects of the Industrial Revolution are to be seen all around. Visit the SS Great Britain, Bristol Industrial Museum and Brunel�s Clifton Suspension Bridge or travel further back in time to Bristol Cathedral, parts of which date to the Norman period. Add a splash of culture and take a short trip to the Bristol City Museum and Art Gallery, Blaise Castle House Museum in Henbury or Red Lodge. If you are taken to natural history why not visit Bristol Zoo Gardens or St. Westburgh�s City Farm.

Brunel's Clifton Suspension Bridge

You are spoilt for choice in the South West�s premier shopping centre. The Broadmead Shopping Centre offers over 400 shops, including department stores, eateries and pubs. Specialist and independent shops can be visited at Christmas Steps (at the top of which is the Chapel of the Three Kings), Park Street and Clifton Village to the east of Bristol. From John Wesley�s Chapel at Broadmead, a walk up Union Street and along Corn Street (visit the Commercial Rooms here too) will take you past a number of historic sites such as the Council House, Corn Exchange (where there is a covered market), the Grand Hotel built in 1869 and the Guild Hall with its Art Nouveau frontage completed in 1843. On this route to the Harbourside there are plenty of other interesting places to visit including one of the oldest operational theatres in England � The Theatre Royal which was built in 1766 and Rowes Leadworks.

Bristol Cathedral

Clifton Suspension Bridge Probably Bristol's most famous landmark - the Clifton Suspension Bridge designed by the engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel.