How to spend a weekend in Bristol [2024]

By Gemma Tedaldi | Published: 28th March 2021 | Updated: 29th November 2024

Looking to spend a weekend in Bristol? Then look no further than our weekend travel guide! Having lived in Bristol for most of our lives, we know some of the best places to visit, eat at and some of the more unknown locations you should see too.

Planning Your Trip? Use our favourite travel resources below:

Accommodation: We recommend Booking.com

Rental Car: We recommend Rentalcars.com

Travel Insurance: We recommend World Nomads

Flights: We recommend Kiwi.com

Tours: We recommend Get Your Guide

Weekend in Bristol Map

Weekend in Bristol itinerary

Day 1 – Waterfront day

Start off the day with a walk along the harbourside to the Clifton Suspension Bridge viewpoint. Starting at Millennium square head east over Peros Bridge towards the Arnolfini, then cross Prince Street Bridge towards M Shed. From here follow the waterfront along, keeping it on your right, past Wapping Wharf and towards the SS Great Britain. Be sure to stop at Brunels Buttery for your morning coffee and sweet treat!

Keep following the harbourside footpath along past Bristol Marina and towards Underfall Yard, all the while taking in the colourful buildings of Hotwells on the opposite shore and the various artwork you come across on this walk around this neighbourhood called Spike Island, (hint there’s a Banksy not far from the SS Great Britain…).

Keep following the water around past Cumberland Basin before crossing over at Brunels Swing Bridge, one of his lesser-known designs, to take in the view up to Clifton Suspension Bridge. Cross over the lock bridge onto the opposite side of the water then start the walk back to the centre, again keeping the water on your right. Walk past Pooles Wharf Marina and the Grain Barge, continuing around Capricorn Place to the newly introduced area of the floating harbour, full to the brim with cafes! Broken Dock is the perfect place for a bite to eat after all that walking.

From here either follow the water around Hannover Quay or walk up through Millennium Promenade to take you back to your start point at Millennium Square. Then spend the afternoon getting cultural, visiting either We The Curious or the Arnolfini Arts. End the day with dinner at the Avon Gorge Hotel / the White Lion, for unimaginable views over the Clifton Suspension Bridge, ready for your visit tomorrow!

 Fancy a long weekend in another UK city? Check out our Edinburgh Itinerary here

Day 2 – Parks and Gardens day

Day 2 on your weekend in Bristol, and after a waterside filled day yesterday, today is all about the parks and gardens through Bristol, starting at Clifton Observatory. (From here you can easily add on the Downs or cross the bridge and walk-through Leigh Woods if you want to make your day a little longer). The view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge from this point is the best in all the city, and even more so if you get up early with no one else around other than possibly a balloon! You then want to head east walking through the heart of Clifton, stopping for some breakfast in any of the independent cafes you find.

From here sneak a peek at the Royal York Crescent before heading east along the quiet roads of Clifton Hill and Constitution Hill before crossing into Brandon Hill. This hilltop park in the centre of Bristol really transports you to another place, with its mature trees and beautiful gardens. At the heart of it lies Cabot Tower, which if open, is somewhere you must go. At 32 metres high, this tower built in 1897 is designed for giving you the best views over the city! The stairs are a little narrow and steep at times but the 360 view at the top is so worth it.

After all that climbing head out of Brandon Hill towards Park Street and grab your food fix. We can highly recommend Yakinori, Boston Tea Party or Mrs Potts Chocolate House, don’t go all the way down Park Street at next you want to head all the way up to the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery. The museum itself is well worth a wander around if you have time / if the day is a little rainy, but we are heading to the University of Bristol and the Royal Fort Gardens. With multiple artworks throughout the gardens, just wander and see what you can find! Head out down Cantock Steps towards the School of Chemistry, taking in Luke Jerram’s Palm Temple and the giant modern artwork on the building wall.

Follow the pathways around to the northeast along Park Place before coming out on St Michaels Hill. Walk down this hill, (yes, we now know Bristol is rather hilly!), before crossing over the main road and walking down Christmas Steps next to the Zerodegrees Microbrewery. These little stepped alleyways are full of independent shops and a fun café or two, and they are beautiful all year round, not just Christmas!

Finally walk back through the centre, past the Hippodrome and to College Green and Bristol Cathedral. Keep an eye out for Banksy’s Well Hung Lover here… You can easily spend an hour wandering around the cathedral, it is really quite beautiful inside. Head to anywhere on the bottom of Park Street of in the centre for food before finishing off the day in Ashton Court. (It’s an hour walk from the cathedral or a couple of buses. We much prefer the walk as it follows a cycle path and is lovely in the evening). Keep an eye out for any potential balloon flights, if you visit in the summer and the weather is good, you are almost guaranteed to see one or two floating over the city.

Planning your own trip to Bristol? Make sure you check out our Travelling Tedaldi Amazon Store Travel Guides for all your guidebooks and maps. (We’ve done the hard work for you and linked all the things we used to plan our trip!)

Day 3 – Food and art day

Day 3 and it’s all about the food and art. Bristol is well known for its art thanks to a certain fella named Banksy, but did you know it is also home to some of the best street food? Start the day off in St Nicks Market, a historic market held in a Georgian arcade with so many foods to try and tiny shops to discover you can spend a few hours here without even realising! Here is where you realise just how diverse Bristol and its food scene are. You can literally eat at any of the stalls and come away wanting more of that deliciousness!

After getting your fill of food, walk west down Corn Street towards the centre and either take the M1 towards Hengrove Park getting off at West Street in Bedminster or walk there via Wapping Wharf and Gaol Ferry Bridge. From here you can explore Bedminster and Southville to your heart’s content, taking in the artwork that changes year on year when Upfest is held. Whilst you are out and about keep an eye out for any graffiti rabbits that you see, these are by the relatively unknown artist Follow My Rabbits and sure do bring joy to an otherwise dull corner! Another artist to keep an eye out for is DFTE, who writes heartfelt and often humorous quotes on signs.

For lunch take your pick of cafes in Bedminster, from the Bristol Beer Factory Tap Room to the North Street Standard, there are plenty of places to pick from. If you walk along North Street looking for some food then you are also going to walk past some of the best street art there is in Bedminster, including the ever-changing artwork on the side of the Tobacco Factory.

Finish the day by getting your food fix in Wapping Wharf. Either walk there via Gaol Ferry Bridge or take the M1 bus back to the centre then walk over Prince Street Bridge towards the M Shed and following along Museum Street. You can eat in any of the places in Wapping Wharf and come away feeling full and happy! Seriously there is not a place there that we wouldn’t recommend eating at!

More days

If you have a few more days to spend in Bristol then be sure to visit some of the beautiful parks and green spaces just outside of the city centre, such as Oldbury Court Estate, Snuff Mills, Blaise Castle and Stoke Park. You can go from the bustling city centre to the quietest of walks along the River Frome, exploring a historic estate or climbing the hills for views from the Purdown Tower, all in less than half an hour.

Where to stay for your weekend in Bristol

If you want to experience the real Bristol, then you want to stay in the heart of the city. Be it in Clifton, near the modern Harbourside or in the centre of the Old City you will never be too far away from a quaint coffee shop, fresh artwork, or a good outdoor space. Don’t stay on Park Street or near Corn Street though, they can get quite noisy over the weekends…

Check out the best accommodation options through Booking.com or on the map below:

Where to eat and drink in Bristol

It is probably easier to tell you where not to eat! Bristol has become somewhat of a foodie city over the last couple of years, and boy is there so much food on offer it’s hard to pick.

St Nicholas Market, or St Nicks, is the first place you should start when looking for food in Bristol. With food from all over the world and not a giant brand insight, this market is home to some of the best street food going. The variety always baffles us with so many choices, but you can’t go wrong with an Eat a Pitta falafel box, Eatchu Japanese gyoza, Matina giant Turkish flatbreads or Woky Ko St Nicks for the best Korean lunches.

Wapping Wharf – A more recent addition to the city than St Nicks, Wapping Wharf is home to some of the best food in Bristol, all whilst being housed in redesigned shipping containers! Little Victories or Mokoko Coffee are the best places for your morning brew with a baked good, whilst Woky Ko, The Athenian or Tare are great for some delicious lunches or evening meals.

Park Street – As well as the more well-known chains there are also some great independent eateries along Park Street. Our favourite by far is Yakinori, Japanese food to die for!

There are also numerous pubs and cafes dotted around the centre that are great to stop in for a drink. The Cottage Inn along the marina for views of the ever so colourful Hotwells, any of the bars on Christmas Steps for that cosy vibe, Bambalan in the very centre has a great terrace overlooking the old city and a little bit further afield, our favourite Italian Don Giovannis near Temple Meads.

How to spend a weekend in Bristol FAQs

Is Bristol England worth visiting?

Yes, 100% yes, and we’re not saying that just because we live here, although it does help… Bristol is a city that is unlike any other. With colourful buildings galore, independent eateries on every corner and a hot air balloon or two, Bristol is most definitely worth visiting.

How to get to Bristol

By car – From London follow the M4 west then the M32 for 3 hours, from Cardiff follow the M4 east then the M32 for 1 hour, from anywhere else in the country, get on the M5 heading towards the M4 then take the M4 east before getting off on the M32 into the city centre.

By train – Bristol city is well served by various train lines. The main train station in the centre is Temple Meads, whilst various lines lead out to Montpelier, Redland and Clifton in the centre and Filton Abbey Wood and Stoke Gifford just out of the city.

By air – The nearest airport is Bristol Airport, (surprise surprise!). From here you then take the Airport Flyer to get into the city centre.

How to get around Bristol

The easiest way by far to get around Bristol is on foot. Yes, there are a few hills to get up, but they make your food at the end of the day so much more rewarding! If going on foot isn’t your thing, then the whole city is very well set up with its public transport including First Bus and the Metrobuses which run from the north to the south of the city stopping throughout the centre.

Is Bristol good for a weekend away?

Bristol is a great location for a weekend away, with plenty to keep everyone busy. With a vast history, incredible art scene, great shopping and much more. There is also wide range of accommodation options to suit every budget.

Is 2 days in Bristol enough?

Honestly, coming from someone who lived there for 10 years, no 2 days in Bristol is not enough. If you want to fully explore the city from the waterside to Clifton, Bristol Cathedral to Ashton Court and take time to stop in some of the many quaint cafes or incredible eateries there are across the city, then you will need at least 4 days.

How many days do you need in Bristol?

Ideally, you would want to spend at least a week in Bristol to get a really good feel for the city, but a long weekend in Bristol will give you plenty of time to visit places that we would highly recommend as well as give you a taste of life in Bristol. You can just plan further trips back afterwards to get the real Bristol vibe!

Best time of year to visit Bristol?

Spring and summer are when Bristol really comes to life. With countless festivals happening across the city, and the warmer nights and longer days encouraging the city into bloom, it is most definitely the best time to get exploring the sights around Bristol. Just be aware though that if you choose to visit over a festival weekend, (which you should as they are great!), then it is probably going to be busier than normal.

Is Bristol good for a city break?

100% yes, not only is it full of attractions to keep you busy but also shopping, incredible eateries and a rather good bar or two. If you also want a nice day trip during your Bristol city break, then you can easily hop aboard the train for the 15 minute journey to nearby Bath.

How to get from London to Bristol?

If you have a car then getting from London to Bristol is relatively easy with most routes taking the M25 and then M4 to Bristol. If you are getting from London to Bristol via public transport then by far the easiest way is via train from one of the main stations in London, (London Paddington for example), to Bristol Temple Meads. You can also take coaches such as Megabus or Flixbus between London and Bristol but they can be slower than travelling via train.

Check out thetrainline.com for the best train options and Busbud for bus options.

Bristol Tours

Tours are a great way to see the city through a locals eyes and often find out things you wouldn’t have known otherwise. Check out these tours for your weekend in Bristol:

Day trips from Bristol

Only a short train ride away you can easily reach Bath, (15 minutes) or Cardiff (1 hour). They are both great cities to explore for a different day out if you are basing yourself in Bristol for a little while, and they give a very different perspective on city life. You can also hire a bike and cycle the Bristol to Bath Cycle path, which is a great day out!

If you opt to hire a car or bring your own transportation, then we would also recommend a visit to Westonbirt Arboretum and the Cotswolds. Westonbirt Arboretum is a mere 40 minutes north of Bristol by car, 1.5 hours by bus or 2 hours cycle, and is situated inside the Cotswold AONB, so not only is it worth a wander through but so is the surrounding area.

Westonbirt is a spectacle throughout the year, with an enchanted winter trail, fresh blooms through spring, concerts under the stars in the summer and of course the famous Japanese maple leaves in autumn. You will be wanting to return every month just to see how the landscape changes!

Conclusion: How to spend a weekend in Bristol

Here’s our travel guide on how to spend a weekend in Bristol. If you want any more tips on places to eat or visit, check out our other Bristol posts or drop us an email, and we’ll be sure to help you out!

Gemma Tedaldi

Gemma is the owner and author of The Travelling Tedaldi, a travel blog helping travellers to discover the best road trips and travel itineraries throughout the UK and Europe. When she isn’t writing about her favourite travel destinations, she can often be found out exploring local hikes or planning future trips.