Bristol

About

Welcome to the city of bridges, balloons, boats, bikes, Brunel and Banksy. Regarded as the capital of the South West of England, lively yet laid-back Bristol is creative, cultural and vibrant with a rich maritime heritage. Whether you’re looking for a great day out for all the family, a romantic break or a little adventure, you’ll find it in Bristol.

Food
Bristol blends award-winning restaurants, cosy cafés, buzzing bars and an award-winning market serving a colourful choice of cuisine from around the globe. Cargo at Wapping Wharf is one of many highlights on the foodie scene. Inside a series of re-purposed shipping containers in a prime waterside spot, indie restaurants serve up everything from first-class fish and chips to Mexican tacos.

Treat yourself to Michelin-starred fare at Casamia, Paco Tapas, Wilks restaurant in Redland and The Pony and Trap pub in nearby Chew Valley. There’s an abundance of family-friendly options in every corner of the city too – The Stable, Pieminister, Giraffe, Za Za Bazaar and Las Iguanas, to name a handful of favourites.

Green at heart and a Fairtrade City, Bristol also cooks up plenty of eco-friendly and sustainable eats, with hopes to be recognised as a Gold Sustainable Food City by the end of 2020.

By the water
Explore the historic Harbourside, packed with cafés and bars offering delicious locally-sourced food and drink at venues such as Glassboat Brasserie, Riverstation and The Grain Barge. Enjoy a dockside walk or river ferry trip to discover great attractions including Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the world’s first great ocean-going liner, We The Curious, a stunning interactive science centre and planetarium, or contemporary art at cutting edge galleries such as the Arnolfini and Watershed.

Shopping
Bristol is a great shopping destination covering designer, vintage, retro, high street brands, bric-a-brac, exquisite home furnishings and more. In the city centre, Bristol Shopping Quarter is home to Cabot Circus, Quakers Friars, The Galleries and Broadmead, which together have over 500 stores. With two covered shopping centres, easy access and a lot of parking, it’s a hive of high street and big brand fashions with the odd independent thrown in for good measure.

Flying the indie spirit flag is Gloucester Road, Europe’s longest street of independent shops. Locals love it for its organic foods, clothes and antiques as well as the street art. Park Street, Clifton Village and The Christmas Steps are also lined with small boutiques, trendy independent clothing stores and curious shops, alongside weekly and permanent markets across the city.

Big hitters
As well as We The Curious and Brunel’s SS Great Britain, Bristol is home to the world’s third oldest zoo. There’s also the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge, which is jaw-dropping whether you walk across it or admire it from across the Gorge. Cabot Tower offers views across the city. Stokes Croft, as well as being a hub of graffiti and street art, has an unquenchable independent spirit, offering up the quirkier side of Bristol life.

Bristol is known for its nightlife. As well as its wealth of bars, restaurants, pubs (most stocked with locally-sourced ciders, beers and ales), you can find live music and DJs in most places, be it the super-club, Motion, or something smooth, like jazz at the Old Duke.

Bristol festival city
There’s a festival or party happening almost every weekend throughout the year in Bristol. And it’s never the same. Be it the spectacular Harbour Festival and Bristol’s International Balloon Fiesta, or the quirkier Festival of Puppetry or even the world-famous Slapstick Festival, Bristol’s residents are well-catered for. There are music festivals too, some down by the water, others in Ashton Court, hosting local and world-famous bands as well as family-friendly ones. Bristol’s concert halls, theatres, parks and gardens, pubs and cinemas guarantee some of the best and most diverse range of events and entertainment in Britain.

Family friendly
Bristol has a reputation for being one of the most family-friendly cities in the UK, thanks to the mix of award-winning attractions, festivals and events, and exciting activities for all ages and interests. You can go between delving into the past at M Shed, Bristol Museum and Brunel’s SS Great Britain, and uncovering science and engineering knowledge at We The Curious and Aerospace Bristol.

Animal lovers gravitate towards Noah’s Ark Zoo Farm and Avon Valley Wildlife and Adventure Park as well as Bristol Zoo and its sister attraction the Wild Place Project. The new Bear Wood exhibit at the latter has made history by bringing bears and wolves back into the same habitat in the UK.

Getting there
It's really easy to get to Bath from Bristol. Regular train services run between Bristol Temple Meads and Bath Spa station with a journey time of around 12 minutes. If you're driving, take the A4 from Bristol or leave the M4 at junction 18 and follow the A46 into the city. For those who are feeling a little more energetic, the Bristol and Bath Railway Path offers a dedicated cycleway through glorious countryside.

Tourist office
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.

Tourist Information Office E Shed, 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX
Open Sun – Fri 11am – 4pm and Sat 10 am – 4pm.
Telephone: 0906 711 2191 (calls cost 50p per minute plus network extras)

You can also email us at ticharbourside@destinationbristol.co.uk, or if wishing to call from abroad please call us on 0044 333 321 0101. For comments or complaints about our service please call: 0333 321 0101.