10 Best Things To Do In Bristol, England - Updated 2024

things to do in bristol
Samantha
Samantha 
Updated
| 4 min read

Bristol is a huge place to visit, so for those that have never been, choosing what to do can be a little daunting. Here’s a list to help visitors to Bristol narrow down the more fun things to do in the area.

Quick rundown for 2024
Planning a trip and looking for what’s up and coming in Bristol? Below are the hottest picks and happenings for all sorts of travelers to get your holiday plans rolling:

  • Events/Festivals: The premier Bristol Harbour Festival stages its comeback to the iconic harbourside later in 19th to 21st July.
  • Attractions: More good things are coming to the Bristol Zoo Project this year! Two new red pandas will make their debut in spring at the conservancy, and plans for the ambitious Central African Forest project are underway.
  • Food scene: Two new F&B establishments are set to grace Bristol's waterfront this year. The 6 O'clock Gin inside the Glassboat offers splendid cocktails mixed with the finest alcoholic spirits, while The Granary on Welshback takes sustainable produce to new heights in the form of star-quality dishes.
  • Live Music: The Love Saves The Day festival is back for another thrilling bank holiday weekend, with live music from today's top local and international acts. A full lineup of artists will be announced sometime this year but the event is scheduled to happen on May 25 and 26.

1. Brunel's SS Great Britain Museum

Posted by Brunel's SS Great Britain on Wednesday, 26 April 2017

This place is like a trip back in time. This museum has all kinds of ships that were used during wars and traveling. It’s really cool to see the bottom of ships as it’s not normally visible. The workers all dress up in old Victorian era clothing so it really feels like visitors take a time machine back to Bristol.

Brunel's SS Great Britain Muse

Address: Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Road, Bristol, BS1 6TY

Website: Brunel’s SS Great Britain Museum

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2. Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton suspension bridge at dawn
Source: Photo by user sagesolar used under CC BY 2.0

This is a pretty great area to visit. The bridge isn’t like any other old bridge. It was finished in December of 1864 and spans across the Avon Gorge and the River Avon, connecting Clifton in Bristol to Leigh Woods in North Somerset. It’s a toll bridge really, and the tolls pay for the upkeep of the bridge. It’s unique because the towers on the different sides are different shapes and sizes. Similar, but not the exact same. The bridge deck is suspended by vertical rods. This bridge is often pictured on Bristol postcards as it one of the biggest sites to see in the area.

Clifton Suspension Bridge

Address: Bridge Road, Leigh Woods Bristol UK BS8 3PA

Website: Clifton Suspension Bridge

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3. Wills Memorial Building

The Wills Memorial Building of Bristol University
Source: Photo by user Robert Cutts used under CC BY-SA 2.0

Located on the University of Bristol Law School campus, the Wills Memorial Building is a beautiful architectural piece that any carpenter would be awed with. It’s so beautiful and quite a sight to behold for those that choose to visit the Wills Memorial Building.

Wills Memorial Building

Address: University of Bristol Law School, Wills Memorial Building, Queens Road Bristol UK BS8 1RJ

Website: Wills Memorial Building

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4. Cabot Tower

Cabot Tower, Bristol (2249)
Source: Photo by Wikimedia Commons user Nilfanion used under CC BY-SA 4.0

This is another great architecturally pleasing place to visit. It also has a lot of history to it. This tower was built in 1898 to commemorate the journey of John Cabot who traveled from Bristol to what is now known as Canada. The tower is open every day to the general public, so visitors can climb up into the tower to see the beautiful view from the top. The only reason it was ever closed was for repairs from 2007 to 2011 but has been open since for visitors to enjoy.

Cabot Tower

Address: Brandon Hill, Bristol UK BS1 5

Website: Cabot Tower

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5. Bristol City Docks

things to do in bristol | bristol city docks
Source: instagram

This is a lovely place to visit when the weather is cooperative. The harbor is one of the most popular places to visit as they have boat rides and little festivals happening pretty regularly. Kids love seeing the boats sitting on the water. This is a nice relaxing place to visit if travelers are feeling overwhelmed as it is a calm place with the sound of water all around.

Bristol City Docks (Avonmouth Docks)

Address: BS11 9EL Bristol UK

Website: Bristol City Docks

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6. Bristol Cathedral

Posted by Bristol Cathedral on Thursday, 20 October 2011

An Angelican church located in Bristol, United Kingdom, the Bristol Cathedral is a huge church that was built in 1140. The staff is super welcoming and the organ is often being played by one of them. It’s such a calm area to visit and enjoy. This is definitely not an area that should be missed if traveling to Bristol. And if travelers enjoy listening to different Sunday services, this is also one that should not be missed as it is as unique as the church.

Bristol Cathedral

Address: Bristol Cathedral, College Green Bristol UK BS1 5TJ

Website: Bristol Cathedral

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7. Blaise Hamlet

This hut has holes for birds to live in.

Posted by Kenny Cheong on Sunday, 30 April 2017

This is an area of nine differently decorated cottages. It may not seem like the most fun activity to enjoy, but visitors will get to see some beautifully old cottages that have been around since 1811. This place can make one think of the Smurfs when here as that is how everything is set up. It’s a cute area that should be visited on a lovely sunny day.

Blaise Hamlet

Address: Hallen Road, Bristol UK

Website: Blaise Hamlet

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8. The Georgian House Museum

The Georgian house, Bristol
Source: Photo by user Heather Cowper used under CC BY 2.0

This old house has been around since 1790 and was originally meant for a wealthy sugar merchant but is now furnished as a common 18th century home. The workers here are super knowledgeable about the area and the home and they all dress in old Victorian era clothing. The house was turned into a museum in the year of 1937 by the Bristol City Council for wanting to keep the history of the home alive.

The Georgian House Museum

Address: 7 Great George St, Bristol UK BS1 5RR

Website: The Georgian House Museum

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9. The Red Lodge Museum

Inside The Red Lodge.

Posted by Once Upon A Creation Design Studio on Monday, 16 April 2012

The Red Lodge Museum is another historical place to visit while in Bristol UK. This place is dripping with over 400 years of Tudor and Elizabethan styles and artifacts. There are old paintings on the walls and furniture that sits on the floors. This is quite a treasure to visit when in Bristol.

The Red Lodge Museum

Address: Park Row, BS1 5LJ Bristol UK

Website: The Red Lodge Museum

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10. Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

See what else is in our collection here: http://museums.bristol.gov.uk/narratives.php?irn=14220

Posted by Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Friday, 16 September 2016

This particular museum doubles as an art gallery, so there are often events in the great building. There are different galleries that house old artifacts and paintings as well as old furniture and clothing. It’s really quite fun learning about all the different types of history that surrounds areas like Bristol UK.

Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

Address: Queens Road, Bristol UK BS8 1RL

Website: Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

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Historical city of Bristol

Bristol is a great city to visit for those that are unsure of where to go. There are plenty of museums to visit and there is so much history in the area that it’s a great place to learn new things.

Any must-sees we missed? Tell us about them in the comments section or write a post here to help out fellow travelers!
Disclosure: Trip101 selects the listings in our articles independently. Some of the listings in this article contain affiliate links.

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Samantha Kern, holding a Bachelor's Degree in English, is passionately dedicated to her writing career. Her love for travel has been ingrained since her early years, with cherished memories of...Read more

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