Places To Visit in Bristol
Most of these are walkable from the house and we have been to them all and enjoyed them:
Interesting look at a a 400 year old house through the ages
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The Red Lodge Museum
Park RowInteresting look at a a 400 year old house through the ages
John Wesley's Chapel & New Room Museum
36 The HorsefairThe birthplace of Hymn Singing!
Another interesting old house - this time dating back 250 years
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The Georgian House Museum
7 Great George StAnother interesting old house - this time dating back 250 years
Beautiful park with walks, cafe's, historic mansion, golf courses, off-road cycles tracks, deer park and home to the world famous Balloon Fiesta in August.
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Ashton Court
Beautiful park with walks, cafe's, historic mansion, golf courses, off-road cycles tracks, deer park and home to the world famous Balloon Fiesta in August.
Free entry – classic general museum with fossils, amour and everything you’d expect – plus the occasional Bansky (he staged a major exhibition here in 2009)
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Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Queens RoadFree entry – classic general museum with fossils, amour and everything you’d expect – plus the occasional Bansky (he staged a major exhibition here in 2009)
University research facility that is also open to the public with wonderful green-houses.
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University of Bristol Botanic Garden
Stoke Park RoadUniversity research facility that is also open to the public with wonderful green-houses.
Bristol is extraordinarily proud of the Victorian engineer and visionary Isambard Kingdom Brunel – this is one of his most famous engineering projects. There is a small museum at the Leigh Woods end of the bridge and coffee truck which serves excellent coffee
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Clifton Suspension Bridge
Bridge RoadBristol is extraordinarily proud of the Victorian engineer and visionary Isambard Kingdom Brunel – this is one of his most famous engineering projects. There is a small museum at the Leigh Woods end of the bridge and coffee truck which serves excellent coffee
An historic boatyard at the lower end of Clifton Vale, with some interesting exhibits to view. Original pumping station, interesting displays and café serving top sandwiches, cakes and ice cream. One of the main workshops was destroyed there after a terrible fire in 2023 but it's still a fun place to visit
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Underfall Yard
Cumberland RoadAn historic boatyard at the lower end of Clifton Vale, with some interesting exhibits to view. Original pumping station, interesting displays and café serving top sandwiches, cakes and ice cream. One of the main workshops was destroyed there after a terrible fire in 2023 but it's still a fun place to visit
M Shed
Wapping Roadthe Museum of Bristol, free entry
Probably not one of the great UK cathedrals but impressive nevertheless. For a really stunning example of a Gothic cathedral, Wells is probably the nearest.
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Bristol Cathedral
College GreenProbably not one of the great UK cathedrals but impressive nevertheless. For a really stunning example of a Gothic cathedral, Wells is probably the nearest.
Ferry Trips from various pickup points around the harbour - The Pump House is our nearest stop - trips up and down the Avon and around the harbour
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Bristol Ferry Boats
44 The GroveFerry Trips from various pickup points around the harbour - The Pump House is our nearest stop - trips up and down the Avon and around the harbour
Another Brunel project - the worlds first steel hulled boat that was rescued from the Falklands and imaginatively restored as a family attraction with a café and Brunel Institute ...
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Brunel's SS Great Britain
Gas Ferry RoadAnother Brunel project - the worlds first steel hulled boat that was rescued from the Falklands and imaginatively restored as a family attraction with a café and Brunel Institute ...
Spike Island
133 Cumberland RdInteresting Gallery, good Cafe
Our nearest swimming pool - olympic size - walk up there via the iconic Birdcage Walk - check the website for opening times
University Of Bristol Swimming Pool
Queens RoadOur nearest swimming pool - olympic size - walk up there via the iconic Birdcage Walk - check the website for opening times
St Mark's, the Lord Mayor's Chapel
Park StreetBeautiful little historic chapel at the bottom of Park Street
Just over the suspension bridge, so easily walkable from the house is Leigh Woods - bike tracks, woodland walks and a nature reserve and great views back into Bristol including the Bridge. Terrain is easy too with good paths and tracks if thats what you need.
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I-Leigh Woods National Nature Reserve
Just over the suspension bridge, so easily walkable from the house is Leigh Woods - bike tracks, woodland walks and a nature reserve and great views back into Bristol including the Bridge. Terrain is easy too with good paths and tracks if thats what you need.
Iparke yezendalo ye-Brandon Hill
Park StreetA fun thing to do as well is to get a boat to Beese's pub and tea room which is down the river - lots of boat companies based in the harbour at the bottom of our road run a ferry service there - best to book -look at the public ferries page on Beese's website. Conham River Park nearby (catch a ferry over the river) is also lovely
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Beese's Riverside Bar
Wyndham CrescentA fun thing to do as well is to get a boat to Beese's pub and tea room which is down the river - lots of boat companies based in the harbour at the bottom of our road run a ferry service there - best to book -look at the public ferries page on Beese's website. Conham River Park nearby (catch a ferry over the river) is also lovely
This and the Martin Parr Foundation at Paintworks often have very interesting exhibitions for Photography Fans. Plus there's a great cafe/restaurant/bar at Paintworks called Bocobar.
The Royal Photographic Society
337 PaintworksThis and the Martin Parr Foundation at Paintworks often have very interesting exhibitions for Photography Fans. Plus there's a great cafe/restaurant/bar at Paintworks called Bocobar.
Lovely Harbourside contemporary arts venue that often has really interesting exhibitions, a nice cafe and a great bookshop
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Arnolfini Cafe Bar
16 Narrow QuayLovely Harbourside contemporary arts venue that often has really interesting exhibitions, a nice cafe and a great bookshop
Great Harbourside venue with 3 cinema screens usually showing top notch arthouse fare, great bar-cafe-restaurant too.
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Watershed
1 Canon's RdGreat Harbourside venue with 3 cinema screens usually showing top notch arthouse fare, great bar-cafe-restaurant too.
Usually has an exhibition worth seeing and the cafe is very good
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Royal West of England Academy of Art
Queens RoadUsually has an exhibition worth seeing and the cafe is very good
Day Trips from Bristol
Interesting Places nearby that can't be reached on foot.
If you like trees and walks in woods then this is the place for you - in the autumn, when the leaves turn golden brown, it is quite spectacular.
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Westonbirt, I-Arboretum Yezwe
If you like trees and walks in woods then this is the place for you - in the autumn, when the leaves turn golden brown, it is quite spectacular.
Beautiful Bath Spa with it Georgian buildings, Roman Baths, Modern Spa with a rooftop thermal pool and views over the city, Shops and so on - lovely place to visit. 10 minutes from Bristol by train from Bristol Temple Meads.
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Bath Spa Station
Beautiful Bath Spa with it Georgian buildings, Roman Baths, Modern Spa with a rooftop thermal pool and views over the city, Shops and so on - lovely place to visit. 10 minutes from Bristol by train from Bristol Temple Meads.
Chepstow Castle
Huge and spectacular castle dating from 1067
Atmospheric Ruined Abbey on the banks of the River Wye
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Tintern Abbey / Abaty Tyndryn
Atmospheric Ruined Abbey on the banks of the River Wye
Our favourite beach near Bristol. Its about a 55 minute drive but worth it if you want a day on a nice beach. Check the tide times because at high tide there is not much beach and a low tide hardly any water! We go the the north end of the beach by Brean Down - there is a cafe there but also an area where cars are not allowed on the sand. Climb the steps up Brean Down walk along to see the fort and ancient settlements. You can also access the Beach from St Mary's Church further South - usually very quiet round there but no facilities.
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I-Brean Beach
Brean Down RoadOur favourite beach near Bristol. Its about a 55 minute drive but worth it if you want a day on a nice beach. Check the tide times because at high tide there is not much beach and a low tide hardly any water! We go the the north end of the beach by Brean Down - there is a cafe there but also an area where cars are not allowed on the sand. Climb the steps up Brean Down walk along to see the fort and ancient settlements. You can also access the Beach from St Mary's Church further South - usually very quiet round there but no facilities.
A quite extraordinary Gothic Revival Victorian House – a shortish drive to get there but well worth a visit – the Gibb family who built it made their money importing guano as fertiliser. Extensive formal and market gardens.
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Tyntesfield
A quite extraordinary Gothic Revival Victorian House – a shortish drive to get there but well worth a visit – the Gibb family who built it made their money importing guano as fertiliser. Extensive formal and market gardens.
Typical British seaside town with a restored Pier, a marine swimming lake, arcades, band-stands fish and chips but no beach. Also Clevedon Court is worth a visit (Wed, Thu, Sun only April to September) - see National Trust for Details
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Clevedon
Typical British seaside town with a restored Pier, a marine swimming lake, arcades, band-stands fish and chips but no beach. Also Clevedon Court is worth a visit (Wed, Thu, Sun only April to September) - see National Trust for Details
Lovely small lake - nice to walk around in the winter and, though it says no swimming, people go wild-swimming there in the summer without any hassle.
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Abbots Pool
Lovely small lake - nice to walk around in the winter and, though it says no swimming, people go wild-swimming there in the summer without any hassle.
A lovely museum which often has really good special exhibitions and a small but magnificent collection of Gainsborough's which are breathtaking. 10 mins walk from Bath Station.
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I-Holburne Museum
Great Pulteney StreetA lovely museum which often has really good special exhibitions and a small but magnificent collection of Gainsborough's which are breathtaking. 10 mins walk from Bath Station.
A wonderful experience and treat - great 2 hour deal with naturally heated hot-spring open air rooftop pool, steam room and treatments, over 16 only
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Thermae Bath Spa
Hot Bath StreetA wonderful experience and treat - great 2 hour deal with naturally heated hot-spring open air rooftop pool, steam room and treatments, over 16 only
Restaurants we like or that people we like also like.
We have tried to select local independent places that we know personally or that have been recommended by people we trust and have stuck to places easily accessible (i.e. walk-able distance) from the house. But Bristol is foodie heaven, well endowed with interesting places to visit and also has a highly developed independent business culture.
The Gloucester Road for example is said to be the longest (1+ miles) stretch of independent retailers and restaurants in the UK. Amble up there if you like Thrift/Charity shopping, independent cafes and pubs and a huge variety of independent shops.
Stokes Croft is one of the more vibrant, exciting and rogue parts of town with lots of great pubs and clubs, restaurants and cafes, community centres but also rehab facilities and homelessness.
Cargo at Wapping Wharf is also great to visit - several very interesting restaurants and retail outlets all in converted shipping containers - the whole project has quickly become a firm Bristol favourite
Meanwhile - here are some more local eateries that we like:
Modern British Brasserie. Wonderful Building, great service.
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The Ivy Clifton Brasserie
42-44 Caledonia PlModern British Brasserie. Wonderful Building, great service.
Modern British gastro pub. the chef is a forager. they also have a huge selection of Gins, hundreds of varieties.
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The Pump House
Merchants RoadModern British gastro pub. the chef is a forager. they also have a huge selection of Gins, hundreds of varieties.
Middle Eastern cuisine, one of our very favourites. In Southville, opposite the Tobacco Factory.
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Souk Kitchen
277 North StMiddle Eastern cuisine, one of our very favourites. In Southville, opposite the Tobacco Factory.
Spa, swimming pool and lovely restaurant - modern British cuisine.
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Lido Spa & Restaurant
Oakfield PlaceSpa, swimming pool and lovely restaurant - modern British cuisine.
'St Nicks' covered market with its street food stalls at the top of Corn Street is well worth a visit. Mon to Sat daytime with occasional late night specials. The Matina Kurdish wraps are truly excellent - the long queues move quickly. The Moroccan place is also extremely good and you get a great curry at Spice Up Your Life.
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Saint Nicholas Market
Saint Nicholas Street'St Nicks' covered market with its street food stalls at the top of Corn Street is well worth a visit. Mon to Sat daytime with occasional late night specials. The Matina Kurdish wraps are truly excellent - the long queues move quickly. The Moroccan place is also extremely good and you get a great curry at Spice Up Your Life.
Sunday market, local producers and traders and street food stands - small but a great atmosphere and some really good food
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Tobacco Factory Market
Raleigh RoadSunday market, local producers and traders and street food stands - small but a great atmosphere and some really good food
Our daughter is a big fan of Korean food and LOVES this place. Apparently they cook their chicken at 6.30pm so if you are into Korean chicken then try to be there at that time.
Bokman
3 Nine Tree HillOur daughter is a big fan of Korean food and LOVES this place. Apparently they cook their chicken at 6.30pm so if you are into Korean chicken then try to be there at that time.
Really Lovely local Indian restaurant with an interesting menu - click and collect and Uber Eats/Deliveroo. One of our current favourites (2024)
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Nutmeg
10 The MallReally Lovely local Indian restaurant with an interesting menu - click and collect and Uber Eats/Deliveroo. One of our current favourites (2024)
Ice Cream Parlour at the bottom of Park Street that serves very good ice cream
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Swoon Gelato
15 Kingsmead SquareIce Cream Parlour at the bottom of Park Street that serves very good ice cream
Lovely restaurant - one of several Bristol eateries raved about by Jay Rayner (we are working our way through them) - if online booking is full try calling them after 12,00 noon - they can sometimes fit you in
Sonny Stores
47 Raleigh RoadLovely restaurant - one of several Bristol eateries raved about by Jay Rayner (we are working our way through them) - if online booking is full try calling them after 12,00 noon - they can sometimes fit you in
Another quirky Korean gem recommended by our foodie daughter - a menu devised by the chef with little choice other than for veggies etc - bring your own booze. Be sure to book. Usually only open Friday/Saturday but check. It's worth it.
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Sky Kong Kong
2 Haymarket WalkAnother quirky Korean gem recommended by our foodie daughter - a menu devised by the chef with little choice other than for veggies etc - bring your own booze. Be sure to book. Usually only open Friday/Saturday but check. It's worth it.
Fun and pleasant pub and microbrewery on a boat with good pub food - down to the bottom of the road, turn left and walk about 300 yards.
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Grain Barge
Hotwell RoadFun and pleasant pub and microbrewery on a boat with good pub food - down to the bottom of the road, turn left and walk about 300 yards.
Foliage Cafe
17 Regent StLovely cafe in Clifton, good food and coffee.
Next to the M Shed on the Harbourside is the Cargo yard - lots of eateries, food shops and bars in shipping containers, with Better Food Company (wholefoods) and Bertha's Pizza (excellent sourdough Neapolitan pizzas) both nearby.
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Wapping Wharf
Next to the M Shed on the Harbourside is the Cargo yard - lots of eateries, food shops and bars in shipping containers, with Better Food Company (wholefoods) and Bertha's Pizza (excellent sourdough Neapolitan pizzas) both nearby.
A straightforward Indian restaurant at the bottom of our road. reasonably priced, very tasty.
INDIAN RASSASY
275 Hotwell RdA straightforward Indian restaurant at the bottom of our road. reasonably priced, very tasty.
Lovely restaurant - fresh pasta - great ambience - relaxed atmosphere - great service
Little Hollows Pasta
Lovely restaurant - fresh pasta - great ambience - relaxed atmosphere - great service
Another lovely restaurant - great food, lovely atmosphere, friendly staff.
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littlefrench
2 Westbury ParkAnother lovely restaurant - great food, lovely atmosphere, friendly staff.
Noah's
Posh Fish and Chips and other fish dishes at their best. 5 mins walk, overlooks the harbour.
Actually called the Clifton Village Fish Bar on Princess Victoria Street - not sure why it gets called Clifton Village station by the Guidebook, Anyway - good fish and chips just up the road!
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Clifton Village station
4 Princess Victoria StActually called the Clifton Village Fish Bar on Princess Victoria Street - not sure why it gets called Clifton Village station by the Guidebook, Anyway - good fish and chips just up the road!
sister restaurant to Little French - should be very good (we haven't been yet! - let us know if you go and we will add your review)
1 York Pl
sister restaurant to Little French - should be very good (we haven't been yet! - let us know if you go and we will add your review)
Noah's
Lovely fish restaurant at the bottom of the road under the flyover - popular so book!
Walking Tour of Bristol Centre
There is a great circular walk that you can do round the harbour and up Park Street that takes in a lot of the places we call out in the guide – there are too many to do all in one go but pick the ones that take your fancy.
From the house turn left down the hill and head to
Underfall Yard, then keep going round the harbour;
The Cottage Inn is a decent pub on the harbour;
Spike Island is a gallery that often has great exhibitions;
SS Great Britain – Brunel’s steel hulled liner – great family attraction;
Cargo – a collection of shipping containers converted to restaurants, shops and bars;
M Shed – the Museum of Bristol, free entry – then head over the bridge and check out;
Arnolfini – modern art space – has its moments – head over the Pero (Horn) Bridge to;
We The Curious – Bristol’s Science Museum – great for families;
Bristol Cathedral – not one of the greats but impressive nevertheless, up Park Street;
Swoon is a marvellous ice cream parlour at the bottom of Park St if you are in the mood;
The Lord Mayor's Chapel on the right is small but very interesting;
Georgian House Museum – then up to the top to;
Bristol Museum and then a bit further along;
RWA they also have some good exhibitions here
The back to 9 Clifton Vale via Birdcage Walk will be a lovely conclusion to your tour!
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Harbourside
There is a great circular walk that you can do round the harbour and up Park Street that takes in a lot of the places we call out in the guide – there are too many to do all in one go but pick the ones that take your fancy.
From the house turn left down the hill and head to
Underfall Yard, then keep going round the harbour;
The Cottage Inn is a decent pub on the harbour;
Spike Island is a gallery that often has great exhibitions;
SS Great Britain – Brunel’s steel hulled liner – great family attraction;
Cargo – a collection of shipping containers converted to restaurants, shops and bars;
M Shed – the Museum of Bristol, free entry – then head over the bridge and check out;
Arnolfini – modern art space – has its moments – head over the Pero (Horn) Bridge to;
We The Curious – Bristol’s Science Museum – great for families;
Bristol Cathedral – not one of the greats but impressive nevertheless, up Park Street;
Swoon is a marvellous ice cream parlour at the bottom of Park St if you are in the mood;
The Lord Mayor's Chapel on the right is small but very interesting;
Georgian House Museum – then up to the top to;
Bristol Museum and then a bit further along;
RWA they also have some good exhibitions here
The back to 9 Clifton Vale via Birdcage Walk will be a lovely conclusion to your tour!
Food scene
Great organic wholefood store and cafe - as well as by the harbour near the Cargo Yard there is one on Whiteladies Road
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Better Food - Bristol
1-5 Gaol Ferry StepsGreat organic wholefood store and cafe - as well as by the harbour near the Cargo Yard there is one on Whiteladies Road
Lovely little farmers style market on Whiteladies Road normally every Saturday morning
Whiteladies Road Farmers' Market
108 Whiteladies RdLovely little farmers style market on Whiteladies Road normally every Saturday morning