Last Updated: 5/22/23 | May 22nd, 2023

While most travelers who visit England only visit London, there are actually a lot of other gems in the country worth exploring.

One such place is Bristol.

“Bristol? There’s not much there.”

That was the standard reply from locals whenever I mentioned I was heading to Bristol.

Needless to say, I had low expectations. But I visited anyway. After all, there’s no such thing as “must-see” — and that means there’s no such thing as “must skip” either.

On arrival, I found a hip college town with amazing eateries, wonderful things to see, and plenty of green space.

Bristol is like the English version of Seattle. Most travelers seem to use it as a base for trips to Bath but never fully explore this city, giving it only a brief glance before heading back to London.

This is a mistake.

With a population of around 500,000, Bristol is the largest city in southern England (after London) and is also one of the largest shipping ports in England. It received a royal charter in 1155 and, until the rise of Liverpool, Birmingham, and Manchester during the Industrial Revolution, was one of England’s largest cities.

Bristol suffered extensive bombing during World War II and a subsequent decline in its manufacturing industry. Today, the city is a vibrant college town. The University of Bristol dominates the city, and the students provide a lot of income and jobs for the community.

To help you make the most out of your visit, here’s a list of my favorite things to see and do in Bristol:
 

1. Bristol Cathedral

This beautiful cathedral was consecrated in 1148 and was built in the Romanesque style (and has a similar design to Notre Dame in Paris). Originally named St. Augustine’s Abbey, the cathedral stretches over 300 feet and while much of it has been rebuilt, some of the original building remains.

College Green, West End, +44 117 926 4879, bristol-cathedral.co.uk. Open Tuesday-Saturday from 9am-4pm and 11:30am-3pm on Sundays. Dress respectfully as this is a place of worship. Admission is free. Tours are available on most Tuesdays and Saturdays at 11:30am and 2:15pm for 5 GBP.
 

2. Wander King Street

Originally laid out in 1650, King Street is a fascinating, historical part of Bristol. It used to be where the old sailing barges docked after their journeys from South Wales. Now the area is the heart of the theatrical district and features outstanding bars and restaurants. There are even some pubs from the 17th century that are still standing, such as The Hatchet Inn which was built in the Tudor style in 1606!
 

3. See the Clifton Suspension Bridge

This is Bristol’s most famous landmark. Suspended high above the Avon Gorge and River Avon, the bridge opened in 1864 and provides sweeping views of the river and surrounding parks and buildings. It was also where one of the early bungee jumps in the UK was held in the 1970s. The bridge stretches 412 meters (1,352 feet) and handles almost 10,000 vehicles per day. There’s a small visitor center nearby where you can learn more about the bridge and its history too (it’s open daily from 10am-5pm).
 

4. Check out St. Nicholas Market

This is a lively, bustling market with more shops than you could go through in an afternoon. There seems to be an endless number of farmers’ stalls with amazing local produce, second-hand bookshops, and vintage clothing stores. The market dates back to 1743 and is the perfect place to wander, explore, and people watch.

Corn St, +44 117 922 4014, bristol.gov.uk/web/st-nicholas-markets. Open Monday-Saturday from 9:30am-5pm.
 

5. Visit the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery

Established in 1823, this museum covers a little bit of everything — from archaeology to dinosaurs to English history to art. The expansive variety keeps things interesting so even non-history buffs will enjoy it. It’s the area’s largest museum and one of my personal favorites. While there are tens of thousands of items in the museum’s collection, it’s not too overwhelming and easy to see in a few hours. Plus, like all public museums in England, it’s free!

Queens Road, +44 117 922 3571, bristolmuseums.org.uk/bristol-museum-and-art-gallery. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is free but donations are encouraged.
 

6. Take a Walking Tour

Bristol is an old city and has been an important port for almost a thousand years. With so much history, it should come as no surprise that the city has collected its fair share of ghost stories. To hear some of the tales as you explore the city, take a haunted walking tour with Haunted and Hidden Ghost Walks. Their tour begins nightly at 8pm, lasts 90 minutes, and is well worth the 7 GBP!

If haunted walks aren’t your cup of tea, take a street art tour. Bristol is home to several works by Banksy as well as tons of other murals. Bristol was Banksy’s street-art home, and you can discover over 30 years of street art by artists from all over the world.

Tours from Where the Wall last 2 hours and cover the city’s best works of public art. Tours start at 7.50 GBP and run most Wednesdays and Saturdays.

Bristol Pirate Walks are another fun option, especially for history buffs. These short walking tours allow you to experience some of Bristol’s oldest neighborhoods and will teach you about the early history of the city during the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. You’ll also get to see sites associated with legendary pirates like Long John Silver and Blackbeard. Tours last 1 hour and cost 12.50 GBP.
 

7. See the S.S. Great Britain

Located in the harbor, the S.S Great Britain was the world’s first steam-powered passenger liner. It took its maiden voyage in 1845 and was actually the longest ship in the world for almost a decade. (It’s 322 feet long).

Unfortunately, since it was so big it took a long time to build (it took 6 years to complete) and the owners went bankrupt not long after it was launched. It ran aground not long after and was sold for salvage. After being repaired, the ship was used to ferry passengers to Australia from 1852-1881 when the ship was converted to all-sail. It was scuttled and sunk in the Falkland Islands in 1937 where it stayed for 33 years until it was recovered, hauled back to the UK, and turned into a tourist attraction.

Great Western Dockyard, +44 0117 926 0680, ssgreatbritain.org. Open Tuesday-Sunday from 10am-4pm. Admission is 22 GBP.
 

8. Have Fun at WetheCurious

This science and art center is an educational charity dedicated to cultivating curiosity. Opened in 2000, it’s home to over 250 interactive exhibits, making it a fun and educational place to visit if you’re traveling with kids. They have a planetarium, 3D printers, and exhibits covering the human body, magnets, animation, and more! The building is currently closed for repairs after a fire but plans to reopen sometime in 2023.

1 Millennium Square, +44 0117 915 1000, wethecurious.org. Open Wednesday-Sunday from 10am-5pm. Admission is 16.50 GBP.
 

9. Relax at the Downs

The Downs (Clifton Down and Durdham Down) are a protected parkland on the edge of the city. Spanning over 400 acres, they’re within walking distance of the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the Avon Gorge and make for a nice place to relax, stroll, and watch the locals play sports. The area known as the Sea Wall is the perfect place to take in the views, and there is plenty of space to spread out and enjoy a natural retreat without straying too far from the city.
 

10. See Cabot Tower

The tower, which stands 32 meters (105 feet), was built in the 1890s to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the Italian explorer John Cabot’s departure from Bristol and his ultimate “discovery” of North America (he was the first European to visit North America since the Norse Vikings in 1000 CE). The tower is constructed from sandstone and has a narrow staircase inside that you can climb to take in the sweeping view.

Brandon Hill Park, +44 0117 922 3719, bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/brandon-hill. Open daily from 8:00am-5:15pm. Admission is free.
 

11. Visit Blaise Castle

Built in 1798 in the Gothic Revival style, this “castle” is actually a sham — it’s not a real castle but rather a look-alike built by a wealthy family just for the fun of it. It’s essentially an ornamental building, offering sweeping views over the surrounding 650 acres and the Avon Gorge. There is also a nearby historic home that has been converted into a museum where you can learn more about the castle and its quirky history.

Kings Weston Rd, +44 117 922 2000, bristol.gov.uk/museums-parks-sports-culture/blaise-castle-estate. Open daily from 7:30am–5:15pm (5:15pm in the winter). Admission is free.
 

12. Ride the Avon Valley Railway

This railway, which dates back to the 1860s, once connected Bristol to Bath. Today it’s a three-mile heritage railway where you can ride a steam-powered train. There’s also a fully restored Victorian train station where you can get a sense of what traveling was like at the turn of the last century. For hiking enthusiasts, there’s a walking trail beside the tracks if you’d rather explore on foot.

Bitton Station, +44 117 932 5538, avonvalleyrailway.org. Open daily from 9:00am-5:00pm. Steam train tickets are 11 GBP while diesel train tickets are 10 GBP.
 

13. Visit the Wookey Hole Caves

If you’re looking for an adventure outside of the city, visit the Wookey Hole Caves. This unique geological area is a quick and easy day trip from Bristol (it’s just an hour away by car). The limestone caves were created from an underground river and you can explore them via a 35-minute tour. There is also a museum that displays artifacts discovered within the caves. If you’re feeling adventurous, consider taking a boat ride through the waters inside the cave where you’ll learn about spelunking.

The Mill, High St, Wookey Hole, +44 1749 672243, wookey.co.uk. Opening hours vary based on holidays and seasons but are generally 9:40am-4:30pm. Check the website for specific times. Admission is 21.45 GBP.
 

14. Explore Gloucester Road

Bristol’s Gloucester Road features Europe’s largest stretch of independent shops. The whole street is walkable, and you’ll find plenty of places to stop and people-watch. You’ll find unique one-of-a-kind shops and boutiques every few steps, and it’s a great place to enjoy some tasty local food. There are also plenty of hip cafes and lively pubs in this area as well.

I thought Bristol, with its old industrial-turned-Bohemian charm, made for a great place to spend a few days. There were historic houses to visit, a few good museums, and some wonderful parks. Its image as an industrial center still lingers on in most of England, making it a place few go or want to explore.

But that works out for the rest of us. For while everyone else heads off to Bath, we can have the city of Bristol to ourselves.

I suspect the word will get out, but for now, Bristol remains a hidden gem and a city that is well worth a visit.

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