A mini break in Bristol – or how to pack a week of sightseeing into two days!
You know how it is – you’re visiting a new place, and you only have a short time to see as much as possible.
Sensible people decide their priorities, focus on just one or two things and leave plenty of time to relax.
Sensible people … but not us!
Two days is just enough time to give a taste of the city. So I started researching my ‘Top Five Things To Do In Bristol’.
Then Pork Belly got involved and the list just grew!
Here’s our guide on things to see and do in Bristol in just two days – if you’re prepared to walk for miles!
Get your bearings on a mini break in Bristol
When we pitch up somewhere new, we always choose a history walk to get familiar with the place and catch the main sights.
If there’s a free-guided walk, we take that, we sometimes push the boat out and pay for a small group tour, or we turn to technology.
There are loads of online guides available in Bristol, to cater for different aspects of the city, some free, some with a small charge. Visit Bristol has several listed on their website.
Bristol Harbour
We spent hours down by the docks, wandering around, enjoying the peace and quiet and watching people mess about on the river.
There’s a tiny ferry boat that takes you across to the other side if you want to avoid the long walk round, but Pero’s Bridge is worth a detour to see its odd, ogre-ear-shaped counterweights.
There’s still a bit of industry in the area, but mostly the dockside is given over to recreation and restaurants.
If you’re prepared to search a bit off the beaten track, you’ll find one of the few remaining Banksy artworks in the wild; most are now preserved in museums and art galleries.
But the highlight of the harbour has to be …
SS Great Britain
We weren’t intending to go in, as we thought the entrance ticket (£22 per adult in 2024) was a little steep, but got chatting to one of the volunteer guides who was so enthusiastic we decided we’d give it a go.
It is worth every pound – and tickets last a full year.
Brunel’s design for a cross between a steamer and a sailing boat was ground-breaking in its time, and even today the principles he used hold true.
It’s only when you get up close that you realise the scale of the undertaking; masts that needed 4 full-grown trees to create just the bottom part, a massive propeller and vast iron plates for the hull.
I’m no engineer and frankly am scared of the sea, but I was fascinated by the stories, the craftsmanship and the sheer bravery of those who voyaged around the world.
On board, it gets even more intriguing with sounds, sights and even smells of what it was like to live afloat for months on end.
It was so realistic, I even felt a bit seasick, but I couldn’t drag Pork Belly away!
You can read more about our visit to the ship here, and up-to-date information about opening times and ticket offers on their website.
Old Bristol
With or without a guide, there’s plenty to discover.
We loved the higgledy-piggledy shops of Christmas Steps and don’t miss the amazing almshouses at the top of the street, dating from 1483.
St Nicholas Market is a maze of quirky stalls, street food and historic architecture, the cathedral is beautiful and there are numerous old squares to stroll through.
At the other end of the scale there’s Millennium Square with its silver ball planetarium, modern water features, solar-powered trees and insect hotels tucked away in patches of wildness amongst the concrete slabs.
Clifton Suspension Bridge
Brunel’s masterpiece of engineering (although it wasn’t completed until 5 years after his death) is a must-see.
Spanning the stunning Avon Gorge, it’s been a toll bridge since it opened in 1864, but pedestrians with a head for heights can cross it for free.
I was far more at home on nearby Clifton Down, where there’s an observatory and camera obscura (loads of steps up) and a cave in the side of the gorge (loads of steps down!)
Or you can simply stroll along the paths that spread out across the grassy area. A great place for picnics.
Where to eat in Bristol
If you’re in doubt about what culinary mood you’re in, head for Wapping Wharf, where there’s a huge range of small eateries with plenty of outside seating.
We chose The Olive Shed for Mediterranean tapas and a view of the harbour.
For light bites and an amazing array of cakes, many of them vegan, check out Ahh Toots near the Christmas Steps.
Freshly baked on the premises (and who can resist the smell of a gently cooling sponge?) and beautifully decorated, these are the finest cakes we’ve ever eaten.
And we’ve eaten a lot!
Where to stay on a mini break in Bristol
A university city with an independent vibe, there’s plenty of choice from boutique hotels to budget-friendly chains.
We were gifted a stay by Your Apartment in their self-contained aparthotel in Clifton Village, perfectly positioned for a city break. Clifton Down and the suspension bridge are just a short walk away and there are loads of independent shops, restaurants and cafés in the area.
If you fancy a stay, we have an exclusive code to get you 10% off. Just use RPB10 at checkout.
There’s so much more to see in Bristol – we’ll be back for another mini-break!
More information
For all the latest information, check out Visit Bristol, the official Bristol tourist information site.
Where to next?
• 8 luxury and spooky castles you can stay in
• Secret Gardens of London
• Paddle Boat on the Norfolk Broads