From taking within the views of Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Nice Britain, to nice meals and vibrant avenue artwork, that is the proper Bristol day journey itinerary!
On the subject of selecting a day journey from London, there are such a lot of nice choices. Simply hop on a practice and inside an hour or two you may be exploring the classic shops in Brighton, wandering the historic Shambles in York, seeing Roman historical past in Tub or punting in Cambridge. It’s a soothing method to journey, and when you plan just a little upfront then you definitely’ll have the ability to bag some low cost practice tickets too.
For our newest journey we have been in search of a vacation spot that had just a little little bit of every part! We appreciated the concept of being by the water, particularly because the climate forecast promised heat sunny days. We additionally wished to discover a place with a cool meals scene and some sights.
So, the place got here out on prime? Bristol! We’ve each all the time cherished Bristol. It’s bought such a artistic spirit, which comes by means of not solely within the vibrant murals you see splashed across the metropolis, but in addition in its outlets and eating places. It’s a kind of cities that feels energetic!
We set off on a day journey from London to Bristol and spent a few days cramming a lot of sightseeing and meals experiences. We hopped on boats, explored historic monuments, climbed towers, ate a spread of cuisines and even discovered a number of speakeasies… all within the title of analysis in fact!
Whether or not you’ve solely bought someday in Bristol, otherwise you need to unfold my suggestions out over a weekend, this Bristol itinerary has a lot of journey tricks to profit from your go to.
How To Get To Bristol
We travelled from London to Bristol by practice. The journey takes simply over an hour and a half from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads Station. It’s such a simple method to journey and occurs to be a superb hour or so sooner than driving!
As with many UK cities, when you’re in Bristol you’re unlikely to need a automobile, so the practice is a significantly better choice. It’s additionally much more sustainable, which is one thing we must always all be contemplating proper now.
To make issues cheaper, Macca and I’ve a Nationwide Rail Two Together Railcard. That is 100% price shopping for when you journey with the identical individual repeatedly. It saves as much as 1/3 on practice journey and solely prices £30 for a complete yr. There are eight different Railcards out there if this doesn’t go well with you, together with one for family and friends and others when you’re aged 16-25 or 26-30.
For instance, for this journey, our tickets have been decreased by over £50 with our Two Collectively Railcard. It’s fairly doubtless you’ll make your a reimbursement on one journey (as we did on our latest weekend break in York), that means any future journeys shall be stuffed with financial savings!
When you arrive at Bristol Temple Meads Station, it’s a brief stroll to town’s primary sights and sights.
The Excellent Bristol Day Journey
Developing are a lot of suggestions for locations to go to in your Bristol day journey. If you wish to take issues at a leisurely tempo, I’d simply choose a number of of your favourites, or keep an additional day so you’ll be able to tick every part off the checklist.
Take within the views of Clifton Suspension Bridge
One among Bristol’s most iconic spots, everybody ought to go to this majestic bridge. It’s one in every of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s most well-known designs, and is a formidable feat of engineering.
Brunel was simply 24 when he received a contest to go up the challenge. It took 33 years to finish and right this moment is without doubt one of the oldest surviving iron suspension bridges on the earth. It connects two sides of the Avon Gorge, over the River Avon.
For the perfect views of the bridge, I’d advocate visiting the park by Clifton Observatory. There are many benches right here the place you’ll be able to look out and admire the bridge.
For a quirkier view of the construction, how about heading down into the Large’s Cave? This can be a pure cave throughout the limestone of the gorge. Entry is through 100+ steps, and when you emerge, you’ll see the bridge from a complete special approach!
One of many prettiest scenes you’ll see of this bridge is throughout the Bristol Balloon Fiesta which takes place each August. In case you can time your Bristol day journey for one of many days it’s on, you’ll see lovely sizzling air balloons dotted all through the skies. It’s a really particular time to be within the metropolis!
Discover Clifton Village
Clifton is without doubt one of the most fascinating neighbourhoods in Bristol. With bunting criss-crossing the streets and a spread of stylish boutiques and brunch spots, it’s a beautiful space to mooch round.
Key locations to go to are The Mall, Princess Victoria Road and the gorgeous Royal York Crescent. In case you’re a lover of all issues vibrant, you merely have to go to Sky Bristol on Waterloo Road. With vibrant prints, enjoyable greetings playing cards and quirky items, this can be a store that’s assured to place a smile in your face!
Pod is nice for homewares and gardening gadgets whereas Portobella is a enjoyable vogue retailer with a concentrate on multicoloured prints.
Clifton Village has an incredible meals scene too. There’s The Mall Deli for tasty meats and cheeses, plus Chandos Deli and Spicer and Cole are perfect for brunching, lunching and caffeine fixes. For a unusual meal, go to The Clifton Sausage, the place you’ll be able to choose from a particular menu of selfmade sausages. Over 100,000 sausages are consumed yearly right here, so you already know they’ll be good! This guide will level you within the route of Bristol’s best brunch spots.
Catch the Bristol water taxi or go on a ship journey
Bristol is a metropolis the place you’re by no means removed from the water, so it is sensible that among the finest views are from a ship! There are two straightforward choices when you’re visiting for planning a Bristol day journey: catch the Bristol Ferry waterbus or go on a Bristol Packet boat trip.
The waterbus is a very nice method to get across the metropolis because it connects locations like Fort Park, Wapping Wharf and the SS Nice Britain. A brief hop will solely set you again £2.
In the meantime, the Bristol Packet boat excursions are nice when you’re in search of a guided tour. The Metropolis Dock Tour takes 45 minutes and has a dwell commentary.
Go to CARGO in Wapping Wharf
If you see the stack of delivery containers in Wapping Wharf you would possibly marvel what you’re approaching. That is truly a super-cool a part of Bristol’s harbourside advanced, and inside every container you’ll discover one thing totally different.
The important thing cause to go to is for the meals! There are such a lot of cuisines with small eateries right here together with:
- Loki Poké – Poké bowls
- Cargo Cantina – Mexican meals
- Bakers & Co – Bread and pastries
- Canine City – Sizzling canines
- Gambas – Tapas
- Pizzarova – Sourdough pizza
- Woky Ko – Noodles and bao buns
In case you’re in search of a funds lunch in Bristol, Cargo is a very nice choice with avenue meals vibes throughout. I opted for a poké bowl this time which was scrumptious and contemporary – excellent for a sunny day!
Whilst you’re within the space, I’d advocate squeezing in a little bit of buying too. There are some cool impartial shops situated within the containers. My favorite was Frankly – a store stuffed with fairly jewelry, vibrant equipment and moral items.
Moments away you’ll additionally discover Bookhaus – an impartial bookstore the place you’ll see notes dotted across the retailer with suggestions from the workers. This affords a very beautiful private type of buying expertise.
Be taught the historical past of the SS Nice Britain
I’ve been to Bristol a number of occasions earlier than however this was my first time testing one of many metropolis’s primary sights, the SS Great Britain.
This spectacular ship (one other creation by Brunel) was a pacesetter in her day! She was the most important passenger ship on the earth within the 1840s. 750 folks might journey on board, throughout three totally different courses. The ship was famed for transporting passengers from England to Australia which took a whopping 120 days! How superb is that?
There’s a lot to see and do, you may simply spend half a day right here. It’s excellent for youths too, as so lots of the parts are interactive! You’ll be able to wander alongside the sting of the bottom of the boat within the dry dock, take photographs on the deck, study heaps within the museum space and check out Brunel’s life at a devoted museum to the brains behind the ship! In case you’re feeling courageous, you may even e book in for a ‘climb the rigging’ expertise!
Get pleasure from a connoisseur lunch at Adelina Yard
I’ve urged Cargo as an incredible funds lunch choice in Bristol, however now it’s time to succeed in just a little deeper into your pockets! In case you’re in search of a restaurant within the metropolis centre for a particular meal, e book a desk at Adelina Yard.
This informal restaurant serves connoisseur dishes with a contemporary European theme. The décor is minimalist, with distressed partitions, dried flowers and rugged chopped branches as cutlery stands.
We went for the 4-course set lunch at £38 per individual. Over a few hours, we tucked into dainty plates of tomato and watermelon salad with goat’s curd, a smoky eel dish with beetroot stars and burnt apple, and a tasty Iberico pork dish with a pungent black garlic ketchup.
The meals was introduced in a sensible method, and there was a relaxed however skilled strategy to the service too. All in all, a beautiful place for a memorable meal in Bristol.
Cease for ice cream at Swoon Gelato or a doughnut at Pinkmans Bakery
At any time when I’ve requested for suggestions of locations to go to in Bristol, these two spots have cropped up again and again! When you have a candy tooth, positively add these to your Bristol day journey itinerary!
Swoon Gelato specialises in artisan gelato. They provide 11 normal flavours together with salted caramel, mango, pistachio and chocolate, plus a number of specials. Because it was so heat, I ordered a scoop of the raspberry sorbetti which was refreshing, tart and completely scrumptious – as if somebody had smashed a load of contemporary raspberries up and frozen them!
In the meantime, a brief stroll up Park Road is Pinkmans Bakery, which specialises in sourdough doughnuts. They’re mild and fluffy, and really well-filled. Once more, you’ll discover some normal flavours together with specials reminiscent of lemon meringue and pineapple and coconut.
Take a look at Bristol’s avenue artwork scene
Bristol is a very artistic metropolis and one of many greatest expressions of that’s by means of the road artwork. It’s a metropolis to stroll round together with your eyes large open. Scan the edges of buildings and search for vibrant motifs – they’re in all places!
Essentially the most well-known of all of the graffiti artists is in fact Banksy. You would possibly spot a number of works as you wander round on foot, however to achieve a bit extra perception I’d advocate reserving a Where The Wall self-guided avenue artwork tour. The tour and map load in your cellphone and take you on a 3-mile strolling tour to see Banksy’s most well-known works, alongside another notable artworks. At every one there’s a brief video presentation with details about the piece.
If avenue artwork is a giant cause to your day journey to Bristol, you merely have to go to Stokes Croft. This neighbourhood is grittier and edgier than many elements of town, however it’s additionally coated heat-to-toe in murals. I cherished strolling the streets round right here, taking photographs as I went. In case you’re a fan of classic buying, you’ll love this neighbourhood too!
Alternatively, pop by the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery the place there’s all the time a lot of fascinating artworks to admire. Once I visited there have been two works by Banksy inside. This museum is free to enter too!
Take within the views of Bristol from the highest of Cabot Tower
In case you’re in search of among the best viewpoints over Bristol, you’re going to wish to make use of your legs just a little! Cabot Tower is a brief stroll from Park Road. The constructing itself is 32 metres tall, however because it’s perched on prime of Brandon Hill it affords actually unimaginable panoramas of Bristol.
From the highest you’ll see all of the well-known sights together with Clifton Suspension Bridge, the colorful homes in Clifton Village, the River Avon, Bristol Harbour and the SS Nice Britain. That is one other attraction that received’t price you a penny. It’s positively among the best free issues to do in Bristol too.
Brandon Hill Park is a very serene and peaceable park, so I’d advocate having just a little meander by means of the gardens earlier than you permit.
Go for cocktails at a speakeasy bar
Are you a cocktail connoisseur? You’ll be pleased to listen to Bristol has an thrilling bar scene! As a Londoner I’ve been to a number of ‘speakeasy’ type bars, however I didn’t know that this scene was thriving in Bristol too.
The Milk Thistle is without doubt one of the coolest and comes with fairly the accolade – being named one of many UK’s High 50 Bars! It’s the sort of place you may stroll by with out realising that inside is a really cool cocktail bar cut up throughout 4 storeys, with its personal hidden vault!
The principle bar on the bottom flooring is stuffed with distinctive and strange gadgets, slightly like an old school home of curiosities. The skilled mixologists are pleased to work off the enjoyable cocktail menu of intriguing drinks, or they will shake up your favorite basic.
The Scarlet Lantern is one other secret bar in Bristol. Positioned simply across the nook from Banksy’s well-known ‘Well Hung Lover’, this bar is just identifiable from the crimson lantern that hangs above the door. Observe the steps all the way down to an underground lair with 4-poster beds, a well-stocked bar and little question loads of debauchery!
Feast on Sri Lankan delicacies The Coconut Tree
We went on our honeymoon to Sri Lanka so I used to be already an enormous fan of Sri Lankan meals. I am keen on the fragile steadiness of spices, chilli and coconut you discover on this a part of the world. Crispy hoppers, spicy coconut sambal, aromatic curries, moreish kotthu and rotis – I imply, what’s to not love?!
Once I heard there was a top-rated Sri Lankan restaurant referred to as The Coconut Tree in Bristol, I couldn’t wait to attempt it. With pumping tunes and cocktails served in novelty elephants, I wasn’t positive it was going to be essentially the most genuine meal… however I used to be unsuitable!
Over two hours we feasted on crispy hoppers topped with sizzling sambals, an indulgent salmon curry that was wealthy with coconut milk, a pork curry that had a smoky sauce, and delightfully moreish spiced potatoes.
I appreciated that every one the dishes have been designed for sharing (with dishes priced between £4 and £9), so we might attempt a lot of various things. There are a number of branches of this restaurant throughout the south west of England, together with in Tub and Cheltenham. I’d positively advocate attempting one when you’d like to search out out why everybody raves about Sri Lankan meals!
The place To Keep In Bristol
If a day journey to Bristol feels just a little rushed, you may e book a resort within the centre. I’d advocate staying at The Clayton Hotel which is in a super location, strolling distance from lots of the key sights and moments from St Nicholas Market (the place you’ll additionally discover loads of nice avenue meals!)
We stayed in a snug superior room on the 8th flooring, which was giant with a number of home windows. The foyer space was sensible with cool lighting and a vibrant mural by the primary entrance. There’s a big choice of gadgets out there on the breakfast buffet right here too, from fried savoury gadgets to gooey chocolate croissants. It was excellent for a brief break within the metropolis centre.
I hope you’ve discovered my Bristol day journey itinerary useful. Have a good time within the metropolis – it’s simply one in every of my favourites in Britain!
A giant because of Nationwide Rail for inviting me to share my ideas on visiting town. Don’t neglect to purchase a Railcard earlier than you journey. It might prevent as much as 1/3 on practice journey.
In case you’re in search of extra nice concepts for days out, take a look at my information to the perfect UK weekend breaks.
