Talk to me about Bristol

[ThePerturbedPenguin]

Does anyone live there/know it well? What is there to do there?

Where's good to wander around, restaurants to eat at?

I used to live there ages ago but I think it's probably changed a lot since then! I used to walk around the Clifton area, Park Street, I remember the broadmead area was pretty grim...

Are you thinking of a day visit or a longer trip? Have you got children with you, if so what age?

A few days (over Easter weekend actually - I think it's due to be nice weather!) and no won't have any children with me.

I'm trying to show my DP round in an attempt to convince them that it would be a great place to live in the future! He loves all the culture, museums, art galleries etc available in London and doesn't think Bristol could compete with that.

Make sure you do the Where The Wall graffiti tour. Really interesting and you will get to look around Stokes Croft area as well as some of the city centre.

Sadly I don't think Bristol is on a par with London for these things! However Clifton is still nice, there's the Arnolfini which might be worth a visit, all round the docks has been done up in recent years, there's also Bath and Cardiff near.

(I am not cool in any way, disclaimer). Bristol Museum and Art Gallery is free and previously hosted a Banksy exhibition so they have some/a banksy pieces I think (plus stuffed animals and dinosaur bones from an earlier era). You can do graffiti tours, or just walk through Stokes Croft on a sunny day with the bass playing out of the windows and things sizzling on street bbqs. You can walk around the Harbourside and catch a small ferry across directly opposite the SS Great Britain. The M shed is also a free museum, but not my favourite. ‘We the Curious’ is a science based attraction, previously called @Bristol (both stupidly awful names imo). Gloucester road is a long stretch of famously independent shops. You can go on the Downs and visit the bridge and various victoriana type attractions like a cave. Clifton is the posh bit.

It's lovely to walk around on a sunny day, Bristol has so much history. Take a walk along the river to the SS Great Britain, stop for a drink on the harbour or walk to the many parks, castle park is nice, temple church is also lovely. Clifton is nice and the downs.

@EvaHarknessRose Haha I'm not cool either, but I try!

Stokes Croft was very dodgy when I lived in Bristol (ten or so years ago). Or at least I wouldn't fancy walking around there by myself at night. Has it changed much?

Can anyone recommend any good restaurants/bars?

There's a great cafe for lunch near the Bear Pit (city centre side) called something like L'amour.

I also wouldn't do Stokes Croft at night! Its fun in the day with the graffiti tour though.

I’ve not had any trouble round Stokes Croft at night, though I probably wouldn’t go through the Bearpit on my own late.

I would recommend Wapping Wharf as a great place to wander round, have drinks and get a bite to eat.

No I don’t think its changed tbh

There's lots of nice cafes etc on the north bank of the river, it's also nice to walk along if the weather is nice. I quite like Mshed, which is just south of the river, and there's also some nice places to eat in old shipping containers behind it.

You could climb up Cabot tower for a view over the city, although I wouldn't recommend it if it's busy.

Stoke's Croft/Gloucester Road is nice in the day time and there are lots of artisan food shops/cafes around there now.

All my suggestions seem to involve food- but Bristol really does have lots of variety in terms of places to eat out!

We The Curious also does adult only evenings, which are quite fun.

If you're coming from the station, St Mary Redcliffe Church is quite interesting and worth popping in.

Bristol isn't London, but it does have lots of history and culture, and has a similar vibe in some ways IMO.

Jazz at the Old Duke: www.theoldduke.co.uk/

I don’t think much has changed in 10 years!
The docks/Harbourside/Wapping warf is nicer than it used to be.
Stokes Croft is trying to be cool....
Boradmead isn’t as bad as it used to be, Cabot Circus is nice.

But it doesn’t change the fact Bristol is a lovely place to live!
Not on a par with London for galleries/theatre etc but by no means barren.

So many lovely restaurants, don’t get to go out much these days but I would head to Clifton Village or Wapping Warf.

Don't move to Bristol, we've got enough ex-Londoners here as it is

To actually be helpful - as others have said: Wapping Wharf has some nice food and deli type places, and you can walk along the old railway line towards Ashton Court; Clifton has never massively been my cup of tea (got put of by all the too-rich students when I was at uni), but still boutique-y, nice cafes. Victoria Park is lovely, and some good Sunday roast pubs nearby, although likely fully booked for Easter now; the Downs / Clifton suspension bridge and the Observatory for kids to run around / touristy type things; Arnolfini has some awesome things on, and if the weather's nice a great place for a harbour side drink; People Republic of Stokes Croft is amusing if somewhat up its own arse in a hipsterish way; Broadmead is better than it used to be, but Cabot Circus has sucked the life out the Galleries; Nelson St graffiti is pretty decent; Park St is disappointing in comparison with 10 years ago, but still a few independents - Glos Rd is better for that now. In the cry north, Blair's Castle has a great kids play area, and the museum is a random collection of oddments.

Let me know if you want more!

*cry north = far north...

Oh and North St in Southville is full of brunch venues

The docks would be my go to selling it to the husband place as well. Whapping Wharf is great, the M Shed had a good exhibition on about tattoos although that might have ended now. Walk up to the Pump House for a drink in the sunshine then get the ferry back.

Roots (Whapping Wharf) is great for lunch but you might need to book. The ostrich has just had a face lift (literally reopened last weekend) and is apparently quite nice now.

A bit further out Arno's Vale Cemetery is lovely and Beese Tea Room reopens this weekend (again with boat rides).

Check out what is on at the Old Vic. Salt and Malt for the best fish and chips. Yes to the Downs, but also Blaise castle.

Pinkmans Bakery at the top of Park Street is amazing - it’s a beautiful big space where you can sit in and the food is delicious (try a sourdough doughnut - they’re rightfully a local favourite). Further down the road on the other side is Swoon Gelato - award winning gelato and sorbet. The queues can be long, but it’s worth it!

Keep an eye out for Eat-a-Pita. They have a couple of locations around the city and their pita with hummus and salad is amazing (and big enough to fill you up for hours!).

It’ll never rivel London for culture, but Bristol is pretty great and very friendly (also close to Bath and some amazing countryside). Have a great trip!