If you know Bristol

[Insidelaurashead]

Where would you recommend for someone new to the city visiting for the first time? I've got MShed, street art hunting and that's about it. And I always find the best way to see a city is through other people's recommendations so if you have one I would love to hear it. (thank you to anyone who does)

Ss Great Britain is really interesting.
We the Curious was fantastic pre Covid but I don't know how it's adapted for reopening.
My absolute favourite thing is walking up to the suspension bridge - stunning views.

The Fire Station cafe- if still there.
Gloucester Rd shops/eateries
The Clifton Bridge- fab

River taxis are fun, there is a lot based around that area (MShed, SS Great Britain), not sure if there is any street art in Bristol this year. Do you have children with you?

Banksy tour

If it's tourist type things you want to see then I'd get the short train to bath instead and see the Roman baths and Victoria parks botanical gardens, it's also a generally nicer city to walk around.
For Bristol there's Clifton suspension bridge in addition to the other suggestions, but it's more of an 'evening' night out tourist destination and shopping area compared to bath being more of a sight seeing daytime destination.

M Shed, We the Curious, SS Great Britain, the Bristol Museum on Park Street, Bristol Zoo, Clifton suspension bridge, Cabot's Tower, Ashton Court.

Also Bristol museum and art gallery is sort of like a mini natural history museum if that interests you

Bag O'Nails, the cat pub. Good beer, good music, no hen/stag parties,

And cats, lots of cats at no extra charge.

@GulliBelle

Bag O'Nails, the cat pub. Good beer, good music, no hen/stag parties,

And cats, lots of cats at no extra charge.

I was just coming on to say Bag of Nails!

If you love cats it's heaven on earth.

@GulliBelle

Bag O'Nails, the cat pub. Good beer, good music, no hen/stag parties,

And cats, lots of cats at no extra charge.

The sign outside also says "No Cunts"

Walk the harbourside loop - lovely views of coloured houses in Cliftonwood, past the Matthew and SS Great Britain boats, stopping for coffee along the way…Bristol at its best in my opinion. Dinner or drinks at one of the independent bars/restaurants at Cargo at Wapping Wharf..or takeaway fish & chips from Salt & Malt. Clifton Suspension Bridge..walk over it or get amazing views of it from The Observatory….follow with a wander around the shops in Clifton Village and coffee/lunch at Primrose Cafe or one of the places near the Arcade. Walk around Brandon Hill, climb Cabot Tower if it’s open. Walk at Ashton Court or Leigh Woods if you want to get out of the city.

Wow, so many great recommendations on here, thank you. No DC, just me. I agree on Bath, beautiful city, although I have been before (it's my plan for if I feel I've seen enough of Bristol, back to Bath for a few hours before driving back up North)

Love the sound of the pub with all the cats. Just the sort of thing I'd enjoy.

Look at visitbristol and wierdbristll on Instagram. Loads of ideas.

Lol at "go to Bath"
Suspension bridge
Harbourside Walk
SS Great Britain
Cabot Tower and Brandon Hill
College Green
Clifton Village

Plenty to do!

Grain Barge is also fun. Pub on a boat.

If you are walking the harbourside loop from millennium square to opposite the SS Great Britain there's a pedestrian ferry you can hop on to cross the river there and walk back up the other side to M Shed. Walk up Park Street past Bristol Cathedral and the Wells Building, go into the Bristol Museum which has some Banksy connections and is free. Nice cafes around there.

The Red Lodge museum
The Concorde museum
The camera obscura and caves on the downs
The Underfall yard
Arnos Court cemetery
Ashton Court Estate.

If you are in Bristol in September there's the Open Doors festival which is when a lot of places not normally open to the public throw open days. We went and saw Bristol Blue glass being made at the shop on Bath Road and DH made a glass ball.

Root in the shipping containers is an excellent restaurant, with a focus on vege and a bit of fish - sharing plates. Cocktails were poor though, and desserts not as exciting as savoury stuff.

Suspension bridge - stunning. The Hotel du Vin in Clifton has a nice terrace overlooking the bridge.

Don't stay in the Premier Inn near the river - the rooms are so hot that you can't breathe, and they'd run out of loads of breakfast items.

All of the suggestions above are great. Within walking distance of harbour and city centre is also Cabot tower, that’s quite nice. I couldn’t visit Bristol without going to Clifton Suspension Bridge and from there, there are lovely pubs and quaint little shops. Bristol is lovely- sooo many things to do and see but all depending on what you’re into. I also love Portishead and Weston super mare. I would avoid Bath, beautiful but far too touristy and crowded in covid times. Have fun!

St Nick's Market - outdoor food market
Harbourside - water taxis, arnolfini, bars
Gloucester Road independent shops and Stokes Croft independent bars (alsonstreet art)
Blaise Castle and Ashton Court for walks
Park Street for shopping and the museum
Cabot Circus for shopping etc

Clifton, the suspension bridge and the downs

Must admit, I was a bit underwhelmed by Gloucester Road, other than finding the Banksy.

Is the Balloon Festival on this year?

No, I don't think so.