Solo BRISTOL trip. Things to do? Places to eat?

[Pinkbonbon]

Going to Bristol for a couple of days next week. Thought I'd visit the roman baths over in bath one of the days but wondered if anyone else has recommendations?

Things to see, places to eat?
Best shopping streets?

Anything I need to be aware of?
Places to avoid?

Thanks all x

Loads of stuff Banksy walking tour, Hamilton in the evening or see what’s on at at George’s, Clifton suspension bridge, harbour side, ss Great Britain, the M shed etc

lots of lovely restaurants

My favourite restaurants are:
Pasture
Giggling Squid
Urban Tandoor
The Ivy

In terms of things to do the museum is pretty good, lots to see near the harbour/M Shed. The bridge is the obvious one and lots of nice cafes nearby.
Nice walks in Ashton court and Blaise castle.

Bristol’s great for just walking round. Lots of quirky bistros and cafes. Clifton - walk across the suspension bridge, see the observatory, wander round Clifton village. Lots of nice cafes. Can recommend the Primrose. Also lovely to wander round the Harbour area. Have a lovely time!

Stokes Croft and keep walking towards Bishopston. Not many places to avoid, except maybe the underpass at night? The bearpit one. There's lots of nice cafes and restaurants, hard to even pick one.
I love having a drink on the balcony of the watershed or outside of the Arnolfini

If you like Turkish food, try Cappadocia. The original Bath one is fantastic, been there several times and a new one has opened in Bristol which I have tried once and was also brilliant, service a bit slow which I put down to teething/opening problems. I also love Browns. I know there is one in most cities but the Bristol one has been there forever and is consistently good. The Bath Brown's is also good, come to think of it. You would probably need to book Pasture and I think Hamilton has finished now.

I went to the open air pool in Clifton and then had a lovely lunch in their cafe when I went.

https://www.lidobristol.com/

The Arnoldi art gallery and cafe was also really nice.

And my favourite place was the crepe stall beside one of the bridges (crepe and coffee cabin brings it up on google maps).

Clifton is fancy
Don't bother with Broadmead unless you want to go to primark

The little blue kiosk by Cascade Steps does lovely ice cream

For restaurants I would head to Wapping Wharf. There's a good selection of independent eateries catering for most tastes and they are all housed in shipping containers, with outside seating as well, so it's really quirky and very Bristol. I wouldn't personally bother with the Ivy, Browns or the Giggling Squid as they are chains and Bristol is famous for independently owned places. I do however second Pasture and Urban Tandoor but check to see if you can get a table with Pasture! Muse in Prince Street is also excellent - French/Indian fusion but it works. Also Mugshot is good for steaks.

Definitely walk around the Harbourside and catch a ferry or do a boat trip. M Shed is a free musuem on the Harbourside and will give you a feel of the city and its history. The SS Great Britain is nearby and worth a visit.

Also definitely go to St Nicholas Market and the Corn Exchange. Lots of independent stalls and an amazing collection of food stalls covering different cultures. Matina is my favourite.

It's against the law not to go to Clifton and see the famous suspension bridge. Clifton village is all cobbled streets and mews houses and really pretty and the view from the bridge is fantastic. You'll find good bakeries and coffee shops there. Primrose cafe in Boyce's Avenue is good for a sunny day and to people watch. Also visit Clifton Observatory with its camera obscura and caves.

Visit Gloucester Road which has the most independent shops in the whole of the UK. There are some interesting cafes and restaurants there too.

It's also against the law not to do a Bansky Tour - he was from Bristol in case someone still doesn't know! There are also ghosts tours and foodie tours you can find on Google.

Wake the Tiger is an interesting experience.

If you want cocktails head to Milk Thistle or Hyde & Co or Mugshot restaurant has a cocktail bar called The Library.

There's also Georgian House and Red Lodge which are period properties and museums. They are well worth a visit and give a real flavour of the city's past.

Enjoy your visit!

7 Lucky Gods or Mowgli are excellent for food.

Whiteladies Road and Cotham Hill if you like charity shops - you can combine with Gloucester Road

Cabot Tower in Brandon Hill Park (just off Park Street) has a nice view over the city, and it's free to go up.

Thanks guys. The hotel is in clifton so I'll hopefully see lots around there.

Debating a ghost tour too but its the same night on the Bath day. May skip bath and do something else in Bristol instead just. Wish I had more time!

https://www.instagram.com/bestofbristol?igsh=MXJocHV1bnBha2M4Yw==

Would recommend this Instagram profile, they're always showcasing the most incredible places to eat!

There's a really fantastic play on at the old Vic at the moment. Sit outside at the Ostrich and enjoy the sunset over the stunning harbourside. Or go to the Greenshank (it's a bar on a boat) and enjoy a cocktail on the river. Anywhere around King Street is good of an evening. If you go to Renatos for pizza you can sit in the super comfy window seat and people watch. Clifton is lovely just to wonder around tbh, or walk over the suspension bridge and take a walk in the Ashton court estate. Hopefully there'll be some balloon in the sky for you!

We love Pasture and the Caribbean Croft. The tapas place upstairs in whapping wharf is fantastic. Booking very much recommended though.
Loads of wandering about but we usually go as a family to visit dd at uni so probably more kid friendly and not that interesting 😜
The lido also looked brilliant but the booking system was a bit confusing and I think the slots were booked up, we are planning on booking for next time though.

Oh there is also a delightful quaint cake shop at the bottom of the Christmas steps called Ahh Toots, very lovely, some unusual choices but we always pay a visit and come away with a box of goodies!

Yes 100% go to ah toots!!

Others have already given some great suggestions. So I will just add, avoid Broadmead, Castle Park and Old Market!

Molto Buono on Park Street if you like Italian!! Soooo good

Look up cabot tower in Brandon park just off park street. Great view and free to go up.

I would visit bath, it's better than Bristol in my opinion. The train only takes about 14 minutes and is cheap, depending on how much walking you enjoy doing it could be quicker to walk to the station than use the buses.

Victoria Park and the botanical Gardens there are a pleasant 20 minute walk from the roman baths too.

Little French is an independent, family-owned restaurant in Westbury Park with a menu that changes in line with with food seasonality. It was shown on Remarkable Places to Eat as Michelle Roux Jr rates it. You'll need to book ahead.

Ooft, don't tempt me with cakes guys. I'll buy out the bloody shop xD

Are you driving in ? If you are check out the residents parking zones and clean air zones on Bristol City Council's website.
Catch the ferry around the harbour.
Broadmead is pretty dire for shops, Cabot Circus and Quakers Friars have your usual high street names. Cribbs Causeway is an out of town retail Park to the North of the city.
Concorde museum is in Patchway to the north of the city.
Areas to avoid are Lawrence Hill and Barton Hill.