Bath & Bristol

[JesusWeptLady]

We are planning to spend a few days in Bath & Bristol over the Summer and wondered if anyone could recommend things, off the beaten track? We know about the ancient baths and the museums, but what about the coziest pub with the best food on offer, or live music, that kind of thing? Any ideas helpful!

go on tiktok to have a look at recommendations
In Bath I like Vino Vino, the Beckford Canteen and walcot house
In bristol there are LOADS of nice restuarants by the harbour in the sheds - Seven lucky gods and ROOT (which I love)

also Moltobueno, bravas, Muiono. Mangosteen out of the city centre itself

also in Bath - the gin bar and rum bar in close proximity to each other, Flute and Oak

Depends how much you want really - it’s a heaving city x2. Jane Austen in Bath…. And Toppings in Bath around the corner from the baths, is the most amazing bookshop ever. My children always ask every holiday to go for a day there, they bring you tea whilst you sit and browse - books go to the ceiling and ladders roll across to climb up - dogs welcome and each room a different subject. Amazing staff as well. Lovely coffee tea shop where the bridge is / can’t remember what it is called …. begins with P I think I live close to it but I can’t remember the name lovely sandwiches etc and the Abbey in bath.

If you book well in advance you can book a tour in vaults under the suspension bridge (Bristol) you climb down and go into the pillars supporting the structure - it’s great.

Clifton observatory is lovely, Bristol museum as well, Christmas steps and there is a good paid for Banksy tour. Swim at Clevedon marina for free.

walk up Cadbury camp, Tennyson walk (Clevedon).

what sort of things are you interested in Slimbridge isn’t far for example if you like bird watching …

also sonny stores in Bristol

There is a cigar bar in Bristol which I like as well.

ha ha , you can tell my kids have left home

If you can get a table, I highly recommend Sonny Stores in Bristol.

also a meaty place near the station in Bristol - Pasture

Bristol is the COOLEST place ever tbh - the korean place - Bokman - all around the slightly seedy Stokes Croft area is fab and there is a bar near there that has music - the canteen.

Loads of nice bakeries in Clifton and Cotham too

Bath is less cool and RAMMED with tourists and hen parties

We enjoyed Wake the Tiger. Hard to explain, it's a maze of stuff that's a bit bonkers but enjoyable. If you don't have small dc with you, try to book an adult friendly slot to avoid elbowing 6 year olds out of the way to have your turn at the cool stuff.

We enjoyed the Grain Barge and Pumphouse for food. Wanted to go to the Bag O'Nails for the cats but didn't quite make it, dd1 assures me it's great though.

The vaults under Clifton suspension bridge look amazing but they're booked up a long way in advance so check that out online before you go.

https://www.facebook.com/bokmanbristol/

The Scallop Shell in Bath for the best fish and chips in the UK (imo) and Mr B's emporium for the best bookshop.

Thanks so much everyone. What a fabulous selection of things! I can't wait to go there now.

I live between the two cities. A 10 minute train ride away.

Bristol's clean air zone is something to be aware if you have pre 2015 diesel car (£9).Parts of the city centre and Clifton have a residents parking zone.
Bath also has residents parking zones but the way they charge private diesel cars is through the parking. When you put your registration number in the pay and display machines it calculates the parking costs by verification from the DVLA.
If you're in Bristol in August then the balloon fiesta is worth seeing. If you're around in September then it's an Open Doors month where buildings not normally open to the public throw open their doors and allow people in . One year we went and saw a glass blowing factory and had a go.

Depending on when you are going you can blow your own Christmas glass bauble at Bristol blue glass in bath … the cobalt makes it the iconic blue.

don’t plan around the balloon fiesta as it gets cancelled frequently - too hot, too cold, too windy etc