Depending on which way you are heading, Bristol is often thought of as the gateway to Wales or the first stop off in England. Fortunately, there is plenty to see and do in the capital of the west country, with modern and historic exhibits, a great sense of local identity and over 2,000 Bristol restaurants to feed the regular army of tourists and visitors.
The 10th biggest city in the UK, Bristol has many fine attractions for a weekend visit. If you’re arriving early on a Saturday, you can tick off the major attractions like Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the first ironclad passenger liner powered by a massive engine and screw propeller.
Located in a dry dock on the River Avon, the vessel leaves a strong impression on all who visit it, and you can get under and inside the vessel for an extensive tour. If you have family members with sensory-processing issues, a few weekend days per year have calm sessions to tour it in relative peace.
Get to the New Bristol Zoo and Take Flight
After visiting SS Great Britain, perhaps with time for breakfast at the nearby Boardwalk diner, you can head to the massive new Bristol Zoo (about 10 times larger than the original attraction). Where there is plenty of space for the regular throng of visitors at the new out-of-town location off the M5.
With a heavy conservation focus, there are still the usual attractions like a conservation-themed basecamp play area for kids, along with mazes and trails as part of a long visit. Then there are the animals, with bear, giraffe, big cats, wolves and deer among the thousands of smaller animals, all with plenty of educational and emotional insights.
Another larger exhibition is Aerospace Bristol near Filton Airfield. Packed with legacy and historic aircraft from Concorde to biplanes, stretching into space exhibits and a Red Arrows and WWII blitz experience to showcase the full breadth of aviation’s role in the world.
Make Time for Science and Learning
Back in the city centre, recent visitor experiences include the mind-bending interactive art exhibit Wake the Tiger. Here, a parallel world exists with mystery, secret passages, and artistic and educational creations across four zones that welcome young and older explorers, visionaries, disruptors and inventors.
In a similar vein, the We Are Curious science experience offers an amazing way to learn about space, physics, chemistry and organic science. With a planetarium, science labs and plenty of interactive exhibits to get young minds thinking bigger, it is a must-visit for families.
Talking a walk in the fresh air you can enjoy the views from Cabot Tower across the city and beyond. Be enthralled by the architecture of Bristol Cathedral and the old Georgian parts in the Old City Quarter.
Bristol Museum and Art Gallery currently has a Banksy exhibit for modernist fans, while there are historical journeys through the natural world, ancient history and a world of art across three amazing floors.
By now you should be well into Sunday and in need of a good roast lunch to refill your batteries. Keeper’s Kitchen and Bar do a great roast, with a variety of menus for kids and other tastes.
Weekend Nightlife in Bristol
Bristol has everything you would expect from a major city when it comes to evening entertainment, from theatre to concerts, comedy to a disco evening.
The Wardrobe Theatre is a fringe studio with comedy, art, improv and more. If you want to rock-out, head to Bristol Beacon to see the latest names and established acts in action. And if you want to boogie, head to the river to board Thekla, an all-genres boat playing pop confessionals on a Saturday, and always has a fun crowd on and below deck.
Topping the events list, Bristol’s Old Vic Theatre, is celebrating over 250 years of shows and entertainment, and shows no sign of stopping with modern and classical productions, touring parties and much more.
With these suggestions and your own discoveries, a weekend in Bristol will fly by. Leaving memories of a great city, wonderful food, people and much more to do on your return. For families, parties or solo travelers, Bristol has the size to attract big names, and has its own scenes that locals can clue you into, whether you are after new food or art experiences.
