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Waterbus Service

Hop on for a boat ride around bristol.

We are delighted to be back delivering our timetabled waterbus service! For Travel Updates please refer to the banner at the top of this page.

We offer single fares for those wishing to get from A to B, or circular trips for those wanting to sit back and see the entire Harbour.

We currently operate on Weekends and Bristol School Holidays only - reopening daily from March 28th.

Please find both timetables below and on our landing stages. 

If reading our printed leaflets; a Reduced Service can be read using the blue columns.

Full Service Timetable

Reduced Timetable

Planned Travel Disruption

• Sunday 24th we are operating a reduced timetable due to emergency boat repairs

Catching the Ferry

To catch the ferry please arrive a couple of minutes early and be clearly visible at the landing stage - wave to hail the ferry to you.

We serve 7 landing stages; Temple Meads, Castle Park, City Centre, Wapping Wharf, ss Great Britain, Mardyke Wharf and The Cottage

View our map of stops here

We are a cashless business, our crew can only accept card payments on board.

All fares are determined by the scheduled length of journey and can be purchased from our friendly crew via contactless card payment - children under 3 years old travel free.

Please note that we do not currently accept bookings for the waterbus service - all customers are first come first serve.

If our boat has reached full capacity, unfortunately we will not be able to board new passengers until the next available opportunity.

Our Service 

We run a waterbus service around the harbour with two boats operating at either end of the Harbour.

There may be occasions when we have to reduce our service to one boat, and update in the Travel Updates banner at the top of the page.

We currently operate every day from April to September, weekends and School Holidays only November - February.

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Bristol Packet Boat Trips - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (2024)

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Bristol Ferry Boats

• September 14, 2021

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Ferries In Bristol

Making your way around Bristol can be more exciting than hailing a taxi or catching the bus. Bristol offers a number of boat trips that can either get you from A to B or take you on a wonderful tour of the city, all from the riverside.

Catch a glimpse of Bristol beneath the surface of the city’s hustle and bustle and connect to the countryside scenes on a boat trip. These fantastic tours give you a different perspective, letting you see sights you’d miss on foot. With tours taking you around the harbour itself, directly to harbourside attractions, to the train station or even out for a meal, there is bound to be an option you love.

Ferry Operators

https://www.bristolferry.com

Bristol Ferry Boats is the main ferry company in Bristol. They are a community owned organisation and purely focus on providing the city with this fantastic service, not making a profit.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Bristol Ferry (@bristolferry)

At the moment, all boat tours are suspended due to COVID-19 , though they hope to be up and running again on April 3rd 2021 (this date is subject to change). In current times, Bristol Ferry Boats is struggling due to COVID-19, though you can support the group by pre-booking your 2021 tickets or making a donation, both of which can be done through their website.  

Under normal circumstances, Bristol Ferry Boats run every day of the year, bar Christmas Day, in the pouring rain or bright sunshine – the fleet are all covered and heated so you don’t need to worry about the weather stopping your trip. Though on some of the longer trips, the river breeze can be a little chilly, so Bristol Ferry Boats recommend wrapping up cozy and warm!

If you fancy a preview before you book, you can catch a glimpse of a virtual tour on the Bristol Ferry Boat social media sites – @bristol.ferry on Facebook or @bristolferry on Instagram.

Bristol Ferry Boats have a fleet of five, named Margaret, Independence, Emily, Matilda and Britgantia and offer six tours for you to choose from.

Avon Gorge Trips

Adult £18.50, Child £16.50

This trip takes you along the scenic River Avon, beginning at Brunel’s SS Great Britain, moving through the historic gates into the lock. Along the tour you can expect to see The Rocks Railway, Old Steamships Dock, to travel under the Clifton Suspension Bridge, past Horseshoe Bend, the Old Powder House, the ancient Sea Mills port and local village Pill.

Tea, coffee and snacks are available to buy on the boat, though customers are more than welcome to bring a picnic with them. This makes it a wonderful midday activity if you’re spending a weekend in Bristol.

This trip is 3 hours 30 minutes long and returns you to the harbourside after the tour. The departure site is Brunel’s SS Great Britain, so for those in wheelchairs, if you contact Bristol Ferry Boats, then a more accessible pick up site can be arranged.

For the Avon Gorge Trip, departure times are between 9:05am and 14:45 pm. Book a slot early if you have a particular time in mind, as these time slots are based upon availability.

Brunel’s Bristol Gorge Trip

Adult £15.00, Child £12.00

The departure for this tour is Temple Meads Landing, just a short stroll from the Temple Meads Train Station. This makes is a fantastic choice to kickstart your day if you’re coming into Bristol by rail.

Brunel’s Bristol Gorge Trip takes you past the first tunnel bridges, by the SS Great Britain, towards the Lock gates, underneath the Clifton suspension bridge and by the floating harbour, via the Avon Gorge.

The trip lasts roughly 2 hours and 40 minutes , so there are tea, coffee and snack facilities on board, or bring a picnic of your own, if you prefer.

Departures are at regular intervals between 10:10am and 17:55pm , depending on the times available when you book your trip.

Rum Cruise or Gin Cruise

If you pick one of these two cruises leave the kiddos at home! These two tours both take you around the harbour. Enjoy a gentle boat trip, floating through the harbour, around the docks, and have a few drinks.

If you opt for the Rum Cruise, you’ll get two free rum based drinks included in your ticket price; if the Gin Cruise is more up your street, you’ll get two free gin-based drinks. Of course, on either cruise you can buy more on board.

The departure location for these cruises is the Bristol City Centre Landing, scheduled for the cruises to begin at 19:00 pm.

Bands at Beeses

This is an incredible experience absolutely worth checking out. Enjoy a steady and gentle boat trip to Beeses.

The route there is incredibly scenic and beautiful, a great way to start the evening. Once you are at Beeses, enjoy your meal, a few drinks, and watch the live band.

Each Friday there is a different act and an alternating menu. So, if you have a wail of a time, be sure to check it out more than once; it certainly won’t get boring. You can visit Beeses’ website ( https://www.beeses.co.uk/groups.html ) to see the most up to date menus and line up of acts.

This boat trip to Beeses is one way but staff are happy and able to help with advice on using the First Bus system to get you home or to your accommodation safe and sound.

The closest bus stop to Beeses is on Fermain Avenue.

Your ticket with Bristol Ferry Boats gets you your one-way trip and your meal at Beeses. When you book your ticket, specify in the ‘order notes/ requirements’ section if you have any dietary requirements to ensure your meal is what you expect to receive.

The Bands at Beeses boat trip leaves from Welsh Back Ferry Landing at 18:00pm. The journey to Beeses is approximately an hour, and Beeses itself closes about midnight. Don’t forget cash for drinks onboard!

Unfortunately, the steps at Beeses may be difficult for wheelchair users to

 navigate and so it is generally advised by Bristol Ferry Boats to select a boat trip in a more accessible location.

This is a popular trip for large groups, so if your party is a big group, Bristol Ferry Boats request that you arrange a private hire. This means both you and other guests make the most out of your trips.

Sunday Riverside Roast

Adult £25.00, Child £19.00

A British necessity on a Sunday is a roast dinner, but why not jazz it up a bit? Enjoy your traditional Sunday lunch with a twist, taking a boat trip to the Beeses Tea Gardens.

There are a range of roast dinner options available for you to choose from, including different dietary requirements if notified beforehand. You can eat in the famous gardens. The price for the trip includes a return journey and a meal – a phenomenal bargain. A child’s ticket will, however, come with a child’s portion of food, so consider this when booking, especially if you have older children with you.

These trips are incredibly popular (no wonder why!) so make sure you book well in advance. The trip is a total of 3 hours , leaving from Welsh Back at 11:00am, and returning at 14:00pm. It is also worth noting that the steps at Beeses are not wheelchair accessible, and so some customers may struggle and choose a different riverboat journey if necessary.

Number Seven Boat Trips

https://www.numbersevenboattrips.com/

Another popular boat trip company within Bristol are Number Seven Boat Trips. This company offers their tours on weekends and during school holidays, making them a great choice if you’re bringing the little ones along with you.

View this post on Instagram A post shared by Number Seven Boat Trips (@numbersevenboattrips)

Find them on Facebook at @NumberSevenBoatTrips for the latest updates.

At present, Number Seven Boat Trips have been paused, due to COVID-19 government guidelines restricting unnecessary travel. They hope to be up and running again, as soon as it is safe to do so.

Perhaps the more unique aspect of Number Seven Boat Trips are the themed boats. These are available for private hire and are reportedly a great choice for hen and stag parties, work events, or even just for a ladies’ or lads’ night out.

Sunday Brunch Cruise

£22.50 per person , though group deals are available.

The Sunday Brunch Cruise is a 1 hour and 30-minute boat trip.

It includes the peaceful journey as well as a choice of three brunch options and the Number Seven Boat Trips’ signature ‘Ale Mary’. 

The cruise departs at 10:30am on (you guessed it) Sundays, from Prince St. Bridge.

Curry Night

£25 per person

This is another great boat ride and a meal trip, also lasting 1 hour and 30 minutes.

Enjoy your curry main and a side dish as you travel along the riverside. Your price also includes a Butcombe beer.

Departure for the Curry Night trips is at 19:00pm on Thursday evenings from the Cottage Inn (postcode: BS1 6XG ).

Bristol Harbour Tours

£5.00 per person

This is a ferry service that lets you see the city from a new angle. The tour guides you around the Bristol Harbour, between Hotwells and Temple Meads.

The duration of this trip varies significantly so Number Seven Boat Trips don’t give an estimated time here.

Cross Harbour Ferry Service

90p per person, under 5 free

This trip is less about the exciting journey of being on a boat and a simple method to get to the other side of the harbour. This journey takes you from Capricorn Quay to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, an approximate 25-minute walk without the Cross Harbour Ferry.

This service is available 7:30am – 18:15pm Monday to Friday, and 10:30am – 17:30pm Saturday and Sunday. This is available every day, with the exception of Christmas Day and Boxing Day.

This cruise takes you on a boat trip stopping by 2 pubs. You stay ashore for 40 minutes at each stop, giving you plenty of time for a drink, and then the group heads back to the boat. This journey lasts approximately 3 hours.

The Party Boat picks customers up from the Cascade Steps in the Bristol city centre, completes the 3-hour journey, and returns to the city centre.

Beeses River Trips 2020

Book a river boat journey to Beeses with Number Seven Boat trips’ Saturday journeys to Beeses. There are departure options at 12:00pm and again at 14:00pm, with the journey lasting approximately 4 hours.

Hotwells Ferry

The Hotwells Ferry is a great way to move around the city instead of the bus or a taxi. Hotwells Ferry stops in the Bristol City Centre, the Arnolfini, Lloyds, the Buttery, the SS Great Britain, Gas Ferry North, Mardyke, Pump House Cottage and then The Hand.

Temple Meads Ferry

The Temple Meads Ferry is another fab choice to make your way around Bristol. Beginning in the Bristol City Centre, the route has stops by the Arnolfini, Lloyds, Bathurst Basin, King Street, Totos, Castle Park, and then Temple Meads. This is a superb way to make your way around the city, especially if you arrived by train to the Temple Meads Station.

Enjoy your Ferry ride!

Whether you’re looking for an interesting way to make it around the city, searching for an evening activity or want to add an extra part to a jam packed day trip, a boat trip around Bristol gives a new, unique vantage point, letting you see the ins and outs of this vibrant city.

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Number Seven Boat Trips

Proudly independent since 1999.

Around the Harbour

Number Seven Boat Trips operates the distinctive shark themed boats for public and private transport.

We have been providing ferry services around Bristol docks between Temple Meads and Hotwells since 1999. 

Beese's River Trips

Leaving the Centre we cruise to the inland limit of the harbour and through Netham Lock where we join the River Avon.

Within minutes, the bustle of the city is left behind as we cruise upstream along tree-lined banks

Private Hire

From groups of twenty passengers, to larger parties of up to sixty, we have three boats to choose from to suit your event.

Private transfers, river trips or a party afloat. Make that occasion even more special by taking a cruise with us.

Cross Harbour Ferry

The "Mary Brunel" operates our Cross Harbour service 7 days a week between Hanover Quay and the S.S Great Britain.

Monday to Friday – 07:30 to 18:15 Saturday and Sunday – 10:30 to 17:30

The ferry runs on-demand within these hours and not to a set timetable The fare is £1.20.  Children five and under travel free.

Monthly tickets are available for just £18, allowing unlimited use for the whole month. Services operate every day except December 25th and December 26th.

If you would like further information about one of our trips or would like to book in with us please contact us . We will do our best to arrange a trip to suit all of your needs

Copyright © Number Seven Boat Trips Ltd. 2023 All Rights Reserved

Ferry Trips

There's no better way to visit us!

Friday Ferry Trips

Bristol Packet / Bristol Ferry Every Friday from 29th March the Bristol Packet Ferry company with be offering lunch time trips to Beeses arriving at 12 midday. Bristol Packet Click HERE to book your ticket! Looking for a fun Friday night? Then hop on a Bristol Ferry to our Friday night band nights at Beeses! Bristol Ferry Click HERE to book your ticket! The ticket includes the lovely ferry ride up the River Avon, and LIVE entertainment from some of the UK's best bands.

Saturday Ferry Trips

Bristol Ferry Bristol Ferry Boats will be offering shuttle trips to and from Beeses throughout the day. Visit their website to check trip availability and to make a booking. Bristol Packet will be running Ferry trips for our special events, please visit www.bristolpacket.co.uk to check availability.

Sunday Ferry Trips

Bristol Packet / Bristol Ferry What better way to spend a Sunday then a leisurely boat ride up the River Avon and a delicious Sunday Roast at Beeses, booked through Bristol Ferry . If you fancy a late evening cruise , then why not hop on a Bristol Packet boat trip. Visit their websites to check trip availability and to make a booking.

Bank Holiday Ferry Trips

Bristol Packet / Bristol Ferry Enjoy your Bank Holidays at Beeses! Please visit the Bristol Packet and Bristol Ferry's websites to check availability and to make a booking.

Bristol's Best Kept Secret!

Book Your Visit Opening Times Menu Events/Music Weddings Groups Public Ferry Trips Travel Info Gallery Work at Beeses Terms and Conditions

About Beeses Bar...

Whether you're looking for the perfect place to host your wedding or special event, or trying to find that perfect spot in the sun to enjoy a drink by the river - then Beeses Bar is the place for you! We open from April to the end of October. Check the opening times before you visit! We hope to see you soon.

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© Beeses Bar /// Wyndham Cres, Brislington, Bristol BS4 4SX ///  [email protected]  /// Website by CSCD

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Tower Belle

The most popular and iconic passenger boat in Bristol

In 1920 Sir W G Armstrong Whitworth & Co Shipbuilders (Walker Yard) Newcastle built the Tower Belle. This illustrious ship builder was experiencing a boom period with orders for ships to replace those lost in the Great War. Between the huge Battleships and Cargo vessels this small passenger ship was completed and launched into the Tyne. She was named Wincomblee after the area around the shipyard, later named Tower Belle after Tower Bridge.

We can only speculate why the shipyard needed a 100-seat passenger launch. It could have been to carry dignitaries, or to link the Elswick and Walker shipyards, or to ferry the foreign navy crews to and from their ships during hand over. For whatever reasons this 72ft passenger vessel was built on lines similar to the battle ships and cruisers taking shape around her.

The ships registry shows Armstrong’s owned the Wincomblee until 1939 when the registration transferred to the Lord Mayor of Newcastle and she became the property of the City and used as a ferry. In 1946 she was sold to a Dutch national and taken by sea to London. Based at Westminster Pier with three different owners (Thames Launches ltd, George Hastings then W R Withams Ltd). She ran to Greenwich and up as far as Hampton Court. Many people have childhood memories of traveling on the Tower Belle during the 1950s and 60s

In 1976 Tower Belle was up for sale again and lay unwanted on Eel Pie Island. The enterprising Nick Gray who had started Bristol Packet Boat Trips three years earlier carrying passengers on Narrow Boat Redshank bought her and she arrived in Bristol on the back of a truck in 1977.

In Bristol the Tower Belle quickly gained enthusiastic friends. Offering an Avon Gorge Cruise, a voyage not available to the general public since Campbell’s Paddle steamers had stopped trading in the early 1960s. It also started running trips to Beese’s Tea Gardens, Hanham and Keynsham. Carrying general public on advertised trips and available for private parties, often with jazz bands onboard.

Today she is the most popular and iconic passenger boat in Bristol. A typical day can start with a school party of 80 children screaming under the bridges, followed by a leisurely afternoon cream tea cruise, then an evening party with music and dancing on the aft deck.

The Perfect Bristol Day Trip Itinerary: Attractions, Food and Sightseeing

From taking in the views of Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain, to great food and colourful street art, this is the perfect Bristol day trip itinerary!

When it comes to choosing a day trip from London, there are so many great options. Just hop on a train and within an hour or two you can be exploring the vintage stores in Brighton , wandering the historic Shambles in York , seeing Roman history in Bath or punting in Cambridge. It’s a relaxing way to travel, and if you plan a little in advance then you’ll be able to bag some cheap train tickets too.

For our latest trip we were looking for a destination that had a little bit of everything! We liked the idea of being by the water, especially as the weather forecast promised warm sunny days. We also wanted to find a place with a cool food scene and a few attractions.

So, where came out on top? Bristol! We’ve both always loved Bristol. It’s got such a creative spirit, which comes through not only in the vibrant murals you see splashed around the city, but also in its shops and restaurants. It’s one of those cities that feels full of life!

We set off on a day trip from London to Bristol and spent a couple of days cramming lots of sightseeing and food experiences. We hopped on boats, explored ancient monuments, climbed towers, ate a range of cuisines and even found a few speakeasies… all in the name of research of course!

Whether you’ve only got one day in Bristol, or you want to spread my recommendations out over a weekend, this Bristol itinerary has lots of travel tips to make the most of your visit.

How To Get To Bristol

We travelled from London to Bristol by train. The journey takes just over an hour and a half from London Paddington to Bristol Temple Meads Station. It’s such an easy way to travel and happens to be a good hour or so faster than driving!

As with many UK cities, once you’re in Bristol you’re unlikely to want a car, so the train is a much better option. It’s also a lot more sustainable, which is something we should all be considering right now.

To make things cheaper, Macca and I have a National Rail Two Together Railcard . This is 100% worth buying if you travel with the same person regularly. It saves up to 1/3 on train travel and only costs £30 for a whole year. There are eight other Railcards available if this doesn’t suit you, including one for friends and family and others if you’re aged 16-25 or 26-30.

As an example, for this journey, our tickets were reduced by over £50 with our Two Together Railcard. It’s quite likely you’ll make your money back on one trip (as we did on our recent weekend break in York ), meaning any future journeys will be filled with savings!

Once you arrive at Bristol Temple Meads Station, it’s a short walk to the city’s main sights and attractions.

The Perfect Bristol Day Trip

Coming up are lots of recommendations for places to visit on your Bristol day trip. If you want to take things at a leisurely pace, I’d just pick a few of your favourites, or stay an extra day so you can tick everything off the list.

Take in the views of Clifton Suspension Bridge

One of Bristol’s most iconic spots, everyone should visit this majestic bridge. It’s one of Isambard Kingdom Brunel’s most famous designs, and is an impressive feat of engineering.

Brunel was just 24 when he won a competition to head up the project. It took 33 years to complete and today is one of the oldest surviving iron suspension bridges in the world. It connects two sides of the Avon Gorge, over the River Avon.

For the best views of the bridge, I’d recommend visiting the park by Clifton Observatory. There are plenty of benches here where you can look out and admire the bridge.

For a quirkier view of the structure, how about heading down into the Giant’s Cave? This is a natural cave within the limestone of the gorge. Access is via 100+ steps, and once you emerge, you’ll see the bridge from a whole new angle!

One of the prettiest scenes you’ll see of this bridge is during the Bristol Balloon Fiesta which takes place every August. If you can time your Bristol day trip for one of the days it’s on, you’ll see beautiful hot air balloons dotted throughout the skies. It’s a very special time to be in the city!  

Explore Clifton Village

Clifton is one of the most desirable neighbourhoods in Bristol. With bunting criss-crossing the streets and a range of chic boutiques and brunch spots, it’s a lovely area to mooch around.

Key places to visit are The Mall, Princess Victoria Street and the stunning Royal York Crescent. If you’re a lover of all things colourful, you simply have to visit Sky Bristol on Waterloo Street. With vibrant prints, fun greetings cards and quirky gifts, this is a shop that’s guaranteed to put a smile on your face!

Pod is great for homewares and gardening items while Portobella is a fun fashion store with a focus on multicoloured prints.

Clifton Village has a great food scene too. There’s The Mall Deli for tasty meats and cheeses, plus Chandos Deli and Spicer and Cole are ideal for brunching, lunching and caffeine fixes. For a quirky meal, visit The Clifton Sausage, where you can pick from a special menu of homemade sausages. Over 100,000 sausages are consumed every year here, so you know they’ll be good! This guide will point you in the direction of Bristol’s best brunch spots .

Catch the Bristol water taxi or go on a boat trip

Bristol is a city where you’re never far from the water, so it makes sense that some of the best views are from a boat! There are two easy options if you’re visiting for planning a Bristol day trip: catch the Bristol Ferry waterbus or go on a Bristol Packet boat trip .

The waterbus is a really great way to get around the city as it connects places like Castle Park, Wapping Wharf and the SS Great Britain. A short hop will only set you back £2.

Meanwhile, the Bristol Packet boat tours are great if you’re looking for a guided tour. The City Dock Tour takes 45 minutes and has a live commentary.

Visit CARGO in Wapping Wharf

When you see the stack of shipping containers in Wapping Wharf you might wonder what you’re approaching. This is actually a super-cool part of Bristol’s harbourside complex, and inside each container you’ll find something different.

The key reason to visit is for the food! There are so many cuisines with small eateries here including:

• Loki Poké – Poké bowls
• Cargo Cantina – Mexican food
• Bakers & Co – Bread and pastries
• Dog Town – Hot dogs
• Gambas – Tapas
• Pizzarova – Sourdough pizza

If you’re looking for a budget lunch in Bristol, Cargo is a really great option with street food vibes all around. I opted for a poké bowl this time which was delicious and fresh – perfect for a sunny day!

While you’re in the area, I’d recommend squeezing in a bit of shopping too. There are some cool independent stores located in the containers. My favourite was Frankly – a shop filled with pretty jewellery, colourful accessories and ethical gifts.  

Moments away you’ll also find Bookhaus – an independent bookstore where you’ll see notes dotted around the store with recommendations from the staff. This offers a really lovely personal style of shopping experience.

Learn the history of the SS Great Britain

I’ve been to Bristol a few times before but this was my first time checking out one of the city’s main attractions, the SS Great Britain .

This impressive ship (another creation by Brunel) was a leader in her day! She was the largest passenger ship in the world in the 1840s. 750 people could travel on board, across three different classes. The ship was famed for transporting passengers from England to Australia which took a whopping 120 days! How amazing is that?

There is so much to see and do, you could easily spend half a day here. It’s ideal for kids too, as so many of the elements are interactive! You can wander along the edge of the base of the boat in the dry dock, take photos on the deck, learn lots in the museum area and take a look at Brunel’s life at a dedicated museum to the brains behind the ship! If you’re feeling brave, you could even book in for a ‘climb the rigging’ experience!

Enjoy a gourmet lunch at Adelina Yard

I’ve suggested Cargo as a great budget lunch option in Bristol, but now it’s time to reach a little deeper into your pockets! If you’re looking for a restaurant in the city centre for a special meal, book a table at Adelina Yard .

This casual restaurant serves gourmet dishes with a modern European theme. The décor is minimalist, with distressed walls, dried flowers and rugged chopped branches as cutlery stands.

We went for the 4-course set lunch at £38 per person. Over a couple of hours, we tucked into dainty plates of tomato and watermelon salad with goat’s curd, a smoky eel dish with beetroot stars and burnt apple, and a tasty Iberico pork dish with a pungent black garlic ketchup.

The food was presented in a smart manner, and there was a relaxed but professional approach to the service too. All in all, a lovely place for a memorable meal in Bristol.

Stop for ice cream at Swoon Gelato or a doughnut at Pinkmans Bakery

Whenever I’ve asked for recommendations of places to visit in Bristol, these two spots have cropped up over and over! If you have a sweet tooth, definitely add these to your Bristol day trip itinerary!

Swoon Gelato specialises in artisan gelato. They offer 11 standard flavours including salted caramel, mango, pistachio and chocolate, plus a few specials. As it was so warm, I ordered a scoop of the raspberry sorbetti which was refreshing, tart and utterly delicious – as if someone had smashed a load of fresh raspberries up and frozen them!

Meanwhile, a short stroll up Park Street is Pinkmans Bakery, which specialises in sourdough doughnuts. They’re light and fluffy, and very well-filled. Again, you’ll find some standard flavours along with specials such as lemon meringue and pineapple and coconut.

Check out Bristol’s street art scene

Bristol is a really creative city and one of the biggest expressions of that is through the street art. It’s a city to walk around with your eyes wide open. Scan the sides of buildings and look for colourful motifs – they’re everywhere!

The most famous of all the graffiti artists is of course Banksy. You might spot a few works as you wander around on foot, but to gain a bit more insight I’d recommend booking a Where The Wall self-guided street art tour. The tour and map load on your phone and take you on a 3-mile walking tour to see Banksy’s most famous works, alongside some other notable artworks. At each one there’s a short video presentation with information about the piece.

If street art is a big reason for your day trip to Bristol, you simply have to visit Stokes Croft. This neighbourhood is grittier and edgier than many parts of the city, but it’s also covered heat-to-toe in murals. I loved walking the streets around here, taking photos as I went. If you’re a fan of vintage shopping, you’ll love this neighbourhood too!

Alternatively, pop by the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery where there’s always lots of interesting artworks to admire. When I visited there were two works by Banksy inside. This museum is free to enter too! 

Take in the views of Bristol from the top of Cabot Tower

If you’re looking for one of the best viewpoints over Bristol, you’re going to need to use your legs a little! Cabot Tower is a short walk from Park Street. The building itself is 32 metres tall, but as it’s perched on top of Brandon Hill it offers really incredible panoramas of Bristol.

From the top you’ll see all the famous sights including Clifton Suspension Bridge, the colourful houses in Clifton Village, the River Avon, Bristol Harbour and the SS Great Britain. This is another attraction that won’t cost you a penny. It’s definitely one of the best free things to do in Bristol too.

Brandon Hill Park is a really serene and peaceful park, so I’d recommend having a little meander through the gardens before you leave.

Go for cocktails at a speakeasy bar

Are you a cocktail connoisseur? You’ll be happy to hear Bristol has an exciting bar scene! As a Londoner I’ve been to several ‘speakeasy’ style bars, but I didn’t know that this scene was thriving in Bristol too.

The Milk Thistle is one of the coolest and comes with quite the accolade – being named one of the UK’s Top 50 Bars! It’s the kind of place you could walk by without realising that inside is a very cool cocktail bar split across four storeys, with its own hidden vault!

The main bar on the ground floor is filled with unique and unusual items, rather like an old-fashioned house of curiosities. The expert mixologists are happy to work off the fun cocktail menu of intriguing drinks, or they can shake up your favourite classic.

The Scarlet Lantern is another secret bar in Bristol. Located just around the corner from Banksy’s famous ‘Well Hung Lover’, this bar is only identifiable from the red lantern that hangs above the door. Follow the steps down to an underground lair with 4-poster beds, a well-stocked bar and no doubt plenty of debauchery!

Feast on Sri Lankan cuisine The Coconut Tree

We went on our honeymoon to Sri Lanka so I was already a huge fan of Sri Lankan food. I adore the delicate balance of spices, chilli and coconut you find in this part of the world. Crispy hoppers, spicy coconut sambal, fragrant curries, moreish kotthu and rotis – I mean, what’s not to love?!

When I heard there was a top-rated Sri Lankan restaurant called The Coconut Tree in Bristol, I couldn’t wait to try it. With pumping tunes and cocktails served in novelty elephants, I wasn’t sure it was going to be the most authentic meal… but I was wrong!

Over two hours we feasted on crispy hoppers topped with hot sambals, an indulgent salmon curry that was rich with coconut milk, a pork curry that had a smoky sauce, and delightfully moreish spiced potatoes.

I liked that all the dishes were designed for sharing (with dishes priced between £4 and £9), so we could try lots of different things. There are a few branches of this restaurant across the south west of England, including in Bath and Cheltenham. I’d definitely recommend trying one if you’d like to find out why everyone raves about Sri Lankan food!  

Where To Stay In Bristol

If a day trip to Bristol feels a little rushed, you could book a hotel in the centre. I’d recommend staying at The Clayton Hotel which is in an ideal location, walking distance from many of the key sights and moments from St Nicholas Market (where you’ll also find plenty of great street food!)

We stayed in a comfortable superior room on the 8 th floor, which was large with several windows. The lobby area was smart with cool lighting and a vibrant mural by the main entrance. There’s a large selection of items available at the breakfast buffet here too, from fried savoury items to gooey chocolate croissants. It was perfect for a short break in the city centre.

I hope you’ve found my Bristol day trip itinerary helpful. Have a great time in the city – it’s easily one of my favourites in Britain!

A big thanks to National Rail for inviting me to share my thoughts on visiting the city. Don’t forget to buy a Railcard before you travel. It could save you up to 1/3 on train travel.

If you’re looking for more great ideas for days out, check out my guide to the best UK weekend breaks .

Chloe Gunning

With a passion for food, fun and adventure, Chloe is the content creator behind one of the UK's top travel blogs Wanderlust Chloe. From volcano boarding in Nicaragua, to sailing around Sicily and eating her way around Japan, her travels have taken her to some of the coolest spots on the planet. Named Travel Influencer of the Year in 2022, Chloe regularly works with a number of tourism boards, producing inspirational travel content across multiple platforms. Find out more about Chloe here.

1 thought on “The Perfect Bristol Day Trip Itinerary: Attractions, Food and Sightseeing”

Thank you this was super helpful ! I love my two together railcard as well, just trying to decide between Bath or Bristol for the day…

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