Bristol

Day 1: Harbourside and the Old City

Start with Bristol’s story by the water, where medieval spires meet cranes and converted warehouses. Today is flat and walkable, with ferries for easy hops and great perspectives on the city’s regeneration.

• Morning: Begin at St Mary Redcliffe to admire its soaring Perpendicular Gothic and quiet morning light; then stroll 10 minutes to the Floating Harbour. Cross Pero’s Bridge, peek into the Arnolfini’s reworked warehouse, and look up at the mix of old quayside facades above modern shopfronts.
• Midday: Head to the SS Great Britain and historic dockyard; allow 2–3 hours if you’re a detail lover. For lunch, walk to Wapping Wharf’s CARGO units for independent eateries housed in shipping containers (good veggie options; outdoor seating is lovely in summer).
• Afternoon: Ride the Bristol Ferry Boats loop for architecture-by-water: M Shed’s transit sheds, the Lloyds amphitheatre frontage, and the working Underfall Yard (pop into the engine house if open). If you prefer land, take M Shed’s rooftop for harbour views and context panels.
• Evening: Ramble the cobbles of King Street for historic pubs and the Bristol Old Vic foyer’s glass-and-timber makeover; or catch a performance if timing suits. Alternatively, try the reopened Bristol Beacon for a concert—book ahead, and bring a layer as riverside evenings can feel cool even in summer.

Day 2: Clifton, topography and the university quarter

Today celebrates hills and horizontals: crescents perched above the Avon Gorge and a climb up Park Street to one of Britain’s great Gothic Revival towers. Expect superb views and a mix of Georgian, Regency and modernist contrasts.

• Morning: Start at the Clifton Suspension Bridge before crowds arrive; walk the gorge edge and Observatory grounds for the best angles. Wander Clifton Village via Sion Hill to Royal York Crescent, then dip into Cliftonwood’s colourful terraces for photos.
• Midday: Refuel around Clifton Arcade or the restored Lido (book if you fancy a swim). If open, slot in Goldney Hall’s grotto for an eccentric 18th‑century folly; otherwise visit Clifton Cathedral for an award‑winning 1970s concrete interior and dramatic light.
• Afternoon: Walk or bus down to Park Street; tour the Wills Memorial Building (book tower tours for panorama and layout appreciation). Explore the university precinct’s blend of Gothic Revival, mid‑century and Brutalist buildings—winter’s low sun paints great shadows on concrete; in summer, linger under the trees of Brandon Hill.
• Evening: Stay high for dinner on Whiteladies Road or circle back to the village for cosy mews pubs. Sunset back at the bridge is a classic; carry a tripod if you’re into blue‑hour shots.

Day 3: Temple Quarter, Byzantine brick and street‑level grit

Finish with industrial swagger and debate-in-stone: pioneering railway heritage, Bristol Byzantine flourishes, and post‑war planning alongside living street art. This day is mostly urban walking; comfortable shoes recommended.

• Morning: Arrive at Temple Meads to take in Brunel’s original terminus and the Victorian extensions; pop into the Engine Shed for a neat old‑meets‑new conversion. Skirt the emerging Temple Quarter campus to glimpse current construction shaping a new district.
• Midday: Walk to Welsh Back for the Granary—polychromatic brickwork at its finest—then follow a short Bristol Byzantine trail past riverside warehouses. Grab lunch at St Nicholas Market (Glass Arcade is quick; the Exchange courtyard is atmospheric), and don’t miss the Nails on Corn Street.
• Afternoon: Read the post‑war city in Broadmead’s 1950s/60s fabric, then decompress in Castle Park with the bombed‑out St Peter’s Church. Continue to Temple Church’s leaning tower, and finish in Stokes Croft for street art and the derelict‑magnificent Carriage Works.
• Evening: Settle on Gloucester Road or Stokes Croft for independent bars and eateries; this area buzzes with locals and late openings. If you’re here in September, consider swapping tonight for Bristol Open Doors events—book popular sites early and plan for queues.

Notes for timing and seasons:

• Summer: Long evenings make the Harbourside and bridge viewpoints glorious; bring sun protection for exposed routes.
• Winter: Low light flatters stone and concrete; interiors (cathedral, museums, theatre foyers) are welcome warm‑ups between walks.
• Year‑round tips: Bristol is hilly—pace the climbs and use buses or ferries to leapfrog. If driving, check the Clean Air Zone rules for the centre.

By Air

• Bristol Airport (BRS): ~13 km south of the centre. A1 Airport Flyer bus to Temple Meads and the Bus & Coach Station every 10–20 mins; typical journey 30–45 mins. Taxis take ~25–35 mins depending on traffic.
• Cardiff Airport (CWL): ~1 hr 15–1 hr 30 by road; rail via Rhoose (Cardiff International Airport) to Cardiff Central then to Bristol (~2 hrs+ total).
• Birmingham Airport (BHX): ~1 hr 30–2 hrs by road; trains via Birmingham New Street to Bristol Temple Meads in ~1 hr 50–2 hrs.
• London Heathrow (LHR): By rail via Paddington (Heathrow Express/Elizabeth line + GWR) ~1 hr 45–2 hrs 30 to Bristol; by coach or car via M4 ~2–3 hrs.
• London Gatwick (LGW): Trains via Reading/Paddington ~2 hrs 30–3 hrs; by car ~2 hrs 45–3 hrs 30.

By Train

• Main stations: Bristol Temple Meads (primary, central) and Bristol Parkway (north of city).
• Operators: GWR and CrossCountry with frequent services.
• Typical journey times:
  • London Paddington: Temple Meads ~1 hr 30–1 hr 45; Parkway ~1 hr 10–1 hr 25.
  • Bath Spa: 10–15 mins.
  • Cardiff Central: 50–60 mins.
  • Birmingham New Street: ~1 hr 25–1 hr 35.
  • Exeter St Davids: ~1 hr 10–1 hr 20; Plymouth: ~2–2 hr 15.
  • Manchester Piccadilly: ~3–3 hr 30; Leeds: ~3 hr 40–4 hrs; Edinburgh: ~6–6 hr 30.

By Coach

• Bristol Bus & Coach Station (Marlborough Street) is the main hub.
• National Express and Megabus connect major cities:
  • London (Victoria): ~2 hr 30–3 hr 30.
  • Heathrow: ~2–2 hr 45.
  • Birmingham: ~2–2 hr 30.
  • Cardiff: ~1 hr 15–1 hr 35.

By Car

• Motorways: M4 (east–west) and M5 (north–south). The M32 links the M4 (J19) directly to the city centre.
• Approximate drive times (traffic dependent):
  • London (M4): 2–2 hr 30.
  • Birmingham (M5): 1 hr 30–2 hrs.
  • Cardiff (M4): ~1 hr.
  • Exeter (M5): ~1 hr 30.
• Clean Air Zone: Charges apply to some vehicles in the central area—check eligibility before driving.
• Park & Ride: Portway (A4), Long Ashton (A370), and Brislington (A4) for easy access to the centre.