This 1 Day Bristol itinerary covers the best things to do in Bristol, hidden gems and a variety of recommendations on where to stay and our favourite restaurants in Bristol. This is our local guide based on our experiences growing up near Bristol and we’re thrilled to help you plan your one day in Bristol.
Whether you’re spending a full 24 hours in Bristol or planning a day trip to Bristol, we’ve created the perfect itinerary for you to see the main highlights of the city. Bristol is packed with cool stuff to do from the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge to the vibrant St Nicks Market.
Bristol is our home city and the place where we grew up, so it’s always close to our hearts! We spent our teens wandering around Park Street and also remember when the Cabot Circus shopping centre opened!
Even now, we visit multiple times a year to see family, find the best vegan food and new places to visit.
This Bristol itinerary ends in one of our favourite places in Bristol, the lively Harbourside. When living in Bristol, we spent many evenings here watching the sunset, so now we’re sharing it with you. We’re excited to show you what to do in Bristol for a day!
Join us for an in-depth local guide to Bristol’s best spots, perfect for making the most of your one day in Bristol in this awesome city!
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Planning a 1 Day Bristol Itinerary
- Currency – Great British Pound, GBP (compare the currency here)
- Cuisine – Fish and Chips, Pies, Sausage Rolls, Pub lunches, International Cuisines
- Apps – Uber, Google Maps, Booking.com, Trainline
- Convenience stores – Tesco Express, Sainsbury’s Local & Lidl
- Where to stay in Bristol? The Full Moon Backpackers!
- Need travel insurance? We use SafetyWing.
Popular Tours for 1 Day in Bristol
- Blackbeard to Banksy Guided Walking Tour – go on a street art walking tour!
- St. Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter Tour – visit the WW2 shelter with a guide!
- Guided Ghost Tour in Bristol – learn about the dark history of Bristol!
- Clifton Suspension Bridge Vaults Experiences – visit the vaults on this cheap Bristol tour!
One Day in Bristol Itinerary: A Locals Guide
Now that we have covered a few quick tips, we can show you the best way to plan your day trip to Bristol. We’ve split this Bristol itinerary up into morning, afternoon and evening, feel free to spend as much time as possible doing these activities during your trip.
Morning – Historical Bristol
Start your day in one of Bristol’s hidden gems and slowly make your way towards the lovely viewpoints of Clifton.
Walk up Christmas Steps
Christmas Steps is a great place to start your one day Bristol adventure. It’s like stepping into a time capsule of 17th-century Bristol charm, but also a sort of Diagon Alley, Harry Potter feel.
Here you will find independent cafes, barber shops, bookstores and galleries all within a medieval cobblestone alley. Christmas Steps might be a quick stop, but it’s packed with charm!
Despite its name, it has nothing to do with the ‘Christmas’!
Visit Bristol Cathedral and College Green
Dating back to the 12th century, Bristol Cathedral is a must-visit during your day trip to Bristol. With its gothic style architecture and stained glass windows (from the 14th century), it’s a notable place worth visiting in Bristol.
It’s free to enter but donations are welcome. There’s free water refills and toilets available here if you need them!
It’s also a great quiet place to come and take a moment to reflect un-disturbed. After spending so much time living in and around Bristol, I only recently visited for the first time last year and wish I’d done it much sooner, so don’t wait!
We usually just chill on the College Green, right next to the cathedral. This spot is well-known for being a filming location on Skins!
Also be sure to walk all the way through the Cathedral to the back, where you will find a sweet garden.
Thrifting on Park Street
For any fans of ‘Skins’, the British TV series, you will instantly recognise Park Street as the opening scene where Freddie skates down this road to reach College Green at the bottom.
Park Street has plenty to offer for spending 1 day in Bristol, ranging from street art from the renowned Bansky to hip cafes to grab a coffee and a pastry, book shops and eateries.
➤ Go on a Banksy Guided Walking Tour in Bristol!
The main thing you’ll notice walking up this notable street is the volume of thrift stores! If you like vintage clothing, this street is the place for you! Reworked jackets, old sports jerseys and clothing accessories, you’ll find the lot here!
Climb Cabot Tower for the best views of Bristol
When exploring Bristol in a day, your visit won’t be complete without getting a great 360 view of Cabot Tower! After finishing up on Park Street, make your way down Great George Street to find yourself at the bottom of Brandon Hill Park. From here, you will get a glimpse of the lovely little tower.
Cabot Tower was built in 1890 and will guarantee you the best views across Bristol and the surrounding South West. It’s free to enter and the doors are open between 8 am and 5 pm.
The stairs are steep and narrow, so keep in mind on busy days you will be politely squeezing past people, but don’t be put off, it’s worth it for the view!
Cabot Tower is free and unmanned so don’t expect to meet any workers or support staff. There are also no toilets here.
There are so many amazing free things to do in Bristol, so we created a full guide!
Lunch at St Nicholas Market
You’re bound to work up an appetite when spending 1 day in Bristol and the best place to go for lunch is St Nicholas Market, better known locally as St Nick’s!
In the heart of the old city, you will find tourists and workers on lunch break queuing to get some of the best street food in Bristol. We wholeheartedly recommend eating at Eat a Pitta.
From mouthwatering baked goods, Asian fusion, sandwiches and pies (a British classic), you’ll find something to enjoy on your Bristol day trip. If you’re fancying something typically British, drop into Pieminister.
St Nicholas Market is the oldest and most popular market in Bristol and other than food, you can also find independent stalls at the market selling vintage items, wartime relics and classic art. Have a good explore before moving on to the next stop in this 1 day Bristol itinerary.
If you’re into history, check out this tour of St. Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter from WW2!
Important note: Cash and card is accepted here. As it’s a fully established market, vendors have card machines available for card and contactless payments.
Afternoon on a Day Trip to Bristol – Clifton
After you’ve finished indulging in lunch at St Nicholas Market during your one day in Bristol, make your way North West heading to Clifton.
This walk is up a long hill so you can either walk for 45 minutes or take the number 8 bus (check Google Maps) which will get you there in around 25 minutes altogether. It’s a nice walk if you’re up for the challenge!
Discover Clifton Village
When wondering what to do in Bristol for a day, we always recommend Clifton Village. It has a fancy feel unlike Bristol city centre, but it’s great for spending the afternoon and exploring a different neighbourhood in Bristol.
Dating back to the 18th century, Clifton stands out for its beautifully designed Georgian architecture. Imagine tall townhouses dressed with sash windows and iron balconies. As you can imagine, Clifton was built for the wealthy meaning no expense was spared!
Clifton is well worth the visit while in Bristol for the day, independent shops and cafes line the streets, it’s a good place to unwind!
At Christmas time they have a huge Christmas tree dressed head to toe in lights.
Visit the famous Clifton Suspension Bridge
Head over to Clifton Suspension Bridge to catch one of the best views in the city! It’s one of our favourite places to go for sunset in Bristol, so if you’re sticking around for more than one day, come back here for awesome views.
Since its opening in 1864, Clifton Suspensions Bridge has connected Clifton, Bristol to Leigh Woods, Somerset for over 160 years. Being one of Bristol’s most recognisable features, you can understand why thousands come to visit this icon on a day trip to Bristol.
From here, you will get a great view over the River Avon, Avon Gorge and Bristol (though not quite as good as Cabot Tower). You can also visit the vaults on a tour!
Important note: Clifton Suspension Bridge is free to cross by foot, but costs £1 to cross by vehicle each way.
Wander around Clifton Arcade
Clifton Arcade is one of Bristol’s biggest arcades and is a great place to explore on your 1 day in Bristol. It opened back in 1872 and is now filled with independent stores selling vintage pieces, fine art, jewellery and souvenirs, to name a few.
The arcade is recognisable by its iron and glass design, which was a common architectural style for Victorian arcades. The use of large windows allows natural light to illuminate the interior. As you can imagine, Clifton Arcade is still being used as it was originally intended 150 years later.
Explore Clifton Downs
A ginormous green space spanning 400 acres attracts hundreds from all corners of Bristol, all year round. Clifton Downs is a great space for exercise, picnicking, afternoon strolls, and the lot! In autumn green fades to orange, it’s a real autumnal treat. There are some nice wooded areas to be explored too during your 1 day Bristol itinerary.
On our most recent trip to Clifton Downs, we witnessed the most British thing imaginable, people playing Quidditch like in Harry Potter! Although, they were on the ground instead, of course.
Evening
As your Bristol day trip draws to a close, what better way than to chill by the beautiful waterside? Spanning from the Pump House pub in Hotwells to Castle Park in central Bristol, there’s roughly 2 miles of waterside walking to be done. See below for some highlights to see during your one day in Bristol.
Chill at the Harbourside
Lloyds Amphitheatre – a large outdoor space used for culture and music events during the summer months. Its naming is down to the fact it’s also Lloyd’s bank building, offices only, unfortunately, you can’t bring your cash here!
Typically, you’ll find people skateboarding here and generally having a nice time. You’ll usually find good vibes here!
Millennium Square – Previously known as ‘@ Bristol’, and now re-branded as ‘We the curious’, as part of Millennium Square you will find a science museum-type centre, great for kids and families. Millennium Square is most recognisable by its planet-sized mirrored globe and water fountains.
This is actually a planetarium! it’s right behind Lloyds amphitheatre and is well worth a wander through during your evening. We would have loved to add this to our 1 day in Bristol itinerary, but there’s not enough time!
Arnolfini – International art gallery situated along the harbour with a cosy cafe. This is only open 11 am – 6 pm, so if you like art we’d suggest coming here before close.
Watershed – Watershed itself is an independent cinema and creative space, but if you head for this area you will find restaurants, pubs, and sports bars. The Bristol Stable is a great choice for pizza and cider.
Feeling adventurous? You can kayak along the waterways in Bristol! Be sure to head to a rental to get the latest pricing and availability.
Relax at King Street
King Street is a lively cobbled street lined with some of the finest pubs Bristol has to offer in the Bristol harbourside area. It’s worth a visit during your 1 day in Bristol!
In the summer months, many of the pubs have wooden picnic benches spread across the historic street for pubgoers to enjoy some British sun and have a natter outside. It’s certainly a great spot to sip a few cold ones with friends.
Our favourite pub to visit down Kings Street is Kongs! Visit Kongs if you fancy having a go on retro arcade machines or a competitive match of table tennis (ping pong) with friends! You will also find resident restaurants here that rotate every few months, they usually have awesome vegan food.
Here are a few more places to visit on Kings Street:
- The Old Duke – Old Jazz and Blues venue dating back to 1965. Small and cosy pub with live music. It’s close quarters but it adds to its unique vibe. Make sure to call in to at least check it out.
- The Beer Emporium – Not only will you find great drinks at this historical underground bar, but there are also some of the best pizzas in Bristol here. Pepenero has a restaurant at The Beer Emporium and is a great place to have dinner during your evening in Bristol.
- The Llandoger Trow – A historic building built around 1664. You won’t miss it on the corner of King Street near the harbour end. Prices are slightly cheaper here per drink and also have a live DJ in their infamous ‘red room’ every Friday and Saturday night, this one is definitely a hidden gem if you’re looking for intimate nightlife during your one day in Bristol.
There are also more pubs such as Small Bar and The Apple (A stationary boat pub serving some of the best cider around).
More things to do on your Bristol Day Trip
Here are a few highlights you may not have time to do during your 1 day in Bristol itinerary, feel free to switch them out with the above recommendations if they work better for you!
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery – Art, Archaeology and Natural History all within this 1823 establishment. There is also some Banksy artwork here too.
Castle Park – a historical park in the centre of Bristol with remains of an old castle. Great for sitting in the sun near the harbourside. It’s not too big so it doesn’t take long to cover the whole park. You will quite often see people practising their skills on slack-lines here.
Shopping in Broadmead / Cabot Circus – If you fancy doing some shopping in the classic high street stores, the Broadmead / Cabot Circus area has you covered.
SS Great Britain – Now a museum, the SS Great Britain was built in 1843 and frequently sailed to New York, US and Melbourne, Australia. A great place to visit on a rainy day.
Catch a boat taxi along Bristol’s canal – If you need to get across Bristol and fancy a scenic journey, see Bristol from the water. Routes cover Hotwells to Temple Meads.
How Locals Spend One Day in Bristol
We’ve spent many times wondering what to do in Bristol for a day, and we usually decide to explore Clifton, go window shopping, find a new vegan cafe or pick a new activity to do. Although this one day in Bristol itinerary is full of the main highlights, we didn’t want to leave out these local gems.
- Bowling at The Lanes – This authentic bowling alley is a great place to get competitive with friends or to simply polish up your skills. They have a great bar and offer an open-air cinema in their courtyard during the summers (check their social media pages for this though).
- Rock climbing – If you’re into rock climbing and find yourself with spare time, Redpoint Bristol and Bloc Indoor climbing are great options.
- Stokes Croft – Great for nightlife and experiencing the alternative side of Bristol. There is plenty of street art to be found here.
- Skateboarding – Bristol has a huge skateboarding scene, check out spots such as Dean Lane, Bristol’s pump track, Lloyd’s Amphitheatre or the plaza off of Colston Ave.
1 Day Bristol Itinerary Overview
We’ve given you our top local tips for spending 1 day in Bristol, so here is a brief overview of what we have spoken about so you can plan your day trip!
- Morning: Discover Historical Bristol – Christmas steps, Bristol Cathedral, Park Street, Cabot Tower, Lunch at St Nicholas Market
- Afternoon: Spend the Afternoon in Clifton – Clifton Village, Clifton Suspension Bridge, Clifton Downs
- Evening: Relax at the Harbourside – Lloyds Amphitheatre, Watershed, Pubs of King Street, dinner at Pepenero.
➤ Want to spend longer in Bristol? Here’s our list of the best free things to do in Bristol.
Where to stay in Bristol
Even though you’re planning to spend one day in Bristol, if you decide to stay overnight, here are our tips! We would recommend staying centrally in Bristol, so you can visit all the highlights without having to travel across the city to get back to your accommodation. See below for some places we can recommend for different styles of travellers.
The Full Moon Backpackers £ – Friendly backpacker hostel attached to a lively pub offering live music, drinks and food. Find on Hostelword here!
Moxy Bristol ££ – Chic hotel based just behind Cabot Circus – Find on Booking.com!
Radisson Blu Hotel Bristol £££ – Centrally located hotel right beside the harbour, offering room views of the city centre – Find on Booking.com!
Harbour Hotel & Spa Bristol ££££ – Luxury hotel located near St Nicholas Market in the old part of Bristol. Well located with a spa on site – Find on Booking.com here!
➤ Browse more hotels in Bristol
Where to eat in Bristol
Bristol is home to some incredible food choices and it’s one of the best places in the UK to find vegan food! These are a few of our recommendations when exploring Bristol in a day.
- Wapping Wharf £-££ – Bristol’s shipment container Wapping Wharf has many eateries to offer. We recommend The Athenian, serving amazing Greek Gyros.
- Pepenero £-££ – Some of the best pizzas in Bristol, Pepenero has two locations, King Street and Stokes Croft.
- Oowee V £-££ – If you’re craving vegan junk food goodness, look no further. Head on down to Oowee V. They have a few locations across the UK, including London and Brighton.
- Devs Kerala £-££ – Authentic South Indian cuisine, dishing up amazing dosas on Gloucester Road
- St Nicholas Market £ – Bursting with choices, at St Nick’s market you’ll be spoilt for choice at lunchtime.
How to get around Bristol
You’ll be able to walk to most places on this 1 day Bristol itinerary, however, Clifton Downs is a little harder to reach. Jump on one of Bristol’s buses to take you around the city if the walking distance is too far.
Walk – Walking is our recommended option for Bristol if you’re able to. Bristol is walking-friendly and can cover most corners in a day due to the city’s size. We will note some areas are quite hilly/steep!
Buses – Bristol has a good bus system and you can buy tickets on the First Bus App or pay with contactless with your phone or card. It will get you most of the way to the places you want to get to, walking will be best for short distances. Try to grab at the front on the upper level to get views of Bristol at the same time!
Train – A limited option, but the train can help reach some areas of North Bristol if you already happen to be at Bristol Temple Meads Station.
Bike / E-Scooter – A great option if you like to get out on the road on 2 wheels. Always be cautious and stay safe, be aware of your surroundings.
Boat – A scenic way to cruise through the waters of Central Bristol would be hopping on one of the little water taxis. This can be a great option for crossing the River Avon from near the Amphitheatre to Wapping Wharf. Or SS Great Britain to Hotwells for example.
How to get to Bristol
By Flight – Bristol Airport (BRS) is well connected to Europe (and North America). The airport is easy to get to by the A1 Airport flyer bus (tickets can be purchased on the bus for £9 one way or £15 return) or grab a Taxi / Uber. Bristol Airport does not have a rail option.
By Train – Bristol Temple Meads links up to stations all around the country. It’s on the main route to and from London. Direct from London to Bristol is around only 1 hour 30 mins. See Trainline for options and availability. You can also reach places such as Cornwall using the train from Bristol.
By Bus – Coach companies like Megabus and National Express are the best way to travel to Bristol from cities around the UK. London to Bristol takes around 2 hours 50 mins. This is a great budget option with tickets starting at only a few pounds! We’ve done this route so many times over the years.
By Car – Easy to reach using the motorway. Depending on traffic, London to Bristol can averagely take between 2 hours 20 mins and 3 hours. Bristol is also close to Dorset and Cornwall and can be reached within a few hours. You can also rent a car in Bristol for day trips.
How to get to Bristol from London
How far is Bristol from London? Let’s cover a few options so you can plan your day trip to Bristol from London.
Car: Bristol to London is approximately 118 miles by car. Using the M4 motorway can be reached in between 2 hours 20 minutes and 3 hours, depending on traffic. Try to avoid peak travel times where possible (UK bank holidays and rush hour travel time).
Train: Getting to Bristol from London via train is the best option. It is the fastest option (direct trains can take as little as 1 hour 29 minutes) and is quite comfortable and spacious. Tickets can be expensive, so try to book a month or so in advance where possible.
Important note: Train strikes are frequent in the UK and cause travel disruption. Keep up to date with the latest strikes to avoid disappointment. Book tickets in advance with Trainline and you can request a refund if there’s a delay or cancellation.
Bus: Bristol from London by coach (bus) is the best budget option when you’ve been priced out by the trains or there’s a train strike. Journeys from London Victoria Coach station to Bristol bus and coach station will take between 2 hours 30 minutes and 3 hours depending on when you travel. Single tickets start as low as £3.50, a bargain!
Best time to visit Bristol
The best time to visit Bristol is May to September (the summer months) when the weather is shining and you can chill at the harbour in the evening. This is our favourite time of year and the parks in Bristol are full of people!
Summertime is the peak travel time for the UK, including Bristol. Expect better chances of sun and less rain, although, the odd drizzle is to be expected.
Spring (March to May) is great for visiting Bristol without crowds and a chance of great weather. March is usually pretty chilly, but the sun does shine sometimes! Just bring an umbrella!
Autumn (October to November) The weather can be fair on crisp autumn days throughout October to November. This is the best time to see autumnal colours, especially up in Clifton on the downs and from the suspension bridge. We’ve included our Autumnal photos of when we visited Clifton in October.
The days are short in the winter season from December to February. Crowds will be less during these months, although it gets busy in the run-up to Christmas with the German Christmas markets through Broadmead. It’s a lovely time to be in Bristol though!
What to do in Bristol at night
- Catch a gig at The O2 / The Fleece / Exchange / Thekla / The Crofters Rights
- Watch a play at Bristol Hippodrome / The Old Vic
- Play some retro games at NQ64 while sipping on a themed cocktail!
- Pub crawl – Bristol is bursting with so many great pubs
- Night clubs – Bristol has a lively nightclub scene, stay up till the early hours partying in this great city.
💤 Hotels – Book the Moxy Bristol
🛌 Hostels – Book the The Full Moon Backpackers
Is one day enough for Bristol?
One day in Bristol is enough to see the main highlights and get a vibe for the city. If you want to really explore and spend time finding the hidden gems and different neighbourhoods we recommend spending more time than just a day trip to Bristol. It’s one of our favourite cities as we’ll always call it home.
More things to do in the UK? Spend the day in York, explore Cambridge and visit London to explore the best things to do in the capital city!
Enjoy your time in Bristol and find us on Instagram to follow our travels – @thesunrisedreamers! We have more UK travel guides to check out if you’re exploring the country!
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