How to Spend a Day in Bristol, UK

One of the best features about the city of Bristol is the beautiful harbour area, which is filled with a range of interesting boats. Start your day by taking a long stroll around the waterside, stopping at one of the amazing coffee shops the city has to offer first to grab a cup to go and take in the surrounding picturesque views. After you’ve worked up a bit of an appetite, your next stop is breakfast. The perfect spot for your first meal of the day is the Arnolfini; an art gallery located on the harbourside which houses an incredible café. With a variety of food and coffee available, this will suit all different tastes and dietary requirements. We particularly recommend the tofu scramble.

Seeing as you’re already at the Arnolfini, it’d be a shame to not check out the latest exhibition on display. As a Bristol landmark, the Arnolfini has a prestigious reputation to uphold, so you’re guaranteed to find a brilliant art show here.

Why not take a gentle stroll into the centre of town? If you like shopping, you’re definitely going to like Bristol. If independent shops and boutiques are your kind of thing, then Park St is where you’ll want to head. With the likes of Carhartt WIP, Reiss, Whistles and more all on one handy (albeit steep!) road, you’ll be spoilt for choice. Or another option is to head to the reasonably new Cabot Circus. This is a huge shopping mall with pretty much every store you could imagine under one roof. There’s also Jungle Rumble, an adventure-themed mini golf course which would make a fun activity to break up the day.

Cabot Circus is also home to a range of different restaurants, so if you’re beginning to get peckish, you can choose from Nandos, Yo Sushi!, 5 Guys and Pizza Express to name a few. Need another caffeine fix? The Department of Coffee and Social Affairs is a newly opened coffee shop with incredible blends and a cute and quirky atmosphere.

As the day draws in, we recommend heading up to Clifton Village to finish the day in style. If you skipped a big lunch, or you’re simply just hungry and ready for round three, then there are a number of amazing restaurants in Clifton. One of which is Cote Brasserie, which boasts an exquisite French-inspired menu and would be a lovely place for your final meal of the day. Fancy a night cap? Head to The Avon Gorge Hotel, a wonderful pub which has one of the best terraces in the city. Why? The view. This pub is set quite high up, so you can enjoy a glass of wine while looking out across the city below and, most impressively, you’ll be right next to the infamous Clifton Suspension Bridge. It’s lit up at night and is truly a beautiful sight to behold. After your drink, taking a romantic stroll across the bridge is a must and the perfect way to end your day in Bristol.