Wondering what to do this weekend in and around Bristol? I’ve got you covered. From comedy and theatre to outdoor swimming and pottery making, there’s an abundance of places to visit and activities to enjoy in this vibrant city.

I’ve categorised my suggestions into: Outdoors, Creative, Culture, Beyond Bristol and Miscellaneous. Happy reading!

Bristol Ferry

Outdoors

• Explore Blaise Castle Estate, with its castle remnants, parkland and museum.
• Visit St Werburghs City Farm and say hello to the animals before enjoying a beverage at the City Farm Café.
• Visit Ashton Court Estate and see if you can spot the deer.
• Get out your walking boots, download the AllTrails app, and head out into the beautiful South West countryside. We’re so lucky to have easy access to Somerset, the Cotswolds and Wales and there are endless public footpaths to explore.
• Go for an outdoor swim at the Bristol Lido in Clifton, Clevedon Marine Lake, West Country Water Park in Frampton Cotterell or The Lake in Wotton-under-Edge.
• Explore Arnos Vale Cemetery, a peaceful park and Victorian cemetery which also offers guided tours, a café and event spaces to hire.
• Take a surfing lesson at The Wave or simply enjoy a coffee there and soak up the atmosphere.

Countryside walk near Dundry

Creative

• Enjoy some pottery painting at Kiln Workshop off Gloucester Road.
• Take a course at the Bristol Folkhouse off Park Street. They offer a huge range of options from crafts to writing and music to languages, with both one-day workshops and multi-week courses on offer. One of my favourites so far has been the one-day mosaic tile workshop.
• Learn to hand-build pottery or throw on a wheel at Zed Alley Clayhouse located near the Christmas Steps.
• Join a flower arranging workshop with The Bristol Flowerpot Girl at Mivart Studios, Easton.

Zed Alley Clayhouse

Culture

• See an art exhibition at the Arnolfini, the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery or the Royal West of England Academy (the RWA Annual Open Exhibition is always a great shout as it features a huge range of art sourced through an open submissions process).
• Visit MShed and learn about Bristol’s history in the permanent exhibition on the ground floor. I love the huge aerial photo map of Bristol – if you live locally, see if you can spot your home from above!
• Visit the Bristol Hippodrome for a musical, a ballet or some comedy, a lovely way to spend an evening.
• Head to the Bristol Improv Theatre in Clifton for some comedy.
• See what plays are on at the Bristol Old Vic theatre on King Street, whether in its historic auditorium or the new Studio Theatre space.
• Browse the Bristol Film Festival listings online then go watch a film in a unique Bristol location such as Avery’s historic wine cellars or the Planetarium at We The Curious. In July they set up two screens under marquees in The Mall Gardens in Clifton for their summer season.
• Visit The Stradling Collection, a museum on Park Row which houses an impressive collection of 20^th and 21^st century design and applied arts.
• Watch a live cinema screening from the Royal Ballet and Opera or National Theatre, or watch an independent film at Watershed.

RWA Annual Open Exhibition

Bristol Hippodrome

Beyond Bristol

• Hunt for vintage pieces and antiques at the Giant Shepton Flea Market in Shepton Mallet.
• Seek out some wildlife at Bristol Zoo Project.
• Stroll around Chew Valley Lake and follow with fish and chips from Salt & Malt.
• Take a day trip to Bath, it’s only 10 minutes on the train from Bristol Temple Meads. Have a look at my Bath Visitor’s Guide for suggestions on how to spend your time.
• Dig out your bucket and spade, and have a beach day at Sand Bay Beach or Brean Beach, two lovely sandy beaches located north and south of Weston-super-Mare respectively.
• Take a day trip to Wells or Frome, two picturesque historic market towns in Somerset.

Bath

Miscellaneous

• Book onto the St Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour to learn about Bristol’s trading past and step inside Bristol’s only surviving Air Raid Shelter from WW2.
• Enjoy a ride on the Bristol Ferry, you can use it to cross the water or soak up the views from the full circular route along the harbour.
• Join a walking tour of Bristol’s famous Street Art or take yourself on a self-guided tour. Walking along North Street is a great place to start.
• Relax in the sauna, ice-baths and cold-water natural pool at Fire & Ice Wellness, a hidden oasis within the city that’s tucked away within Westbury Wildlife Park.
• While away some hours at a boardgames café such as Chance and Counters or Replay (though if you’ve visited our home you’ll know that we have enough boardgames to start our own café!)

St Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour

I could go on! There’s plenty more to be discovered too. If you’re lucky enough to live in Bristol, or perhaps just visiting for a day or two, I hope that you make the most of all that’s on offer in and around this wonderful city.

Alexa

P.S. If you enjoyed reading this post, why not take a look at my Bristol Annual Event Guide or my Bristol Visitor’s Guide.

Header photo: Bristol Harbourside