A weekend in Bristol, England: what to see, what to do

For the May 1st long weekend, we decided to give the city of Bristol a chance. On EasyJet’s website, it’s often one of the cheapest destinations on offer for a return trip from Paris. After a bit of research, we realised the city had way more to offer than just its industrial past: we hope this gives you the itch to go there too!

How to get to Bristol from Paris or London

We took a direct return flight (about 1 hour in the air) with EasyJet from Paris-Orly airport, for €69 per person, booking four months ahead. Keep an eye out for the promo periods the airline runs, since prices are very often good for this destination.

You can also get to Bristol from London by train with Great Western Railway (GWR). The direct journey takes about 1 hour 30 minutes between London Paddington and Bristol Temple Meads.

How much time do you need to visit Bristol?

Bristol is a perfect destination for a long weekend: two full days are enough to cover the city and see the must-sees. Plan on an extra day if you want to visit a museum, do an activity, or explore the surrounding area. We stayed 4 nights ourselves to take our time and fit in a day trip to the nearby town of Bath.

What to see and do in Bristol?

Over two full days, we had time to visit the city’s main points of interest and wander through its different neighbourhoods. In this article, we’re listing the must-sees you shouldn’t miss, but also some lesser-known spots off the usual tourist trail.

Bristol is considered one of the most appealing cities in England, having made the most of its industrial heritage and its past as a thriving merchant port. The different neighbourhoods have been renovated and transformed into unique places to live and stroll through: you have to go there to really get the alternative, creative vibe the city gives off! Far from the dreary, dated image you might have in mind, we found Bristol to be a trendy city that’s genuinely nice to live in.

Here’s a walking route to follow starting from Bristol Temple Meads station up to the edge of the old city:

• Temple Church, or rather the ruins of the Gothic Holy Cross church, completely destroyed during the Second World War, famous in Bristol for its leaning bell tower, considered the local answer to the Tower of Pisa. A really beautiful, barely touristy spot you won’t find in the guidebooks.
• Finzels Reach, a former industrial neighbourhood that’s been completely redeveloped and is now home to food halls, bars and restaurants, and craft breweries. It sits right by the water, about fifteen minutes from the station.
• From the Castle Bridge footbridge, you get straight into Castle Park, one of Bristol’s main parks and a really pleasant place for a walk. In spring, the trees were in blossom, it was gorgeous!

Old city

This is Bristol’s historic heart

Clifton

A neighbourhood we loved discovering in Bristol, probably our favourite! Perched up on a hill above the city, about forty minutes’ walk from the city centre, this elegant residential neighbourhood won us over. It has a peaceful, village-like feel while still staying lively and full of energy, especially along the main street with its many shops (antique dealers, bookshops, tea rooms…) and a huge choice of places to eat: street food, upscale restaurants, brasseries, cuisines from around the world… there’s something for every taste. We’d suggest coming to wander around in the afternoon to soak up the atmosphere, then staying for dinner in the evening after watching the sunset from the suspension bridge.

Take the time to wander its streets and admire the Georgian architecture of the grand houses, the covered Clifton Arcade, and the lovely Mall Gardens. Here are a few must-see spots not to miss on your visit:

Ashton Court Estate

If there’s one green space you shouldn’t miss in Bristol, it’s Ashton Court Estate! This vast historic estate is known for the woods and meadows surrounding a beautiful manor house that’s belonged to the Smyth family since the 16th century. But the highlight of the visit is definitely the deer, which have lived on the estate for over 600 years and can be spotted fairly close up if you’re lucky! During our visit, we followed the marked trails from the park entrance and found them further down, around the middle of the park, all gathered together in a herd. We stayed a good while watching them from a distance and taking photos. We then carried on our walk towards the manor house and its gardens. The place is really calm and relaxing: you wouldn’t guess you’re anywhere near a big city.

The park is easy to reach by bus from the city centre: it takes about 10 to 15 minutes on the X3 or X4 lines (check the Citymapper app for the best route). We chose to get off at the Leigh Woods stop, right by one of the park entrances, up on the hill, near Clifton Bridge.

• Free entry. All the info on the park here.

Accommodation: where to stay in Bristol?

It’s worth knowing that accommodation in Bristol city centre is eye-wateringly expensive. So we stayed outside the centre, in the Totterdown neighbourhood, a 20-minute walk from Bristol Temple Meads station and 20 minutes by taxi from the airport. We booked a private room on Airbnb for €347 for 4 nights (so under €87 a night for two): a really lovely place to stay near Bristol!

The room offered by Helena is on the lower level of her house, with a big window looking out onto a terrace with a view over the city; the room is therefore separate and self-contained from the rest of the house. Everything was clean and nicely renovated, with really cosy décor, perfect for feeling right at home. The host had even left us the makings of breakfast in the morning.

Food and drink: where to eat in Bristol?

• A Cappella Cafe & Pizzeria: a really great spot in Totterdown that we went back to twice. Good pizzas (£13.95) and really good, cheap desserts (special mention for the “sticky ginger, orange and cinnamon cake”). Bill came to around €40 for 2 pizzas and 2 desserts.
• Low and Slow St Nicholas Market: a great street food spot inside the covered market; £8.50 (€9.70) for the Box Meal with pulled meat, slaw, mac & cheese and beans.
• The Harbourside Street Food Market: an open-air market in the city centre, perfect for a cheap-ish lunch break. We tried the sausage roll and black pudding pastries, plus the brownies from the little stall at the end of the market.
• Nutmeg: a really good Indian restaurant in Clifton, Michelin-listed; €63 for two starters, two mains and some naan bread. Book ahead, this place is very popular.
• Swoon Gelato: great ice cream in central Bristol; £5 for two scoops (really good pistachio ice cream), €10.73 for two.
• Crafty Beans Cakes & Cafe: great brownies in different flavours; £6 for 3 brownies (including a Guinness one, worth trying!)

What we thought of Bristol

We weren’t quite sure what to expect coming to Bristol, and yet we really enjoyed our few days in England! The city is pretty much off the radar for French tourists and far less visited than, say, London: this under-the-radar destination is definitely worth the trip.

Bristol is a young, dynamic city, constantly evolving, with loads of restaurants, cafes, craft shops… the place is buzzing! We felt it was an artistic, creative city that really showcases its industrial heritage. We were also struck by how close it is to nature: you can easily escape the hustle and bustle of the city centre thanks to the many parks and quieter, residential neighbourhoods like Clifton. In short, a city worth discovering! So keep Bristol in mind for your next long weekend from France: quick and easy to reach by plane, with lovely day trips nearby like the city of Bath.

Planning a trip to England? Get inspired and read all our articles on the country!