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Bristol is one of the best places in the UK for a city break. This is a city with an interesting maritime history and a thriving cultural and arts scene and there plenty of fun things to do for adults in Bristol.
From balloons and boats, to bridges and Banksy, you’ll be spoilt for choice for things to do and places to eat in this southwest city. Whether you’ve visiting with your friends, your partner, or travelling by yourself, my guide will help you to make the most of your time in Bristol.
Read on for some of the most fun things to do in Bristol for adults.
Things to do for adults in Bristol
1. Banksy street art tour
Bristol is a really cool city and there’s a lot of street art to explore. One of its most famous street artists is Banksy, known for his distinctive iconography and recognisable imagery.
You can take a street art tour of the city, or devise one yourself. There are several of Banksy’s works here to spot.
Here’s where you can find them:
- The Grim Reaper – M Shed Museum
- You don’t need planning permission to build castles in the sky – 41 Lower Lamb Street
- Well Hung Lover – 7 Park Street
- The Girl with the Pierced Eardrum – Hanover Place and Sydney Row
- Paint Pot Angel – Bristol Museum and Art Galley
- Mild Mild West – 80 Stokes Croft
- Rose Trap – Thomas Street North
- Take the Money and Run – St Andrews Road and Bath Buildings
- Cat and Dog – 18 Robertson Road
- The Girl with the Stick – Bridge Farm Primary School
A street art tour is just one of the walking tours that Bristol offers.
2. Explore Bristol Harbourside
The city of Bristol was built around its docks and harbour. It used to be home to sugar traders and pirates but now you’ll find waterfront bars and restaurants, markets, and water sports like rowing and paddle boarding.
Take one of the many walking trails, hop on board the Brunel’s SS Great Britain, or visit the Bristol Aquarium. There’s plenty to explore here.
3. Climb the Christmas Steps
The Christmas Steps are a quirky and Instagrammable spot in the city centre of Bristol. Here, you’ll find more of the creativity that Bristol is known for with galleries, independent boutiques, and craft stores.
The shops and venues are situated along and above a set of steps, giving the area its name. If you’re looking to do some souvenir shopping, you’re bound to find something quirky and original here.
4. Bristol Museum and Art Galley
Not only is Bristol Museum and Art Gallery one of the most fun things to do for adults in Bristol, it’s also completely free to enter. Set over three floors, there’s lots to explore here including exhibits on Ancient Egypt, dinosaurs, and geology.
It’s worth a visit to see Banksy’s Paint Pot Angel, a sculpture left as a reminder of the Banksy versus Bristol exhibition held in the museum in 2009. You can see it just in the foyer of the museum.
5. Visit the Clifton Observatory
On a sunny day, head up to Clifton Observatory to discover the fantastic views over the Clifton Suspension Bridge, Avon Gorge, and Bristol. The observatory also has a cafe, a museum and the mythical Giant’s Cave, a natural cave with views over the suspension bridge.
There is also a camera obscura here that you can visit, one of only three working examples in the UK. This Victorian camera still provides real time images of Bristol, over 200 years after it was first installed here.
6. Explore Stokes Croft
Stokes Croft is one of the most creative areas in the city. Just north of the city centre, but still within walking distance, this neighbourhood is home to some fantastic street art murals, as well as quirky cafes and vintage shops.
Head to the Stokes Croft Museum for art installations and local information. The museum is a community resource and hosts activities including painting, music, and social documentary.
7. Swim at Bristol Lido
Fancy a spa day in the city centre? Bristol Lido has a 24-metre swimming pool which is heated throughout the year to a comfortable temperature designed to leave you feeling fresh and energised.
There’s also a sauna, steam room, and hot tub, that you can alternate with length in the pool. It’s a lovely place to satisfy your cold water swimming cravings and really feels like you’re abroad, rather than in the centre of Bristol.
There’s also a poolside restaurant and bar where you can enjoy some yummy food from the Mediterranean-inspired menu and watch it being prepared in the open kitchen.
8. Grab a craft beer
If you are a beer lover then Bristol is the city for you. The city is home to around 20 craft breweries so there are plenty of places to stop for refreshment or you could devise your own craft brewery pub crawl.
There are a couple of branches of the Bristol Beer Factory to visit and some of the pubs in the city also brew small batches of there own beer.
I popped in to try a beer at King Street Brew House, where you can also pick up a pizza which is very reasonably priced. I’m not really a beer lover but it had to be done!
9. Bristol Balloon Fiesta
Bristol Balloon Fiesta is Europe’s largest ballooning event and, if you’re lucky enough to time your visit to coincide with this, you’re in for a real treat. The free festival takes place over four days in August each year and you can watch over 100 balloons take to the skies each day.
Some balloons remained tethered so you can see them and there are also some special shape balloons to marvel over. There’s entertainment throughout the weekend from local bands and musicians.
10. Eat burgers at Three Brothers Burgers
For the best burgers in the city, head to Three Brothers Burgers, an independent burger and beer joint on a boat in the city centre. They use locally-supplied beef to create amazing burgers and they also have a vegan menu to match the main menu.
I visited here on my own and really enjoyed the atmosphere. I had the Le Frenchie burger with the dirty hot fries and it was absolutely delicious.
11. Take a booze cruise
Another fun thing to do in Bristol for adults is to take a booze cruise down the River Avon. This is basically a pub crawl by boat, which stops at some of the quirky bars on the waterside.
I’ve done one of these before and it was so much fun. If you don’t fancy a couple of drinks, then there are other sightseeing boat trips you can go on instead.
12. M Shed Museum
If you want to learn more about Bristol then M Shed is the place to go. It’s full of interactive displays and exhibits telling the story of the city and its people.
With film, photographs, and rare objects, M Shed documents the story of the city from prehistoric times to the present day. Also, there’s a Banksy on display here.
The Grim Reaper was originally painted on the side of the Thekla Social boat in Bristol Harbour but it was moved here to protect it from damage.
13. Go shopping
With everything from vintage markets to high end designer shops, you’ll have no trouble getting your shopping fix in Bristol. Head to Cabot Circus, a modern shopping centre, for high street favourites like Zara and H&M, and discover high end department stores like Harvey Nichols.
Bristol is also home to some regular and permanent markets. Head to St Nicholas Market every day except Sunday for food, florists, and textiles.
Where to stay in Bristol for adults
I’ve stayed in a few Mercue hotels, and they are always a good standard of accommodation. Mercure Bristol Holland House has a good location, around a 10-minute walk from the centre of Bristol, and serves the most delicious breakfast.
It’s a great base from which to explore the city.
There are so many fun things to do in Bristol for adults. I hope you enjoy your time in this incredibly eclectic city.
