This is a guest post written by the lovely Emma from Me and B Make Tea called “Top Five Free Things to Do in Bristol This Summer”. If you are interested in exploring Bristol during the summer, you will find this post very useful. If you would like to know more about Emma, please scroll down to the bottom of this post where you can find her details, under “About the Author“.
Bristol is one of my all-time favourite cities. I love having a mooch around the Harbourside, taking a water taxi to town and having a wander around the shops. It’s perfect for a family trip or you can find lots of romantic things to do in Bristol too.
I’m going to share with you five things which you can enjoy in Bristol for pretty much zero cost. Now I say pretty much because I’ve added on a few extras which aren’t technically free. Ultimately, you do not need to spend a fortune to have a great day out in a city which offers so much history and culture.
Walk
The Harbourside is one of my favourite free places to take our little boy, b. We often go on a Sunday, have a walk, enjoy watching the boats and stop for a bite to eat. It used to be a busy trading port but today you’ll find it packed with bars, restaurants and museums. Although there’s still plenty to remind us of Bristol’s maritime past. As you wander down the Harbourside, you’ll pass The Matthew. Now, this is a replica of a ship used to discover Newfoundland, by John Cabot. You can hop aboard for a little look around. We took b on and he enjoyed pretending he was on a pirate ship!
Further along the Harbourside is the beautiful SS Great Britain. You can’t miss it!
Explore
For art and culture, The M Shed museum is a great place to while away a few hours and learn more about Bristol’s past. There’s plenty of exhibits for children to enjoy too and we often take little b. They have a specific area for children to play, with a number of toys and puzzles.
Shop
If you fancy a bit of shopping then be sure to check out places like Park Street, Clifton Village, St Nicholas Market at the top of Corn Street and Gloucester Road for something a little bit different. I love nosing around all the second-hand shops along Gloucester Road and also in Bedminster. There are some wonderful vintage and upcycling shops to be found.
If you’re looking for more traditional shopping then Cabot Circus and Broadmead have it all. I am not keen on shopping here just because I find it very same old. Overpriced shops and busy on a weekend.
Play
If you’re travelling with little ones and want to enjoy a quiet day outside of the city centre then head to the Blaise castle estate and playground. The playground is absolutely amazing. And I mean that. There are two areas, one for younger kids, and one for older. B loves exploring both. The sandpit is complete with pirate ship climbing frame and we often spend a lot of time here pretending to be pirates. They have free parking (it gets busy), a café and free toilets.
There are also a few city farms worth exploring. We went to Windmill Hill City Farm and thought it was brilliant. The farm is a voluntary community project and puts on a range of activities for the whole family. The site has animals, herbs, flowers, veggies and some small play areas for youngers. There is a café on site too.
Ride
One thing we love doing when we head to Bristol is jumping on a water taxi. If we walk down to the SS Great Britain, it’s fun to then get a taxi back to the city centre. It only costs a few quid and b loves to go for a ride on the boat. The blue and yellow ferry boats have been running since 1977 and you can’t miss them! It’s a fun way to take in the Harbourside and enjoy the scenic waterways.
Have you been to Bristol? We love heading there for the day. For more travel ideas for Bristol, Bath and the South West, take a look at the Me and B Make Tea blog HERE. You can follow Emma on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, & Pinterest.
Thanks for stopping by,
Love you all ❤️
Franca 💋
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Very interesting.
Been to Bristol quite a few times, but just learned quite a lot I didn’t know, which will be very helpful next time I go.
Lovely place to go, with lots to do and see.