In Bristol, it’s well worth checking out the street art, strolling along the Harbourside and combining the views with a walk across the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

One of the best day trips in the area is to Bath, which is about a 15-minute train journey away.

🏨 Leonardo Royal Hotel Bristol – check prices and availability – is situated on the waterfront near Queen Square. It’s ideal if you want to explore both the harbour and the historic city centre on foot.

Head off on a trip to Bath

Bath is a historic spa town with Roman ruins, natural thermal springs and streets paved with honey-coloured stone.

Its UNESCO-listed city centre has a compact layout, so you’ll spend much of the day strolling amongst the squares, parks and the River Avon.

A trip to Bath is well worth it, particularly for the architecture, the Roman baths and the chance to bathe in the thermal waters.

A weekend trip could easily consist of one day in Bristol and one day in Bath. Add another day if you want to visit Bristol’s major museums.

How much time should you allow for Bath?

I’d set asidea full day for Bath– about 6–8 hours in the city itself. That’ll give you time for a stroll through the centre, one major paid attraction and lunch. Half a day is enough for a quick look around the streets and the riverfront.

Plan your itinerary according to what you enjoy.

• A stroll through thecity, past Bath Abbey and Pulteney Bridge to The Circus and the Royal Crescent.
• ExploreRoman history at The Roman Baths. The tour takes you past ancient pools and archaeological finds.
• Swim and relax at the modern Thermae Bath Spa, which features an outdoor rooftop pool.

The Roman Baths serve as a heritage site and museum. For swimming, choose either Thermae Bath Spa or a hotel spa.

If you want to see the Roman monuments and spend a few hours in the thermal waters in a single day, book your tickets in advance and expect to return in the evening.

To Bath by train

I recommend taking the train for a day trip if you want to spend as much time as possible exploring the city itself.

• The route runs from Bristol Temple Meads to Bath Spa; you can find and book direct services on thetrainline.com
• Journey time: 11–18 minutes depending on the service; there are several services per hour throughout the day.
• The price for an adult is around 10–12 gbp s for a same-day return ticket. The Anytime Day Return fare is available at 11,60 gbp; the cheaper Off-Peak fare has time restrictions. It’s worth buying your ticket online.

Bath Spa is situated on the southern edge of the historic centre. It’s just a few minutes’ walk from the station to the Roman Baths.

To Bath by bus

The bus is a good option for a budget trip or if you’re staying near Bristol bus station and have plenty of time for the journey.

• The X39service, or the 39 for some services, operated by First Bus.
• Route: Bristol Bus & Coach Station on Marlborough Street → Bath Bus Station. You can also board at Bristol Temple Meads.
• Journey time from the city centre is approximately 50–70 minutes, depending on the service and traffic. The 39 service goes via Keynsham and tends to be slower.
• The fare for an adult is 3 gbp one way, i.e. 6 gbp for a return journey.
• If paying by card, tap the same card or device when boarding and alighting. For further journeys within the region, the West of England daily fare cap may apply.
• Search for X39 and 39 timetables on First Bus

For a standard day trip, I’d choose the train. For just a few pounds extra, you’ll significantly shorten your journey.

The bus is a better option if price is your main consideration or if you want to board directly from your hotel near the bus station.

Is it worth staying overnight in Bath?

One night is worth it if you want to visit the spa, have dinner and take an evening stroll through the town. The next day, you can take things at a more leisurely pace, visit another museum or simply enjoy the cafés and parks.

A day trip from Bristol is enough for a stroll along the main streets and a visit to one major attraction. Thanks to the short train journey, you can easily return after dinner, depending on the last train on your itinerary.

🏨 Hampton by Hilton Bath Cityis situated on Avon Street in the centre of Bath. The Roman Baths, Thermae Bath Spa and the railway station are all within walking distance.

Follow in Banksy’s footsteps

Banksy got his start on the Bristol graffiti scene, and several of his original works can still be found on the city’s walls today. You can turn the search for these murals into your own walking tour, which will take you through Stokes Croft, the city centre and the harbour.

Allow 2–3 hours for the route suggested below, including time for taking photos and stopping off. You can see all the works listed here for free from the public streets.

Which Banksy murals to look for

• ‘Rose Trap’ on Thomas Street North. A small rose in a mousetrap, protected by a frame on the façade of a house. It’s easy to miss this piece, so it’s worth saving the exact location – the coordinates on Google Maps.
• ‘The Mild Mild West’ on Stokes Croft near Jamaica Street. This large mural of a teddy bear holding a Molotov cocktail against riot police is one of Banksy’s best-known works in Bristol – location on Google Maps.
• ‘Well Hung Lover’ on a wall in Frogmore Street. The naked man hanging from the window is best seen from the footbridge on Park Street above this street – location on Google Maps.
• ‘Girl with a Pierced Eardrum’ near Hanover Place on Spike Island. Banksy’s take on Vermeer’s ‘Girl with a Pearl Earring’ features an alarm clock on the wall instead of an earring. You can easily combine a visit here with a stroll along the southern waterfront – location on Google Maps.
• *You Don’t Need Planning Permission to Build Castles in the Sky* in Lower Lamb Street, behind the Central Library. The phrase about building castles in the air originally formed a smile beneath two ventilation holes. The wall was later altered by the installation of a new gate, and part of the inscription was restored, so today you won’t see the artwork in its original form – location on Google Maps.

In this order, you’ll walk from the northern part of the town through the centre to the harbour. The condition of the street art varies, and on some pieces you’ll even see foreign inscriptions or evidence of repainting.

Other artworks outside the city centre

You’ll find further sites in Easton and Barton Hill to the east of the city, and in Whitchurch to the south of Bristol. These are not on the short route through the city centre.

• ‘Cat and Dog’ on the corner of Robertson Road and Foster Street in Easton. One of Banksy’s early paintings depicts a cat spraying paint on a wall whilst dogs approach. It was created before he became known for his stencil work – location on Google Maps.
• Valentine’s Day / Valentine’s Banksy on the corner of Marsh Lane and Avondale Road in Barton Hill. A girl is using a slingshot to shoot red flowers at a wall. The mural is partially covered: the girl’s figure is protected by an opaque panel, whilst the flowers are behind a transparent cover. Don’t expect to see the whole scene as it appears in the well-known photographs – location on Google Maps.

Banksy’s works in museums

You can also add two museum stops to your walk. Entry to both museums is free, but you’ll need to time your visit to suit their opening hours.

• The Grim Reaper at the M Shed museum, at the entrance to the ‘Bristol Life’ exhibition on the first floor. The Grim Reaper originally adorned the hull of the ship Thekla, from where it was cut out and moved to the museum to protect the artwork –visitor information.
• Paint Pot Angel on the ground floor of the Bristol Museum & Art Gallery on Queens Road. The sculpture of an angel with a paint pot over its head has remained in the museum since Banksy’s exhibition in 2009 – visitor information.

Look out for old maps of Banksy’s works

You won’t find‘Aachoo!!’ on Vale Street, ‘Masked Gorilla’ on Fishponds Road or ‘Mobile Lovers’ in their original locations any more.

‘Police Sniper / Sniper and Child’ on Upper Maudlin Street has been removed, and ‘Elephant Missile’ on Balmoral Road has been painted over. Older guidebooks still list some of these stops.

Take a stroll around Harbourside

It’s lovely to spend part of the day at Bristol Harbour, strolling leisurely along the waterfront. You’ll pass houseboats, cranes, small businesses and a working shipyard. Along the way, it’s easy to pop in for a bite to eat or visit a museum.

Find a hotel near Harbourside

Set off from the M Shed along the southern quay, past the SS Great Britain, to Underfall Yard and the Cumberland Basin locks. Allow 1–2 hours for a stroll with stops along the way; allow extra time if you plan to visit the exhibitions.

You can find the route, crossings and photo spots in our Harbourside guide.

Cross Clifton Bridge and enjoy the views

Combine a visit to the bridge with a stroll through Clifton. From the city centre, you can walk up Park Street and continue towards Clifton Village.

First, stop off at Observatory Hill, from where you can see the whole bridge and the Avon Gorge. Then cross the bridge to the Leigh Woods side and admire it from the opposite bank. Crossing the bridge and the view from the grassy hill are free.

It takes about an hour to take in the views and walk back and forth. Combined with a stroll through Clifton, this will keep you occupied for most of the afternoon. For a longer walk, you can continue along the footpaths in Leigh Woods.

You can find details of specific viewpoints and the walking circuit beneath the bridge in the article on Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Look out for typically English streets and squares

The Old City and Clifton Village are ideal for architectural walks.

I likedQueen Square for its quintessentially English appearance, with trees, a lawn and Georgian houses all around.

In the city centre, walk through Queen Square, King Street and the area around Corn Street. In Clifton, head along Boyce’s Avenue towards Royal York Crescent. Between stops, allow time for a coffee, a browse in the little shops and a detour down the side streets.

You can easily combine this activity with a visit to the waterfront and the bridge. It works best if you set aside at least an hour and a half for one part of the city and explore it on foot.

Have lunch at the market and enjoy a local beer in the evening

For a bite to eat in the city centre, I’d head to St Nicholas Market. During my visit, I came across more locals than tourists there, and it was precisely that local atmosphere that I enjoyed.

• For lunch, head to the Glass Arcade, a covered passageway with food stalls.
• For a bite to eat whilst strolling around the harbour, check out Wapping Wharf and the CARGO area at M Shed.
• For an evening beer, head to King Street, where there are several pubs and bars specialising in local and craft beers.

Check the market’s opening hours. King Street or the venues around the harbour are better options for the evening.

See Bristol from a boat

A short harbour cruise will show you the waterfront from a different perspective. It’s a great way to take a break between walks or as part of an outing with the children.

• The City Dock Tour by Bristol Packet lasts 45 minutes and takes you around the Floating Harbour.
• The Avon Gorge Cruise continues from the harbour through the locks to the tidal Avon, where you’ll see the Clifton Suspension Bridge from the water. Set aside most of the day for this cruise, depending on the specific departure time.

You can find current cruises, durations and prices in the Bristol Packet booking calendar. For cruises on the Avon, check the specific scheduled times, which also depend on the tide.

Come aboard the boat or the Concordia

Bristol is also well worth a visit for its engineering heritage. You can base part of your itinerary around exploring these historic vehicles from the inside.

• At the SS Great Britain site, you can walk through the ship’s interiors and descend into the dry dock beneath the hull. Allow 2–3 hours for your visit.
• At the Aerospace Bristol museum, you can step into the cockpit of the last Concorde. The museum is located outside the city centre and will take 3–4 hours, plus travel time.

Take the train to Severn Beach

Head to Severn Beach for the wide mouth of the River Severn, views of the Prince of Wales Bridge and a stroll along the sea wall. Depending on the tide, the shoreline changes from open water to vast mudflats. Take a stroll along the paved promenade.

You’ll enjoy this trip if you like railways, open countryside and quieter spots. The journey itself takes you through part of the Avon Valley. You’ll need 1–2 hours to spend by the water; allow half a day including the journey and waiting for the train.

You can get here by direct train from the centre of Bristol.

• Route: Bristol Temple Meads → Severn Beach via the Severn Beach Line.
• The journey takes about 40 minutes; services to Severn Beach run roughly once an hour throughout the day.
• You can alsoboard the train at Clifton Down if you’re staying in Clifton.
• It’s just a few minutes’ walkfrom the station to the waterfront.
• Search for train connections to Severn Beach on Google Maps; buy tickets online at thetrainline.com

Be sure to book your return journey before you set off. If you want to arrive in time for sunset, check the train times for that particular day.

What to do in Bristol when it’s raining?

If you get caught in the rain at the harbour, pop into the M Shed for an hour or two. The Bristol Museum & Art Gallery is well worth a visit whilst strolling along Park Street. The permanent exhibitions at both museums are free.

For a longer visit, head to Aerospace Bristol, where the main part of the tour takes place indoors. You can click through to the individual museums’ websites for up-to-date information on tickets and transport.