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Bristol is a fantastic destination for a city break with a great variety of things to see and do. It is an ancient city bursting with history, inventive food, street art, beautiful architecture, parks and much more! We have chosen 5 of the best ways that you can explore city, so that you can make the most of your time there.
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For some unforgettable views of Bristol and the beautiful surrounding countryside, join Bristol Balloons for a magical flight over the city! The balloons take off from Ashton Court Mansion, from where you can get some breathtaking views of the Clifton Suspension Bridge spanning the Avon Gorge. You may also get to see the historic Bristol Harbourside shaped by the great Brunel, as well as his powerful steamship, SS Great Britain. Flights can also include a pass over Bristol Temple Meads train station where you can see trains coming and going and if you are lucky you may even see some exotic animals as you make your way over Bristol Zoo! On clear days you can also spot the Severn Bridge and the Severn Crossing. What you will see will always depend on the weather of course! For shorter trips to the city the refundable voucher, valid for 12 months is your best option and you can see where else you can fly from here.
Bristol has a burgeoning craft beer industry with a host of different breweries to be found across the city. Taking a tour with UK Brewery Tours Bristol is a brilliant way to experience what the city has to offer! With a local expert you will get to explore the best places and taste some of Bristol’s most interesting brews. Whether you are an ale fanatic, lager fan or are partial to a stout, you will have plenty to choose from and will learn all about how the beers are made. The tours run on Saturdays and take between 2 and 4 hours depending which one you choose. It is a fun way to explore beyond the centre of the city and meet some of the local entrepreneurs that make Bristol one of the best cities to live and work in in the UK!
If you are a fan of great food, Bristol will not disappoint you! It has a delicious food scene just waiting to be discovered with amazing places to eat all around the city. With the Bristol Food Tour you are guaranteed to taste some of the best food the city has to offer. There are 4 different tours to choose from with the Stokes Croft Tour focussing on the heart of Bristol’s independent food scene on Cheltenham Road and Stokes Croft, the East to West tour which takes you through the Old Market and the city centre, the South of the River tour which explores Wapping Wharf, the city’s newest food heaven and a food cycling tour giving you a different perspective of the city. Tours include some scrumptious samples and expert advice about the city from local guides.
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Bristol is a city well suited for cyclists with a great network of safe cycle paths that will take you past some of the city’s most beautiful and idyllic sights. Taking a cycling tour also allows you to explore further afield and see what the surrounding countryside has to offer! There are a few tour companies to opt for with Cycle the City being one of the best (they work together with the Bristol Food Tour). With this company you will see the ancient parts of the city, the striking street art and the docks where the city made much of its wealth. Your guide will take you along the best cycle routes through the city with plenty of stops and information shared along the way. You will also get to cycle on the beautiful locally made Temple bicycles!
Bristol is well known for its striking and often controversial street art with world renowned Banksy hailing from the city. A visit to Bristol would not be complete without exploring these fascinating pieces of art! Although most tours will give you a glimpse at some of the more well-known pieces, Where the Wall provide a specialised award-winning street art tours around the city. They know all there is to know about the city’s street art and will share their knowledge of the historical and cultural contexts of the works as they take you around the city. It is a tour you don’t want to miss!
There you have it, 4 unique ways to explore the wonderful city of Bristol in all its glory!