Five Things To Do On My Bristol Wishlist

,Bristol is somewhere me and Luke have been trying to visit for what feels like forever. We actually made it to the city over the early May bank holiday. But it ended up being the same day as the marathon. We drove around for over an hour just to find parking but most were cornered off and loads of roads were closed. Then we re-arranged and I got ill, then Luke did, so it’s been a bit of a journey. I am super keen to make a trip to the city properly and experience it. And I know we’ll get there eventually.

But seeing as I’d already planned our day I thought I’d show off what things on my wish list to visit.

Bristol insight bus tour

If you’ve read any of my city itinary’s you’ll already know I am a huge fan of bus tours. I think they give you a great overview of where ever you are. And there’s always so much insight you can get from the recorded commentary (or live if you’re lucky). There’s always so much to see in any city, and if you’re only there for a day a bus tour will help show you all the things you may not get a chance to visit and explore.

Plus once you’ve done the full tour and heard all about the city, you can use it for your transport for the city. Stops include Brunel’s SS Great Brtain, We Are Curious, the Bristol Aquarium and so many more.

Brunel’s SS Great Britain Ship

Having gone to Brunel University named after Isambard Kingdom Brunel it feels only right to visit his steam ship. Not only that but it’s Bristol’s number 1 attraction but it’s in the UK’s top ten museums so it’s on the must visit. The ship is the world’s first great ocean liner. And after being rescued from rust and wreckage in 1970 it was restored to her Victorian hey-day.

I love looking around things like this as you can actually visualise what it was like. Unlike just walking around a museum and reading about it. You can step underwater and get a view of the ship below the sea.

We The Curious science museum

I’m a massive fan of science museums and anything which is hands on and interactive. In pretty much every city I visit (UK and abroad) I head to one.

There are over 300 exhibits for all ages which is a huge appeal and it’s all about getting creative and questioning things. You can become an animator, walk through a tornado or cover yourself in a giant bubble, just a standard day at a science museum. It’s also a chance to feel a bit like a kid for a bit.

The 6 O’ Clock Gin Distillery

I love a good gin distillery and have been to about 4 now across the UK and they always fascinate me. 6 O’Clock gin is made in Bristol and it’s a gin we actually have a bottle of. When we headed to Winchester I believe there was a market going on and after much sampling and deliberation Luke walked away with some of their high strength gin.

This makes me want to visit the distillery even more. There are only four tours a month so it’s quite limited in terms of when you can go. But I’d happy to book our date around when they’re open. During the 90 minute tour you experience all the steps of gin making from botanicals through to the bottle. Then they also show you how they craft their artisan whole-fruit liqueurs which isn’t something I’ve seen before. And of course there are tastings to try along the way.

You and meow cat cafe

Now this one isn’t anything specifically to do with Bristol but You and Meow is a cat cafe in the city. I’ve still yet to go to a cat cafe even though I love cats so it seemed like a logical place to stop for lunch, or a slice of cake. I’ve read great things about the cafe both in terms of the food and drink you get there. But also about the cats themselves.

I always worry a little about how the cats are treated, or are they being forced to interact with people when perhaps they don’t want to. But from what I’ve read the cats seem very happy at this cafe which is all good with me.

Other things I’d love to cram into the day would include the aquarium and the cathedral. But of course there’s also so much more to see that I wouldn’t be able to do it all in a day.

Have you ever been to Bristol? Do you have any other recommendations?

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