Top 20 things to do in 3 days in and around Bristol, UK

Bristol, and the surrounding areas, are a great place to visit in the UK. There’s fun for all the family, whatever your age. From fascinating caves, beautiful beaches and fun city nightlife, there really is something for everyone. Here are the top 20 things to do in 3 days in and around Bristol, UK.

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1. Relax on the beach at Brean Beach

Brean Beach is one of the most beautiful beaches in the area. It’s a huge expanse of sand. You can park directly on the beach, and then just walk along the sand and in the edge of the water. It’s a great place to enjoy the open views and fresh sea air. It’s definitely one of my top 20 things to do in 3 days in and around Bristol.

2. Learn about Bristol’s maritime history at SS Great Britain

One of my favourite museums in Bristol is the SS Great Britain. It’s a historic ship, built in the 19th century by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. You can visit the ship, which includes walking on the decks, walking underneath the ship, and also walking throughout the interior and learning about all the people who lived on this boat during its many sea voyages.

3. Explore the caves at Cheddar Gorge

Cheddar Gorge has some of the best caves in the UK. You can walk through at your own pace and marvel at the amazing rock formations. There are stalactites and stalagmites, as well as vast open chambers. Don’t forget to have a look at the ‘Cheddar Man’ skeleton as well, in Gough’s cave. This is the oldest skeleton that has been found in Britain, dating back around 10,000 years. It’s amazing to think of the people who used to live in these caves so long ago, and what their lives might have been like.

4. Visit the donkeys at Weston-Super-Mare beach

Weston-Super-Mare is another great beach that’s only a short drive from the city of Bristol. And this beach has the added attraction of donkeys! Donkey rides have been available for kids for years, and it’s lovely to see this tradition continue. As well as a fun thing for kids to do, it’s also lovely for adults to see the donkeys on the beach.

5. Take a ferry trip in Bristol

Bristol is centered around the beautiful river that flows through its centre. A ferry trip is a great way to see the city from the water. You can do a sightseeing boat tour, or alternatively you can use one of the ferries like a bus to get you from one end of the city to the other. It’s much more relaxing than walking, especially on a sunny day when you can just sit back and enjoy the views.

6. Eat fish and chips on the beach at Weston-Super-Mare

No trip to the seaside in the UK is complete without eating fish and chips. Weston-Super-Mare has a great selection of fish and chip shops – my favourite is ‘The Strange Catch’, which is just a street away from the waterfront. The food is amazing, and you can take it over to the beach to sit on the beach while you eat.

7. Eat real Cheddar Cheese in Cheddar

As well as being famous for the Cheddar Gorge caves, the village of Cheddar is also famous for the cheese. It’s the only place in the UK that still makes ‘real’ cheddar cheese. It’s aged in the caves here, and has an amazing flavour. There are a few shops selling the real cheddar cheese, so you can get some for a picnic lunch in the village. Or buy some as a gift to take home to friends and family as well!

8. See a show at the Bristol Hippodrome

Bristol has a great arts scene, with loads of different theatre shows. Bristol Hippodrome is one of my favourite places to see a show. The huge stage and ornate theatre make it a really special place to spend an evening. Check out what’s on at the theatre here. I saw the musical ‘We Will Rock You’ at the Bristol Hippodrome and it was amazing. It’s a great venue and has some world-class performances.

9. Enjoy spring blossom in Castle Park, Bristol

Spring is one of my favourite times to visit Bristol, when the blossom is out on the trees. Castle Park is a lovely place to see the blossom trees. If you’ve got some spare time, why not head to this park with a book and relax in the sun for a while underneath the blossom trees. It’s a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

10. Walk up Brean Down

Brean Down is the name of the grassy mound that separates Brean Beach from Weston-Super-Mare. There’s a clear footpath from Brean Beach, although you can access Brean Down from both beaches. It’s a short but steep climb up the steps to get there, but the views from the top are worth it. It’s so lovely to look out to sea, and also to look back over the beaches. The views from here are definitely one of my top 20 things to do in 3 days in and around Bristol.