48 Hours in Bristol: Street Art, Harbourside Hangs & Queer Vibes
- Jon Holden-Makings
- Jul 28
- 10 min read
Updated: Jul 30
Join us on a colourful weekend in the South West's most creative city, where the food scene punches well above its weight, and LGBTQ+ travellers can feel right at home among the murals, markets, and maritime views.
Index
Bristol: Bold and Brilliant
Bristol's always been a canvas. For ideas. For protest. For joy. For me, it's also a pseudo-second home, being the place I spent most of my early 20's, diving between friends' sofas ever Friday and Saturday night in the nightlife heydays of the mid-late 2010s. Coming back here always feels like unrolling a map of memories while uncovering a city that never stands still.
There's something very wonderful and unique about Bristol - you could call it very Bristolian - with its scrappy self-confidence, a refusal to be boring, and a city that blends its industrial heritage with big, beating creativity. From sunrise on the Clifton Suspension Bridge to cocktails in converted shipping containers, there's a rhythm here that makes 48 hours feel like a full-on immersion.
Here's how we made the most of a weekend in one of the UK's most vibrant, inclusive, forward-thinking cities.
Day One: Harbourside Wanders & Creative Corners
Start your day at the Harbourside
We kicked our day off with a wander along the Harbourside - Bristol's old dockland heartland, reinvented as a hub for culture, food, and water-loving locals. Start at the Arnolfini or Watershed for a morning artistic fix; both venues sitting right on the harbours edge and dedicated to championing local artists in this creatively forward thinking city. Both also have fantastic cafes where you can grab a coffee (mine was a cappuccino, obviously) and soak up the morning sun glinting off of the water.
The Harbourside is perfect for easing into the Bristol rhythm. Artists sketching by the water, joggers weaving past students on benches, seagulls squabbing overhead. You can spot paddleboarders and kayakers slipping between repurposed warehouses, now full of independent galleries, vegan cafes, and sustainability start-ups.
The M Shed looms across the water from the harbour wall outside of the Arnolfini, complete with industrial era cranes still standing looking ready to offload goods, in which you can find out more about Bristol's complex story. It's a tale of industrial innovation, to protest and migration, and all the way to its modern creative reinvention, but we were chasing fresh air and freedom, so we hopped on the cross-harbour ferry and let the fresh breeze further wake us up.
We jump off the ferry underneath the masts of the SS Great Britain, which is worth the stop if you love a bit of maritime drama (Victorian engineering and a blast of salty sea air included). It's not just a ship - it's an immersive museum that plunges you into 19th-century travel. We grabbed brunch at Spoke and Stringer, which wins points for both its harbourside views and its gluten-free brunch options - hello smashed avo with poached eggs!
Street art safari in Southville & Bedminster
After fuelling up, we made our way into Southville & Bedminster - a haven for local Bristolians and an area where tourists seldom tread - filled with great bars and restaurants focused on locally grown produce and craft beers (especially along North Street). This is Upfest territory - the annual street art festival that's left a kaleidoscope of murals in its wake.
We wandered slowly, stopping to photograph bold portraits, abstract swirls, and tongue-in-cheek-political slogans painted across pubs and shutters. There's something very Bristol about turning an innocuous corner and finding a six-story flamingo or a tribute to Greta Thunberg staring back at you.
It's one of those areas where creativity feels deeply baked in. Local cafes spill onto pavements and we paused at Albatross Cafe for a cup of tea and a slab of cake (they usually are good for GF options), although in this corner of Bristol we would have been well catered for almost anywhere.
We strolled in the direction of Ashton Court, a huge rolling estate of deer parks and landscaped gardens perched right on this edge of Bristol - where the city seems to end abruptly and explode into this huge natural paradise. This is the home to the Bristol Balloon Fiesta every August - where hundred of hot air balloons of all shapes and sizes rise three times a day to float silently across Bristol and fill the skies here with colour. From this point, we could see our next stop on the hills above us and the estate, Clifton and the famous Suspension Bridge, so we jumped into a quick Uber to conserve our energy for the top of the hill.
Afternoon in Clifton Village
From street art to Georgian elegance - Bristol contains both in multitudes - and Clifton Village is the postcard-perfect exemplification of the later. With all of it's grand avenues, well-manicured squares, and cobbled lanes, you might believe you've jumped into an Uber to Marylebone or Bath instead, but up on top of this hill you find the well-heeled side of Bristol.
The Clifton Suspension Bridge is the perfect place to start exploring the area. Designed by Brunel and suspended dramatically over the Avon Gorge, it's an iconic sight. But in winter light or at golden hour? It's pure magic. You can walk across the bridge for free (if you have a stomach for heights) otherwise you can climb up to the Clifton Observatory, in the park above, for incredible views and a peaceful romantic moment.
From here, we strolled into Clifton Village, popping into some of the indie shops that have found a home up here such as Reg the Veg, browsed for gifts in Papersmiths, and warmed up with a coffee and cake at East Village Cafe. Clifton shows Bristol's more refined side without ever feeling stuffy and quaint. Even the quiet streets and Georgian architecture of Clifton (like Royal York Crescent) make you feel like you could bypass Bath and it's crowds for good!
Dinner and Drinks
Bristol's food scene punches well above it's weight, rivalling bigger cities like Manchester and Edinburgh for its creativity and culinary excellence. We booked dinner at Root, in Wapping Wharf, a cutting-edge restaurant in a series of reused shipping containers that specialises in small plates, puts local and seasonal veg at the front of the menu. Wapping Wharf is alive with incredible small restaurants with focuses and excellence in almost every cuisine imaginable, so definitely check out what is on offer, and book in advance. Our favourites include Cargo Cantina for Mexican and Woky Ko for Asian Street food, but there's Gyros to Gambas and everything in between so go wild!
Post-dinner, we took our pick of one of Bristol's nearby live music venues and settled on The Louisiana, a cozy venue above a historic wood-panelled pub right on the riverside, which plays host to nightly live bands and touring musicians. A decade or so ago I heard Sister Nancy (Godmother of Jamaican Dancehall music) played a gig here on the quiet, so it's always worth seeing the line up and trying to get yourself a space in front of the stage - you never know who might be playing.
For more live music options we could have chosen from any number of venues, like the Rock and Alt champion, The Fleece, real ales and Heavy Metal in The Gryphon, or the world's biggest DJs in The Prospect Building. Whole areas of the city are buzzing with grassroots venues, so it's worth following your nose (or ears) around parts of the city like Stokes Croft and Old Market to get a taste of this pulsating edge of Bristolian culture.
If you fancy a queer night out, Queenshilling is the keystone in a string of classic pop-centric gay clubs on Frogmore Street, while The Old Market Assembly leans more into the alternative with live music, performance, drag, and a welcoming queer crowd. Also look out for DTYM (short for Don't Tell Your Mother) who host monthly meetings in various venues around the city. No judgement here, just plenty of feathers.
Day Two: Markets, Murals & Montpellier Magic
Morning in Stokes Croft & Montpellier
This very well might have been where you ended day one, but Stokes Croft is where resistance meets creativity and is full of independent shops and cafes. Grab breakfast at Ceres (one of the best brunches in town) and then hop outside to explore the area on foot.
This is Banksy territory and you'll find a number of his earliest murals around these parts of Bristol, including Mild Mild West overlooking Turbo Island (a very rebellious and counter-culture-centric traffic island which may or may not still have the embers of last night's bonfire still glowing). But it's not all about Banksy; murals and paste-ups turn entire city buildings into protest art here. From social commentary to surreal animal mash-ups and the Avant Garde, it's a visual reminder that this city wears its conscience proudly. We wandered into Montpellier, an underrated gem with colourful houses, independent shops, and an unmistakable community spirit. Think 1970s terraces painted seafoam green, kid playing on scooters, and Bristolians chatting over recycled planters. If you're a photographer, this neighbourhood is a dream.
Park Time and Arty Detours
From there, it's a quick swing across the city to Park Street and Brandon Hill Park, with the towers of the University of Bristol's Wills Building and the Cabot Tower rising proudly over both. Brandon Hill Park is famous for it's panoramic city views, all multicoloured terraces, overlooked by Cassie's Bench (fans of the original UK version of Skins will understand), all rewarding anyone who has braved the climb up here. Heading back to Park Street for some coffee and vintage shopping therapy, we remembered how hilly Bristol can be for the uninitiated, just when you think you've reached the top of a hill, another summit appears before you. It's not quiet San Francisco or Lisbon, but it's not far off. The public transport and scooter rental schemes here are good though, and help you conquer those inclines with ease.
At the top of Park Street lies Bristol Museum & Art Gallery blending natural history with world-class art and roving exhibitions. They've even got a Banksy or two to reward those who have been caught by the British weather and haven't been able to stray too far into Stokes Croft. Art lovers might also stop at Spike Island, a contemporary exhibition space in a former tea-packing factory with another famous Banksy mural gracing the walls. Both have a beautifully queer vibe - we closed a couple of rainbow pin badges on the museum guides, and we've always found everyone in both spaces super welcoming and more than happy to discuss Bristol and give local recommendations - that's Bristolians for you!
Sunday Roast at your new favourite local
Bristol very much feels like a city that is alive with it's local communities - from the well-heeled yummy-mummies of Clifton, to the Artsy-alternative crowd in Stokes Croft, to the local-first vibe of Bedminster. What all of them have in common is their love for a good Sunday Lunch at a gastropub. You'll find favourites scattered all over the city and specialising in this very British staple, and come rain or shine, you'll find Bristolians whiling away a Sunday afternoon with a pint of local cider and some roast potatoes. Our favourites include; The Star and Dove and The Victoria Park, both edging onto the broad expanse of Victoria Park; The Kensington Arms, tucked into a leafy street in Redland; and The Clifton in Clifton Village, which has recently been voted one of the top pub lunches in the UK. You'll want a walk after a couple of hours of pure British indulgence, so head to The Downs for a huge green space and breezy hill top wanders overlooking the Avon Gorge. It's where the locals go to clear their heads, jog off a hearty lunch, or walk their sausage dogs with pride so you'll not be alone.
Explore Easton and St Phillips
If you've got the energy, spend the late afternoon exploring Easton and St Phillips. These less touristy areas are full of local flavour - with community murals, co-op cafes, and everything from microbreweries to art spaces popping up in disused industrial units. You'll find families, creatives, cyclists, and the odd hen party painting murals - it's Bristol in a microcosm. Around St Phillips Marsh, check out Wake the Tiger, the UK's first immersive amazement park. It's an amazing mind-bending way to fully dive into Bristol's creative scene while staying dry indoors. Perfect for families who want a little escape from the British weather, or for those who want to appreciate the creativity and tongue-in-cheek humour that thrives in every corner (and seemingly every industrial unit) in this city.
And for beer and cider fans (like us) don't miss checking out some of the off-the-beaten-track breweries that have popped up in this part of town; from The Cider Box's warehouse DJ and cheese-tasting vibes, to Moor Beer's friendly vibe, and Wiper and True's huge modern taproom and beer garden.
Dinner and a final nightcap
We finished almost back where we started, with dinner at BOX-E on Wapping Wharf, a tiny restaurant that's big on sustainable cooking and intimate vibes. The chef even came out and served us our dessert personally, and we left still talking about pickled beetroot like we'd had a religious awakening. Booking is essential.
Nightcap? We headed back across the harbour to Left Handed Giant for more great beer and river views, passing King Street's buzzing pubs and cobbled streets on route, where another favourite of ours - Small Bar - also serves up local brews and attracts a perpetually chatty crowd. There's no wrong choice when it comes to choosing a pub in Bristol; they almost all do pints and a welcoming atmosphere well.
A city that paints outside of the lines
Bristol's never been easy to define. It's art and activism. Concrete and cobblestones. Pride flags fluttering over independent bookstores. Queer club night one minute, historic architecture the next. In 48 hours it's possible to wander through more than just neighbourhoods - you can feel the city's every changing energy, it's inclusivity, and it's cheeky grin. Bristol doesn't just tolerate differences; it celebrates it.
Whether you're into photography, food, music, or simply walking with purpose and pausing for pastries, this city welcomes you with open arms and open-minded locals.
LGBTQ+ Travel Tip
Bristol has one of the most open and welcoming LGBTQ+ communities in the UK, with a visible scene and progressive politics to match. The annual Bristol Pride (usually early July) is one of the biggest in the UK, drawing tens of thousands. But even outside of Pride season, you'll find a thriving queer energy across bars, cafes, and community events - especially in Old Market, Stokes Croft, and Montpellier. Whether you're looking for a bear bar, a drag brunch, or just somewhere to hold hands without a second glance, Bristol delivers.
Save this post for your next weekend escape - or share it with your favourite travel buddy who thinks the best city breaks are the ones that come with murals, mochas, and a queer kiss at golden hour.
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