Bristol must sees.

We were there in 2000 (yikes! That's 25 years!). The cathedral was very interesting and I think there is a local museum that has some interesting artifacts.

I visited in summer 2024. It was one of my favorite stops. Easy, casual city. Everyone friendly. Without planning it, I was there during the Bristol Balloon Festival in August. Free viewing at the harbor and the balloons went directly overhead. Great family friendly community event, but over for this year. I enjoy Industrial Revolution sites and history. The highlight for me was a boat trip through the lock system that created, and still maintains, the floating harbor. The boat continued on through the beautiful gorge and under the the Clifton Suspension Bridge. On the next day I went to Clifton and walked across the bridge to get a good look at the ironwork and towers. There is also the Clifton Observatory and a camera obscura beside the bridge that is fun. From there you can walk to down to a cliff side cave that overlooks the gorge. Take time to do that. The steps are steep and slippery so wear proper shoes. I enjoyed Brunel's SS Great Britain, the world's first ocean liner. The facilities for different classes of passengers is fascinating. I visit community museums whenever I get the chance and the M Shed is one of the better ones. Bristol is known to be a lively town. Lots of restaurants and bars along the canal. I enjoyed the ferry boats and walking along the canal. I tend to eat whatever is convenient and collapse into bed early after an active day so I cannot make any specific recommendations.

The Clifton Suspension bridge is very impressive and you can get a good view from the top of the gorge on the north side.

I suggest that you make the SS Great Britain a priority. On the day I visited, the reproduction of the ‘Matthew’ - which sailed from Bristol to discover Newfoundland for the Brits - was moored nearby.

They are re-building the railway from Portishead into Bristol but unfortunately won't be ready for about 3 years.

Suggest you also visit nearby >https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/visit/bath-bristol/tyntesfield

A bit further, suggest you visit Cheddar gorge and throw in Wells on the same trip. Note that these places could be incorporated into your drive up from Blandford Forum to Portishead - saves you making a special trip out again & therefore more time for other places.

I presume that Bath is near the top of your list of places to visit.

Going further afield - join motorway and head N crossing the Avonmouth bridge but DO NOT follow M49 but stay on M5 until the Almondsbury interchange where you take the M4 westbound. As you descend the hill towards the estuary - follow turn off for M48 and cross the Severn Bridge (M48 not M4) . Leave at first junction on Welsh side - head N on A466 to see Tintern Abbey (ruin) but you may like to first divert into Chepstow to see the castle. (Note that one way traffic flow is complicated). Anyway. you could continue N from Tintern up the Wye Valley towards Monmouth and then west on A40 to Raglan to see that castle (ruin) before heading down the A466 towards Newport and then M4 eastbound and back over the Severn estuary and then M49 back to Avonmouth and ‘home’.

You could take a day trip to Cardiff by car but I think it would be easier to do such a trip by train - so, drive from Portishead to Nailsea & Backwell station - park car and go by train. On current schedules, a direct hourly train leaves just after the hour and the trip takes just over 1 hour and costs £23 return.https://www.traintickets.com/?/

Hi John
I live in Bristol. You should definitely explore the Harbourside including the SS Great Britain and the Mathew which is usually moored next to the MShed museum. The MShed is a (free) museum of Bristol with a focus on the people and communities of Bristol.

The Georgian House museum is housed in an original Georgian terrace and is decorated as it would have been when it was built and owned by a wealthy trader. It’s a great insight into how Bristol became wealthy in this period. Near to that is Cabot Tower which you can climb for great views of the city.

I would avoid the main shopping centre of the city (Broadmead and Cabot Circus) which is a bit run down and filled with generic shops. The only potentially interesting thing in this area is John Wesley’s New Room, the oldest Methodist building in the world.

Clifton village is the poshest part of Bristol. It’s an area of grand Georgian terraces and pavement cafes. You can also see the Suspension Bridge. If you walk across you’ll find the visitor centre. Driving to this area from Portishead you would actually drive over the bridge.

From Portishead, the Victorian seaside town of Clevedon is a lovely trip out. I’d also recommend Tyntesfield National Trust. This is an impressive Victorian country home with original interiors. It has hardly changed internally since its heyday.

Any other questions please ask. Portishead itself is a smallish town on the Severn Estuary. There are some older houses near the water but most of the town is relatively newly built. There is a small high street. The Marina is a nice area for a walk. All of the flats, houses, school and leisure centre there have been built within the last 25 years or so. The town has expanded a lot.

One thing about Portishead is that there is only one road in and out. As the town has grown this means a lot of congestion at rush hours.

Definitley SS Great Britain. When she was launched in 1843 the SS Great Britain was the largest and most advanced ship in the world. She was the first screw-propelled, ocean-going, wrought iron ship. She was scuttled in the Falkland Islands in the 1930s but her hulk was returned to Bristol in 1970 and has been wonderfully restored to her former glory.

The cathedral is also worth visiting and has a wonderful Norman Chapter House. There is also the equally impressive Church of St Mary Redcliffe which is one of teh largest and impressive parish churches.

If you want social history, there is Red Lodge Museum (including a Victorian School) or the Georgian House. Both are free but closed Wednesday- Fridays.

I can't thank all of you enough for these ideas! From these, we might amend our reservations somewhat.

Just to add that the Balloon Fiesta is actually this coming weekend! https://www.bristolballoonfiesta.co.uk/

I agree with what others have said- definitely Clifton Suspension Bridge and the SS Great Britain. If you like beer I also quite like Left-Handed Giant.

We were in Bristol in September 2024. As others have said, the Clifton bridge, SS Great Britain (and the harbor area) were amazing. I liked Clifton village too. I also enjoyed just walking around the city looking for Banksy art. A couple of places I would have liked to get to but ran out of time - the Bristol museum, and Blaise Castle.