24 Hours…

Morning

Start your day out right with a coffee at the Mud Dock, an iconic dockside bike shop/café with a terrace which offers panoramic views of the harbour. Then head over Prince Street Bridge, and stroll beneath the cargo cranes which tower above the riverside.  

Stop off at the M Shed for a free exhibition which tells the story of the city through moving personal stories and quirky artifacts. Along the quayside you can also witness the Bristol Harbour Railway and explore The Matthew, a modern reconstruction of the caravel sailed by John Cabot in 1497. Now it is time to experience Bristol from a different angle, and board the Water Ferry to the SS Great Britain.  

Enjoy a delicious light lunch at the Harbourside Kitchen, and soak up the atmosphere of a waterfront terrace. Wander down to the historic dockyard and be sure to plunge below the glass sea into the dry dock, then step back in time into the Dockyard Museum as you prepare to board the ship herself.  

Afternoon 

Alive with sights, sounds and even smells, set sail on the world’s first great ocean liner. Do not miss the Being Brunel Museum, discovering Brunel’s extraordinary achievements by stepping into his world. Before your visit is over, make sure to go to check out the Albion Dockyard viewing platform to get behind-the-scenes of a working shipyard.  

Head round the corner to see the legendary Banksy’s Girl with a Pierced Eardrum, before popping into one of Bristol’s hidden gems, The Orchard Inn, for an extensive range of West Country Ciders and real ales in a traditional Victorian country pub. For another spot of culture, drop by Spike Island for some innovative contemporary art and make sure to visit the Underfall Yard to discover the fascinating story of Bristol’s floating harbour. 

Evening 

After this harbourside adventure, it is time to relax at The Pump House, a former Victorian pumping house at a prime waterside spot. Sample their menu, which is filled with locally sourced food and small independent suppliers, for a taste of Bristol. 

For more eclectic dinner options, circle back towards Cargo, in Wapping Wharf where there is a broad selection of unique resturaunts. Eat at Gambas for their unmatched tapas, Seven Lucky Gods for Japanese-inspired small plates, and Root for an inventive vegetable-focused menu.