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13 Things to Do in Bristol This Autumn & Winter

Rabbie
Posted on 12 Sept 2024

Autumn and winter are amazing times to travel in the UK. Yep, we said it and we absolutely mean it. There’s something about a frosty Edinburgh morning, a hazy sunset in the Lake District, the twinkling streets of London at night... the UK is a magical place when the weather cools and the crowds dissipate.

And then there’s Bristol in autumn and winter. This striking English city should be at the top of your to-visit bucket list, for Bristol is what we’d call a perfect Goldilocks city – it's not too big and not too small. There’s just enough to do to keep you entertained; while hugging you like the way an intimate village does. And travelling in the quieter months means you have the space and time to explore this city without the intense summer crowds, while surrounded by the magic of these cosy seasons.

Coming up in this article:

What Makes Bristol So Special in Autumn & Winter?

Bristol's vibrancy becomes even better in autumn and winter. Words like cosy and captivating come to mind, and Bristol has a unique blend of seasonal charm and thrilling events to entertain visitors and locals alike.

You’ll find the lucious parks, such as Ashton Court Estate and Brandon Hill, coated in autumnal colours, and walks through Leigh Woods become an enchanting amber-hued woodland trail, as if you’re walking in a fairytale.

Maybe you’ll tuck yourself up in cosy pubs like The Cottage Inn by the harbourside or The Llandoger Trow for a hearty meal and sample the local cider. And the intrigue of Bristol’s street art scene, including the incredible works of Banksy, become the ideal backdrop to this cosy season, the colourful murals contrasting perfectly with autumnal hues.

And beyond the wandering and eating (which is half the fun when travelling), you’ve got plenty of season-specific things to look forward to, like the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. While the main event takes place in summer, you’ll still be able to enjoy spots of it here and there in autumn, so look up – you might just see hot air balloons drifting through a crisp autumn skyline.

Of course, we acknowledge that sometimes in autumn and winter it gets a tad cold to be outside. So, why not pop inside for things like a screening during the Bristol Film Festival or the lively Bristol Aquarium.

And for you yulefiles out there who can’t wait for Christmas, winter in Bristol is a magical time with festive light displays around Clifton Village and the harbourside, the Christmas Markets of course, and even the Clifton Suspension Bridge lits up to welcome winter.

So, if you’re now planning your trip to the city, make sure you start with these 5 things to know before visiting Bristol, and don’t forget there are so many amazing tours of greater England from our Bristol depature point.

Top 8 Things Bristol Has for You to do This Autumn

Bristol is ready to welcome you with open arms this autumn. You can partake in all that Bristol has to offer year-round, from hunting down its incredible street art to marveling at the Clifton Suspension Bridge. But Bristol also has some more autumn-specific events for you to check out.

Bristol Wing Fest (6 - 7 September)

Wing Fest is the world’s largest chicken wing festival... need we say more? Tickets to the event include live music, entertainment, rides, games, and – of course – eating competitions. Every year the event showcases the best chicken wings the UK has to offer, and in 2023, over 100,000 wings were served from 15 different street food vendors, restaurants, and BBQ teams. Sounds like bliss to us! And while you may have just missed the 2024 event, there’s always 2025 which gives you plenty of time to practice for the eating competition.

Bristol Sea Shanty Festival (21 September)

As you wander the harbourside of Bristol, it will come as no surprise that the city has a rich maritime history. And what better way to celebrate all things nautical than with sea shanties! Hosted on Saturday 21st September 2024 at the historic boatyard venue of Underfall Yard, the Bristol Sea Shanty Festival is a free event showcasing the finest shanty crews in the South-West. Bring your singing voice!

Wildscreen Festival (14 -18 October)

Screen-lovers unite at the Wildscreen Festival, a world-leading international festival which celebrates storytelling through film and TV. The first ever festival was held in Bristol back in 1982 and today it still stands to connect people with nature through storytelling, something we’re fans of here at Rabbie’s. Through their festival, their mission is to support and celebrate the natural world, connect creativity with conservation, nurture the next generation of storytellers, and raise awareness for conservation... all the while enjoying some fantastic film and TV!

BOP Photobook Festival (19 - 20 October)

You might be wondering what exactly BOP stands for. Well, it means Books on Photography. And that’s what Bristol’s annual photobook festival is all about. The festival showcases a range of photobook publishers, artist talks, exhibitions, book signings, events, and street food and drinks.

The event is run by the Martin Parr Foundation and The Royal Photographic Society, and over the weekend, book lovers unite at Paintworks in Bristol to celebrate their love of books, photography, and publishing.

Wookey Hole Caves

Don’t worry, we haven’t forgotten our lovers of all things creepy and woo-woo for the impending spooky season. Halloween is beloved across the globe for several reasons. Some love the spooky vibes, others love the cosiness of autumn, and some simply love the fun of it.

And those that love the spooky side of Halloween can’t miss a visit to the Wookey Hole Caves, just under an hour outside of Bristol. Here, you’ll enjoy an experience millions of years in the making... and some spookiness, of course. These creepy yet striking limestone caves are shrouded in legends, such as the Witch of Wookey Hole, making it the perfect place to spend your spooky season.

The Haunted Bookshop

Hello again, spooky season lovers. This female-owned indie bookshop specialises in books on witchcraft, the occult, folklore, fantasy and horror. And, best of all, it’s the kind of place where you can get Pumpkin Spiced Lattes all year round, and finding ‘witchy items’ for sale is also a great temptation. So, grab a drink and a book, and revel in all things creepy. There’s something about Bristol at Halloween, giving off a haunted city kind of vibe.

Bristol Film Festival

What’s great about the Bristol Film Festival is that it hosts events all year round, and in autumn (as you can imagine) things take a rather ominous turn with all the Halloween and spooky films you know and love.

The festival was started back in 2015 to celebrate a love of film and cinema, its mission to bring classic films back to the big screen in some of Bristol’s most iconic venues, such as Bristol Museum and Redcliffe Caves. Films and locations are carefully matched... so you can only imagine how great the spooky-season locations are going to be!

Check out more ‘secret Bristol’ events because you never know what you’ll find.

Autumn Tours from Bristol

We can’t forget the beyond – and by that, we mean beyond Bristol. This magnificent city is on the doorstep of some of England’s most striking landscapes and fascinating history. You can go further than you think, too... because have you ever seen the Wye Valley in Wales during autumn? Well, you really, really should.

Travelling in autumn is something different altogether. The brush of orange hues across the landscape, the icy chill arresting the air, your fingers hide away in gloves and your throat disappears behind your favourite scarf... but there’s something mystical in the air that makes up for all that.

Top 5 Things Bristol Has for You to do In Winter

And then winter descends. Snowflakes and Christmas are on the mind, fireplaces in pubs are once again awakened, meals turn hearty, and drinks must warm the soul. Winter is a time for true nature lovers, the ones who aren’t afraid to get snow on their eyelashes and a tinge of red on their nose. It’s all worth it to breathe in the crisp air and gaze upon a landscape dusted with the quietness of this gentle month.

Whether it snows or not, you’ll want to embrace the festive spirit in Bristol, especially with so much to do and see.

Bristol Christmas Market (1st November – 23rd December 2024)

No winter is complete without at least one Christmas Market and Bristol’s is as magical as they come. Found in the heart of the city centre, the market has over 35 unique stalls, as well as entertainment and visits from Santa and his elves. Bristols on the Nice list, you see.

Tis the season for a toasty hot chocolate or warming mulled wine as you wander the markets, soaking up the beauty of this holiday atmosphere.

If Christmas Markets are the reason you travel in winter, then make sure you see what the UK has to offer.

Bristol Shopping Quarter

While the quarter is there all year round, now is the time to delve into the Bristol Shopping Quarter’s 400 shops to find the perfect gifts for the ones you love. Or perhaps you’re simply in the mood for a bit of browsing, or munching local goods at the restaurants and cafes. The quarter has its fair share of events as well, so keep that in mind!

Bristol Pop-Up Shop at The Galleries (24th November – 24th December 2024)

This is small businesses are their finest. The Bristol Pop-Up Shop was set up in 2018 and is now run by a collective of small business owners based in Bristol. Their mission is to connect and support Bristol’s creative business community, and to bring high-quality, locally designed and made products to visitors.

Each year, the shop pops up in the run up to Christmas, making it the ideal spot for a bit of Christmas shopping.

Christmas at Westonbirt Arboretum (29th November – 31st December 2024 - selected evenings)

Take a hike Narnia, a new seasonal beauty is in town. The team at Westonbirt Arboretum have teamed up with award-winning light trail producers to bring you a light trail unlike Westonbirt has ever seen.

As the festive mood sets in, explore the beauty of nature in a completely new light. Wander the trail surrounded by over a million twinkling lights and the cosiness of winter hugging you from all sides. Luminous birds watch from overhead, neon trees and sparkling tunnels of light surround you, and all the colours of the rainbow inject a bit of light into the year’s coldest season.

Check out a range of other Christmas and winter events in Bristol 2024.

Winter Tours from Bristol

We want to take you places. Yes, even in winter. Because in winter, the small villages we visit on tour have pubs and cafes with a cosiness level off the charts. The streets are quiet, and the views are eerily shrouded in mist and rain and snow... and we couldn’t love it more.

Welcome in the Season with Rabbie’s

If you’ve never travelled in autumn or winter, and are feeling a little apprehensive about it, then why not let us do the work for you? We’ll make sure you know where to go and that you don’t forget your beanie on the bus!

Whether you choose to travel in autumn or winter, or you opt for an alternative time to suit your preferences, our driver-guides will be awaiting your arrival with a smile. What’s more, when you travel with a B Corp certified company, you're making the choice to explore more responsibly. And that’s always a positive thing to celebrate. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter for your portion of inspiration and to be one of the first to know about new destinations we’re going to explore.