There's a really laid back atmosphere here in Bristol, it's a city so there's plenty to do but it's not too big that your group is going to get lost. It's a modern city yet it has been around since 1051. It was a very important trading port and as a result there are a lot of beautiful buildings and cobbled streets. Hang out in the harbourside area near the estuary, where modern architecture mixes in with the old. There's a big university here so you can be assured of plenty of good music (Massive Attack and Portishead are both from here), cool cafes, funky pubs and clubs and a generally good vibe.
Spend the afternoon taking a boat trip around the harbour or go on a pirate walking tour around town before heading out for the best hen party ever !!
There is so much packed into this small city. First of all there are festivals on throughout the year – St. Paul's Carnival is a big one in early July with live music, street performances, food stalls, basically a big party, then there's the Bristol Harbour Festival at the start of August or the Bristol Pride Festival in the middle of August, you're guaranteed to have fun. We at henpartyUK enjoy our balloons – the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta takes place every year in the middle of August, it's Europes biggest and if you've never seen 100 balloons floating off into the sky at on a summers evening, then you've missed something beautiful and exciting.
Visit the Clifton Suspension bridge which spans the Avon Gorge and get fabulous views of the City especially the upmarket Clifton, where you can stay in some stunning hotels or dine in some chic eateries. There are some fine jewellry shops and boutique clothes shops here too. Wander up to Brandon Hill and rest in the gardens while taking in fine views of the city.
As we said, Bristol was and still is a trading port and there's a lot of maritime history. The famous pirate Blackbeard (real name Edward Teach) was born near the city, he reigned over the Caribbean and their islands for many a year. Visit the ss Great Britain which is a beautiful steamship built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel (who also designed the Suspension Bridge among other things), this ship has been all over the world – Australia to New York to Argentina. This ship is now a tourist attraction in Bristol Harbour. This area is a cool place to hang out have a few drinks, there are plenty of restaurants and bars overlooking the water.
There are plenty of ways to spend your money in Bristol – shop in Broadmead Shopping Centre or the brand new Cabot Circus with its 120 new shops, 25 places to eat and a 13 screen Cinema de Luxe. Or go smaller, visit the old part of the city with its winding alleyways and cobbled streets – Corn St., St. Nicholas Market, Welsh Back, Christmas Steps. You find cute little shops, cafes, restaurants – completely opposite to the shopping malls.
The music and theatre scene in Bristol is really vibrant - there's a really great choice to be had - old quirky pubs in the old city, pub on a barge - The Grain Barge or chic wine bars in Clifton. There are great places to eat from the cheapest (this is a university city after all) to the really expensive. If you want to get to a show, there's the Hippodrome or perhaps a play at the Old Vic (the UKs oldest theatre). One useless fact about Bristol to bore your friends with - Cary Grant was born here in 1904 and there's a statue of him in the Millenium Square in the Harbourside.