So, anybody else looking forward to Easter weekend…?! With so many fantastic spots to visit in this city of ours there is always something to see or do, but Bristol’s harbourside is one of my favourites and never fails to impress…
Once a busy dock where goods were traded and ships set sail on their voyages of discovery, the harbourside is now a buzzing part of the city filled with bars, cafés and attractions. Don’t miss the Sunday market around by the Floating Harbour, fountains on Millennium Square, the M Shed for its lovely exhibitions about the history of Bristol, the aquarium (sharks, rays and giant Pacific octopus anyone?!), We The Curious, internationally-renowned contemporary arts centre the Arnolfini and that’s just for starters!
The harbourside is also home to all things ship related with the Underfall Yard and its recent visitor centre, trips on the water aboard The Matthew and of course Brunel’s award-winning masterpiece, The SS Great Britain (the world’s first great ocean liner).
Once you’re tired out from all of the activities, the next question is where to eat? Whatever you fancy you will find somewhere on the harbourside! Pizza at The Stable, Bertha’s Sourdough or Pizzarova, burgers and sausage rolls at Pigsty, fish and chips and Salt & Malt, Greek delights at The Athenian, Asian dishes at Woky Ko, best brunch ever at Spoke and Stringer, a beautiful array of treats both sweet and savoury at Mokoko, fantastic coffee and cake at Little Victories… Drinks? Bristol Cider Shop, cocktails and Harbour & Browns, local beers on the Grain Barge and No.1 Harbourside whilst overlooking the water or The Cottage at Baltic Wharf for a traditional Victorian pub which is a great sun trap too (so fingers crossed for nice weather!)
Of course you can pop down just for a stroll also – with a lovely track all the way round there is something wonderfully calming about being near to the water (and if you’re there first thing you can grab a bacon butty from the breakfast institution which is Brunel’s Buttery too!)
I know where I’ll be at some point over the long weekend folks and hope to see you all there…Happy Easter!