Itinerary idea: Brunel, boats and Banksy in Bristol

Positioned in the hills of south west England, Bristol is a lively city surrounding the River Avon and on the edge of the Cotswolds. It’s well-known as a pioneer for street art, buzzing Harbourside neighbourhood, and maritime history. There is a variety of attractions suitable for all.  

Here’s what you could pack into your visit…

Day one:

10am: Start your packed itinerary with a visit to Brunel’s SS Great Britain, the ship that changed the world. Voyage back in time on a tour of the world’s first great ocean liner which resides in the very dock in which she was built. 

Embrace its history in two interactive museums or step on board the ship itself to experience the sights, smells and sounds of Victorian life at sea - you may even have the chance to ‘meet’ the man himself. 

12.00pm: Finish the tour of SS Great Britain at the on-site restaurant for a group lunch which can also be served in a private room as an option if pre-arranged.

1.30pm: Enjoy the views from Clifton Suspension Bridge on the cliffs of the Avon Gorge. It’s located next to Clifton Village, bursting with coffee shops and cafés.  

You can learn more about the impressive engineering by young Brunel on one of the volunteer-led guided tours of the bridge. It is recommended to pre-book a tour of the vaulted chambers, and don’t miss the accompanying visitors’ centre.  

4pm: If time allows, it’s worth spending an hour or two discovering the city centre, including world-famous street art by Banksy, and other murals dotted around the streets.  

Or, take a look inside Bristol Cathedral, one of England’s great medieval churches and observe the incredible history and architecture – including locations used in BBC’s Wolf Hall adaptation.  

Evening: 

There are plenty of group-friendly hotels to choose from. Celebrate Bristol’s link to the art world in one of the Clayton’s modern rooms housed in the Grade II listed Everards print works building in the Old City.

Alternatively, just up the road, experience one of the stylish rooms at the Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel which features bespoke art pieces from local artists. Dinner

Dinner-wise, you could try Pieminister for an indulging, award-winning pie. Or, join a culinary adventure across the world at ZaZa Bazaar with a choice of over 300 dishes available in a lively street food market atmosphere with plenty of room for large groups. 

Day two:

10am: Continue your two-day itinerary by going supersonic at Aerospace Bristol which showcases the aviation achievements of Bristol. The star of the show is Concorde, but the museum also holds exhibits from the early days of flight through to today’s cutting-edge technology.

Join a guided tour of the museum which includes the chance to step aboard the last of the supersonic jets to ever fly, Concorde Alpha Foxtrot. Discover how passengers would travel in the luxury aircraft and catch a glimpse of the mind-blowing cockpit.  

1pm: Enjoy a pre-booked lunch from a dedicated groups menu at Aerospace Bristol, with a range of dishes depending on the size of the group. Smaller numbers can make use of a soup and sandwich deal, while a hot buffet featuring salads, lasagne, sausage and mash and plenty of other dishes is available to 20 or more people. 

2.30pm: With more than 50 years of experience on the harbour, Bristol Packet Boat Trips offers a range of sailings, suitable for groups of up to 95 passengers so you can experience the city from a different perspective. 

Discover the history of Bristol’s floating harbour or cruise under Brunel’s famous Clifton Suspension Bridge – refreshments are available on board (you could even take a boat tour combined with a cream tea).  

Evening: If you’re staying a second night, you could sit back and enjoy a show at Bristol Hippodrome, or the Bristol Old Vic which is described as the oldest continuously working theatre in the England (behind the scenes heritage tours are available).

Groups can use Bristol as a base to explore further. The neighbouring city of Bath is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and traditional spa city which is famous for the Roman Baths and historic Georgian features. Alternatively, the Cotswolds isn’t far, with a number of English market towns and country pubs.