14 Best Day Trips From Bristol You Must Take!
Bristol is a fantastic city to explore; however, if you want to escape the city for a day, you may wonder what the best day trips from Bristol are.
There is plenty of options!
Then look no further in this post. I gathered all the top day trips you can take from Bristol, including what you should do there!
This is the perfect list for you to know all the best things to do near Bristol all year round and for all kinds of travellers!
14 Best Day Trips From Bristol
Bristol offers many transportation to and from the city, so it’s pretty easy to take the best day trips from Bristol even if you don’t have a car or cannot rent one. There are plenty of day trips from Bristol without a car that you can do!
You have Temple Meads station if you need to catch a train or the coach station, which has several stops in the city to get you places.
So, let’s get right into those fun day trips around Bristol!
Day Trips To the Cotswolds From Bristol
If you’re in Bristol and looking for an incredible day trip or a weekend getaway, then the Cotswolds area is an easy pick, as it offers so many unique villages and spots to visit; you can even hike through them!
There are many amazing places to visit in this area; if you’d like to explore in-depth, I suggest you check out this Cotswolds itinerary.
Day Trip to Bath From Bristol
You probably already know about Bath, an easy day trip from Bristol as it is only an 8-minute train ride from Bristol and is a major city in the southwest of the UK as it is a UNESCO heritage city.
Bath makes a great day trip from Bristol. Bath is one of the easiest day trips from Bristol by train!
Bath is well known for its unique, elegant Georgian architecture, which you can see if you visit the Royal Crescent and The Circus.
The main attractions of the city you cannot miss are The Roman Baths (you can even try the water at the end of the tour!) and Bath Abbey; you can get a fantastic view of the city if you climb the 212 steps of the Abbey! After this, you can taste the famous Sally Lunn’s Bath bun for afternoon tea! The Pulteney Bridge is an iconic landmark and a must-see in Bath; you can also get there and walk along the Avon River.
Another historic part of Bath is that it’s home to Jane Austen, the author of “Pride and Prejudice”; you can visit The Jane Austen Centre for £12.
If you’re visiting Bath during winter, you must plan your visit when the Christmas Market is there. I did in 2017, and I loved it!
Day Trip to Bourton-On-The-Water
The Cotswolds, one of the most picturesque areas of outstanding beauty in the United Kingdom, makes a fantastic day trip from Bristol. Reachable in just over an hour, a one-day Cotswolds itinerary starts early in Bourton-on-the-Water, one of the most famous villages. Because of its popularity, arriving there as early as possible is good.
There are so many things to do in Bourton-on-the-Water that you could spend the entire day without running out of places to see. Firstly, start your day with a cup of coffee and a delicious breakfast cooked with local ingredients at one of the cafes along the river.
For a village of only 3,200 inhabitants, Bourton-on-the-Water has a lot of tourist attractions. The Motor Museum hosts an impressive collection of old cars and motorcycles and a fantastic selection of antique toys that will bring back memories from childhood.
The Model Village replicates the village on a scale of 1:9, the same way it used to look in 1930. Birdland Park and gardens just outside the village, home to over 500 bird species.
If you like walking, a 40-minute trail leads to Lower Slaughter, another village of outstanding beauty with a working mill transformed into a museum.
Contributed by Joanna from The World In My Pocket
Day trip to Castle Combe from Bristol
One of the best day trips from Bristol is to the beautiful Cotswolds village of Castle Combe. Situated in Wiltshire and only half an hour’s drive from Bristol, it’s easy to see why this pretty chocolate box village is so popular amongst tourists.
Visiting Castle Combe is like taking a trip back in time, as no new houses have been built since the 1600s. Made from locally sourced honey-coloured Cotswolds stone, the buildings are quaint and unique.
As well as exploring all the beautiful nooks and crannies of the village, it is worth checking out St Andrew’s Church, which has one of the oldest working clocks in the country.
The other must-visit building in Castle Combe is the Manor House Hotel. It is a stunning ivy-covered luxury hotel with an 18-hole golf course, a Michelin-star restaurant, and the most perfectly manicured gardens. Suppose you get hungry and want to try a traditional afternoon tea; head to the Old Rectory Tearoom.
Or, if you fancy a supercar day, visit one of England’s fastest motor car racing circuits, just outside the village. This village might be small, but there is plenty to do on a day trip!
Contributed by Roshni from The Wanderlust Within
Day Trip to Cardiff, Wales
Cardiff or Caerdydd in Welsh is an excellent option for a day trip from Bristol. Easy of access with or without a car, there are a lot of amazing things to do in Cardiff,
My favourite thing in Cardiff was visiting Cardiff Castle. I spent two hours there, and I think I could have spent a little more time.
It’s an excellent activity for everyone, including kids, as exploring the Castle and its surroundings feels like a true adventure!
Bute Park is the next thing to do if you spend one day in Cardiff; you can also take a boat to Cardiff Bay there.
The city has a lot of arcades that are fun to explore or shop for souvenirs.
Of course, you can visit the inside market of Cardiff where you can try traditional Welsh biscuits, although be careful, they’re raisins inside, not chocolate chips!
Like Bristol, Cardiff is a harbourside city; you can walk along Cardiff Bay, check out Mermaid Quay and Pierhead Building, and spot the famous “People Like Us” sculpture.
Day Trip to Brecon Beacons, Wales
If you want a bit of a break from the city, a day trip from Bristol to the Brecon Beacons National Park will be perfect.
Located a couple of hours from Bristol, the Brecon Beacons are one of the 3 national parks in Wales. They feature some of the most amazing views in the country and are a paradise for hikers. The most famous hike is Pen-Y-Fan.
Several routes go up to the summit, but the best is the horseshoe ridge walk. This 10-mile loop takes about 5 hours to complete. It’s not an easy hike, but once you get to the top, you will be mind-blown by the stunning views over the Cwm Llwch Valley.
The Beacons are also a great place to go rafting! There are loads of rivers and waterfalls everywhere.
Finally, you can visit some beautiful Welsh castles and towns if you love history.
Brecon, Crickhowell, and Hay on Wye are beautiful!
Please note that you will need a car to explore the Beacons. There aren’t any trains going from Bristol to the Brecon Beacons; even if there were, you would still need a car to get around. It’s only 1:45 by car and renting a car for a day should cost you less than £30.
Submitted by Pauline from Beelovedcity
Day trip To Coventry From Bristol
Although often overlooked by tourists, Coventry is an excellent option for a day trip from Bristol.
Because many of the city’s main tourist sites are close together in the city centre, nearly all can be seen in a day.
Some of the most famous Coventry attractions are the two cathedrals.
The German Luftwaffe horrifically bombed the city of Coventry during WWII, and large portions of the town were destroyed. Because of its height and size, the first site bombed during the Blitz was the Old Coventry Cathedral in the city centre. Today, you can visit the ruins, learn about the war, and even head up to the top for great views over the city.
Afterwards, head to the New Coventry Cathedral, which was built right next to the ruins, in favour of tearing them down. The New Coventry Cathedral is worth checking out for beautiful stained glass windows.
Coventry was also voted the UK City of Culture in 2021, a title this underrated gem deserves. If you want to learn more about the fascinating history of Coventry, consider stopping at some of the city’s museums, such as the Herbert Gallery or the Coventry Transport Museum.
Head to Taste Vietnam or pop into Sprinkles Gelato shop for a delicious meal.
Contributed by Dagney from Cultura Obscura
Day trip to Cheddar Gorges and Caves
Cheddar Gorge is located 30 miles south of Bristol on the southern slopes of the Mendip Hills.
Getting there is most accessible by road, following the main A38 from Bristol towards Taunton before following the hills along to the village. Public transport options exist, but a 45-minute journey will turn into 2 hours with several changes.
Cheddar Gorge is the deepest gorge in England, and as you walk up the gorge or take the open-top bus, the cliffs tower above you. These limestone cliffs follow the path of the ancient rivers that flowed, and the road has tight bends and narrow spaces.
At the bottom of the gorge are the caves. These are some of the deepest in England; two are open to the public. If you like adventure, you can take a caving lesson and explore beyond the pathways in the public area.
Cheddar village has many small shops away from the caves and gorge, including Cheddar cheese and local cider, both of which need tasting while you are in the area. There are many places to eat in Cheddar, but our favourite is Frank’s, a small restaurant tucked away by the mill pond at the bottom of the gorge.
After exploring the caves and shops, this small village and gorge can fill an entire day with stunning walks along the cliffs.
Contributed by Suzanne from Meandering Wild
Day Trip to Gloucester from Bristol
Besides being a great city near Bristol, Gloucester is one of the places you must visit if you’re a Harry Potter fan! Gloucester Cathedral is one of the locations in the UK that was used to film some bits of the Movies we all love.
Gloucester is easy to access, only an hour away by train, and most of the spots of interest in the city are within walking distance.
Gloucester Cathedral is free to visit; however, if you want to take photos of the inside of the Cathedral, you have to buy a photo permit for only £3, which helps keep the cathedral in good condition, so play fair and buy it!
For more historical buildings, you can check out the remains of Greyfriars and the Small Anglican Church of St Mary De Crypt.
If you’re into beer, you must tour Gloucester Brewery for beer and gin around Gloucester Docks. The Brewery tour costs £25; they only tour twice a month, so make sure to book in advance!
Day trip to Oxford
Oxford is a city with a worldwide reputation as it is the home of many prestigious colleges, and people from all over the world come to study there every year.
Some of the top things to do in Oxford if you only have one day to spend there are, of course, some of the many colleges you will find there (for example, the University of Church of St Mary and more), Christ Church Cathedral from where you can admire Radcliffe Camera or the Bridge of Sighs and the Bodleian Library.
Those activities are a great starter if you only have one day in Oxford. Check out Oxford Covered Market for treats during your day trip.
Another great activity in Oxford, if you visit on a warm day or feel brave enough in the winter cold, is to take a Punt Tour to have a different view of the city!
Those things make Oxford one of the best day trips from Bristol!
Just as Gloucester, Oxford is a destination to check for Harry Potter fans as you can find several places where parts of the movies were shot (Bodleian Library, Divinity Room…).
Day Trip to Salisbury & Stonehenge
The Wiltshire town of Salisbury is about an hour and a half by road from Bristol.
It is famed for its medieval gothic cathedral and half-timbered houses in the town centre. The cathedral houses the best-preserved copy of the Magna Carta, which is the model of the American Declaration of Independence, and you should also visit the cloisters.
I recommend the cathedral refectory (snack bar), which gives the best views of the cathedral spire, the tallest in England, and serves a good range of cakes and sandwiches.
The former British Prime minister, Edward Heath, lived close to the cathedral and enjoyed playing and conducting the organ. His house, Arundels in the close, is open to visitors.
You can easily combine a visit to Salisbury with a trip to Stonehenge. The world-famous neolithic stone circle is just eight miles away on Salisbury Plain. The visitor centre has a cafe, toilets, a gift shop, and an exhibition explaining the history of the stones and the broader landscape. It is only a short walk from the visitor centre to the stones, but there is a shuttle bus for the less able.
At present, visits have to be pre-booked. Walking in the wider landscape is free, and you can get a good site view without paying.
Ann, The Platinium Line
Day Trip To Dunster Castle
Bristol makes a great day trip from London, but there are some great day trips to take from Bristol!
On a day trip from Bristol to Dunster Castle, you can take the coast, countryside, villages, and historical heritage sites. Driving time is under 2 hours each way, but there are so many incredible sights along the route you’ll definitely need to plan on a full day and maybe even extend to an overnight stay.
Dunster Castle is a Heritage Trust site near the coastal town of Minehead in beautiful Somerset. The castle sits dramatically high on a hill, offering stunning views, beautiful gardens, and gorgeous interior detail. The original castle dates back to the 11th century, but the 13th-century gatehouse remains.
Today, we see the result of many years of work by generations of the Luttrell family, who have owned the site for more than 600 years.
Below the castle is the picture-postcard-perfect medieval village of Dunster, with tea rooms, cafes, pubs, and shops to explore. If you prefer a traditional English seaside town, Minehead on the edge of Exmoor has a sandy beach and all the usual trappings you’d expect.
If you have time to or from the castle or decide to spend more than one day, walk in the Quantock Hills, the first Area of Natural Beauty (AONB) established in 1957. Kilve Beach is also worth a stop for fossil hunting and cliff walks.
Contributed by Sarah from Live Dream Discover.
Day Trip to Frome
Frome is another Somerset town with nice streets similar to the Cotswolds. The town is not big, and it is always good to plan the trip together with Bath, which is only half an hour away.
But it is also a relatively easy 40-minute drive from Bristol to enjoy one day in Frome without worrying or planning extra accommodation.
Frome is filled with tiny nice cafes and restaurants, but everything closes by 5 pm, so planning your visit in the first half of the day is always good.
Frome is extremely relaxing and gorgeous to walk around. However, the best thing to do in Frome is to visit the famous Frome market. Be careful; the Frome market is open only on the first Sunday of every month from 10 am to 3 pm. So, plan well.
Alternatively, visiting Frome while on your famous Longleat Safari Park tour is fantastic. It is England’s #1 Safari Park and the first drive-through safari park outside Africa, built-in 1966.
There is much to tell about this park; check out more on their official website. Seeing lions, tigers, cheetahs, and wild rhinos walking in the wild is amazing.
Apart from safari, there are lots to do at the main square, including walking into the maze, adventure castles and monkey temples, and visiting gorillas, giant crocodiles, and jungle creatures. This activity should be planned for a day, and maybe for two. It was one of the best day trips from north London to us.
Contributed by Ana from Parenthood4ever
Day Trip to Wells From Bristol
Only a short min drive away from Bristol (or a 45 min bus ride from Bristol Temple Meads), Wells’s quaint village is a great day trip from Bristol for those who want to escape the city and see some stunning architecture.
One of Wells’s main landmarks is the impressive Wells Cathedrale (49m high), also known as Saint-Andre Cathedral; the exterior and inside of the Cathedral are equally mesmerizing. The visit to the cathedral is free; however, it is recommended that £5 be donated to help with the maintenance, which I think is pretty cheap to visit such a beautiful building.
Opening hours: 10 AM-4 PM Monday – Saturday; 12 PM-4 PM Sunday
Close to the Cathedral, you can visit the Bishop’s Palace, where you can enjoy a peaceful garden with water fountains and a lovely coffee shop to enjoy your surroundings.
Another famous spot to check in Wells – probably one of the most captured in photos – is the Vicars’ Close, which will make you travel back to the mid-14th Century.
Also, if you visit on a Wednesday or Saturday morning, you can check out Wells Market, which offers many unique foods and goods.
Day Trip To Weston-Super-Mare
Weston-Super-Mare is the perfect day trip from Bristol if you’re looking for a chill day near the sea; even in the middle of Autumn, I visited with my brother, and we had a lovely day out.
Walk along the Grand Pier on Weston-Super-Mare beach and enjoy some indoor theme park fun for everyone. You can also find excellent fish and chips at the Waterfront Fish Bar.
For a great sunset experience at the end of the beach, you find Marine Lake Beach and its path between the lake and the sand, which is the perfect spot to take photos.
That’s a wrap on the best day trips from Bristol if you ever fancy going out of the city and want to know the best places to visit around Bristol!
Have you ever been to one of those great destinations near Bristol? Or do you have a recommendation of your own? If you do, let me know in the comment 🙂
Also, follow me on Instagram to check out my travel adventures around Europe and more lifestyle content @cpt_lyne!
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Best Day Trip From Bristol, UK
✈ Best Travel Ressources To Plan Your Next Trip
✈ How To Find Flights?
– Skyscanner; it is a good comparator for finding the cheapest flights.
– Google Flights is also a good help when comparing flights.
✈ Where To Book Accommodations?
– Booking.com: plenty of options and ways to get discounts the more you book.
✈ Best Sites To Book Activities
– GetYourGuide when I can’t get a ticket directly on the website or if it’s easier to go through them.
– Klook if you need to book more than just activities and would like to get everything from the same website or different day trips—(i.e. transport cards, car rental, hotel…).
✈ Other helpful travel resources
– Radical Storage: If you need a place to keep your luggage for an extended period when you travel, I recommend using them.
– TheTrainline: If you love to travel by train like me, then TheTrainline needs to be your go-to website for train travel in Europe.
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Disclaimer: This resources box contains affiliate links, which means I earn a small commission if you book anything through my links at no additional cost. These links help me support the blog and generate more content. Happy travels!
Amazing how many day trips you can do from there. Castle Combe looks totally beautiful
Great post Lyne!
I already love Bristol, but you are right, there are sooo many good options for day trips nearby. I especially love the brecon beacons and cheddar gorge. This makes me miss how easy it can be to explore in England. 🙂
I haven’t explored as much as this area of England as I would have liked to, so I’ve added most of these places to my list!
Thank you for accepting my contribution. I am lucky enough to live in Bristol and have enjoyed most of the suggested day trips.
You photography is stunning! Loving the sunset shots!
Your article makes me wish I could return to England now, especially to see more of the Cotswolds!
Wow!! Bristol looks amazing!! I love everything about it now ♥️
Looks like some fabulous ideas! I’m dying to visit the Cotswolds and Castle Combe is so cute!
I keep meaning to go to Bristol for a weekend, but haven’t made it yet. Now I’m thinking it might make a great base for exploring nearby too! I didn’t realise how close it was to other areas, such as the Brecon Beacons (another place I keep meaning to explore but haven’t yet). Did you go to the museum in Weston-Super-Mare? It’s tiny, but I was shocked at how awesome it is!
Hi Lyne, I’ve come over from Anne at the Platinum Line blog who recommended this post for my #ShoutoutSatuday on my blog! I really enjoyed the variety of trips featured here and as I am a regular traveller to this area there were many I nodded along in agreement.
Many years ago my family and I lived in Cheddar for a year, moving from Australia for a year long Teacher Exchange experience and my husband taught in Bath. We swapped houses, cars, friends, lives with an English family who came out to live in our small rural town of Tumbarumba in NSW – such a great experience for us all!
The funny thing is my eldest daughter now lives in Cheddar with her family and we visit as often as we can, but not at the moment due to the pandemic sadly! We know most of the trips you mention and I loved reliving some of the memories. Thanks 🙂
Would totally love to explore here!
Such great day trips. I have been to Bath and Stonehenge but none of the others. I really need to check out the Cotswolds, those villages at so lovely looking. I would love to just spend a weekend there in a nice cottage
These towns look so incredibly charming! I regret not spending more time in the English countryside. On my only trip to England we spent a few days in London and took a day trip out to Bath and Stonehenge. Both were lovely but I feel like I missed out after seeing some of these places.
There are soooo many fun options near Bristol!
I always love Bath for decent high tea (and a bit of shopping…) I’d quite like to go back to Castle Combe – it is looks like it belongs on a postcard!
But I really really love hiking in the area around Cheddar gorge and the Brecon beacons.
I still need to cross some of these places off of my bucket list! Great list.
Some of my favourite places! Frome is gorgeous and I just love the model village at Bourton on the Water. Despite living in Bristol, I have yet to make it to Dunster so thanks for the tip!
Great list! Amazing post.
Unfortunately I haven’t had the chance to explore the south of England much, apart from Bath. These are all great day trip ideas from Bristol and I’m adding a few to my list for the next time I’m down there!
Love all these places. We live in Bristol so have visited most of these over the years, although have yet to make it to Dunster castle, which will now be popped on the list. I think Cheddar Gorge might be my favourite with is great walks and fabulous views.
So many great ideas! I think Bristol is a really fun city, and I love the places around Bristol too. I love Bath and the Cotswolds, but I’ve never been to Cheddar Gorge. I’ll definitely have to check it out, thanks for the recommendation!
Bath has always been on top of my bucket list! But Gloucester cathedral looks breathtaking. Never heard of it before. Thank you for sharing!
Love all 14 of these day trips from Bristol! They are all so charming!