From vintage cycling to cider sampling in Bristol this autumn
As autumn looms, Visit Bristol has released its top ten best ways to enjoy a break with a taste of culture in the West Country capital this season. From starting early with a bike ride around the city and sampling cider at Bristol's Apple Day Festival, to staying late to watch a show at the newly refurbished Old Vic Theatre, weekends away in Bristol come packed with entertainment:
Start early: See the city on two wheels
Join a tour guide for a cycle ride around Bristol's top sights, including Queen Square, Brunel's ss Great Britain and some of Banksy's famous street art. At just three and a half miles and lasting one and a half hours, this tour is an ideal introduction to cycling in Bristol on easy terrain away from busy roads. Bicycles are provided for the tour including some genuine vintage bicycles, some of them dating as far back as the 1940s (gocycletour.com).
Stay late: Catch some comedy or live music at Colston Hall
Keep warm during cold autumnal nights with a dose of live entertainment at Colston Hall, Bristol's largest concert hall. On Saturday 13 October stand-up comedian Mark Watson will be laced with a barrage of new jokes, stories, observations and anecdotes in his new show. Colston Hall is also hosting Jools Holland and his Rhythm and Blues Orchestra later in the season. The undisputed King of boogie-woogie will grace the stage on Friday 9 November (colstonhall.org).
Start early: Breakfast the local way at St Nicholas Market
Bristol is packed with proud purveyors of many locally produced goods and is celebrated internationally for creating the world's first Slow Food Market, an established feature of the city's food scene which opens on the first Sunday of every month at St Nicholas Market. For a local taste of the city, start early with breakfast in the market at Source Café which opens at 9am. Locals insist that the Source Full English is one of the best in the city (stnicholasmarketbristol.co.uk).
Stay Late: Watch Wild Oats at the Bristol Old Vic
The home of theatre in the city since 1766, the Old Vic is at the forefront of the Bristol arts scene, staging world-class productions and performances. The theatre has recently re-opened following a £19million redevelopment programme to transform the Georgian auditorium and backstage areas into a 21st century home for theatre-makers and audiences. The Old Vic kicks its autumn season off with John O'Keefe's classic romp of a comedy, Wild Oats which is on stage until 20 October (bristololdvic.org.uk).
Start early: Take a dip at the Lido
Don't allow the end of summer to pull the plug on taking a morning dip at Bristol's much-loved Lido. The Victorian outdoor pool is open throughout the year and is heated to a perfect swimming temperature of 22-25 degrees. Confident that the sun will shine throughout the early autumnal months, the Lido is running an 'Indian Summer Swim and Lunch' from 1 September to 31 October, offering a complimentary glass of champagne over lunch should it rain for any guests during a swim session. Start early at 10am to enjoy access to the pool, sauna, steam room and hot tub before tucking into a two-course lunch from the Lido's a la carte menu (lidobristol.com).
Stay late: Sample cider in the city
Bristol is passionate about its production of cider and no visit to the city is complete without a taste of the West Country press. Head to The Apple, a converted Dutch barge in the heart of the Old City, or the Coronation Tap which is Clifton's only ciderhouse located next to Brunel's impressive Suspension Bridge. In the city centre, Bristol Cider Shop stocks over 80 varieties of draught and bottled cider, all made within 50 miles of the city by small independent producers and sourced direct from traditional cider farms. The shop is running an Apple Day Festival on Saturday 20 October running throughout the day and into the night with apple-themed games and plenty of cider sampling on Christmas Steps (bristolcidershop.co.uk).
Start early: Admire art across the city
From 21 October to 30 December, the Royal West of England Arts Academy (RWA) will host its 160th Autumn Exhibition showcasing the cream of painting, drawing, printmaking, photography, sculpture and architecture selected and curated by an expert panel from thousands of submitted works. Every piece of artwork is for sale from just £25 making it a popular show in the academy's annual calendar, so start early for the best pickings. RWA opens from 9:30am Monday to Saturday and 11am every Sunday (rwa.org.uk). For an alternative take on art, soak up Bristol's urban art scene with a visit to the See No Evil project on Nelson Street. The most ambitious permanent street art project ever to take place in the UK, See No Evil welcomed international artists to Bristol during August 2011 and 2012 to transform multi-storey buildings into sky-high works of art (seenoevilbristol.co.uk).
Stay late: Discover opera at the Tobacco Factory Theatre
The Tobacco Factory Theatre is hosting Tchaikovsky's Eugene Onegin from 16 to 27 October. This lyrical masterpiece is presented by Opera Project and explores life, death, love, convention and passion as it tells of the fated love between the innocent Tatyana and the world-weary cynic Eugene Onegin. The theatre is popular for its acoustics and intimacy with only 240 seats in the auditorium. Arrive early for pre-theatre dining or drinks at the Tobacco Factory Café Bar which serves Mediterranean-inspired food (tobaccofactorytheatre.com).
Start early: Explore Bristol's historic Harbourside
The city's vibrant Harbourside is an ideal spot for an early morning stroll after breakfast when swans and ducks dominate the water before the boats set sail. At 10am, Bristol's history museum M Shed opens for the day and is home to the fascinating story of Bristol past and present. Plan a visit to coincide with M Shed's 30-minute Harbourside tripon-board the Mayflower boat on Saturday 13 or Sunday 14 October, between 12pm and 5pm. The Mayflower is the world's oldest steam tug. The historic vessel celebrated her 150th birthday last year.
Stay late: Head to the home of Harvey's Bristol Cream
Discover the drink synonymous with Bristol at the former home of the world-famous Harveys Bristol Cream. The bar at Harveys Cellars serves fine sherries, including the VORS range, with tapas dishes created to compliment the drink. The foyer gallery showcases work from local artists and the cellars are also home to a mini museum displaying Harveys memorabilia. Not to be missed is the illuminated Bristol Blue Glass bottle wall display, and throughout October live music and dance nights keep the cellars open until 1:30am on Fridays and Saturdays.
Visit Bristol has a variety of accommodation options for weekends away in the city, with two nights' bed and breakfast starting from £96. For a full list of activities and more information about visiting Bristol, including accommodation and pre-theatre dining options, log on to visitbristol.co.uk.
