21 reasons to fly from Cork to Bristol for a weekend getaway
Bristol is just a hop, skip and a jump across the water.
But it’s a fairly unexplored area of England considering how close in proximity and culture it is to us here in Cork.
The relatively small size of the city, the intimate layout of the streets and the bohemian culture make it a fantastic destination for any weekend-stay enthusiasts with plenty of street art, food, history, weird art installations and architecture to explore.
With Aer Lingus flying direct from Cork to Bristol almost daily (and fares from only €39.99) a trip on the regional service is both affordable and environmentally friendly- it omits 40 per cent less CO2 than jet-powered engines. As trips go, it would be rude not to.
So to save you the hassle of having to research all the cool spots, we’ve put together a weekend itinerary for your holiday to Bristol, the art and activism capital of England.
1. Start at the Aspire Lounge in Cork Airport
Before you even take off, everyone knows that a holiday from Cork airport starts at Cork airport. If you want to add an extra layer of luxury to your breezy experience, we highly recommend checking into the ASPIRE Lounge at Gate 8. You can grab yourself some drinks, hit the all-you-can-eat buffet and put your feet up (metaphorically speaking) in their comfy couches. For remote workers, you could even head here early and work from the airport in peace before your plane leaves.
2. Stay at The Bristol Hotel
Whatever which way you land from the airport, be it taxi or airport bus (which stops right outside the door from the airport), The Bristol Hotel is undoubtedly the best-situated hotel in the south-west metropolis and serves as the ideal base for your jaunts around the city.
Overlooking a lively waterfront with views of the jutting cathedral and cityscape, you can drop your bags and relax into the evening with dinner in The River Grille or a drink in The River Lounge.
The cosy rooms start from £110 here.
3. Head for Dinner at the River Grille
With a luxury pavilion-esque feel, there are plenty of mouthwatering options on the a la carte menu to choose from while you take in the evening. The River Grille, headed by Executive Chef Pawel Mikolajczewski (who has been with the Doyle Collection hotel for over 10 years) offers plenty of fresh fish options including Brixham Scallops, Tiger prawns al Ajillo, roast stone bass fillet as well as euphoria-inducing steaks. Stay for dessert and one of their classic cocktails before heading out to a bar across the bridge. We recommend Coyote Ugly for the laugh.
4. M’Shed at the Harbourside
Once you’ve filled up on breakfast and found your bearings in the morning, you can ease yourself into the Bristol vibe by learning about its history and people at the M’Shed.
There is a significant protest culture in Bristol, which made headlines around the world back in 2020 when Black Lives Matter protesters graffitied, toppled, and rolled a statue of enslaver Edward Colston into the Avon River. After the slave trader was fished out of the murky depths later that month, the community decided to retain the statue and put him on display at the M’Shed. This is where you can now find Colston lying on his back, graffiti and all, surrounded by the sights and signs of the infamous protest. There are also presentations on disability activism, the slave trade, and various other historical examples of political unrest in the city.
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5. Lunch at Seven Lucky Gods
While down the harbourside, you could never be short of food options. Directly behind M’Shed you will find a street of container-restaurants which cater to every taste imaginable. If you fancy filling up before striking out on an apres-lunch adventure, grab a seriously delicious bento box at Seven Lucky Gods. The meat box is the superior choice- it comes with beans, kimchi, lots of rice, chicken and pork.
6. Banksy Walking Tour
The infamous artist is from Bristol and his street art attracts thousands who want to cast their eyes on the originals. You can spy his famous Well Hung Lover on Frogmore Street, and trek up the street to the Bristol Art Museum and Gallery to the artist’s Paint-Pot Angel, which is a relic of the infamous ‘Banksy versus Bristol’ exhibition from 2009. You can map your Banksy walking tour with this handy guide.
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7. Take a Bristol Street Art Tour
As you might have gathered, there is lots of art and lots of artists in Bristol. It’s kind of its thing. And every year, artists descend on the city from across the globe to partake in the annual Upfest festival, which sees selected creators map out and execute their chosen designs on one of the city’s walls. Start off at the top of North Street and make your way up towards West Street, stopping off at the Upfest shop by “the six sisters” to admire installations by female artists Bex Glover, Zoe Power, Gemma Compton and Sophie Long.
8. Thrift in Bristol’s Charity Shops
Bristol has a rake of excellent charity shops which make for a perfect afternoon of thrifting for high-quality vintage bits and preloved treasures. Head to North Street to take in the new murals from this year’s Upfest and stop off at the many charity shops along the way for an ultimate shopping-street art crossover.
9. Eat a Coffee Cup at the most sustainable shop in England
Okay so we’re not sure if it’s actually the most sustainable shop in England, but you CAN eat the coffee cups. Passionate environmentalists will know very well how many disposable cups we thrown away each year, and will really enjoy seeing the future of sustainable living at Zero Green on North Street. The coffee cups are made of natural grains and taste like a wafer. What a novelty!
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10. Wine tasting in Kask
After a quick refresh back at your hotel, hop into a cab or take a long stroll to Kask to become an expert sommelier. Owners Natalie and Charlie Taylor will celebrate five years in business this October and it’s not hard to see why. With a cosy and bright interior, relaxed atmosphere and an organic wine list sourced from some of the most unique and independent vineyards in Europe, they continue to open doors to inspire people to try new wines and to develop a taste for the good stuff.
You can pop in and get a wine lesson from Charlie for £25 per person, which includes three wines and three cheeses per person, or five wines and four cheese for £35. You will learn a lot and laugh a lot. This one is a must.
11. Try the Tasting Menu at The Granary
If you’re feeling like you need a bit of food in your belly, map a course to The Granary on Welsh Back Street- just around the corner from The Bristol Hotel- and treat yourself to the tasting menu. You’ll be blown away by the variety and sizes of dishes for just £20 per person or £45 for two. We highly recommend the Lamb Kofta, Bath blue cheese with bitter leaves, pear, walnut, sourdough flatbread and the chicken wings with blue cheese dip. The layout is plush with an open kitchen and floor plan. The service is spectacular as well.
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12. Suspension Bridge
If you’re into magnificent feats of human ingenuity, then a trip to the Bristol Suspension Bridge is a must. Built in 1864, the 159-year-old wrought iron historical monument was once a toll bridge and a symbol of the huge trading history of the city, of which slavery was a huge part. The huge structure offers sweeping views of the valley and old industrial hub.
13. Iced Hot Chocolate at the Clifton Observatory
Once you finish marvelling at the feats of modern architecture, take a short hike up to the Clifton Observatory to take in even more views of Bristol, the Avon Gorge, and the Clifton Suspension Bridge over an iced hot chooclate from the observatory coffee shop. Once there you can descend the 100 or so steps into the depths of the Giants Cave, or hike to the top of the tower to visit William West’s camera obscura- one of the last working camera obscuras in the UK built in 1828. The clarity will blow your mind.
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14. Eat a pitta at Eat a Pitta
By now you’ll be feeling the hunger pangs and will want some serious refuelling before the next stop-off. For the veggies and Middle Eastern food lovers, you can grab a quick but massive bite from Eat a Pitta on the corner of Princess Victoria Street. You can choose between a classic, aubergine and falafel, feta, red pepper and falafel or the halloumi.
15. Shopping in Clifton Town
When you’re finished exploring the history of trade, you can stroll into the idyllic Clifton town for a spot of shopping. Independent, bougie boutiques dot the town’s picture-perfect main street where you can buy one-of-a-kind pieces or pick up a souvenir for the fam.
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16. Music in Thekla
If you are partial to a few tunes and fancy checking out some of the coolest indie bands on the block, then head to Thekla; a world-famous and award-winning live music venue and club space on board a converted German cargo ship which has been docked in Bristol Harbour since 1984.
You can catch club nights, comedy, poetry reading and even art exhibitions depending on what time of the year you head to the ship. For upcoming lineups and parties, check out their website here.
17. Mind Mending Art at Wake the Tiger
If you’ve always wanted to be Alice in Wonderland, Wake the Tiger might just be your one shot. The intricate and winding labyrinth of rooms and interactive experiences are made from repurposed sets from the iconic Boomtown Festival, which takes place every August in Winchester, Hampshire and features immersive sets and stages. The “amazement” park promises to transport you into another world, and it certainly accomplishes that feat.
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18. Visit the SS Great Britain
Bristol, according to locals, is a city of three Bs: Boats, Bansky, and Brunel. The final B refers to Isambard Kingdom Brunel who built the impressive SS Great Britain that sits in Spike Island, which presents a frozen timeframe of British colonial history. All three decks on board the ship are restored as if transporting a 19th-century voyage of settlers to the “new world” aka Canada and Australia, where Britain had just discovered precious resources and laid the foundation of a new colonial project.
Whilst you’re there, you can take a trip to the Brunel Museum- dedicated to the life, works and genius of the engineer who built the SS Great Britain as well as the Suspension Bridge mentioned earlier.
19. Check out the Cathedral
The city has a generous scattering of old cathedrals and churches to explore on a rainy day. The Bristol Cathedral, open seven days, is a central hub of activity for the local and visiting community, hosting music shows, exhibitions and cultural events throughout the year. Built in 1140, the cathedral’s history is also tied up in the slave trade. Powerful collaborators who were central to its running are buried within its tombs. Carefully curated exhibitions detailing the cathedral’s history attempt to educate visitors on the realities of this dark period in human history.
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20. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
You could spend an entire day in the Bristol Museum and Art Gallery. Curious minds will love the giant skeletons, old British birds and mammals, historic maps and prints, and best of all: dinosaurs!
Once you finish marvelling at these old fossils, head to the gallery section where you can explore Eastern art, Japanese porcelain, French, glass and more.
21. Bristol Zoo Project
A conservation project located 25 minutes from Bristol, if you have kiddos with you a trip to the zoo is well worth the looks of wonder that will flash across their faces. The Bristol Zoo Project has cheetah, lynx, giraffe, eland, red pandas, wolves, wolverines, and even pygmy goats and bears. You can grab the family saver ticket for just £64.54 and under 2s go free. The zoo is open daily from 10am-5pm with the last entry at 4pm.
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Check out the latest flights from Cork to Bristol with Aer Lingus here.
