50 things to do in Bristol this summer supporting local indie businesses

As summer approaches, the city of Bristol is buzzing with excitement and anticipation! With warmer weather and longer days, there’s no shortage of things to see, do, and explore in Bristol and the surrounding areas.

Bristol is packed with small independent businesses from chic wine bars to forest-like plant shops and outdoor food markets to cosy craft shops, Bristol offers something for everyone in its own unique Bristolian flavour.

Whether you’re a local looking for new adventures or a visitor seeking to experience the best of Bristol, we’ve got you covered with 50 things to do in Bristol this summer. With fun activities perfect for the adventurous, foodie, crafty, or curious- this packed-out list has something for any interest- and all with Bristol’s small business community!

So grab your sunglasses and sunscreen, and get ready for a summer of fun and discovery in Bristol!

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1. Guided Intro to Mountain Biking at Ashton Court
Learn how to mountain bike safely with an experienced instructor around the beautiful Ashton Court.

2. ​​Wild Wookey Adventure Caving
Go caving in the largest and most spectacular cave complex in the UK at Wookey Hole and explore spaces where visitors don’t normally go.

3. Sheep Herding Experience
Learn sheepherding and round up your flock to tackle a number of fun obstacles for your fluffy friends.

4. Paddleboarding Harbourside Adventure
Take to the historic Bristol harbourside by paddleboard and see the city from a completely different perspective.

5. Food & Drink Tour: Hotspots & Hidden Treasures
Discover Bristol’s hidden foodie gems with an experienced food tour guide and educator- perfect for visitors and residents alike.

6. Build Your Own Closed Terrarium with Fancy Plants
Create your own leafy self-sustaining ecosystem with the perfect balance of plants on Gloucester Road.

7. Forest of Dean Evening Wildlife Safari
Uncover the shy and secretive creatures of the Forest of Dean with your wildlife detective host- might you see a pine marten or otter?

8. Bristol from the Bridge: Geology Walking Tour
Learn about Bristol’s rocky history (both geological and human) through its folk stories, architecture and industry.

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9. Whisky Lover’s Masterclass
Fall in love with the amber nectar again and again with this guided tasting session through different whiskies and their history and heritage.

10. Learn to Forage in Chew Valley
Discover the food right under your feet in this guided foraging masterclass in the gorgeous Chew Valley.

11. Heavenly 2.5 hours Chocolate-making Workshop
Make your own mouthwatering selection of chocolates with chocolatier The Chocolate Tart.

12. Crafty Pottery: Hand Building & Wheel Throwing
Get stuck into pottery in Fishponds with this beginner’s pottery workshop that introduces you to the different forms of ceramics making.

13. Bee a Beekeeper
Get ready for the hive inspection! This workshop teaches you how to be a beekeeper and get an insider’s glimpse into the world of bees.

14. Pour Decisions: Wallet-friendly Wine Tastings
Wine tasting doesn’t have to break the bank. Enjoy wallet-friendly wine tasting at KASK in Bedminster.

15. Yoga to Live Music at The Mount Without
Yoga to a live acoustic accompaniment including harps and other heavenly instruments in Bristol’s most beautiful venue.

16. Greek Mezze Cooking Workshop
Learn how to cook mouthwatering Greek mezze in this hands-on cooking workshop.

17. LGBTQIA+ Introduction to Aerial Circus
A body-positive and inclusive aerial arts class that covers aerial hoop and aerial loop for absolute beginners.

’18. Kaleidoscope’ Dyeing: Japanese Itajime Shibori
Try your hand at this ancient Japanese textile art similar to tie-dye and create beautiful and ornate fabric.

19. Dining in the Dark: Blindfolded Dinner Experience
Take your tastebuds on an adventure with a blindfolded dining experience in Clifton.

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20. Wine O’Clock Walking Wine Tour
Love wine? You’ll love this even more. Discover your new favourite wine and wine bar in this fun and educational wine tour.

21. Chew Valley Gin Tasting Experience
A gin-tasting experience led by Chew Valley’s best gin distillery. Learn about how it’s made and taste gin as you go.

22. Beginner’s Unicycle Masterclass
Challenge your strength and balance whilst having loads of laughs in this guided beginner’s unicycle workshop.

23. Haunted & Hidden Bristol Walk & Haunted Pub Stop
A tour of Bristol’s spooky and untoward past through twisted tales, finishing at a haunted pub for a refreshing pint.

24. Clifton Suspension Bridge 1-Hour Hard Hat Tour
Tour the inside of the iconic Clifton Suspension Bridge in the hidden caverns only discovered 20 years ago.

25. Weekend Art Classes at Royal Photographic Society
Enjoy some playful artistic explorations with the Royal Photographic Society with a whole range of different mediums and techniques.

26. Delicious Desserts Tour
An interactive guided walking tour of Bristol’s best sweet treats with history, art and culture weaved between the tastings.

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27. Get to Know Graffiti with Graft
Get hands-on with the street art that Bristol is famous for in this creative graffiti workshop.

28. Farahway’s Crafternoon Tea
An afternoon tea with a crafty twist! Enjoy a selection of homemade treats and select a craft to get stuck into at this crafty indy cafe in Bedminster.

29. Grub Club: Supper Club Easton, Bristol
A warm and informal dining experience where guests can enjoy a four-course meal together whilst meeting new people in a communal family atmosphere.

30. Forage and Feast at Combe Hay Vineyard
Gather wild food in a private woodland before enjoying a lunch prepared over fire from seasonal, foraged, and sustainable produce.

31. Be a Barista with Odd Kin Coffee Roasters
Discover the secrets of the perfect cup of coffee from Odd Kin Coffee Roasters from brewing times, coffee grind, and barista-style milk.

32. Screenprint Your Own Bee’s Wax Wraps
Sustainable just got a little more stylish with this screenprinting workshop at an artist’s studio on Bristol Harbourside.

33. St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Tour
Bristol’s only subterranean walking tour that takes you through 1000 years of Bristol’s history in the heart of Old Town.

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34. Wine & Cheese on the Terrace
Enjoy a selection of handpicked cheeses from The Bristol Cheesemonger and people-watch over a glass of wine in Wapping Wharf.

35. 3k Relaxed Evening River Swim
A guided river swim with professional wild swimming instructors to get dipped into nature.

36. Beginners Stained Glass 6-Week Course
A beginner’s course in stained glass making! Design and learn the essentials of how to make your own unique stained glass pieces.

37. Craft Beer Tasting & Brewery Tour
Learn how German-style lagers and Belgian beers are made at this behind-the-scenes tour of a local independent brewery.

38. Bristol Cider Tasting Tour
A tour of the West Country’s most famous export with Bristol’s resident cider expert Cider Dan of The Cider Box.

39. Make Your Own Living Wreath
Make a living wreath out of a selection of succulents at the green-leafed sanctuary Sprouts of Bristol.

40. French Macaron Making Masterclass
Learn the skills to make this famous French patisserie classic in this awesome sweet-toothed masterclass.

41. Traditional African Dance – Beginners Class
Embrace the healing and energising effects of traditional African dance with Rubba who transformed his life through traditional African dance.

42. Gin Lover’s Masterclass
Taste the gin that was first created in a Bristol basement! This gin-tasting adventure is at the top of St Michael’s Hill in a quirky little microdistillery.

43. Bee Safari at Yeo Valley Organic Garden
Learn about the lives of garden bees and the plants and environments you can create at home to make them happy, all in Yeo Valley’s gorgeous organic garden.

44. History of Rum Tasting at Nadu
Take a tasting tour though the history and heritage of rum right in the epicentre of Bristol’s creative quarter, Stokes Croft.

45. Make Your Own Upcycled Fire Pit or Barbecue
Transform scrap metal into a functional fire pit or BBQ with a variety of hand and power tools in this fun workshop.

46. Cooked Breakfast and Morning Bike Hire
Enjoy a leisurely cycle through the Strawberry Line to Cheddar Gorge and a cooked English breakfast with Strawberry Line Cycle Project.

47. Belly Dancing Masterclass
Learn the basics of belly dancing in this fun and casual dance class that will teach you the favourite steps of belly dancing.

48. Explore Bristol’s Quirkiest Corners Tour
Discover the quirky corners and secretive spaces of Bristol with someone truly in the know, Bristol24/7’s editor Martin Booth.

49. PADI Discover Scuba Diving
Dip your toes into the world of scuba diving and learn scuba diving basics with Hidden Depths Scuba School.

50. Make Your Own Silver Pendant
A silversmithing workshop which will teach you the basics of jewellery making so you can create your own unique silver pendant.

To find these and hundreds more activities and things to do with Bristol’s indie community visit yuup.co