Active dates can be a great idea to create a playful and relaxed atmosphere whether it’s a first date or there have been many before! Most of all, sporty and active dates can be a lot of fun- and that is what we love here at BristolAndLocal.com.
Bristol is great for active and outdoor activities- it’s a fun city, full of places to meet up and play games. And it is also beautifully located, near hills, sea sides, with big parks and a long river running through it! In this post we take you through our ideas for the best active and outdoor dates in Bristol!
Cycle to Pill for a Pub Lunch
From Bristol City Centre, you can follow the Pill path, along the Avon gorge, to the village of Pill. It’s a long walk but a nice cycle- the path is well maintained but not tarmacked- better suited to a mountain bike than a road bike (particularly if it’s wet and muddy). It might take about an hour.
We suggest a late morning start, a drink or lunch at the other end, either somewhere in Pill or a packed picnic and a later afternoon cycle back.
Better by bike have this circular route from Ashton to pill, in their route, they come back along the pill path (or you could take the same path there and back- it’s nicer than the road!
A Voi Tour of Bristol (with a cheeky picnic)
A fun date idea is a Voi tour of the city. Take Vois from the harbour- and travel around the City Centre and up white ladies road. You could take a picnic up to the top or go for a coffee or drink on white ladies or Coldharbour road after.
Voi’s are the Bristol electric scooters, on their site they have suggestions for great places to ride in Bristol. If you’ve never taken them before, check the website for some help with set-up.
Golf driving range or Jungle mini golf
Another quirky and sporty date suggestion is the golf driving range in Filton. For golf lovers this can be a great few hours spent together, doing something active and having lots of fun!
To less sporty golfers- the jungle minigolf in Cabot Circus is a good laugh! With a great bar, atmospheric jungle gold course and food, this can be a really fun night- and it’s in Cabot circus right in the centre of bristol and close to all busses! See their site here to get an idea of the vibe. Play for an adult with one drink included is around £14.
Clevedon Swim and Fish and Chips
Clevedon is a seaside town very close to Bristol and accessible by public transport or a 30-minute drive. Although it’s on the beach- you can’t easily swim in the sea because it is highly tidal. However- there is a fantastic marine lake – sea water, and naturally crisp, cold temperatures. It’s a great fun hangout for serious cold water swimmers and families or groups of any age alike.
In the summer groups gather for barbeques along the concrete steps. You could combine a crisp refreshing swim, with fish and chips afterwards- this is also a fantastic sunset spot- and in summer months the sun will set over the pool’s infinity ledge.
Ashton Court and cycle and drink
Ashton Court is an estate park across the suspension bridge from Clifton village. Around the park, there are some great, short-cycle routes. You could combine an afternoon cycle with a few drinks round the harbourside after.
Our suggestions are wild boar or the pump house- though we also have a post on the best harborside restaurants and best harbourside bars if you’re interested.
Salsa Fix Mondays at Southbank
The Southbank Community Center in Bedminster, very close to whapping wharf and the river, do salsa classes on Mondays. What’s great is you can book a 4-week course so you’ll both finish the course knowing a new skill- and classes are followed by a social dance afterwards.
This is a brilliant idea for a date, it’s fun, there’s great music- lots of people and it’s physical and it’s a good laugh.
There is also Wednesday Cuban Salsa at Malcolm x and Havanna salsa in Easton that we can recommend- or check online for many other options..
Play pool together
A very fun and simple idea for a date is a game or two of pool in one of bristol’s fantastic pubs or game halls. We suggest a game hall with a bookable table for a date so ensure a space, and then a drink after- looser buys.
You can book a table in lane 7, the lanes, all stars …or any other place with pool tables!
Cycle to Bath and Pub
If you’re into sporty dates, the Bristol to Bath cycle route is a lovely way to spend an afternoon. It’s 13 miles, mostly flat so might take between 1 and 2.5 hours to complete, depending on cycle speed.
The path goes through other suburbs of bristol, woodland, along historic rail tracks and along the river as it enters into Bath city. Just before the cycle into the city- there are stunning views over the sprawling hills of the southwest countryside.
Halfway there is a tavern with coffee and food and when you arrive in Bath there are fabulous eatery options and the chance to walk around the historic city, which is a favourite tourist spot for many day and weekend visitors.
Bath is always lively- there are street musicians and tourists and in the winter, Bath is host to a fabulous german style Christmas market.
You can either cycle back, or, you can book your bike onto a GWR train service for an affordable price.
Walk through Ashton Court and Lunch in Clifton
Ashton Court is a gorgeous estate park across the suspension bridge in Clifton- it’s a fantastic spot for an afternoon walk. Not only are there gorgeous views across the south of the city, but the park is huge, with deer, the estate house, and gardens, with a small café on the side. The park is a popular spot for walking, running, cycling, golf, frisbee golf and football golf. There are woods and expansive wild grass fields to explore.
Our suggestion is, to combine a stroll in this park with a walk across the famous Clifton Suspension bridge across the dramatic Avon gorge, and end up in the charming Clifton village for a spot of lunch or a drink or two.
Clevedon Sunset and Fish and Chips
Clevedon is a seaside town near Bristol- with a small beach area, a marine pool, a pub, and a field with a great playground and often hosts summer fairs and a little line of kiosks like fish and chips and ice cream shops.
The beach itself comes and goes depending on the tide, but you can take a great walk along the promenade and up the pier. In summer it’s a great sunset spot- as the sun goes down over the water.
This would be a lovely place to come for some romantic sea air and some fish and chips (and although the beach is not the most beautiful- the seafront has a certain English charm to it.
Visit Nuney Castle
Nuney castle is a medieval castle, now taken care of by English heritage and makes a lovely stop for a wander around. The castle stands tall, surrounded by a moat. It’s free to visit, and there is a free car park just a couple of minutes away.
It is about a 50-minute drive from Bristol- so we suggest a driving date with a quick visit to the castle and a pub dinner after somewhere en route back. You won’t need hours in the castle- so it’s a nice low-key visit.
Check the castle out on the English Heritage page here. It’s about a 50-minute drive from Bristol, and close to the famous market town of Frome.
A Roller Disco
BUMP roller disco in Redcliffe could be a really fun- quirky date idea. There is a DJ, there are bright lights, glitter and it’s a good laugh. What’s more, it’s in town so plenty of opportunities to go out for a drink after.
Check their page here for evening sessions and booking. They do 8-10 pm adult evenings where tickets cost up to £13.50 all included with skates, protection and entry. It costs less if you have your own kit to bring!
Harbourside circular walk and Pizza at Stables
There is a lovely harbourside loop- around 4,5 km, along well-maintained paths around the harbourside in central Bristol. This is a great walk for a summer’s day, but also a nice option for an evening walk- as the paths are well-lit- and the nighttime lighting reflecting off the river is stunning!
On the way, you’ll pass the marina, Bansky’s famous ‘girl with a pear earring’ street art, and the SS Great Britain. The walk might take about 45 minutes, and we suggest ending up in town for a drink or two or for dinner!
There are two great options for this- you can meet on the waterfront and go for dinner at the stables pizza and cider bar. Or you can end up in whapping wharf- on the south side of the river and grab a drink at the wild boar, or dinner and drinks at the olive shed tapas.
(In fact- if a harbourside walk sounds good- you might like this post on Bristol’s best harborside restaurants and bars for inspiration on where to end up)
Boat trip on the harbourside
Bristol Packet boat trip company offers a range of fantastic river excursions that could be a wonderful quirky date idea! Sometimes it’s great fun to be a tourist in your own city- and the history and culture of the bristol harbour are right and ready to be feasted on.
They offer City Dock tours of bristols maritime history, afternoon cream tea cruises, Avon gorge cruises, trips along the river to the popular Beeses Bar for a pint or a Sunday roast cruises and private hire options- so these days can be really fun!
See their website for packages and bookings– these operate during the summer months (when it’s much more pleasant anyway!)
Watch the Sunset at Troopers Hill
This is a low-key romantic sunset date idea. Troopers hill is an old mine, turned wildlife par in the St George area of Bristol with fabulous views across the city. It is west facing, so it’s a perfect spot to watch the sunset. In the summer months, you also have a good chance of spotting some hot air balloons from here. There is no café in the park so you’re best to take a tea or drinks flask or grab a takeaway from somewhere in St George on your way.
This is a sweet, evening picnic date idea. If you’re having a great time- there are pubs in St George to be enjoyed for a few drinks after!
If this sounds good- another post about Bristol’s best view spots for more inspiration.
Go Ice skating in Filton
Ice planet is a huge community Ice rink in Cribbs Causeway. This is a fab idea for a date- they offer coffee skate and public skating sessions during the day, but we love the evening sub-zero-disco sessions.
This is a fun, active date that will leave you refreshed and energetic! Tickets are around £10-15 per adult- depending on the session booked. Book here.
A picnic or takeaway at Blaize Castle Estate
Blaize Castle, in the north of Bristol, is an old folly on the top of a small hill surrounded by gorgeous woodlands, a small stream and lake, expansive fields and lots of mystical spots and legends. In other words, it’s a great park for a picnic or takeaway!
There are playground areas and also lots of paths and tracks and viewpoints to disappear into. We suggest a lovely few hours here, morning or afternoon to enjoy some quality time.
There is a very nice cafe with coffee cakes and some food a the entrance by the car park, and occasionally a coffee cart by the folly.
The views over the gorge are stunning! In fact, it’s featured on our post best views in bristol, which you might like to check out if this date idea appeals to you.
Play darts in a Cocktail bar
The flight club is a cocktail bar and cool darts hall on Corn Street in central bristol. This is a really fun, light-hearted date opportunity- a chance to get your competitive side on and an affordable, good time!
Visit a City Farm and ‘the farm’The Farm’ Pub
In St Werburghs is a city farm which is a fun quirky date idea. It’s free, take a stroll, watch some of the animals and then go to the nearby ‘Farm’ Pub, a well-known joint in the St Werburghs area.
The pub does good drinks and nice food. It’s a great place for good weather as the main space is outside in the front garden which is filled with picnic benches and umbrellas.
Play Ping pong in a Park
This is simple- but definitely good fun! You don’t always need elaborate date ideas- sometimes a free ping-pong table is all you need.
In Eastville Park, there are two tables, and if you catch them, Kind Regards Coffee van serves fantastic coffees and toasties! You can see their open days on Instagram here!
Otherwise, you can also play ping pong on free tables in Montpellier park (a lovely park), St Georges park (where there is also a cafe) and Dame Emily park (only 1 table).
If you like the idea- here is a cool UK site to see where tables are available.