Bristol is one of the most beautiful cities in…the world? It’s vibrant, energetic and waiting to be made the most of! Whether you chose an epic view and public space to soak up a sunset, play a sport, or travel into the Bristol surrounds- here are some of the outdoor activities to soak up some fresh air, weather and high spirit!
Top outdoor activity ideas in Bristol
We have curated a list of the top outdoor activity ideas for free, at a low budget and if you’re willing to spend a bit more. We’ve compiled all our ideas into the table below but read on for the full details and to really get our vision.
| Free | Cheap | Spend a penny |
| Clevedon swim and BBQ | Frisbee or football golf | Outdoor climbing day (~£100 or less for group) |
| Park run (followed by brunch at Avon gorge or DIY coffee and croissants overlooking the suspension bridge) | Leap of faith (£35 per head) | The wave surfing day (~£50 per head) |
| Troopers hill BBQ and drinks | SUP, kayak or sail on the harbour (£20-60 per head) | Yurt glamping night (from around £50 per head) |
| Day trip to beach for surf or beach games/ picnic | Boat trip and afternoon at Beezes | Bike hire and group cycle trips (about £50- depends!) |
Free outdoor activities in Bristol
The best free ideas for outdoor activities in Bristol are: (1) swim in Clevedon, (2) Park run and Brunch in Clifton (3) A surf or games beach trip, (4) A sunset takeaway with mega views.
Clevedon swim and BBQ- Clevedon is a beach town about 25-20 min drive from Bristol (accessible by bus) with a huge marine lake pool. It’s free and there is space around the sides where people can bring chairs BBQs and have an almost beach day! It’s concrete and the water (outside of summer) is cold but anyone who chooses to come and sit rather than swim can enjoy the afternoon sunset and snacks or BBQ you bring- and there’s fish and chips, ice cream a playground for kids and a pub right there!
Park Run and Brunch– Park run is a worldwide Saturday morning specular- completely free and volunteer led. They organise 5k runs or walks at 9am- the vibe is so high I cannot recommend enough! It’s a super inclusive event- buggies, families and dogs join in and there is fantastic spirit. Suggestion: do the run and follow it by brunch in Clifton- or a brunch picnic overlooking the suspension bridge.
Troopers Hill– troopers hill is a gorgeous huge park in St George with mega views over the city. Get a take away as a picnic and bring drinks, games and maybe a (respectfully loud) speaker. Fantastic spot to watch the sunset over the city- and a great view if there are any balloon flights that day. You could do similar in Stoke Park or on The Mound.
Beach, surf, games and BBQ– It’s worth travelling a little further for a stunning beach but if you can arrange transport- Rhossili bay, Porthcawl and Croyde are all about a 2 hour drive from Bristol. You could rent surfboards if you are keen. For those who don’t bring a rounders set and play beach games followed by a BBQ and sunset.
Other ideas include a group cycle trip to Bath along the cycle path, a walk around Blaise Castle Estate with a trip of the castle to the viewing deck and (for a small cost) a trip to Windmillhill City Farm (with a fry-up at their cafe) or to St Werbergs City Farm (followed by a trip to ‘the Farm’ a great pub over the road)
Top cheap outdoor activities in Bristol
The best cheap outdoor activities in Bristol are a river trip and drinks a Beeses, football and frisbee golf in Ashton court and Watersports in the harbour. We’ve made some suggestions and given you links to check out below.
Frisbee golf or frisbee football– Ashton court have courses to play- a fantastic fun activity- plenty of change to have a laugh at yourself- and super cheap- £7 per adult. Combine with some cans and a picnic after in the park- or head to a pub in Clifton- maybe the Avon Hotel with insane views over the suspension bridge. (Link here)
Leap of faith– This is a high adrenaline option and one of many outdoor activities in an adventure centre in Bristol. Check out the offer and book here. The place offer a whole range of activities including bubble football, climbing, axe throwing and outdoor escape challenges- its about £35 per head for one activity, or £55 for two. Pair this with a BYOB curry or cheap and cheerful pizza after.
Water sports in the harbour- Definitely one of those days you won’t forget! Pick from Stand up Paddle, Kayaking, Canoeing or Sailing. Cost for group bookings is as little as £20 per head to £60+ for the bigger activities so have a shop around. You’ll be on the water in central Bristol- and there’s no shortage of harbourside venues for a dinner or drink after!
Beeses and boat trip- Beeses is a fantastic bar by the riverside in Bristol- accessible only by a little boat from the other side of river- its a really fun, exciting place to go. There are boat trip there from central Bristol. Nearby, you can also wild sim in that part of the river- or paddleboard. Go for the afternoon from drinks and a paddle. High vibe and special day.
Awesome day activities in or near Bristol
For a slightly bigger day trip (and maybe even an overnight) check out these ideas below.
Outdoor Climbing day trip- This could be a really special idea-definitely a more unique day and heaps of fun. There are a number of companies offering climbing day trips. Head on out offer many packages including day trips. They also have female-only options. There are many companies that do similar things. Hard to give a generic price but it might be around the £100 mark- discuss options with them.
The Wave Surfing day- An outdoor artificial wave pool- super cool and a great activity for the day. Costs about £40-£65 per head, and you can get lessons if you’ve never surfed also for £50 per head. If you’re a super fan or travelling from far, they also have overnight stays and surf camps.
Yurt glamping– Depending on numbers and set ups there are lots of options either to stay at glamping facilities nearby (many in Wye Valley or Brecon Beacons). To find these places you can have a google- 2 nice options near Bristol are Hill Farm Tintern and The Firs Campsite but there are many. Canopy under the stars is a great travel agent for affordable luxury glamp night options.
Cycle or mountain bike trip– Hire bikes for the group and go on a cycle day. Visit Bristol have a great page for hire options and route planning. There are great scenic round trip around Bristol, and loads of fantastic mountain bike trails in Leigh woods.
That’s our round-up! Happy out-dooring.