The Best Things to Do in Bristol This Autumn

Updated August 2026

I know I'm biased as a proud Bristolian, but there's something extra special about Bristol in autumn. The busy streets get a little quieter, local pubs start bringing entertainment inside, the city lights up with different firework displays and the autumn markets get a new buzz about them as people start planning for Christmas. 

Having lived in Bristol my whole life, Autumn is one of my favourite times of year to explore the city. After a busy summer jam-packed with events and adventures, and months of pointing lost tourists in the right direction every time you head into the city centre, autumn feels like a selfish opportunity for locals to take a breath and unwind for a while. Autumn offers the perfect opportunity to appreciate the peace and quiet between the two busy seasons, and enjoy orange-tinged views up the tree-lined streets - a sight that not many tourists stay to enjoy.

Autumn isn't typical tourist season in Bristol, but in my opinion it's one of the best times to visit - here are a few of my absolute highlights. 

How Norway Made me Fall in Love with Winter

Hey Owlets,

For so many people, the nights drawing in and the temperature dropping is met with a feeling of dread. From as early as the end of August, I hear people talking about how they're not looking forward to the darker nights and shorter days. Honestly, I get it - the world just feels more alive in summer. There are festivals, weddings and social events every weekend, not to mention just feeling the sun on your skin is good for our mental health.

I think for a lot of people, the colder days and darker nights bring a feeling of loneliness, isolation, and maybe even a touch of cabin fever. I try to make the most of everyday, but I'd be lying if I said I hadn't felt the same.

Until I went to Northern Norway in winter.

Hamburg, Germany: The Inland City Obsessed with the Sea

Hey Owlets,

Every so often you happen to visit a city at exactly the right moment - the streets seem to be a hive of activity, everyone is in a good mood and the lights seem to sparkle a bit brighter. Every two years, that exact magic arrives in Hamburg, and I was lucky enough to spend a weekend soaking it all in. Hamburg is a city so obsessed with cruise ships that they host a festival every two years to celebrate. 

The city’s harbour bursts into life with the riverside full of stalls during the day, teaming with cruise lines offering special discounts for booking during the festival; Germans come from across the country to book their cruise at the show, and cruises that take part in the festivities on the river sell out years in advance. At night the harbour is bathed in blue light from the iconic art installation on the cranes, music plays, and people gather at the riverside to watch cruise ships illuminated by fireworks as they parade down the river Elbe.

Hamburg Cruise Days is a truly surreal experience and something that any cruise enthusiast has to experience at least once, but you'd be missing half of the magic if you didn't spend a few days exploring Hamburg while you're here. 

Hamburg is a city like no other. Set between two rivers, the Elbe and the Alster, the city hugs the banks of the rivers and places maritime culture at the heart of everything it does. Fresh seafood can be found in almost every restaurant, you'll be spoilt for choice when looking for a viewing platform, and there are more unique vessels offering boat trips than you could possibly experience in one weekend.

If you love travel, photography, or simply want to enjoy the buzz of a city that has yet to become a household name for tourism, Hamburg deserves a top spot on your 2025 travel bucket list.

Four Unmissable Free Events in Bristol this Summer

The days are long, the sun is shining and Bristol is awake and ready to party!! 

I genuinely don’t think any UK city celebrates summer quite as well as Bristol does. It’s not just that there’s always something going on, it’s the fact that so many of the summer events in Bristol are completely free to attend! Whether you’re travelling alone or with family, you’ll always find something to do in Bristol without breaking the bank. There are so many smaller events to stumble upon throughout the summer months, but here are the four biggest events throughout summer in Bristol that you can’t afford to miss!

Can You use Your Phone on a Cruise Ship?

Can You Use Your Phone at Sea?

Like Christmas Eve, everything is packed and ready to go, the house is walking a fine line between show-home and organised chaos, and you're ready for an early night before the big day. But while you're getting ready to board your cruise ship, you might be wondering how to keep in touch with friends and family throughout your trip. It's common knowledge that cruise ship wifi packages are tantamount to daylight robbery - so can you just use your phone on board instead? The short answer is yes. You will be able to get a mobile phone signal while at sea but, before you breathe a sigh of relief, keep reading for the full story. If you don't, you could be liable for a phone bill worth several hundred pounds! 

GigSky Review - Are eSIMs Worth It for Cruise Holidays?

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A few weeks ago I wrote an article answering the question “can you use your phone at sea?”. In case you haven’t read it, the TLDR is that you can use your phone at sea as long as you have money to burn. Using your phone as normal at sea is a surefire way to give your future self a very nasty surprise.

For years I have told people to ensure they turn their phone to airplane mode as soon as they leave port. However, since sharing that article a few weeks ago I have actually found a way to use your phone at sea without bankrupting yourself, so of course I had to share the information with you!

Moxy Hotels Southampton Review - The Perfect Pre-Cruise Stay?

Moxy Southampton - The Ideal Pre Cruise Stay?

Southampton isn’t just a student city - it’s the busiest cruise ship port in the UK, and one of the busiest in Europe. With this in mind, you won’t be surprised to learn that you’ll be spoilt for choice when trying to find a hotel in Southampton. Whether you’re looking for a pre-cruise say or a weekend getaway, Southampton is the perfect base for your adventures. In my never-ending pursuit to find the best hotel in Southampton for your money, I stayed at Moxy in Southampton city centre for a night to put it to the test.

After first experiencing Moxy during a mini-break, the quirky hotel chain has been a go-to for me. Full of personality without being style-over-substance, Moxy always manages to cover the basics and sprinkle some fun and luxurious touches on top. Each Moxy hotel is decorated to reflect the local area - in Chester the communal spaces features thoughtful touches that gave a nod to the city’s horse racing heritage, so you can imagine the nautical theme running through the chain’s Southampton offering.

5 European Adventure Holidays to try this Summer

Hey Owlets,

For almost a decade I've been exploring Europe to experience the wide variety of cultures across the continent. With diverse landscapes and rich histories, it doesn't matter which country (or countries!) you choose to visit, you'll have plenty of opportunities to experience something new. Whether you're seeking the sun, snow, or an adventure, there are so many incredible options for your European holiday in 2025. So if you're seeking inspiration for your 2025 travels, here are some of my personal recommendations for every kind of holiday in Europe this year. 

How to Beat the Travel Blues as a Foodie

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How to Recreate the Magic of your Holiday Through Your Food

As a foodie, nothing brings on the post-travel blues like coming home from an incredible adventure, knowing that you’re unlikely to be able to find your new favourite dish from your new favourite restaurant that is potentially thousands of miles away once you’re back at home.

Even though I have a lot of allergies, I like to think I’ve mastered travelling with dietary restrictions which means I finally get to participate in foodie culture. It also means that I feel personally victimised by enjoying the most incredible meal on the wrong side of the world. To be totally transparent I’ve never managed to perfectly recreate my favourite meals (you just can’t beat how good things taste when you’re stress-free, thousands of miles away from your problems with a nice view!). Having said that, I’ve managed to get pretty close so I wanted to share some of my best tips on how to cure the post-travel blues as a foodie.

What to Expect on a Winter Cruise

Is Cruising in Winter a Good Idea?

As cruising from the UK continues to skyrocket in popularity, an increasing number of cruise lines are choosing to keep some of their fleet sailing from the UK throughout the year. Considering that, until the last few years, almost every cruise line would do a summer season out of the UK before sending their ships to warmer climbs in October, you'd be sensible to ask if it's worth booking a winter cruise. Personally, winter is one of my favourite times to cruise so I'm here to set your expectations before you book!

3 Events to Help You Enjoy Winter in Bristol and Bath

Don't Miss these Unique Winter Events in Bristol and Bath

Happy New Year friends!

2025 has arrived in what feels like the blink of an eye. If your New Year's Resolution is to have more of a work life balance, there's so much to look forward to in Bristol and Bath this year. It might feel tempting to hunker down and wait for spring, but some of the best events in and around the two cities happen in the winter. So if you're looking to get outside a bit more this year, consider this your starting point to plan your social calendar!

Review: Mary Poppins at Bristol Hippodrome

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Mary Poppins has landed at Bristol Hippodrome! Last night we were invited to watch the Mary Poppins musical, and what we watched was not at all what I expected....

The musical adaptation is a variation of the beloved film, with new musical numbers, a slightly different plot line, some new characters and places to get to know, but with all of the same charm and feel good factor of the original story - and Mary Poppins is practically perfect as usual.

3 Cosy Adventures to Take in the UK this Autumn

Hey Owlets,

The leaves have begun to turn, the sun now sets before 8pm and the rain has returned (not that it ever really left - what happened to summer this year?!). With summer being mostly a non-starter, I’m uncharacteristically excited for the darker months this year. I’m already wondering where to hang fairy lights, thinking about purchasing my favourite home fragrance in candle form and dreaming of pumpkin picking and bundling up to go for a wander on a chilly day. On that note, I wanted to share a few places that are my absolute favourite spots to spend a cosy autumn day.

The Most Unique Places to Experience Summer in Bath, UK

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Bath is a city brimming with heritage  - it's a highlight of UK city breaks, and a must see European destination to visit if you're visiting from outside the UK or Europe this summer. From the beautiful sandstone buildings to the Roman remains and everything in between, the city is the ideal place for any history or architecture buff to spend a weekend. Bath has a secret though - it can transform in the blink of an eye to perfectly embody each changing season. Famous for its city-wide Christmas Market Bath can sometimes be forgotten in the summer in favour of the UK’s seaside towns, but the city is full of hidden gems just waiting to be explored when the sun shines. Here are a few places that you need to take another look at during the warmer months to experience the best that Bath has to offer in summer.

How To Pack For Your First Cruise

Hey Owlets,

Cruising is an entirely new way to travel - there are so many differences between cruise holidays and land holiday. If you’re planning your first cruise it’s understandable that you might feel a little overwhelmed and not know where to start when it comes to packing for a cruise. When I went on my first cruise I didn’t have a clue - I was a fully paid up member of the “pack everything and hope for the best” brigade. Now I’ve been cruising for a few years I wanted to share a few some of my tips on how to choose what to pack for your first cruise, what to leave at home and suggest a few things that you may not have thought to bring! 

Rotterdam in One Day - The Best Itinerary for 24 Hours in Rotterdam, Netherlands

How to Spend the Perfect Day in Rotterdam

It's no secret that Rotterdam is one of my favourite cities in Europe. As a port day on a cruise ship, you're presented with a wealth of opportunities to explore either Rotterdam or further afield. One of the most popular choices for a port day usually involves a day trip to Amsterdam, but I've known someone be left behind on more than one occasion because of traffic or trains, so I prefer to spend the day exploring Rotterdam instead. Rotterdam is a city packed full of arts and culture - it's got a huge foodie scene, a wealth of different museums and galleries, and more independent shops than you could possibly hope to visit in a single day. If you're not sure where to start, try this itinerary for a day spent in Rotterdam - perfect for a port day on a cruise ship or a mini break where you've flown into the city. 

Royal Caribbean's Anthem of the Seas - A Very Honest Review

Hey Owlets,

It feels so odd to be writing about Royal Caribbean again, but here we are. If you’re a long time reader of The Owlet you’ll remember me saying that you shouldn’t go back to the same ship twice, after my magical first cruise on Independence of the Seas was overshadowed by a trip that was equally memorable for all the wrong reasons. I’ve spent a few years exploring other cruise lines, but post-pandemic my parents are no longer able to sail with any Carnival lines due to the stricter health requirements, so we looked into giving Royal Caribbean another chance and found a deal for a week on board Anthem of the Seas that we just couldn’t say no to! I’ll be honest with you, I was very apprehensive about it after my previous RCCL experience but I was drawn in my remembering the magic of my first trip, and you know what? I’m really glad I gave it another go. 

Meet the Sleepy Wiltshire Village that Instagram Destroyed

Castle Combe was a sleepy village in Wiltshire, until a few Instagrammers showed up

Hey Owlets,

After decades of marketing agencies vying for the attention of tourists across the globe, cheap flights and now the power of social media, the days of countries frantically advertising their homeland as a holiday destination are now over for many. In their place sit tourist taxes, “destination management” offices (the new-fangled term for marketing agencies that encourage tourists OUT of their city) and often unfriendly locals. While we’ve been hearing about over-tourism and the dangers around it for years, it feels even more prominent in the post-covid travel boom.

How to Spend a Weekend in Bristol, UK on a Budget

Bristol Habourside

Hey Owlets,

Just like everything else, travelling is getting more expensive. The same budget that used to stretch to a week long trip, a few long weekends or a last minute cruise is now stretched during just one trip - especially if you’re exploring a big city like Bristol. I love my hometown but it has a reputation for being pricey, and while that’s not miles away from the truth a trip to Bristol doesn’t have to cost the Earth. There are plenty of ways that you can visit Bristol on a budget and still make the most out of your trip to the city.

How to Travel With Dietary Issues

Hey Owlets,

I feel like as British people what to eat on holiday is somewhat a point of contention. As a nation we have a bit of a bad reputation for knowing what we like and sticking with it; there’s obviously a reason why there’s so many McDonalds’ restaurants in tourist hotspots around the world. However, if you’re one of those people that struggles with food allergies then eating anything abroad can feel incredibly daunting, even if you stick to the typical bland foods. As a travel obsessive I’ve always been one of those people that likes to visit new places and try to local cuisine. 

Two years ago I discovered that the reason I’ve always been ill growing up was due to a gluten intolerance, and a big part of my holiday suddenly because a minefield; when I was on a cruise it was just easier to eat on the ship in the morning then skip lunch or just bring my own snacks, which meant I missed out on one of the best ways to experience local culture. Since finding out I can’t eat gluten I’ve started to get more confident in trying to experience local cuisines, so I wanted to share my experiences in the most visited countries, as well as share some tips that could help you on your next holiday. Obviously my experiences are all going to be from someone who doesn’t eat gluten, but I’ll try to mention what I’ve noticed of other allergens too.