New places to visit in Bristol in 2023

Bristol is one of the UK’s most exciting and creative cities. Known for its thriving art and music scenes, it boasts an independent spirit and relaxed vibe that regularly see it voted as one of the best places to live in England.

Not only is it a great place to live, it’s also a popular tourist destination and offers visitors a host of things to see and do. But while SS Great Britain, Clifton Suspension Bridge and Banksy are all popular attractions, there are lots of other things to see and do in Bristol in 2023. Read on to see our guide to the best new places to visit in Bristol:

Bristol Beacon

Previously known as Colston Hall, Bristol Beacon has undergone a total refurb and redevelopment that will see it reopen its doors in the autumn. The £48.8m transformation of Bristol’s largest concert hall will turn the venue into a modern, accessible, state-of-the-art facility with two international standard performance venues, education and performance spaces, plus a new restaurant.

The Beacon aims to be one of the best and most accessible performance and music education venues in Europe. With the hope it will inspire music lovers and artists to come together to make, learn about and feel the joy in live music.

BOXHALL Located on the harbourside and currently under construction, BOXHALL is an exciting new arrival to Bristol's food scene that’s scheduled to open in Summer 2023. A premium food, beer and music hall concept, BOXHALL intends to showcase the best independent Bristol street food traders and restaurants.

A complementary events programme showcasing the best of Bristol’s music scene as well as a mix of other cultural events are also planned.

Rainbow Casino

The new Rainbow Casino is situated in Bristol Harbourside and is the perfect for a night out. Drink cocktails at the bar and enjoy one of regularly hosted themed events such as live local music.

The restaurant menu is impressive with freshly prepared meals to suit all tastes, including a choice of traditional favourites. If the big game is on, then the bar has four large TV screens showing football, rugby, boxing, racing and more, so you won’t miss any of the sporting action.

The casino itself is the largest in Bristol and features all the classic casino games, including roulette, blackjack, £20,000 progressive jackpot slots, a dedicated poker room and more. If you prefer to play online slots, then you can always visit Rainbow Riches Casino and choose from a huge selection of all the latest and best slot games.

We the Curious

Located on Bristol’s harbourside, We the Curious is an educational charity and South West England’s leading science centre. After a damaging roof fire in 2022 the museum was forced to close due to water damage.

With repairs still under way, it’s hoped that the home to the UK’s only 3D planetarium will reopen to the public in 2023. Brimming with exhibits to inspire your curiosity and, We the Curious is the place to ask questions and get creative.

The venue resembles an indoor festival at times, with a unique atmosphere that promotes fun and excitement as visitors are encouraged to and interact and engage the many exhibits and events. In the words of We The Curious, their goal is to “Produce experiences that bring people together to play, get creative with science and explore different ideas.”

Unicornfest

Part of the 650th anniversary celebrations for Bristol, this magical trail around selected Bristol landmarks is designed to be an adventure the whole family can enjoy. Unicornfest will encourage visitors to follow the trail and find the custom painted Unicorns that will be spread across Bristol and the South West- from the Clifton Suspension Bridge to Weston-Super-Mare pier.

Each unicorn will be painted by local artists and is designed bring colour and fun to the area, creating lots of fun for families of all ages. Coming this summer.

New Exhibitions

The Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition is on at M Shed, until May 29th. One of Bristol’s best-loved exhibitions, it is guaranteed to inspire and delight both animal and photography enthusiasts.

The competition is developed and produced by the Natural History Museum and this exhibition contains over 100 incredible photographs chosen by an expert panel of judges. Now in its 59th year, this photography event receives entries from photographers in over 90 countries around the world.

Celebrate Bristol’s Birthday

This year marks the 650th anniversary of Bristol becoming a city and county. There will be lots of festivals and events throughout the course of 2023, aimed at celebrating Bristol’s birthday.

Details are still to be confirmed for some events but be sure to check out tourist information for news about Bristol650, and make sure you don’t miss out on all the planned events and celebrations.

Getting to Bristol

Bristol is easily accessible from across the UK by train and car. There are regular buses to trains running from Bristol Temple Meads and Bristol Parkway Railway Stations. The city is served by Bristol International Airport, with easy connections to the city centre on the Airport Flyer bus service.

Getting around

Bristol is the UK’s first cycling city, making it is easy to explore by bike or on foot. Alternatively, you can always hop on of the many busses. For a different mode of transport, why not jump onboard to get a unique perspective of some of the city’s famous landmarks.