Group Activities to do in Bristol

Bristol is well known for its friendly locals, free spirit and creative heart. In fact Gloucester Road and Stokes Croft boast more independent shops than any street in the country, so if you have a taste for something unique, you’re in the right place.

And the same can be said for the city’s entertainment scene. A homespun mix of social activities for people of all ages awaits at every turn. We’ve put together a list of some of the best to spark some inspiration for your group activities this summer.

Try Your Luck at the Casino

Obviously this one is for adults only but so long as you gamble responsibly, keep fun as your priority and stick to your limits, the glitz and glamour of the casino floor is the perfect backdrop for a fun night out with friends. You could even get some practice in at a UK poker site such as 888poker ahead of time and impress all your friends with your card shark skills.

Bristol city centre has two casinos to choose from, the Grosvenor and the Rainbow, both situated near the canal in Canon's Marsh and each of them feature a comprehensive array of traditional casino games. Roulette tables, Blackjack and Slots are all well represented plus you can purchase party packages including food, drinks, gambling chips and, for the uninitiated, a guide on how to play a game of your choice.

Unleash Your Inner Simian at the Bouldering Gym

Bouldering, a discipline under the rock climbing banner, has been gaining in popularity over the last few years, heightened by its inclusion in the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics. If the idea of scaling mountains sounds a little perilous, fear not, since bouldering involves no ropes and generally takes you only 10 feet from the ground over thick padded crash mats.

It’s a great workout and heaps of fun with an added adrenaline rush and is well suited to groups of all ages and children over 7, you can book through this UK gym site. There are a number of gyms around the city but Flashpoint, Bristol is a new centre with great facilities and is just a short walk from Temple Meads station. Entrance is £11 during off-peak hours and £13 during peak times.

Catch a Show at the Smoke & Mirrors Comedy & Magic Theatre Pub

We’re pretty sure you’d struggle to find a comedy and magic theatre pub anywhere else on the planet so you can be sure this will be a unique experience if nothing else. Thankfully, it’s not just a gimmick and this 1920s themed venue provides breathtaking shows of burlesque, close-up magic, comedy and a selection of the best up and coming musicians from the local area.

Smoke & Mirrors appears to be a normal pub from the outside according to the UK pub site but hides an intimate 46 seater venue inside and puts on shows six nights of the week. With such a limited capacity, it’s advised to book your tickets early.

M Shed Museum

If you want to learn a little (or a lot) about the rich history of the city the M Shed Museum hosts a range of colourful exhibits within its 1950s dockside transit shed. Entry is free but donations are always welcome to contribute to the maintenance and preservation of the displays.

Escape the Hustle and Bustle with a Walk in Nature

Bristol’s known for its walkability, its own local hero Banksy still has 11 art locations across the centre that you can discover on foot. But an enviable riverside location with endless natural beauty just a stone's throw away, this UK tourist site offers dozens of walking opportunities for lovers of the great outdoors. A stroll across the impressive Clifton suspension bridge – based on a design by Brunel himself – and you’ll find yourself in the National Trust forest of Leigh Woods.

There are breathtaking views of the gorge and plenty of fun to be had by amblers, young ones and mountain bikers. A range of trails and Stokeleigh Camp, an iron age hill fort, to explore will have you working up an appetite for a picnic, or dinner at one of the city’s renowned eateries.

Experience Bristol from a Different Perspective on a Ferry Boat

See the city as millions have before you, from the water of Bristol Harbour. The distinctive yellow and blue fleet have been proudly serving the city since the 1970s and showcasing its rich maritime heritage.

Tours leave daily every 45 minutes from 10am with single tickets available or stay on board fares for those that want to sit back and enjoy the full round trip. A recent addition to their repertoire, Bristol Ferry now puts on gin cruises on ‘Thirsty Thursdays’ where patrons can sip gin while enjoying the sights and sounds of the waterfront.

The weekend shuttle to Beese’s, a riverside tea room and gardens serving traditional cream teas, takes you along the Avon to Conham River Park where you can nibble scones and lashings of jam and clotted cream as the sun goes down.

Whether you're a local or a visitor, hopefully you’ve found something on this list that has given you some ideas to get your friends and family together and set a date in the diary.