There’s score upon score of fantastic sights and attractions across the great city of Bristol, but maybe you don’t have time for score upon score? Understandable – plenty of visitors only have a day to look around, so we’ve put together this quick list covering Bristol’s 5 unmissable sights. If time is a factor, these are the ones to put on your list.

  1. SS Great Britain

The longest passenger ship ever built when she was launched in the mid-1800s, the SS Great Britain is a fascinating museum ship and one of Bristol’s top attractions. You can tour below decks, explore the captain’s quarters, and even head aloft by climbing the rigging.

  1. Clifton Suspension Bridge

Clifton Suspension Bridge is world-famous, and not without reason. Designed by the great Victorian engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was finished in 1864 and yet still copes with an estimated 11-12,000 modern vehicles crossing each day. It also offers a spectacular view over the Avon Gorge.

  1. Bristol Zoo

A favourite among visitors young and old, Bristol Zoo is one of the best in the country. It’s aim is to defend biodiversity through breeding endangered species, and you’ll find rare animals such as Asiatic lions, pygmy hippos, red pandas, and gorillas among their menagerie.

  1. Bristol City Museum and Gallery

There are plenty of museums and galleries in Bristol, but none offer a more varied selection than the Bristol City Museum and Gallery. Whether you want to view animatronics and installations, fascinating geological finds, or pieces by Banksy, you’ll find it all within this English Heritage listed Edwardian Baroque building.

  1. Bristol Cathedral

Bristol’s stunning cathedral stands where a church has stood for over a thousand years and the building remains one of the most stunning pieces of medieval architecture in the world.  It’s free to visit and open 365 days a year. You’ll often be able to catch choir services, and interesting guided tours are available on Sundays.