12. Get cultural in Stokes Croft
Soak up the true grit of Bristol in Stokes Croft, the city’s creative core. The area is characterised by its unique residents, independent spirit and, of course, its graffiti by world-famous street artists Banksy (“The Mild Mild West”), Inkie and Alex Lucas (@lucas_antics).
At night, the area is a vibe – experience some live music at The Croft or Attic Bar, watch an indie film at the Cube Microplex Cinema or spend an evening wining and dining at Bianchis, Caper & Cure or Sri Lankan restaurant Nadu. There’s also the Artist Residence hotel, where anyone can pop in for a drink or to eat, and not forgetting its epic cafes like The Crafty Egg, The Bristolian, and The Canteen for its beloved Sunday roasts – you won’t be stuck for things to eat here.
Address: Stokes Croft, Bristol BS1 3RR
13. Shop along a very long road of independents
Gloucester Road is known for vehemently rejecting high street chains and so has created a nearly 2-mile stretch of proudly independent shops, forming the backbone of the city. Here you’ll find butchers, bakers, cheesemongers, florists, coffee shops, pubs and shops. One of the latter, Fox + Feather, is hard to miss thanks to the bubblegum pink exterior, and inside is just as eye-catching, selling cool women’s brands from Seventy + Mochi’s denim jackets to TBco’s soft knitted accessories.
The Ottowin shop handmakes its gorgeously chunky and wearable shoes right there in the shop, and even sells its own sandal-making kit too. Gloucester Road Bookshop is a tactile antithesis to buying books online, and UStudio is the stop for design-led, thoughtful (and useful) gifts across stationery, bouji chocolate, hot sauces and board games. If homewares are more your bag, pick up a reinvented take on a classic design with the Bristol blue rose tea cup at Stokes Croft China. Or go for one of their tongue-in-cheek anti-establishment pieces that make great gifts, especially as profits support community-based activism.
Address: Gloucester Road, Bristol BS7 8AA
Great Job Emma Henderson, Elly Deakin & the Team @ Condé Nast Traveler UK Source link for sharing this story.
