[Closed] What could we do in Bristol this weekend?

As regards what to do, there's been several threads on here recently with lists of eating and drinking places. There are loads of music venues, the Fleece, Thekla, Stop The Bus, Louisiana...
As for parking the van and kipping in it, not something I've ever done, so I can't safely suggest somewhere, but there might be somewhere between Bath and Bristol, which is a bit more rural, where you could park up. I'm out the other side of Bath, in North Wiltshire, so not too far away, and I'm trying to think of somewhere quiet you could park overnight, and pootle down into Brissle in the morning.
Here's the most recent thread: http://singletrackmag.com/forum/topic/that-bristol-eating-and-drinking

Last question...if we arrived there at about midnight tonight, where could we sleep in the van without being murderized?

From which direction are you coming?

You could pop round to my step Mothers house in Clifton & sort her router out!

OK I'll do it at Easter when I'm down that way 😉

there might be somewhere between Bath and Bristol, which is a bit more rural

Toghill 😯

Parking up in a nice residential area can work well if it's a stealth van. Westbury on trym area maybe.

Just found these on MagBaz Travels:
[b]The list is selected on the co-ordinates of the road map of the AA 2003 Maxi Scale Britain (1:160.000)[/b]
28D4 North Somerset - Portishead. This town overlooks the Severn Estuary and is 15 miles drive from Bristol, 3 miles from the M5 motorway. From junction 19 of the M5 take the A369 to Portishead. As you enter the town go past the Co-op supermarket on your left, past the start of the High Street on your left and take the next left opposite the Waitrose Esso petrol Station. Take the second right signposted to the Seafront and Lake Grounds. You can park for free day and night anywhere along the promenade. There is a café, public toilets, and an open-air swimming pool, but the whole area is really a picnic site without noisy amusements. You cannot swim in the estuary due to very dangerous tides and soft mud, but the view across the sea to Wales from your camper is excellent.

29F4 Bristol - There is a location on the Downs area of Bristol (top of Parrys Lane just off the Downs) where you can park. This is in an area known as Saville Rd and normally during the day it's used as an unofficial truck stop, complete with a mobile burger bar.

For parking, go to the Downs. There's a long straight road suitable for parking in, called Ladies Mile. It's only 200 yards from the zoo, on foot.
It would be fine to leave your van there all day, too.
But there is loads to do here, the zoo, SS Great Britain, museums, art galleries, theatre, architecture, just wandering around.

Right in the centre, close to SS Great Britain, the Cumberland Road might be worth considering for parking, but it won't be quiet. I don't know about parking restrictions there - but there IS a van / caravan park just off it, entrance near Underfall Yard.

Toghill

Portishead lake grounds is a good shout, nice place to wake up. A bit exposed to the south westerly but weather looks settled for tonight.

I suggested in the other thread doing the walk right around the Floating Harbour, starting along by the Watershed and Millennium Square, out to the big lock gates looking down the Avon Gorge, then back into the city past the SS Great Britain, the Matthew, and M Shed. There's lots to see, including boatbuilders and boatyards, various pubs, places to eat.
A great way to spend an afternoon, and you can catch a waterbus if you need to.
Here's a bunch of photos I took on my last wander round there last year...
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There's also the Museum and Art Gallery up at the top of Park Street to have a look around, and the Arnolfini down by the docks.

Good stuff chaps.

We've abandoned the idea of driving down tonight. Going to get up at normal work time (6am) and set off then. Coming from Newcastle so quite a drive.

Open to suggestions for campsites! Also might pop in to the Forest of Dean on the way back and have a couple of hours on the Bfe which I haven't ridden yet.

EDIT: Ladies Mile looks like a top shout if it's free parking. Loads of cars there on google maps, not fussed about overnight parking but if we can leave it there and walk into town it looks spot on.

There's always the April Bristol Bike Jumble at MudDock tomorrow (Sat. 5/4) from 12.00 noon - I can't link to the thread on here but if you search "jumble" you'll find it easily 8)

We're now staying in in a B&B on a farm 2 miles out of town. Hope it's okay!

Looking forward to it. Never heard a bad word about Bristol so dying to check it out.

You could ride round Ashton Court and Leigh woods. http://www.1sw.org.uk/experience/trail-hubs/ashton-court-leigh-woods/

Bike shop wise BW cycles, good parking, and there a pump track near by as well.

Park the van on the downs, will be fine up there, and close to the city

Safe journey down, and enjoy the city. Believe me, it's a much nicer, more varied place than it was twenty-thirty years or so ago, especially around by the docks.

Bugger, if I had seen this sooner you could have camped in the yard next to our house. Nice and quiet and a short drive into town and I could have chucked you a hose pipe and extension lead over the fence.

As for things to do pop to Mud Dock cafe down on the waterfront in town tomorrow for noon for the bike jumble.

I always recommend it but No.1 Harbourside is worth a visit later if you fancy some really good beer. They may have music on too. Also worth checking out the Grain Barge (big boat on the floating harbour on Hotwells Road) - they often have gigs on in the "basement" - usually someone worth checking out.

Btw, if you're both on the beer and need to get back out of town by taxi tonight, it can be an absolute mare finding one on a Saturday night. Whereabouts in town-ish are you staying?

Pop on down to Roll for the Soul for a coffee and a look around, also the uk bike polo championships are taking place this weekend as well, so that'll be good for a bit of bikey spectatoring

Pop over the bridge to Newport velodrome, it is the first welsh cycle show.

We just landed at bridgnorth farm. Long drive, gonna freshen up and head out.

EDIT: Bridgwater Farm! Just fired up the wi-fi to get some directions. Didn't realise how far out we are. We certainly won't be walking back after a few jars.

if you're both on the beer and need to get back out of town by taxi tonight, it can be an absolute mare finding one on a Saturday night.

Don't worry we're not out for a session! Just a few pints a bit of people watching.

You're miles out!
I wouldn't stay in Chester-le-Street if I wanted to see Newcastle.