Top 5 Best Date Ideas in Bristol

Written for Bristol Bites by Robert Oldman

Renowned for its soft accented locals and beautiful West Country landscapes, Bristol is a bustling city with so many attractions for visitors. Known as the ‘birthplace of America,’ because explorer John Cabot sailed from here to help ‘discover’ the New World in the 1490s, Bristol is still an exciting blend of historic, cultural and social topics. If you’ve met someone on a local dating site and are itching to explore the vicinity with your new partner, you have so many worthwhile locations at your disposal. Here are five of the best for a date.

Hot air balloon ride over the city

One thing this wonderful western city is famed for is the fact it is home to the International Balloon Fiesta. At certain times of the year, an incredible array of these colorful objects take off for spectacular jaunts over the city. There are several companies offering trips in these balloons, and once you climb up into the air and your initial nerves dissipate, your reward will be an unparalleled view of the countryside unfolding beneath you. As you spot the various landmarks far below you can start to plan where to go once you return to ground level. Add a hint of pheromone oil before you ascend to make the experience even more romantic…

A romantic stroll through Leigh Woods

There is nothing quite so romantic as strolling together through the leafy countryside. Leigh Woods is an ideal date location because the terrain is relatively flat, ensuring no one complains they are too out-of-breath to have fun on the date! As you walk along arm-in-arm, you can listen to an incredible variety of birds trilling from the surrounding foliage. You will eventually arrive at a viewpoint where you can check out the impressive structure of the Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Sample the delights of Italy

Bristol has so many sightseeing possibilities you can spend quite some time exploring its galleries, parks, museums and more. But once all this outdoor activity has stoked your appetite, what better way to satisfy this than to head off to one of the city’s many marvellous Italian restaurants? If you head over to the city centre you can book a table at Ciao Amici, Aquila, La Grotta or a number of others for a relaxed meal over which you can get to know each other better. See the Bristol Bites reviews page for more ideas.

Check out the amazing views from Cabot Tower

Provided you are up to the strenuous climb up a series of steps which can sometimes seem never-ending, a trip to the top of Cabot Tower is well worth the effort. While the effort required is not to everyone’s taste, if you and your date are up for the challenge, your reward from the summit will be incredible views across Bristol. Many romantic couples prefer to do this in the late afternoon just as the sun is dipping down over the Harbourside. There can be few sights to rival a sunset over Bristol. The other plus is the fact that going back down again is so much easier, and by the time you have reached terra firma, you will have created a considerable thirst, giving an excellent excuse to head off to the nearest Bristol bar. Try Hyde & Co nearby for great cocktails…

Entertaining science at the We The Curious Museum

Museums are always an excellent location for a date because they provide so much to see and learn about. The one drawback of these venues is the fact they are also popular with children, meaning there can be a considerable amount of noisy distraction when you are trying to enjoy your romantic time together. But We The Curious is a science museum which also puts on adults-only nights. You can explore the activities and enjoy the planetarium show, free of any boisterous backdrop. You can also drink beers – and if you fancy another tipple afterwards, there are plenty of great pubs and bars nearby.