Bristol defrosted: How to spend the perfect sunny day in Bristol

As the days get longer and the temperature gets warmer, Bristol gets a new lease of life. The sun coming out is the perfect excuse to bin off your lectures, and if you want to know the best ways to do that, keep reading.

To start, take this opportunity to snooze that alarm for your 9am and sleep in a little bit, waking up to golden sunlight coming through your “blackout blinds” that don’t work in the slightest. Feel the mould in your room disappearing as you open your window and breathe in the sweet air of summertime – if you ignore the smell of the bins that haven’t been collected for two weeks.

Once you drag yourself out of bed, head out for brunch at places like Rubicon Too in Cotham, Primrose Café in Clifton, or venture out to Mud Dock Café in Harbourside and try out their gorgeous stack of pancakes. Make sure to grab a table outside to bask in the sun, top up your tan with a stunning UV index of four, and watch pretty much everyone you know strut past in their best jorts and Adidas Sambas.

Most Read

Dave dated another MAFS Australia 2025 bride before the show and you’ll never guess who

Lily Phillips shares full rundown of how her grim ‘backdoor’ challenge actually went down

UCL and King’s College to merge and become ‘super university’ due to increasing costs

After you’ve gorged yourself on an overpriced toastie and iced latte, wander over to the Downs with a picnic blanket, and watch the million football games being played by boys who refuse to wear a shirt as soon as the temperature hits double digits – seriously, its like they don’t feel the cold at all. Laze around in the sunshine and prep for Love Saves with some Bristol summer classics like Baiana by Nia Archives – you don’t even need to bring your own speaker, as it’s guaranteed that this song will be played at least a hundred times whenever the sun comes out.

Speaking of cold, if you fancy a refreshing dip,  and experience the invigorating thrill (and warming post-swim pint) of wild water swimming. If this is too extreme for you, but you still fancy getting some laps in, treat yourself and head over to the Bristol Lido and enjoy their heated outdoor pool for a leisurely dip in the sunshine. For those of you who want to make the most of the weather without getting wet, and who are lucky enough to know someone with a car, head down to the motorway to the beach – although not the most tropical, places like Portishead still make for a great spot to soak up those rays or watch the sun set.

Taking a slow, amble down to Harbourside to stroll along watching the sun glinting across the water is another gorgeous way to spend your day. With plenty of coffee shops, pubs and restaurants, Harbourside becomes a bustling waterside spot that’s perfect for everyone. Make sure to head right to the end and sit on the dock overlooking the water, listening to the bubbling chatter spilling out from the nearby pubs, watching the boats drift lazily downstream. Grab dinner from one of the many riverside restaurants littered around, like Clubhaus Harbourside or The Harbour House, pay a visit to the closest chippy, or perhaps bring something from home for a cheaper al fresco option, and take in the sights of Bristol at its best.

Unlike the majority of people, if you’re too busy being an academic weapon to fully enjoy the sunshine, there are still several places on campus where you can admire the weather whilst still slaving away at whatever assignments you have due. Instead of locking yourself in the ASS for the whole day, try out places like Senate House, Fry Building or the Biomedical Sciences building, all of which offer gorgeous views of Bristol, whilst also giving you a little bit of peace and quiet.

Once the sun starts to dip down low, head over to Clifton and stroll up to the Observatory for endless views across the Suspension Bridge. Watch the sunset, get a cheeky ice cream from the kiosk or Observatory Cafe and take a moment to reflect on how much better life is when the sun comes out, giving you a proper excuse to miss uni. If you’re feeling energetic enough, head to King Street and sit outside with a pack of cards and a pint for a lively end to the evening, or if you fancy something quieter, head to the rooftop seating area of Barrelhouse in Clifton and make use of their £6 cocktails all night long.

No matter what you do, just remember that Bristol only gets sun around 67 days per year, so make the most of it before it’s gone.