How to spend a day exploring Bristol's best music venues
Take a tour of the West Country city’s finest music venues, from the new Beacon to one in a former church.
Bristol’s home-grown music scene has long been a big draw, with thriving indie venues providing a breeding ground for trip hop, techno, dubstep, jazz, folk, reggae and drum and bass. And with the unveiling of The Beacon in November 2023, the southwest’s biggest city welcomed four new performance spaces. The £132 million reimagining of Colston Hall – a live music landmark since 1867 – sees more than a name change. The five-year remodelling has expanded the main stage area and created additional performance and educational spaces. With such increased capacity, it’s set to host 800 events annually, including rock, classical, comedy and more, cementing Bristol as a UK music hub.
It's yet another reason to visit this leafy, maritime city. Europe’s largest dockside regeneration has taken shape here in recent decades, around Bristol’s harbour. Waterfront warehouse museums are overlooked by the Georgian mansions of Clifton Heights, while Avon Gorge is spectacularly strung with Clifton Suspension Bridge. Beyond that lies the Bristol Downs, which play host to events including Forwards music festival.
1. Wanted Records
Start the day at St Nicholas Market, Bristol’s oldest, held in a cathedral-like structure that’s been a place to trade, snack and shop in since 1743. In the heart of the Old City, surrounded by handsome Georgian buildings and indie boutiques, the market is a must for vinyl vultures. Wanted Records buys and sells jazz, reggae, psychedelic and progressive rock, hip-hop, folk and myriad sub-genres, including collectible items.
2. St George’s Bristol
Head to church — a former one that functions as a top venue for classical, jazz and folk music. An extension to the Greek Revival building in 2018 added a pavilion for art exhibitions and performances, plus a cafe-bar whose leafy courtyard is a great pit-stop for coffee, cake or toasties after a stroll around nearby Brandon Hill. Look out for regular lunchtime concerts and ‘mini beats’ sessions for kids.
3. Stokes Croft
Explore the city’s creative quarter, defined by indie shops and Bristol’s highest concentration of street art, including Banksy murals. As well as plant-based dining spots and arty bars, Stokes Croft is also where you’ll find landmark music venues such as The Canteen, a restaurant-bar with free gigs most nights, and club stalwart Lakota. That Thing, nearby, sells creative crafts made by 50 Bristol artists.
4. Strange Brew
Housed inside a former car showroom, this multi-room arts space is testament to Bristol’s flair for small- to medium-size indie venues. It opened in 2020 after a crowdfunding campaign by the promoters behind local club-night institution Dirtytalk, and operates as a music venue, cafe and bar. It’s also home to Planet Caravan, which sells vinyl, CDs, music fanzines and original prints by local artists.
5. Bristol Beacon
Hosting club nights, gigs and concerts, Bristol’s newest venue has completely reimagined the former live music landmark Colston Hall, bringing four new performance spaces to the city. Opening its doors in November 2023, the Beacon bills itself as having some of the best acoustics in Europe. This year, its main stage will host shows by artists including Orbital, Robert Plant and Róisín Murphy.
6. Thekla
Dance until near-dawn at this bar, club and gig venue, set aboard a 1950s German cargo ship moored at the Mud Dock. A floating symbol of Bristol’s maritime and music heritage, it became a club in the 1990s. Since then, it’s supported local drum and bass, techno and breakbeat artists with regular events, while its Saturday indie and alternative Pop Confessional has become a staple of Bristol’s late-night scene.
To subscribe to National Geographic Traveller (UK) magazine click here. (Available in select countries only).
You May Also Like
Go Further
Animals
- How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?How can we protect grizzlies from their biggest threat—trains?
- This ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thoughtThis ‘saber-toothed’ salmon wasn’t quite what we thought
- Why this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect senseWhy this rhino-zebra friendship makes perfect sense
- When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.When did bioluminescence evolve? It’s older than we thought.
- Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?Soy, skim … spider. Are any of these technically milk?
Environment
- Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?Are the Great Lakes the key to solving America’s emissions conundrum?
- The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?The world’s historic sites face climate change. Can Petra lead the way?
- This pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilienceThis pristine piece of the Amazon shows nature’s resilience
- Listen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting musicListen to 30 years of climate change transformed into haunting music
History & Culture
- Meet the original members of the tortured poets departmentMeet the original members of the tortured poets department
- Séances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occultSéances at the White House? Why these first ladies turned to the occult
- Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?Gambling is everywhere now. When is that a problem?
- Beauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century SpainBeauty is pain—at least it was in 17th-century Spain
Science
- Should you be concerned about bird flu in your milk?Should you be concerned about bird flu in your milk?
- Here's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in spaceHere's how astronomers found one of the rarest phenomenons in space
- Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.Not an extrovert or introvert? There’s a word for that.
- NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?NASA has a plan to clean up space junk—but is going green enough?
Travel
- Germany's iconic castle has been renovated. Here's how to see itGermany's iconic castle has been renovated. Here's how to see it
- This tomb diver was among the first to swim beneath a pyramidThis tomb diver was among the first to swim beneath a pyramid
- Food writer Dina Macki on Omani cuisine and Zanzibari flavoursFood writer Dina Macki on Omani cuisine and Zanzibari flavours
- How to see Mexico's Baja California beyond the beachesHow to see Mexico's Baja California beyond the beaches
- Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?Could Mexico's Chepe Express be the ultimate slow rail adventure?