What to do in Bristol when it rains
When Bristol turns grey, head for the indoors — centuries of history in its museums, art to lose an hour in, and markets and cafés out of the rain.
Museums
Spend a few hours in the city's museums — many are free, and a rainy day is the perfect excuse to take your time.
- Wake The Tiger Bristol Wake The Tiger, 127 Albert Rd, Bristol BS2 0YA, UK
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL, UK
- Brunel's SS Great Britain Great Western Dockyard, Gas Ferry Rd, Bristol BS1 6TY, UK
- M Shed Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RN, UK
- We The Curious 1 Millennium Square, One Millennium Square, Anchor Rd, Bristol BS1 5DB, UK
- Clifton Observatory Litfield Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LT, UK
Art galleries
Duck into the art galleries; they're quiet, warm and rarely busier than on a wet day.
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL, UK
- Watershed 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX, UK
- Arnolfini Arts Bush House, 16 Narrow Quay, House, Bristol BS1 4QA, UK
- Strange Brew 10-12 Fairfax St, Bristol BS1 3DB, UK
- Lost Horizon Arts Centre & Bar 1-3 Elton St, St Jude's, Bristol BS2 9EH, UK
- Royal West of England Academy Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1PX, UK
Historic sites
Explore the indoor historic sites and their covered galleries.
- St Nicholas Market The Corn Exchange, Corn St, Bristol BS1 1JQ, UK
- Clifton Down Stoke Rd, Bristol BS9 1FG, UK
- Cabot Tower Brandon Hill Park, Park St, Bristol BS1 5RR, UK
- St Mary Redcliffe Church The Parish Office, 12 Colston Parade, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6RA, UK
- The Centre The Centre, Bristol BS1 5UH, UK
- Downs Water Tower Clifton Water Tower, Stoke Rd, Bristol BS9 1FG, UK
Covered markets
Browse the covered market — street-food stalls, local makers and somewhere dry to graze for an hour.
- Tesco Extra Tesco Stores Ltd, Eastgate Rd, Eastville, Bristol BS5 6XU, UK
- St Nicholas Market The Corn Exchange, Corn St, Bristol BS1 1JQ, UK
- Tesco Superstore Tesco Superstore, Lime Trees Rd, Bristol BS6 7XW, UK
- Tesco Extra Tesco Stores Ltd, Callington Rd, Brislington, Bristol BS4 5AY, UK
- Tesco Express 90-98 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3DW, UK
- Tesco Express Tesco, The Paragon, 32-34 Victoria St, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6BY, UK
Cafés
Claim a window seat in a cosy café and watch the rain instead of walking in it.
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery Queens Rd, Clifton, Bristol BS8 1RL, UK
- M Shed Princes Wharf, Wapping Rd, Bristol BS1 4RN, UK
- Watershed 1 Canon's Rd, Bristol BS1 5TX, UK
- Clifton Observatory Litfield Place, Clifton, Bristol BS8 3LT, UK
- Bristol Old Vic King St, Bristol BS1 4ED, UK
- Windmill Hill City Farm Philip St, Bedminster, Bristol BS3 4EA, UK
Indoor shopping
Hit the covered shopping streets and centres — everything under one roof.
- Cabot Circus Bond St S, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3BD, UK
- St Nicholas Market The Corn Exchange, Corn St, Bristol BS1 1JQ, UK
- Clifton Down Shopping Centre Whiteladies Rd, Redland, Bristol BS8 2NN, UK
- Bristol Shopping Quarter 69 Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3DX, UK
- The Galleries 25 Union St, Broadmead, Bristol BS1 3XD, UK
- Eastgate Retail Park Eastgate Rd, Eastville, Bristol BS5 6XX, UK
Venue suggestions powered by Google — tap a name for the map, and always check opening times before you go. 36 places listed; the list refreshes regularly.