15 brilliant things to do this June in Bristol — from walking trails to music festivals

Get to know the creative community of Brislington, Knowle and St Anne’s this June. The BS4 Arts Trail returns for the second-ever time (June 14 & 15) with over 85 makers in nearly 30 venues. Whether you’re after something unique to hang in your bathroom or you’d like to have a go on a potter’s wheel, there’s so much happening in BS4. Other activities include learning linocut printing, creating collages and cutting glass.

Bristol Comedy Garden returns to Queen Square for five nights of all-star stand-up live in the Big Top. Just some of the incredible talent includes the legendary Jack Dee, The Last Leg’s Josh Widdicombe, Strictly champ Chris McCausland, multi-award-winning Sara Pascoe, Emmy nominee Rob Delaney, British Comedy Award winner Nina Conti, viral sensation Fin Taylor, BAFTA nominee Simon Amstell, Taskmaster icon Fern Brady, and so many, many more.

Race through Bristol in a high-stakes, city-wide puzzle challenge and compete for daily leaderboard glory. If you’re up for something a bit competitive, Race Across the World: The Experience brings a high-stakes, city-wide puzzle race to Bristol where teams navigate three legs (4–5 km total), solving escape room-style challenges across landmarks over 2–3 hours.

Bristol Sounds returns to the city’s much-loved harbourside with a five-night gig series. You can expect the likes of the Kooks, Super Furry Animals, The Streets, OMD and Royel Otis to all be performing at the open-air amphitheatre.

If you’re planning for a big night at the theatre, Tim Minchin‘s Matilda the Musical (based on the beloved Roald Dahl book) celebrates its 15th anniversary in 2026 and will play at the Bristol Hippodrome, featuring a cast including Richard Hurst and Tessa Kadler.

When you think of Bedminster’s terraced brick houses, you are more likely to think about the iconic graffiti over their tiny gardens. But discover some incredibly beautiful and creative gardens hidden in the neighbourhood at Bedminster’s Secret Gardens, where over 30 gardens open to the public (June 13 & 14). But that’s not all happening in Bedminster this June. The first-ever Bedminster Festival of Gardening will take place that same week, a community-led festival full of fun gardening events, activities, and talks.

Bristol Birdman returns to make a leap of faith on Baltic Wharf, and thousands of spectators are expected to fly by and watch. Organised by Grassroot Communities, a local not-for-profit organisation working with young people from underserved communities across Bristol, the aim is to raise money and awareness for its programme, with a target this year set for £100,000.

This isn’t your average life drawing class. This is a one-of-a-kind immersive art experience that combines UV lights, radiant body paints, and expressive sketching. This electrifying workshop invites you to sketch models decorated in reactive paints and vibrant costumes.

Everyone knows that the best way to beat the heat is with a swim. So whether you want to head to spend the day at Clifton’s fancy lido, embrace the great outdoors at Warleigh Weir, or head to the coast for a salty Marine Lake swim, we’ve got you sorted. Check out these refreshing spots for outdoor swimming in and around Bristol if you’re looking for somewhere to relax or cool off.

Bristol’s biggest celebration of brewing culture is back this June. The Bristol Craft Beer Festival brings together the world’s finest beers from local breweries, alongside national and international big hitters, plus local food outlets and live music from local DJs. You can expect to sample 300+ beers from over 50 breweries, included with your ticket.

If you’re looking for fun things to do in Bristol, why not try a photo scavenger hunt? On A Bridge Through Time, you will be going on an enthralling tour around the city, checking out the art, history, and culture along the way. You’ll see groups of friends competing to unearth fun facts, taking ridiculous pictures, and deciding who will be the next scavenger hunt champion. Now that the weather is near-perfect every day, there’s no better time to see the entire city on your adventures, either!

You might’ve noticed a pattern of us encouraging you to get out and about. Well, what else is summer for!? Hopping on your bike and exploring Bristol is one of the best things you can do this June. Bristol was recently crowned the best UK city for a leisurely bike ride.

Just one of our favourite routes is the Bristol and Bath Railway Path. Stretching for 13 traffic-free miles along a disused railway line, the cycling path connects two of the South West’s most iconic cities. Cycle to Bath and back, or grab the train home, and stop off at some riverside pubs.

The World Cup kicks off this June, and you can catch all the England action at The Prospect Building. With a big-event atmosphere, expect huge screens, footballing legends, and every tackle, goal and save. The huge immersive World Cup fan park will show all three of the England group matches against Croatia, Ghana and Panama.