24 things to do in Bristol

More centrally, there's Bristol Aquarium, which is down near the harbour. You can pop your head into one of the bubble windows in the underwater walk-through tunnel. It's about as close to a reef as you can be without getting wet.

Bristol's links to pirates and its seafaring past have influenced two of the major books in English Literature. Robinson Crusoe was written after Daniel Defoe met the shipwrecked Alexander Selkirk in The Llandoger Trow pub - he'd been rescued from his desert island and brought to Bristol. If you've read the children's classic Treasure Island, you might want to pop into the Hole in the Wall pub. It's just off Queen Square, and is what Robert Louis Stevenson based the Spyglass Tavern on. The pub was once an infamous recruitment place for the Royal Navy.

The notorious Blackbeard originally came from Bristol. The pirate - called Edward Teach - was born in 1680 and at the height of his reign of terror had a 400 strong gang roaming the ocean waves. Pirate Pete can take you on a swashbuckling weekend walking tour. It covers of some of the most famous and shady Bristol piratey-places. Ooh-aarrr.

The Stokes Croft area is the cultural quarter of the city. It's also where you'll find some of Banksy's earliest street graffiti, as well as huge murals by other local artists. You can take a self-guided tour around some of the original murals.

Bristol Packet Boat Trips will take you out into the harbour or up the Avon - all four boats in their fleet have a bar. You can also hop onto one of the Bristol Ferry Boats - which has drop offs at some of the main attractions on the Floating Harbour, like the Aquarium and Brunel's SS Great Britain. 

In 2016, the Bristol Old Vic celebrated its 250th anniversary. Elsewhere, Bristol Hippodrome puts on West End Shows, like Cats, Dirty Dancing and Mary Poppins, as well as opera, ballet and comedy performances. Its Victorian design means it has the only operating domed roof in the UK, allowing it to be opened to the elements, however it is rarely used today and you're more likely kept cool by the air conditioning.

Bristol Balloons offer flights between March and October - although they do have some options over the winter months. Alternatively, time your visit for the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Europe’s largest ballooning event. This free festival has been going for 30 years and is usually held over four days in August. Organisers say the best time to see the 100+ balloons is when they first go up, at 6 am at Ashton Court (they will have breakfast on the go).

There is a fierce rivalry between the two football teams in Bristol, with Bristol City Football Club (The Robins) in the red and white corner and Bristol Rovers  (The Gas) in blue and white one since they were established in the 19th century. They've played each other more than a hundred times in the Bristol Derby. City play at their home ground of Ashton Gate and Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.

The Better by Bike website has a good list of cycling trails, with varying lengths and abilities. They also offer advice on where to hire bikes and even pump up your tyres if you get a flat.

Take a walk alongside the river from Snuff Mills to Oldbury Court, which has a playground at the end of the walk as well as a little cafe to have a cup of tea or coffee in. There's also the Grade II* registered parkland at Blaise Castle, which has giant's footprints, a lily pond, caves and a castle to explore. The Downs have wonderful views over Avon Gorge and the Severn Estuary. It's also one of the best places to fly kites in the area.

If you want to see films you won't find at the multiplex, then visit the independent Cube Cinema. They also do comedy nights, children's events, live music and cabaret as well as making their own cola.