In 2015, Bristol became the first UK city to be named European Green Capital, recognised for its “progressive, creative and conscious approach to urban living.” A decade on from winning this significant accolade, Bristol is now the highest performing English city in the latest Global Destination Sustainability (GDS) index, and continues to celebrate its reputation as a leader in sustainability.
Just 90 minutes from London by train, Bristol enjoys an envious position nestled in between luscious countryside and stunning coastline and was recently named one of Time Out’s 50 Best Cities in the World for 2025. With a packed line-up of award-winning events including Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Bristol Harbour Festival, Feast On, Bristol Sounds, FORWARDS, plus the return of Gromit Unleashed 3 sculpture trail and the Women’s Rugby World Cup, 2025 is set to be a record-breaking year for visitors.
To help you make greener choices on your trip, here’s Visit Bristol’s guide to six ways to enjoy a greener getaway, from eco-friendly dining and accommodation to attractions, shopping and more.
1. Rest easy and stay in sustainable accommodation
Whether you’re looking for an independent, quirky eco-spot to stay, or a large hotel with solid sustainability practices, Bristol has plenty of choice. Mollies Motel Bristol designed by the team behind Soho House, offers EV charging, bike hire, paperless check-in, and refillable toiletries. For something unique, stay at the 212 eco-house behind Room 212 art gallery, complete with a living roof, reclaimed materials, and sustainably sourced oak floors. Moxy Bristol and Leonardo Hotel Bristol are both BREEAM-certified for top sustainability standards, with Moxy also holding Green Key accreditation—shared by Delta Hotels by Marriott Bristol City Centre, Bristol Marriott Royal, and Novotel Bristol Centre. You’ll also find The Bristol Hotel, Premier Suites, Brook Lodge Farm Camping and Berwick Lodge hold Green Tourism accreditation. Whatever your style or budget, it’s easy to find a stay in Bristol that puts the planet first.
2. Eat green in the vegan capital of the world
Did you know Bristol was named the vegan capital of the world in 2019 and 2020 and is the UK’s second Gold Sustainable Food City? With so many chefs and restaurants championing sustainability, it’s easy to eat green here. Sample local, seasonal dishes at one of Bristol’s many vegan restaurants, or join a GOOD: Stories in Food tour, spotlighting sustainable producers and eateries. Wilsons has held a Michelin Green Star since 2022 for its sustainable gastronomy, and recently adding a Michelin Star in 2025. For something more casual, Pieminister offers award-winning pies with plenty of vegan options along with its 'eat pies, plant trees' initiative. Later this March, the Anti-banquet returns, blending top food and entertainment to raise funds for food poverty and insecurity in the city, while Feast On food festival in July features engaging and informative discussions on food and sustainability. On 12 April, Bristol Vegan Fayre returns with plant-based food stalls, a showing of new feature documentary ‘Food For Thought’ and Q&A with the film’s directors.
3. Visit Bristol’s planet-friendly places
Fancy surfing without hitting the coast? Head to The Wave, an inland surfing lake just north of Bristol, where year-round waves are 100% powered by green energy. Nearby, explore Bristol Zoo Project, a conservation-first zoo with 80% endangered species. You can also visit Jekka’s, a sustainable, family-run herb farm which grows herbs organic and peat-free, or travel a bit further to WWT Slimbridge, the birthplace of modern conservation, where you can stay overnight in Sir Peter Scott’s renovated home and spot wildlife from his viewing tower.
For hands-on experiences, try wild foraging, sheep herding, or upcycled fashion workshops through Yuup. Over on the Harbourside, We the Curious science centre leads by example with solar panels, a no-meat café menu, and a goal to be carbon neutral by 2030. Get lost in wonder at Wake the Tiger, the UK’s largest immersive experience, with recycled festival materials and installations highlighting plastic pollution.
Continue the eco-theme at Create Centre and Ecohome, where you can learn about greener living, or visit M Shed to see the Protest display, featuring climate activist Greta Thunberg’s visit to Bristol in 2020. For a different view, take a trip with Bristol Packet Boat Tours, which runs an electric boat and the UK’s first hydrogen-powered passenger boat, Hydrogenesis.
4. Enjoy sustainable gin, beer and wine
Head to Bedminster, in south Bristol for a cheese and wine tasting at KASK wine – a cosy, stylish neighbourhood wine bar specialising in biodynamic, organic and vegan wines. Their knowledgeable yet unpretentious staff will be on hand with their expert tips. Visit 6 O’clock Gin at the Glassboat on Bristol’s Welsh Back for a gin cocktail masterclass or a relaxed G&T with riverside views. Although internationally loved, 6 O’clock Gin is proudly Bristol-based, with its distillery in Thornbury, powered entirely by solar energy. Prefer beer? Wiper and True brewery captures and reuses carbon dioxide from fermentation, brews with solar power, and offers zero-emission on local deliveries, making their pints taste even better. Or head to Lost and Grounded for unfiltered, vegan beer!
5. Go thrift shopping
Go shopping at CLOTHINGXCHANGE in Broadmead, where you can shop ethically and buy, sell and exchange preloved designer and high-end fashion. Nearby, SPARKS Bristol has transformed the old Marks & Spencer into a sustainability hub, with departments focused on fashion, food, nature and energy, plus thrift and upcycling shops inside.
For more second-hand finds, head to Wapping Wharf on the Harbourside with plenty of retro second-hand fashion and record stores to rummage through. Charity Supermkt in Cabot Circus is the UK’s first multi-charity store with quality, curated second hand clothing, or explore the many thrift and second-hand shops on Park Street and Gloucester Road.
6. Explore the area and experience nature
Venture south of Bristol to The Newt in Somerset, where you can explore the Medieval Herb Garden, Beezantium, and dine at the revered Botanical Rooms where they serve vegetables grown on the estate itself. Cycle around Bristol, the UK’s first cycle city, or take a mountain bike coaching session with Pedal Progression at Ashton Court and Leigh Woods.
Visit Yeo Valley Farm to explore its 6.5-acre organic garden, one of the few certified organic sites in the UK, or take a guided tour to learn about regenerative farming practices. There’s even a Yeo Valley Organic Garden Festival (18-20 September) with workshops and expert demonstrations on how to grow your own organic produce.
At Windmill Hill City Farm, you can get involved in growing plants, rearing animals, and living sustainably. Avon Wildlife Trust manages 30 nature reserves in the area, including salt marshes, wildflower grasslands, and ancient woodlands. Or, discover one of Bristol’s 400 green spaces, from Ashton Court Estate and Brandon Hill Nature Reserve (located in Bristol’s oldest park), to the University of Bristol Botanic Garden, home to over 4,500 rare, threatened plant species.
For full information on sustainable things to do in and around Bristol, see: https://visitbristol.co.uk/discover/ideas-inspiration/sustainable-and-green-bristol/
If you would like additional information or high res images, please email press@visitwest.co.uk
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