Spike Island

Bristol


Culture vultures should make time to visit Spike Island, a lively centre for visual arts that's home to a collective of studios, a contemporary art gallery and a cracking little cafe (open 8.30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 10am to 5pm Saturday and Sunday).

It's a short walk south from the SS Great Britain.


Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

Nearby Bristol attractions

1. Girl with the Pierced Eardrum

0.07 MILES

A 2014 Banksy creation that re-imagines the famous Vermeer portrait, but uses an alarm box instead of the pearl earring. It's a little hard to find – head…

2. Brunel Institute

0.18 MILES

A maritime archive housing a wealth of materials relating to engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel, the SS Great Britain and Bristol's naval history. To visit,…

3. Brunel's SS Great Britain

0.19 MILES

This mighty, innovative steamship was designed by engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel in 1843. You get to wander the galley, surgeon's quarters and…

4. Castles Stencil

0.45 MILES

Hidden away down the side of the Central Library, hunt out the 2011 Banksy stencil that states 'you don't need planning permission to build castles in the…

5. Matthew

0.48 MILES

The most striking thing about this replica of the vessel in which John Cabot made his landmark voyage from Bristol to Newfoundland in 1497 is its size. At…

6. We the Curious

0.51 MILES

Bristol's interactive science museum is a playful, hands-on space where 300 'exhibits' fly the flag for curiosity, scientific collaboration and creativity…

7. Cabot Tower

0.52 MILES

Set in the small park of Brandon Hill, this 32m ornate red-brick tower was built between 1896 and 1898 to commemorate John Cabot's pioneering voyage in…

8. Bristol Cathedral

0.54 MILES

Originally founded as a 12th-century monastery church, Bristol Cathedral was heavily remodelled during the 19th century. It's one of Britain's best…