Retire to Bristol

Retire to Bristol view of suspension bridge

Retirement living in Bristol

This compact city has plenty to explore. In the old town centre, you’ll find cobbled streets, medieval pubs that were once frequented both by pirates and writers – Treasure Island and Robinson Crusoe both owe inspiration to this area –  and the eclectic stalls and eateries of St Nicolas Markets (St Nick’s). Bristol has a rich maritime history and the striking docks area nearby is packed with museums and attractions including the SS Great Britain and global street food in the popular Wapping Wharf containers. Heading uphill you’ll find picturesque Clifton, where you can walk over the famous suspension bridge or visit the Giant’s Cave in the Clifton Observatory for spectacular views of the Avon Gorge.

Looking for pre-loved?

Browse our range of beautiful pre-owned retirement properties

Retire to Bristol view of Bristol Cathedral

Things to do in Bristol 

Throughout the year, Bristol hosts a wide range of unique cultural events and festivals. The most famous is Bristol International Balloon Fiesta, Europe's largest hot air balloon extravaganza, but there are plenty more including: Europe’s largest street art festival, Upfest; Bristol’s annual celebration of Caribbean culture, the St Paul’s Carnival, and Encounters, the UK’s leading short film, animation and virtual reality festival. You can see West End musicals at the Bristol Hippodrome, music at the Bristol Beacon, exhibitions at the Cathedral or cutting edge drama at the Tobacco Factory Theatre and the Bristol Old Vic – the oldest working theatre in Britain. There are a wide range of watersports available in the historic dock are with everything from kayaking to swimming and the waterways are celebrated at the annual Harbourside Festival. 

Bristol docks - retire to Bristol

An active retirement in Bristol 

As well as its impressive waterways, including the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel,  from the Downs to Ashton Court and Leigh Woods, Bristol is also blessed with beautiful green spaces and has easy access to the glorious countryside  of GloucestershireWiltshire and Somerset too. Historic Bath is just 15 miles away, the pretty seaside town of Clevedon is close by and there are fast trains from the city centre to take you to Cardiff in less than an hour, or to London in under two hours.

If you'd like to start a new adventure in a creative city surrounded by beautiful countryside, take a look at our retirement villages in Bristol.

Popular places to retire in the Bristol area

Explore more brilliant retirement locations close to Bristol.

Retiring to Bristol - FAQs

Browse our retirement homes by county and region

Search for the best places to retire in the UK by selecting a county or region to explore.

Stay in the loop

Keep updated on news, events & exclusive offers

We need your email to complete your request but you can unsubscribe from updates at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.