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Over the past five decades,  Bristol Packet Boat Trips  have provided boat trips to the people of Bristol, and beyond, and are proud to have played a roll in some of the most important moments in people’s lives.  From school trips to platinum wedding anniversaries and bustling club nights, they’ve hosted it all on their boats.

Where it all started

Bristol Packet Boat Trips was established in 1974 by Nick Gray with Redshank; a 72-foot, town class narrow boat that had previously worked on The Grand Union Canal. Then in 1977, Bristol Packet became a fleet when Redshank was joined by the Tower Belle, a historic passenger boat from the river Thames. Tower Belle had previously laid derelict for years but after a great deal of restoration the Board of Trade Surveyors passed the boat as seaworthy, and she could legally carry fare paying passengers.

The newly established Bristol Packet offered trips to Beese’s Tea Gardens , five-hour adventures to Bath and trips through the Avon Gorge to the Bristol Channel. These unique offerings, dormant since the 1960s, attracted a small yet enthusiastic clientele who were eager to board.

To great surprise the one-hour tour of the harbour also proved extremely popular. Unlike the rural romance of the upper Avon, or the grandeur of the Avon Gorge , the Docks offered dereliction and abandoned buildings. However, beneath the decaying façade Bristol boasted a fascinating history, rich in maritime heritage. It only took a little imagination and an entertaining commentary to bring it all to life!

• Book a boat trip with Bristol Packet

The expansion of the fleet

In 1980, Bristol Packet was acquired by the Thomson and Dunstan families and under their ownership the fleet has expanded to include five boats; The Flower of Bristol was welcomed in 1995, Bagheera in 2002, and Hydrogenesis (the UK's first hydrogen-powered passenger vessel) in 2021.

Then in 2017, Bristol Packet launched its latest endeavour: a floating cafe-bar created from Redshank's old Butty Boat, Greenshank. Once utilised for storage, Greenshank has been refurbished into a stylish floating cafe with an outdoor sun terrace made from an adjoining barge. It now resides outside Bristol Packet HQ, serving revellers throughout the spring and summer months.

Today, Bristol Packet Boat Trips continues to be operated by the Dunstan and Thomson families, with multiple generations from each family frequently present aboard the boats and along the quayside. Their iconic red and white fleet can be spotted on the Avon hosting trips year-round.

Whether it’s hordes of waving children, old school friends catching up over a cream tea or passengers having a boogie on the deck, Bristol Packet are always delighted to host customers onboard!

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Home » Things To Do » The Very Best Boat Trips in Bristol

The Very Best Boat Trips in Bristol

• May 18, 2022
• Things To Do

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Home to the Bristol channel, the Harbourside, and more rivers, streams and lakes than you can shake a stick at, Bristol is a water-lovers ideal destination. With more than 100 miles of waterways ready to be explored, boat trip services around the city offer Bristolians and visitors alike the chance to get out onto the splash and have some fun.

There really is something for everyone too. If you’re the adventurous type, self-paddling canoe trips can be found where there’s very little between you and the water. For the more laid back experience, there’s a slew of trips on larger ferry boats that can be enjoyed as a public service or even hired out privately for parties and events. If you fancy something more sophisticated, why not enjoy a meal on one of the city’s packet boats that serve up delicious afternoon teas before taking you to other destinations. And if you love nautical history, Bristol is home to some iconic ships that tell stories all of their own.

Visiting Bristol means you’re never really far from water, so why not enjoy it! To get you started, here are some of the very best boat trips in Bristol that you can enjoy solo, with a friend, or even as a large group.

Avon Gorge Cruise

A trip under the famous Clifton suspension bridge

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For most people, the Clifton Suspension bridge epitomises all things Bristol: industry, connecting people, and being atop the water. Providing what is perhaps the very best way to experience the Avon river, the bridge, and the gorge it traverses is this trip provided by Bristol Packet Boat Trips.

Their Avon Gorge Cruise is suitable for adults and children 6 years and older. Over the course of three and a half hours, you’ll be taken on a relaxing trip aboard one of the company’s ferry boats and barges along the river Avon towards the Bristol Channel. Along the way, you’ll be treated to spectacular views as you make your way under the Clifton Suspension Bridge with a full commentary as you go. You’ll learn about the area’s shipping history, as well as the natural and geological forces that helped cut the gorge itself.

With hot, cold, and alcoholic drinks available onboard, you can sit back and enjoy Bristol from an entirely different perspective.

The trips run from March to November.

Fish and Chips Trips

One of a kind supper trips around Bristol’s harbour

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A modern replica of a historic medieval caravel, The Matthew is a traditional style ship with three masts, square sails, and rigging for days.

The original Matthew was built by John Cabot and left shore in 1497 for Newfoundland. The ship is an important part of Bristol’s history and this modern recreation keeps the legend alive by hosting various boat trips around the Floating Harbour and beyond.

One of the most popular trips is the regular fish and chip tours around the Harbour that happen multiple times a week. The Matthew makes its way to the Pumphouse Landing where those aboard are treated to a fish and chip supper at the Pumphouse Landing, forty-five minutes or so into the trip.

The food served is made using fresh cod and local potatoes and served on board the ship. There are different versions of this trip including musical evenings where you can eat your meal and be entertained by the local Pirate-themed band Piratitude or join in with one of the sea shanty groups that can be experienced.

The trips are suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

City Dock Tour

An informative and entertaining tour of Bristol’s docks

If you’ve never been to Bristol before, you’re a fan of all things nautical, or you’re a Bristolian who just wants to get to know their home city better, Packet Boat Trips’ City Dock Tour is for you.

Packed into this forty-five-minute whirlwind tour of Bristol’s harbour is everything you could want to know about the history and contemporary culture surrounding the docks. As well as interesting tidbits, you’ll also get a water-side view of the SS Great Britain, you’ll also get to see the steam cranes and engines that line the quay that were integral to the city’s industrial economy.

The tour is fully commentated by knowledgeable staff and provides a truly unique perspective of the city. The tour operates every weekend and every day during the summer months, ideally suited for summer evenings and warm afternoons atop the Tower Belle passenger boat.

This trip is suitable for adults and children of all ages.

Cream Tea Cruise

Enjoy fresh scones , cream and jam as you cruise the Bristol countryside

While the Avon cuts through the bustling built-up part of Bristol, its course also leads it out into the more rural stretches of the city’s borders. While the greenery of Bristol can be enjoyed on foot, it can also be taken in aboard the wood-panelled barges provided by Packet Boat Trips with a cup of tea, cake, and a traditional scone and cream.

This cream tea cruise is one of the most enjoyable ways to experience the Avon taking a leisurely two hours to cruise out into the countryside and back. The ticket price includes a fresh scone with clotted cream and jam, a cup of tea or coffee, and a piece of cake. There are vegan and gluten-free options available too for those who want it, simply ring or email ahead for arrangements to be made.

While the cream tea is the star of the show here, the beautiful scenes outside the window are worth a glance or two as well. With friendly staff explaining the sights and sounds as you go, this is a lovely way to spend an afternoon.

The cream tea cruise runs every Sunday, Wednesday, and Bank Holiday from March through to October.

Trips to Beese’s Tea Rooms

Leisurely cruises to these popular gardens and tea rooms

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One of Bristol’s true gems, Beese’s is a favourite amongst those who use the river Avon regularly. A riverside bar, tearoom, and gardens, Beese’s has a reputation for good food, good drink, and a great atmosphere.

The very best way to arrive at this beautiful little riverside bar is via Bristol’s waterways. Bristol Ferry provides one of the most regular services running trips every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, as well as some Thursdays and Bank Holidays.

This relaxing journey departs from the Welsh Back ferry landing and takes around an hour to arrive at Beese’s itself. You’ll be given two hours to dine, drink, and soak up the sun if you’re lucky enough with the weather before setting off back to the city.

The food at Beese’s range from gourmet salads, burgers , and skewers, to full-on Sunday dinners. Drinks-wise you can choose from some specially selected reds and white wines, as well as local draught beers that go down particularly well in the peaceful outdoor gardens.

The tour is suitable for all ages but being a riverside bar, there is a steep set of steps to reach the bar itself.

Pub Lunch Cruise

A day out on the river with a stop at your choice of pub

Departing from the Bristol Packet Office near the SS Great Britain, the Pub Lunch Cruise is the ideal trip for those who love quality local drinks and appreciate great food. With the choice of two great pubs, Chequers Inn or the Old Lock and Weir, the trip gives you ample time to stop and grab lunch before making your way back.

Chequers Inn offers uninhibited riverside views as you enjoy a beer and a meal from their diverse menu, with options for vegans and the gluten intolerant too. The Old Lock and Weir’s selection is a little more contemporary, with stonebaked pizzas, burger variants, baby ribs, and some pub classics to boot.

Cruising upstream along the more rural parts of the Avon, this trip also gives the opportunity to do a bit of wildlife spotting as you journey. Along these stretches, people regularly see otters, water voles, and even kingfishers as well as more common but no less interesting animals.

The trip is ideal for an afternoon out with the family or friends and runs every Tuesday and Thursday from May to September. The whole journey takes around five hours so there’s plenty of time to relax.

With the waterways of Bristol, including the Avon river, being so vital to the city’s heritage and future, taking a boat trip not only keeps us in touch with tradition but also helps support the maintenance and industries that rely upon them.

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Public Tours

Private hire, gift vouchers, onboard catering, educational, tour operators, book tickets, educational tours, cruise trips for schools and colleges.

Every trip includes a live commentary tailored to suit the age of the students.

The themes below have been designed to fit with the National Curriculum and can be adapted to suit your needs:

We’ve been running educational cruises and tours in Bristol for over 40 years.

• Origins of the City
• Trade and Shipping
• Transatlantic Slave Trade
• Leisure and Tourism
• SS Great Britain
• Harbour Engineering
• Great Western Railway
• Clifton Suspension Bridge

Regeneration

• City Regeneration
• Urban Development
• Changes in Land Use
• Economic and Social Impact
• Tidal Energy
• Rising Water Levels
• Investment & Environmental Impact
• Current Development Projects

Really educational for all year groups as tours are tailored with very informative tour guides who provide lots of fun - a real pleasure to experience. We have used Bristol Packet Boat Trips many times and they are really reliable and cost efficient.

Bristol Packet harbour trip fits nicely with ‘urban change in the UK’. The Skipper’s commentary on the evolution and development of Bristol’s Floating Harbour is particularly useful for pupils studying Bristol’s urban change.

Current Educational Packages

City Dock Tour

Fascinating for its rich maritime history, industrial archaeology, Brunel association & urban regeneration.

Duration: 1 hour Level: All Key Stages

Avon Gorge Cruise

Cruise down the tidal Avon in the wake of a 1000 years of shipping and beneath Clifton Suspension Bridge.

Duration: 2.5 hours Level: Key Stage 2-5

River Cruise

Travel through the City and cruise upstream onto rural stretches of the Avon keeping an eye out for wildlife.

Duration: 2 or 3 hours Level: Key Stage 1-2

Educational Tour Rates

We have four boats available with a combined capacity of 245 passengers. The below rates are for each boat at the stated capacity, but it is possible to book multiple boats for larger groups.

Only the Bagheera and the Tower Belle are licensed to travel on tidal waters.

Our two heated and covered boats; the Flower of Bristol and Bagheera are available for hire all year round, however we are only able to stop at Eastwood Farm between April and September and there is limited access to the river from October to March.

We can depart from any public landing stage in the Floating Harbour. There is good access for coaches to drop off passengers at the Bristol Packet Office next to the SS Great Britain, and a limited amount of coach parking in the Maritime Heritage Centre (SS Great Britain) car park, or on Cumberland Road nearby.

We cannot guarantee that there will be space for your coach to park and all parking is subject to the standard tariffs set by   Bristol City Council .

We hope the following downloads will be useful in planning your next field trip or for use in your classroom.

Please get in touch for the latest copy of our Risk Assessment and Insurance Certificate.

Harbour Quiz

Floating harbour map, history theme sample facts, send enquiry.

Enquiries made through our form are viewed every day and we will respond as quickly as possible.

Or if you prefer contact us directly to discuss your options, check availability or make a booking.

Email Address

Organisation / Group Name

Type Type Hen / Stag Do Corporate Birthday Party Wedding Club Night Coach Parties & Tour Operators Celebration Educational Other

Preferred Date

Preferred Time Preferred Time Morning Early Afternoon Late Afternoon Evening No Preference

Estimated Passenger Numbers Estimated Passenger Numbers Less than 12 12-20 20-30 40-50 50-60 70-80 80-90 More than 90 Other

Boat Preference Boat Preference Tower Belle Bagheera Flower of Bristol Redshank Hydrogenesis No preference

Catering Required Catering Required Yes No

Catering Required Catering Required Welcome Prosecco Savoury Nibbles Cream Tea Afternoon Tea Fish & Chips Wood-Fired Pizzas Boathouse Buffet

Additional Information

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Our charity, ‘My Future My Choice’ have been using Bristol Packet Boats for the last eight years with many hundreds of children exploring the waterways in the city. Bristol Packet Boats provide an excellent service and have never once failed to be on time. The crew provide an engaging and knowledgeable commentary on the heritage and present functions of the floating harbour and the river and they are always willing to align their talks and activities to suit the topic being explored by the school.

We have been using the Bristol Packet Boat for over 20 years as part of our year 3 residential visit to Bristol. We have always enjoyed a friendly, efficient and flexible service with excellent communication. The boats are very good value for money; the tour of the floating harbour, with the informative commentary, is a superb way of learning about Bristol and its place in World history. I really appreciate the flexibility of the team, always willing to help and go the extra mile, whether it’s helping to carry bags from the Youth Hostel, picking us up at different destinations or tailoring the tour to individual needs. I highly recommend the Bristol Packet Boat and look forward to using them for many years!