Things to do in Totterdown
Totterdown is small enough to walk around in an afternoon, but steep enough that you'll feel it. Here's what's worth seeing, starting from Temple Meads station at the bottom of the hill.
Quick answer
- See: the coloured terraces, including Richmond Street, and Vale Street, England's steepest residential street. [1] [2]
- Drink: the Thunderbolt, a former tollhouse, plus the Shakespeare and the Star & Dove. [3] [4] [5]
- Eat: brunch at the Sundial Kitchen, a fry-up at Totterdown Canteen, pizza from Laura's or A Cappella, fish and chips at Farrows. [6] [7] [8]
- Walk: Arnos Vale, a Victorian garden cemetery on the Bath Road, or up to Perrett's Park for one of Bristol's best skyline views. [9] [10]
- Time it: the arts trail on 14 and 15 November 2026, or the Vale Street egg roll on Easter Sunday. [11] [12]
Where are Totterdown's coloured houses?
The painted Victorian terraces on the hillside are visible from Temple Meads and much of the city centre. [13] Richmond Street is one of the best known, with more than 70 houses, most of them brightly painted. [1] Visit Bristol's walk from Temple Meads takes you through these streets. [14]
Can you visit Vale Street?
Yes. It's a public residential street, and Ordnance Survey named it England's steepest in 2019. [2] Banksy's "Aachoo!!" mural appeared there in December 2020, but it was removed in March 2021. [15] Please respect residents' homes. Read our Vale Street guide.
What are the best pubs in Totterdown?
| Pub | Why go |
|---|---|
| The Thunderbolt, 124 Bath Road | A Grade II listed former turnpike tollhouse from about 1840, known for live music [3] [16] |
| The Shakespeare, 1 Henry Street | A traditional local, recommended for cider [4] [8] |
| The Oxford | Recommended for its Sunday roast [8] |
| Star & Dove, St Luke's Road | A pub and dining room in the heart of Totterdown, also showing sport [5] [8] |
| The New Found Out | Recommended for watching sport [8] |
Bruhaha, a nano brewery and bar, is another local suggestion for an evening out. [8] The full list is in where to eat and drink.
Where to eat in Totterdown
Most of Totterdown's cafés and restaurants are on the Wells Road and Oxford Street, with a few on the side streets. Highlights:
- The Sundial Kitchen, William Street: a small vegetarian café popular for brunch. [6]
- Totterdown Canteen, Wells Road: a cooked breakfast. [8]
- Laura's Pizzas, William Street: Neapolitan pizza to take away. [7]
- Farrows, Wells Road: award-winning fish and chips. [17]
- Florence, Oxford Street: good-value Italian. [18]
All of them, with addresses, in where to eat and drink.
Places open and close, so check opening times before you set off.
Where are the best views of Bristol from Totterdown?
- Perrett's Park: on the edge of Totterdown, Windmill Hill and Knowle, it's one of the city's best-known viewpoints, and a popular spot to watch the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta's mass ascents in August. [10]
- Victoria Park: next door in Windmill Hill, with views over Totterdown and central Bristol. [19]
- From the streets: the top of almost any Totterdown street looks out across the city, and Temple Meads looks back at the coloured houses. [13]
More in parks and green spaces.
Is Arnos Vale Cemetery worth visiting?
Arnos Vale is a Victorian garden cemetery on the Bath Road, on the edge of Totterdown. Its first burial was in 1839. [9] [20]
- Design: it was laid out in the style of a Greek necropolis, influenced by Père Lachaise in Paris. [20]
- Rescued: after decades of decline, Bristol City Council took ownership in 2003 and a charitable trust was set up to restore it. [9]
- Still working: it's still an active cemetery, so be respectful of services. [9]
What landmarks can you see on the way?
- Three Lamps: the Grade II* listed signpost pointing to Bath and Wells, at the top of Bath Road. [21]
- Bristol Jamia Mosque: on Green Street, the first mosque in Bristol, in a former church. [22]
- Totterdown Bridge: the 1888 bridge over the Avon at the foot of the hill. [23]
The stories behind them are in our history of Totterdown, and you can link them into a self-guided walk.
What's on in Totterdown through the year?
| When | Event |
|---|---|
| Easter Sunday | Vale Street egg rolling [12] |
| August | Balloon Fiesta mass ascents, best seen from Perrett's Park [10] |
| November | Totterdown Arts Trail, 14 and 15 November in 2026 [11] |
Month by month: what's on in Totterdown.
Sources
- It's a tight-knit street life in Totterdown's coloured houses, Bristol Post via inkl: inkl.com
- Street in Bristol named the steepest in England, ITV News, 18 April 2019: itv.com
- The Turnpike Public House, 124 Bath Road, Grade II listing, British Listed Buildings: britishlistedbuildings.co.uk
- Shakespeare, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- Star & Dove, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- The best brunches in Bristol, Life Less Organised, May 2026: lifelessorganised.com
- Laura's Pizzas Totterdown, Deliveroo; Food Standards Agency rating: deliveroo.co.uk; food.gov.uk
- The locals' guide: Totterdown, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- Arnos Vale heritage, Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust: arnosvale.org.uk
- Perrett's Park, Wikipedia; Perrett Park, Bristol City Council park finder: wikipedia.org; bristol.gov.uk
- Frequently asked questions, Totterdown Arts Trail: totterdownartstrail.org
- Egg rolling contest down England's steepest residential street in Bristol, ITV News, 1 April 2024: itv.com
- Bristol's colourful houses, Secret Bristol: secretbristol.com
- Walks from Bristol train stations, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- Banksy's Aachoo!! removed by crane from wall of Totterdown house, Bristol24/7, March 2021: bristol247.com
- Thunderbolt, Bristol, CAMRA WhatPub: camra.org.uk
- Award-winning fish and chip shop to open second premises, Bristol24/7: bristol247.com
- We visit the tucked-away Bristol pizza restaurant, Bristol World: bristolworld.com
- The locals' guide: Windmill Hill, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- The story of Arnos Vale Cemetery, Visit Bristol: visitbristol.co.uk
- Sign post and Three Lamps, Bath Road and Wells Road (list entry 1203998), Historic England: historicengland.org.uk
- Bristol Jamia Mosque, Wikipedia; About us, Bristol Jamia Mosque: wikipedia.org; bristoljamiamosque.co.uk
- Archaeological excavation of site at Totterdown Bridge, TRESA: tresa.org.uk