Seven things to do in Bristol to beat the heat - from an ice cream at Coco’s to ice skating at Planet Ice

The United Kingdom is currently experiencing its fair share of scorching hot-tempered weather, with a nationwide heatwave landing throughout a number of cities and regions, including Bristol.

Cities are experiencing their hottest ever days, leading to weather experts at the Met Office issuing an Amber weather warning for extreme heat across a majority of the country with a ‘danger to life’ threat.

So BristolWorld compiled a list of all the things that you can do in Bristol to help cool you down and try and continue with your daily routine and activities without bother or fuss.

What is a heatwave?

The word ‘heatwave’ is thrown around regularly when it comes to weather forecasts across the globe - but what is a heatwave?

According to the Met Office, a heatwave is an extended period of hot weather relative to the expected conditions of the area at that time of the year.

In the United Kingdom, this is the criteria the weather must meet to be considered a heatwave:

• When a location records three consecutive days with a maximum temperature that exceeds the threshold (this varies depending on the county)

For example, Bristol and the surrounding South West of England area has a threshold of 26℃.

How hot is Bristol right now?

The city is regularly experiencing hotter-than-usual temperatures on a consistent basis over the course of the last week - and for the foreseeable future too.

Regularly recording mid-to-high 20℃, the recently issued amber warning is expecting temperatures of between 29-32℃ over the course of this weekend.

What can I do in Bristol to cool down during a heatwave?

Here is a list of all the things you can do in Bristol to cool off and help wipe the sweat from your brow amidst the ongoing heatwave.

Visit a local Bristol ice cream parlour

What better - and tastier - way to cool down during a heatwave than by visiting one of the many quality ice cream parlours in the Bristol region.

The ice cold snack will not only tickle your taste buds, but help bring down your body temperature.

Here are three examples of some great local independent ice cream parlours in Bristol:

• Oliver Ice Cream Parlour - Museum Street, Wapping Wharf: BS1 6ZA
• Coco’s - 278 Stapleton Road, Easton: BS5 0NW
• Tarr’s Ice Cream Ltd - 2 Sandown Road, Brislington: BS4 3PN

Take a trip to Portishead Beach

This is often a surprise to many, but heading down to a local beach can do wonders when wanting to cool down during a heatwave.

Portishead Beach in Bristol is a perfect place to do just that, sit and relax whilst you let the coastal gales and winds help you beat the heat.

Portishead, Bristol

Head on down to a local Bristol pool

Going for a swim in a pool, especially an outdoor one, is a great way to chill out and cool down when the rays are becoming too much for you to handle.

As soon as you enter and touch the cold and cooling water, your body will thank you.

Here are three examples of swimming pools in Bristol:

• Portishead Open Air Pool - Esplanade Road, Portishead: BS20 7HD
• Bristol South Swimming Pool - Dean Lane, Southville: BS3 1BS
• University of Bristol Swimming Pool - Queen’s Road: BS8 1LN

Sit in the shade at one of Bristol’s parks

Head to a local park in Bristol, find a park bench under the shade of a lovely green tree and you will ultimately find yourself cool down.

You can even read or listen to a book, chat with friends and family or enjoy a nice cold refreshment whilst enjoying the shade, too.

Here are three examples of parks in Bristol:

• Brandon Hill Park - Park Street: BS1 5RR
• St George Park - Church Road, Whitehall: BS5 7AA
• Castle Park - Broad Weir: BS1 3XB

Go to a cinema in Bristol

You wouldn’t think it but sitting inside a big dark cinema and watching a huge blockbuster film will do one hell of a job in bringing your temperature down.

These rooms are usually covered with air conditioning units that will blow some much-needed cold air in your direction.

Here are three examples of cinemas in Bristol:

• VUE Cinema Bristol - Cribbs Causeway, Patchway: BS10 7SR
• ODEON Bristol - Union Street: BS1 2DS
• Cineworld Bristol - Hengrove Way: BS14 0HR 

Relax in the shade of a beer garden in Bristol

Pub and bar beer gardens are the most ideal places to go to cool down for your average British person.

Sitting under the shade of an umbrella, sipping an ice cold pint and feeling the heat drain from you whilst enjoying good conversation and relaxation.

Here are three examples of beer gardens in Bristol:

• The Spotted Cow - 139 North Street: BS3 1EZ
• The Square Club - 15 Berkeley Square: BS8 1HB
• The Cadbury - 68 Richmond Road, Montpelier: BS6 5EW

Skate around at Planet Ice Bristol

If nothing that the list has mentioned so far will do the job in cooling you down, visiting a local ice rink must surely do the job - you are quite literally surrounded by ice.

For more information about booking at Planet Ice in Bristol, visit the official website.

Merlin Road, Patchway: BS10 7SR