Latest News (Press Releases) - Visit West

Visit West announced today a value of £2.7bn for tourism to the region (Bristol, Bath & North East Somerset, South Gloucestershire and North Somerset) in 2024, the highest ever direct spend from visitors recorded by the tourism body.

Where better to start your new Christmas tradition than in Bristol - the rebellious city with a big heart, where everybody’s welcome. From relaxing in a floating sauna on the Harbourside to stepping into the SPROUTER-verse at Wake the Tiger - Bristol brings a fun twist to every festive experience this season.

Bristol is the only UK city to be named by Lonely Planet as one of the top destinations in the world to visit in 2026, thanks to its incredible street art.

As the guide says: “No city in Britain uses its urban landscape as a canvas quite like Bristol,” with “some of the best street art anywhere in Europe”.

After coming 6th in 2024, Bath has been revealed today as the ‘Best UK City’ in Condé Nast Traveller magazine's 2025 Readers' Choice Awards, beating landmark cities including London, Edinburgh, Manchester, Cambridge and Liverpool to the no. 1 spot. 

After the roaring success of two quarter-final and both semi-final matches of the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 being hosted at Ashton Gate Stadium, Visit West - the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP) for Bristol, Bath and the wider region - is reporting a boost to the visitor sector. 

Fresh from scooping two BAFTA awards for Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl, the eagerly awaited Gromit Unleashed 3 trail has arrived in Bristol - the proud home of Aardman. This summer, over 50 beautifully designed and decorated sculptures are on display across the city, ready for visitors and locals to discover.

Bristol simply stuns every summer! The calendar is packed with much-loved and hugely popular festivals and events with hot air balloons, craft beer, maritime merriment and vibrant live music takin..

2025 marks a very special year for Bath and its famous former resident Jane Austen, born in 1775.

The blooms are out in Bristol as the city springs into life this season with new festivals, tours and Easter activities as well as music, culture and foodie events. See Visit Bristol’s ultimate guide to what’s on this spring!

Visit West, the Local Visitor Economy Partnership for the West of England, hosted its annual Regional Visitor Economy Conference at Bristol's We The Curious on 20 March 2025. 

English Tourism Week, the annual celebration of England’s tourism industry, takes place from 14 - 23 March 2025.