Queen Square, Bristol

Uncover Bristol's historic downtown area on a two-hour tour with an expert guide. Begin your tour outside Bristol Cathedral on College Green, an imposing medieval church built in the 12th century. As you walk through the downtown core, hear about the origins of the city, where it first started, and its medieval center. You'll then continue on to the Norman castle site, situated strategically between the River Avon and River Frome. See evidence of blitz damage, perpetrated by the Nazis against Bristol during the Second World War.  Throughout, you'll learn about Banksy, Brunel, Blackbeard, and many other of Bristol's famous residents (whose names may or may not start with a B). Hear bizarre echoes and finally finish on Bristol's historic harborside after seeing the smallest, largest, and most beautiful pieces of street art in the city.

Bristol Ghost Tours is the only dedicated ghost tour available in Bristol today. We offer fully guided tours with a professional costumed guide, to take you around the old medieval heart of the city, that introduce you to a modern city crammed with ghosts and tales of the paranormal. The tour itself is family friendly, meets outside of the Bristol Cathedral on College Green at 7.30pm on tour nights, and lasts for approximately 1 hour 45 minutes. You will be taken around the as part of a group, with never more than 32 people and be immersed into the many hidden secrets and horrors that are waiting at up to 17 different haunted locations. The tour begins outside the Bristol Cathedral at 7.30pm and then weaves a trail that passes by The Hatchet Inn, the Bristol Beacon, Christmas Steps, Lower Maudlin Rd, Union St, St Nicholas Markets, Bristol Bridge, King St, Bristol Old Vic, Queens Square. The route itself is almost circular, taking in the oldest parts of the city and up to 17 different haunted locations. The tour ends in Queens Square which is very close to bus stops and the centre of the city and many pubs, cafes restaurants and hotels.

On our Bristol-built Temple bikes, we’ll follow quiet cobbled backstreets through the old city, finding street art hotspots, beautiful backdrops, and secret routes along the ancient city walls. Pass through Bristol’s famous St. Nick’s Market and discover some of the venues right at the forefront of Bristol’s food scene. Pedalling along car-free harbourside paths, we’ll see historic boat-building yards, see picture-postcard views of Cliftonwood’s colourful houses, and Brunel’s ss Great Britain—the ship that changed the world. The tour takes you up close with a couple of Banksy murals and gives you an unbeatable view of the Clifton Suspension Bridge. Your tour guide will also offer personalised recommendations of shows, exhibitions, restaurants, and pubs to make the most of your time in Bristol. The route is suitable for all cycling abilities, avoids busy roads and hills. Riders must be 150cm+ and under 16s accompanied by an adult.

Highlights *Discover on foot the enchanting Georgian architecture, visit the Royal Crescent, The Circus, Queen Square, the Assembly Rooms and Pulteney Bridge *Visit three delightful, historic pubs, part of the Bath's rich culture and enjoy an introduction to local ales and cider *See where Georgian society would promenade during the marriage season *Gain a fascinating insight into the origin of the Bath spa water *Learn of Royal visitors from the first sovereign of England, King Edgar to Queen Elizabeth 1 *Hear tales of famous past residents from Nicholas Cage to Prince Bladud Meet your tour guide outside Bath Abbey for an introduction to this fine city and learn of the times when the Romans and Saxons occupied this area. You will also hear of the source of the spiritual hot spring water and Bath's status as a UNESCO World Heritage City as we walk to the site of our ancient springs. At each pub stop, you can sample fine local ales and cider, selected by your guide. The pubs visited will reflect the Georgian and Victorian footprint of the city. We make our first refreshment stop before discovering historic Queen Square and taking in the stunning views of the Royal Crescent. Then we visit John Wood's masterpiece, The Circus, learning of Georgian daily social life when we arrive at the spectacular Assembly Rooms. We weave our way to the stunning Pulteney Bridge via the medieval streets of Bath stopping en route at our second historic tavern for a brief introduction into the role of a drink in Georgian society. After gazing upon Pulteney Bridge and hearing of the demise of the Georgian era, we say farewell over a third pub stop at one of Bath's most iconic public houses away from the usual tourist trail when your guide will conclude the tour bringing you up to date with modern day Bath. This full guided walk covering Bath's glorious past and visiting beautiful historic pubs is a fun, informal, personalised tour hosted by a guide resident in Bath with personal long standing links to the city and a deep knowledge of the pub sector. It covers all the notable locations of Bath and brings the back to life with fascinating and amusing facts and insight. 'A fascinating insight into the history and development of Bath, brilliantly explained and brought to life by James' February 2024

Embark on a captivating journey through Bristol's storied past and lively present with our Classic Walking Tour. Beginning at the bustling Bristol Harbourside, you'll dive into the city's maritime legacy, where the echoes of seafaring adventures still resound. Our first stop takes you to the SS Great Britain, a testament to Victorian engineering prowess and a symbol of Bristol's maritime supremacy. Delve into the ship's history as the world's first ocean-going, propeller-driven iron vessel, designed by the visionary Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Continuing our exploration, we venture to the M Shed Museum, nestled on the harbourside, offering a captivating glimpse into Bristol's diverse history. Through interactive exhibits, artifacts, and personal narratives, uncover the city's evolution from a bustling port to a vibrant cultural hub. Next, we ascend to Bristol Cathedral, an architectural marvel steeped in Gothic splendor. Learn about its centuries-old history, architectural significance, and role as a spiritual sanctuary amidst the bustling cityscape. Leaving the cathedral behind, we meander through Bristol's Old City, a labyrinth of cobblestone streets, historic edifices, and bustling markets. Explore iconic landmarks like St. Nicholas Market, Corn Street, and Bristol Bridge, each imbued with tales of centuries past. Our journey then leads us to Queen Square, a serene oasis amidst the urban bustle. Discover the square's Georgian elegance and delve into its rich history as a focal point of Bristol's social and cultural life. As our tour draws to a close, we return to Bristol Harbourside, where it all began. Take a moment to reflect on the highlights of our expedition, from the maritime marvels to the charming streets, and immerse yourself in the timeless allure of this dynamic city. Join us on the Classic Walking Tour and uncover the essence of Bristol's past and present, where every step unveils a new chapter in this captivating narrative.