The Harbourside's Hidden History: A Bristol Walking Tour
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About the Tour
About the Tour
Bristol is a city brimming with hidden treasures waiting to be discovered. This walking tour takes you off the beaten tourist track to reveal some of the city‘s best-kept secrets, from lesser-known alleyways to hidden underground vaults. Join me on the cobblestone streets of Bristol‘s harbourside and be transported through centuries of quirky history and architectural marvels.
We‘ll discover some of Bristol‘s iconic landmarks, starting with the awe-inspiring St. Mary Redcliffe Church and the Tramway Rail Monument. As you meander, you‘ll pass by hidden medieval alleyways and hear about ancient burial grounds. I‘ll share stories about the Bristol Old Vic theatre and tell you about an amusing discrepancy with the statues outside St John‘s Church. En route to our final stop, St Stephen’s Church, I‘ll point out the Corn Exchange, where grains flowed like gold, and Bristol Bridge where, 800 years ago, you‘d have seen bare bottoms hanging out of gaps in its wall.
By the end of this Bristol walking tour, you‘ll:
- Find out how to become the next King of Bristol
- See the entrance to a hidden underground vault
- Discover where to find Bristol‘s medieval city wall
- Hear how a small rodent brought down a King as you stroll through Queen Square
- Connect the dots between Bristol and the UK‘s famous red telephone box
- Stroll along the Welsh Back and see the Bristol Merchant Seafarers Monument
- Take in numerous churches including St Nicholas Church and All Saints' Church
- Spot a secret dragon on a drainpipe
- Pass by Leonard Lane, one of Bristol‘s narrowest, and most colourful, lanes
Whether it‘s your first time in Bristol or you‘re a curious local interested in the alternative tales the city has to offer, this tour is a valuable introduction to its humorous history, quirky facts and hidden surprises.
Allow 90 minutes for our walk. There are plenty of cafes, restaurants and bars along the route where you can stop for refreshments and take a break.
Tour Producer
Tour Producer
Amanda Armstrong
Hello, I’m Amanda. I’m a Londoner by birth and have lived in southwest England for over 25 years. Walking has always been how I make sense of places — slowly, attentively, and with curiosity.
In busy lives, it’s easy to move through streets without really seeing them. Walking changes that. When we slow down and look properly, familiar places start to reveal hidden layers: overlooked details, quiet corners, unexpected connections, and stories written into the landscape.
My walks are shaped by long experience of wandering cities and towns, noticing what others pass by, and listening to how places speak through their buildings, streets, and views. I’m drawn to small details as much as big histories, and I believe the best discoveries often happen at walking pace.
On my tours, you’re invited to explore with fresh eyes, uncover secret places, and see well-known locations from a new perspective — one step at a time.
Preview Location
Preview Location
Location 7
Quaker Burial Ground
The green space behind the wall is all that's left of a Quaker burial ground - remember the bodies I mentioned earlier? Established in 1665, it would originally have been m... Read More
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Major Landmarks
Major Landmarks
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St Mary Redcliffe Church
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Tramway Rail Monument
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Redcliffe Bascule Bridge
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Quaker Burial Ground
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Queen Square
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Merchant Venturers Almshouses
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King William Ale House
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Bristol Old Vic
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Saint Nicholas Almshouse
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The Llandoger Trow
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Bristol Bridge
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Gilbert House
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The Corn Exchange
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All Saints Lane
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Christ Church with St Ewen
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Mercure Bristol Grand Hotel
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Tailor's Court
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The Bank Tavern
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St Johns Burial Ground
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St John's Church
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Leonard Lane
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St Stephens Church
Getting There
Getting There
Route Overview
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Total distance3km
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Final location21 St Stephen's St, Bristol BS1 1EQ, UK
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Distance back to start location731.26m
Directions to Starting Point
The tour begins outside the North Porch of St. Mary Redcliffe Church, Redcliffe Way, Bristol BS1.
TRAIN: Bristol Temple Meads Station is a 10 minute walk from the starting point.
As you exit the station, walk north-west on Temple Gate/A4 towards Lower Approach Rd/Lower Station Approach. Cross the road using the zebra crossing then bear slightly left onto Redcliffe Way/A4044. St. Mary Redcliffe Church will appear on your left after a 5 minute walk from this point. The North Porch stands at the top of a flight of stairs on your left just before the roundabout.
BUS: 73, 74
Bus routes 73 and 74 both stop on Redcliffe Way outside St. Mary Redcliffe Church.
Show Directions
Tips
Tips
Places to stop along the way
There are numerous bars, cafés and restaurants along the tour where you can find refreshments or simply take a break. Our final destination, St. Stephen's Church, features a Secret Café which is definitely worth a visit if it's open. And as a 'Secret' Café, it's in keeping with the theme of our tour.
Best time of day
The tour is best done during the hours of daylight.
Precautions
You will need to cross roads during the tour - please exercise caution when doing so. Also, the tour includes steps and cobblestone streets which some people may find difficult to navigate.
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Questions and Reviews
Questions and Reviews
