Bristol’s Old Market: a vibrant and historic Bristol neighbourhood

Bristol‘s Old Market is at the centre of the city’s story, from its time as a medieval trade destination, to the vibrant cultural hub it is today.

On this walking tour, you‘ll explore Bristol‘s oldest neighbourhood and find out what makes this area unique. You’ll pass coaching inns, hidden priest holes, independent breweries and music venues, each with their own fascinating layers of history and culture.

The tour starts at Castle Bridge, where you‘ll hear about Bristol‘s Anglo-Saxon origins and how the city got its name. You‘ll walk through Castle Park, find remnants of Bristol Castle‘s curtain wall, and discover how this once-mighty fortress shaped the surrounding area. In the Old Market itself, you’ll see where trading has taken place for almost a thousand years.

Along the way, you‘ll see the route that Bristol‘s first electric tram took, hear about the city‘s brewing heritage, and wander through hidden green spaces along the River Frome. The tour ends at the Gin Palace, an extraordinary Victorian building constructed for railway passengers who never came.

On this 75-minute walking tour, you‘ll have a chance to:

• Visit the Stag and Hounds pub, once housed in a medieval “Pie Poudre” court where market disputes were settled, with features dating to 1483
• Explore the Old Market Assembly, once a bank, now a thriving cultural centre that helped revitalise the neighbourhood
• Discover the Bristol and Bath Railway Path, the country‘s first designated cycle route, built along the former Midland Railway line
• Learn about Bristol‘s craft beer renaissance, including Left Handed Giant Brewery
• See Trinity, a repurposed church that now hosts concerts with spectacular acoustics *Get tips on which historic pubs have hidden beer gardens, happy hours and the best local beer selections
• Peek into vintage guitar shops, Mexican restaurants and other unique independent businesses

Whether you‘re new to the area and looking for insider tips, a history buff, a food and drink enthusiast, or simply curious about Bristol beyond the tourist trail, this tour will give you an authentic glimpse into a neighbourhood that’s maintained its independent spirit for centuries.