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Bristol Harbourside Self-Guided Walking Tour

4.5 (7)
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Bristol Harbourside Self-Guided Walking Tour

4.5 (7)
Share
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Experience the vibrant culture and rich history of Bristol with Helen's self-guided walking tour of the city's harborside. Led by a local expert with 25 years of experience, this tour will take you on a journey through the heart of the city, from the ruins of the old castle to the iconic SS Great Britain. Immerse yourself in the transformation of Bristol over the centuries as you explore at your own pace, with offline maps, audio commentary, and insider recommendations. Discover hidden gems, historical landmarks, and insider stories that bring the city to life. Whether you're a history buff or simply looking to experience Bristol like a local, this self-guided tour is the perfect way to uncover all that this vibrant city has to offer. Book now and embark on an unforgettable adventure through Bristol's fascinating past.

About this experience

  • Non Refundable There is no return, refund or cancellation possible with this product
  • 2 hours - 3 hours
  • Suitable for 1-15 Participants
  • Private Tour
  • & Audio GuidedSelf Guided Experience
  • Explore Bristol's rich history
  • Experience the vibrant culture of the city
  • Visit iconic landmarks like the SS Great Britain
  • Get insider recommendations on the best places to visit, eat, and drink
  • Discover Bristol at your own pace with the self-guided tour
  • Audio guide, videos, pictures, recommendations and all the info you need
  • Email with instructions to activate your tour (booking reference isn't the code!)
  • 3 weeks unlimited access to this Self-Guided Tour on the app
  • Helen will guide you through an audio guide (no computer-generated voice!)
  • Map, directions, GPS route and stops of each tour
  • In-person Guide

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More about this experience

Introduction:

Welcome to Bristol Harbourside Self-Guided Walking Tour, an immersive experience that takes you on a journey through Bristol's vibrant culture and fascinating past. Led by Helen, a local expert with 25 years of experience, this tour showcases the city's rich history with insider recommendations and captivating stories.

What to expect?

During this tour, you can expect to explore Bristol's harbourside at your own pace, taking breaks whenever you need and revisiting your favorite spots. With the help of our user-friendly app, you'll have access to offline maps, audio commentary, and insider recommendations, ensuring you get the most out of your visit. Dive deep into the city's history as you visit iconic landmarks such as the ruins of the old castle, Pero's Bridge, and the SS Great Britain. Immerse yourself in the transformation of the city over the centuries and gain a true understanding of its cultural heritage.

Who is this for?

This self-guided tour is perfect for anyone looking to discover Bristol like a local. Whether you're a history buff or simply want to experience the city's vibrant atmosphere, this tour offers something for everyone. From solo travelers seeking an adventure to families looking for an educational and enjoyable experience, our tour is designed to cater to a diverse range of interests and preferences. Everyone can benefit from the insider recommendations and fascinating stories shared by our knowledgeable guide, Helen.

Why book this?

Embark on the Bristol Harbourside Self-Guided Walking Tour to uncover the hidden gems and untold stories of Bristol. With Helen's expertise and passion for the city, you'll gain a unique perspective and truly immerse yourself in its rich history. By exploring at your own pace, you have the freedom to spend more time at the places that interest you and create a personalized experience. The user-friendly app provides seamless navigation, offline access, and insider recommendations, ensuring a hassle-free and enjoyable tour.

Good to know

As you embark on this self-guided tour, make sure to wear comfortable shoes and bring along a bottle of water. The tour lasts approximately 2 to 3 hours, giving you plenty of time to explore each stop and soak in the beauty of Bristol's harbourside. At the end of the tour, you'll be in a central area of the city where you can continue to wander and explore with the recommendations provided. Don't forget to take plenty of photos and share your experience with #BristolHarboursideTour.

Reviews

Travelers who have experienced the Bristol Harbourside Self-Guided Walking Tour have praised Helen's extensive knowledge and engaging storytelling. They were impressed by the app's seamless navigation and offline access, which made exploring the city a breeze. Many were delighted by the insider recommendations, discovering hidden gems and enjoying local food and drinks along the way. Overall, the tour has received glowing feedback, with visitors expressing their satisfaction and appreciation for the unique and immersive experience it offers.

How long before the event do I need to book?

  • You can book at any time before the event

Vouchers accepted in the following formats

  • Mobile

Your Itinerary

Millenium Square

Millennium Square is on a site known as Canon’s Marsh. This was originally marshy land found where the river Frome, flowing from the North-East, joined the Avon, flowing from the East. The land was drained and built on in the early 18th Century. Dive deep in all it's rich history.

Bristol Amphitheatre & Waterfront Square

The amphitheatre is popular with skateboarders and you may see some whilst you are here. This is one part of the city where skateboarders are able to ride, whereas in other places you will see anti-skateboarding architecture. Learn all about the historical past and the importance of this awesome place here!

Pero's Bridge

Pero’s bridge opened in 1999 and was named in honour of an important local figure in Bristol. But who was this important figure? Why the Bridge has a pair of horn-shaped sculptures? Helen will answer all these questions and give you the whole story on her tour.

Cascade Steps

(Pass by)

During the Middle Ages, a harbour was developed along the riverside at the confluence of the rivers Avon and Frome. This stood in the approximate location of the present-day fountains. Hear this awesome tale and some recommendations worth visiting around this beautiful area.

College Green

College Green is a popular area for people to congregate in the city. Here you will learn about an important Church (Abbey), some works of art of an extremely famous artist, another beautiful chapel and a museum. Tag along!

Castle Park

Castle Park is the site of the old castle and Bristol’s medieval settlement. Discover its bristling history with Helen.

Bridge Quay

This stop has a good view of the Bristol Bridge, with St Peter’s, St Nicholas’ and St Mary Le Port churches in the background. The Bristol Bridge is believed to have been the place where the settlement of Bristol began. Relax, watch and listen to Helen's stories here.

St Mary Redcliffe Church

This part of the city is called Redcliffe. The church that you see today is not the original; the church from Henry I’s time fell into disrepair and was rebuilt in the 14th century.

Redcliffe Caves

Redcliffe is named after the bright red Triassic sandstone rocks that can be seen from where you’re standing. Houses along Redcliffe Wharf are built above a cave system leading all the way back to St Mary Redcliffe church.

Bathurst Basin

(Pass by)

Bathurst Basin lost its water supply as the New Cut was dug out in 1809. The Ostrich pub (at the entrance to the basin) was built around 1745. It would once have been used by sailors, dock workers and merchants.

Princes Wharf

Almost all of the city docks are now closed to cargo ships. The docks are therefore very different today from their very busy trading times of the past. If you look closely enough, you will find lots of evidence of what the city docks were like.

The Matthew of Bristol

(Pass by)

The Matthew of Bristol is a replica of the original Matthew that John Cabot sailed to the Americas in 1497. This surprisingly small replica ship sailed across the Atlantic to Canada in 1997 to mark the 500th anniversary of Cabot’s journey.

M Shed

The M Shed is free to enter museum about Bristol. It is one of the few parts of the harbourside to retain all of its original features and is well worth a visit if you have time.

Wapping Wharf

Wapping Wharf was formerly used for shipbuilding and repair. This location wasn’t always as pleasant as it is today. In the 1800s, Bristol Docks would have been packed with boats loading and unloading their goods.

Brunel's SS Great Britain

(Pass by)

The SS Great Britain was built on this dock. Built by Isambard Kingdom Brunel, it was the largest ever and the first ship to be constructed using iron. When the ship was launched in 1843, it was said to be ‘the greatest experiment since the creation’.

Reviews

(7)

4.5 (7)

elinors905

We really enjoyed the tour. We liked that you could do at your own pace and interesting details given. We also did some of the detours and recommended stops - Watershed/Toto's. There is so much to see and do here!

U9320NOss

I'm always a bit nervous with technology so I was unsure about doing this tour. I'm pleased to say that the tour was very easy to use - even for somebody like me, who struggles with gadgets. The app was very simple, I was able to get the tour onto my phone and it was all easy to follow. The tour guide was very easy to listen to and she had a lot of good knowledge about the area. The tour took me a little longer than it said, but this was because of my mobility issues rather than the tour itself. Self-guided tours are good for me because I'm not that good on my feet, so this has been an absolute revelation for me. I'd definitely recommend this to anyone else, it was a lovely way to spend a few hours.

U4738QIgeorgeg

Nice way to spend the afternoon. I didn’t know much about Bristol. I booked this tour as I prefer to do things at my own pace. I feel like the tour took me to the nicest bits of the city. Very informative too. Thanks.

Nashandco

Did this tour with the kids on a nice sunny October day. Very interesting, good use of outdoor family time and the kids get a good run out. Whats not to love? Would really recommend this if you like outdoorsy fun!

O7713YLb

We absolutely loved this tour. It took us to places that we wouldn't otherwise have seen and the level of explanation throughout was just right - not too much detail, but enough to give us an overview of the area. We liked the personal touches that were included in this tour - the little anecdotes and the odd spooky story. The recommendations were great and we enjoyed the boat tour back to the start that was suggested at the end of the tour. A great afternoon stroll at our own pace, thank you!

MarcyR923

I appreciated that this was something I could do at my own pace. The places on the tour were interesting. However, some caveats. Make sure your phone is fully charged as the location feature which lets you know when you’ve reached the next spot, really drains your battery. I had a full battery and still ended up needing my portable charger. I found the directions to the next spot somewhat confusing sometimes. I didn’t find that there was a map feature until halfway through the tour. For example she says to walk along a path till you come to a road with a bridge, then cross. Cross the bridge or the road?? Turns out it was the road. Also, I found the detail on a spot a bit lacking. For example, she says a bridge with giant horn features was named for a slave, but doesn’t say why or what the horns have to do with it. She gives some suggestions for places to eat, but these seem more like ads. The tour covers a good bit of the harbour and I think was worth the cost, but I wish there had been more information on why things were the way they were. I did end the tour with her suggestion of the ferry to get back to the starting point, and ended up buying a longer fare to see the town from the harbour all the way to Temple Mead train station, which was very enjoyable.

S3372XOsantiagor

I did this tour and bath by myself on a weekday and it felt like the tour guide was guiding me through the cities! The route is well-designed and the guide was always informing about the histories and cultures around each checkpoint. Excellent value for money! We’ll be checking out the other tours from this company.
Collected by Evendo, Tripadvisor & Viator
2024-04-25 18:06