This blog post explores different tours of Bristol.
Blackbeard to Banksy Walking Tour https://blackbeard2banksy.com/
The tour is run by Duncan a local artist, it lasts for about 2 hour you met at the beautiful Cathedral in College Green and finish at The Ostrich pub.
Duncan runs his tours all year and, in all weathers, luckily on the day I went it was sunny!
I would suggest taking some water, there are shops and coffee shops near College Green where you can get provisions before the walk starts.
I am from Bristol and went on this walk-in summer 2017 with some friends who were visiting me. I am born and breed Bristolian (I have moved away at various times), and I found the tour super interesting. One of the first things Duncan points out (related to the Council Houses) I didn’t know and promptly text my Mum in excitement, she returned my text telling me that she already knew! I won’t say what it is as it will spoil your tour.
I was even taken down alley ways that I didn’t know existed!
Both my friends also really enjoyed the tour and liked seeing the Banksy artwork, they were really interested in Bristol’s pirate history.
I normally rave about free tours however, you generally pay a tip at the end of a free tour so the £8 for this tour in my view is reasonable.
I see no reason why you couldn’t do a free walking tour one day and this tour the next! However, at the time of writing this blog I am unable to find a free tour in Bristol that is running.
Bristol’s haunted and hidden ghost walk
I went on this tour quite a few years ago now and really enjoyed it. I am looking to go again soon but need to find a friend as I don’t want to go alone and be scared! Lol http://www.hauntedandhiddenbristol.co.uk/
September 2018 – I went back!
The tour guide has a good knowledge of Bristol, and I now have a list of places in Bristol that I’m not sure I want to go to especially the Odeon cinema!
I also didn’t know that Bristol used to have so many hospitals, many of them had burial pits which are now sights said to be haunted.
I also learnt where the gallows used to be, and what the famous Christmas Steps was like many many years ago.
The tour guide peppers his talk with funny and sarcastic comments, although there were bands / artists / films he spoke about that I had no idea who he meant.
As Bristol is so big there’s plenty of places for all the tours to visit and to feel like your seeing and learning something new.
I feel this tour runs at a good time, you can grab dinner go to the tour at 8pm then your finished by 9.30 to go for a drink!
The tour starts at the Bristol Cathedral (if you go at a time of the year when dark at 8pm then you can get some beautiful pictures of the cathedral by dusk / night).
The tour costs £5/£4 and lasts for approximately 45 minutes.