The Best Bristol Walking Tours,
Incredible Routes

See More, Do More, Learn More with CityDays

Welcome to Bristol, a once-upon-a-time pirate’s paradise turned artist’s retreat! 

The thriving city of Bristol is a labyrinth of secrets, untold stories and fascinating figures.

Whether you’re a Bristolian looking to scrub up on your West Country knowledge or a visitor hoping to spot some hidden gems, our walking tours of Bristol are here to take you further, teach you more and, most importantly, help you enjoy yourselves!

Get The Most Out of Your Bristol Walking Tours

Our Bristol walking tours are designed to take you above and beyond your typical sightseeing experience. We’re dedicated to showing you everything you’d expect to see in Bristol while also slipping in loads of cool hidden stuff along the way.

The best part? It’s up to you to find them! 

CityDays’ walking tours of Bristol get you interacting with and learning about the city’s streets, landmarks, history and famous figures. The only way to navigate the route is by looking up, down, left and right, answering puzzles, riddles and spotting clues based on your surroundings! 

Our self-guided Bristol walking tours transform you into detectives, explorers and tour guides, giving you the freedom to discover the city your own way, in your own time, with people you know and love. 

From the moment you start until you finish the tour, you’re guaranteed to learn, have fun, make memories and get some fresh air and exercise. 

The Best Walking Tours in Bristol

No queues, no waiting around, no hassle.

That’s part of what makes CityDays’ Bristol walking tours the best in the city. 

We’ve created a model that allows you to take charge of your Bristol walking tour. This ensures that you can walk at your own pace, take breaks whenever it’s convenient for you, and tour with whoever you want! Here’s how it works. 

Instead of inviting ourselves along, we take the backseat. All you need is a good pair of walking shoes, a fully charged phone, and a sense of adventure. 

We recognise that this is your day out - not ours. So it’s up to you how it plays out: compete for first place on our leaderboard or take your time and really soak up the sights. Either way, we’re only a text message away if you get stuck. 

Bristol History Walking Tours: Uncover Bristol’s Hidden History

From being the meeting point between the two Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of Mercia and Wessex to the Bristol Bus Boycott and beyond, Bristol has seen its fair share of history - and we want to share it with you!

Our Bristol history walking tours take you on an exciting journey through Bristol’s historical timeline in a way that celebrates the city’s cultural quirks and mysterious facts. Along the way, you’ll discover street art, cosy pubs and much, much more. 

To give you a sneak peek at what you can expect from our historical Bristol walking tours, we’ve put together a few historical facts about the city!

Bristolians Sent 1000s of Shoes to German Children in 1947

Just two years after the Second World War, Bristolians rallied together to help German children struggling with economic and social disparity. 

In 1947, the Western Daily Press newspaper reported that in Bristol’s twin city in Germany, Hannover, up to 56% of children couldn’t attend school due to a lack of adequate footwear.

Many Bristolians put aside any lingering wartime resentment of Germany and its citizens by sending thousands of shoes, food, sweets and clothing to struggling children. 

A Suffragette Once Smacked Winston Churchill Over The Head with A Dog Whip at Temple Meads

The suffragette’s name was Theresa Garnett, and she was originally from Leeds, Yorkshire.

On 14 November in 1909, Winston Churchill travelled by train to Bristol to speak at a dinner that was to be held at Bristol Beacon (formerly known as Colston Hall). 

According to reports, Garnett approached Churchill while they were standing on a Temple Meads platform, cracked a dog whip across his face and shouted “take that, you brute!” or, in another version: “take that in the name of the insulted women of England!”

Bristol Once Held a Spelling Bee Where Less Than Half of The Words Were Spelt Correctly

According to the Western Daily Press, Bristol Rotary Club held a spelling bee in 1938 at the Grand Hotel where 24 out of 50 words were spelt correctly.

In fairness, some of the words are still considered tricky: “bureaucracy”, “omniscient”, “scion” and “ukulele” were among them. Best of all, a visiting Rotarian from Budapest was said to be in the audience and the papers described him as “a little bewildered”. 

Available Trails and Bristol Walking Tours

Interested in finding out more about the kinds of self-guided historical and Bristol street art walking tours we provide? Here’s where you get a tiny sneak peek into where you can find your next adventure…

The Painted City

Discover Bristol's rich tapestry of history and creativity on an immersive, puzzle-filled walking tour. Navigate medieval arches, mural-adorned streets, and Victorian gardens, unlocking tales from its diverse past through engaging challenges…

Highlights include 17th-century bronze 'nail' tables for merchant bartering, time-worn medieval marvels, engineering feats, and iconic street art including an original Banksy. Along the way, enjoy puzzles, surprises, and stops at unique venues like a candle-lit bar in a 16th-century townhouse and a traditional pub with flock wallpaper and a cosy fire. 

This escape game-style tour is ideal for friends who love to explore and play, offering a multifaceted glimpse into Bristol's vibrant culture.