St. Nicholas Market and Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour: Explore Bristol's Historic Old Town
5.0
1,300 Ratings
Bristol City

Discover Bristol’s historic Old Town, explore the St. Nicholas Market, and visit the city’s biggest public Air Raid Shelter on this unique walking tour. Experience Bristol’s trading past, the swinging 60’s, and the vibrant present. Don’t miss out!

Duration: 2 hours
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Corn Exchange - We’ve exclusive access to Bristol’s most important building and historic area. Enjoy privileged access to subterranean passageways, roof top vistas, WW11 air raid shelters and rooms which once rocked to the best bands in the world. We then finish amongst the best street food in the city in the heart of St.Nicholas Market!
What's Included
  • All applicable fees and taxes included
What's Not Included
  • Lunch
Additional Information

Experience the largest public Air Raid Shelter in Bristol, delve into the history of the Old Town and indulge in the country’s premier indoor market. Join us for a memorable adventure. Our local experts will lead you on an unconventional journey from Bristol’s peak trading era, through the vibrant 60’s, into the city’s dynamic present. Gain exclusive…

see more
Location
The Corn Exchange
Corn Street
We meet outside the main entrance of the Corn Exchange on Corn Street at 11am. The main door is located underneath the clock.
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
5.0
(1300 Ratings)
5 stars
4 stars
3 stars
2 stars
1 star
Cerip53
Nov 7, 2024
Interesting and enjoyable - Very interesting and enjoyable tour with Duncan (I think) who was very passionate and knowledgeable. Lots of interesting facts learned about my home city.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Paul
Nov 6, 2024
Excellent Tour - This is a very well researched and engaging tour by Duncan. The Bristol wartime story is told through the bunker and its artefacts and is full of fascinating detail. There was very helpful supporting context on the overall history of the city and its contributions to the wider war effort. The final part of the tour brought to life the history and the architecture of St Nicholas market. Don't miss. Well worth your time.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Edalingham
Nov 4, 2024
Fascinating stories of wartime Bristol and of 1960s music. - Very interesting stories well told on this entertaining and atmospheric tour, centred on one of Bristol's most historically significant buildings.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
C9396dxjamesl
Nov 4, 2024
Amazing! - Fantastic! The tour includes the bunker as well as the area around St Nicks, which I knew very little about. Duncan is very knowledgeable and painted a beautiful picture of what the area looked like during the 1940s (it was quite different!) The journey around the bunker and the Corn Exchange building was really nicely tied together and was a fascinating journey through time! Highly recommended!!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Murrays720
Nov 4, 2024
Two hours well spent - don't miss it - If you’re interested in recent history and you’re in Bristol you will not want to miss the tour of the Air Raid Shelter beneath St Nicholas’s market. Our guide and curator of the exhibitions was Duncan and believe me he keeps your attention with information delivered clearly and, where appropriate with humour. The tour highlights the plight of the Castle Green area during the blitz of 1940 when this area was hit badly. It didn’t help that fire appliances were diverted to Avonmouth, leaving the people to fight the fires with stirrup pumps – you can guess the outcome. Duncan has collected, and continues to collect memorabilia and anecdotes from visitors. In the shelter is a bar and it is thought that some of the iconic pop groups from the 60’s drank at the bar while performing in the Corn Exchange above. Duncan has a vision for this area but the local council appear to have turned a blind eye – this needs to change as this is a true asset for the area.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Stephen
Nov 3, 2024
A hidden gem in the heart of Bristol - Spent a fascinating hour and a half with friends underground St Nicholas Market Bristol. Duncan is a very committed, knowledgeable, and entertaining guide. The Air Raid Shelter is unknown to most Bristolians, as are the experiences of their ancestors during some of the darkest days of World War2. Duncan brings visitors face to face with the fears which people faced as bombs fell above them. He has pieced together some of the stories of ordinary people, and the evidence of how they and the authorities tried to cope. This includes the Evening Post edition,following the first night of the Blitz,telling Bristolians that “a West Country town” being bombed. The devastation was clearly witnessed by citizen’s themselves. Duncan deserves to be supported by the City Council in his efforts to develop the site into a fully operational museum. Let’s help him to do this. It will bring more visitors to the centre of Bristol. The food outlets in the market will benefit too, and they are first class, as we experienced.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sarah
Nov 3, 2024
Interesting and enjoyable tour. - Really enjoyable and interesting tour and discovered a really lovely part of Bristol. It was very interesting and our guides passion for the subject shone through.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Joannetn3586xk
Nov 3, 2024
Fab historical tour of unseen Bristol - Duncan was so knowledgeable and we all enjoyed learning about the town we live in. We went as 3 generations and all enjoyed it. We saw buildings that we’d never noticed before. Would highly recommend.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Grannye1
Nov 3, 2024
Important history for the city and country - A fantastic insight into the appalling Blitz on Bristol, yet giving a sense of WW2 impact on civilian life across the whole country at that time. There are many authentic artifacts from those days too, and it's mainly set inside a real WW2 air raid shelter - a rare opportunity indeed. Where else could you stand where our forbearers stood, and have access to such an experience?
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Rosemary
Nov 2, 2024
Great for young kids - To slow for teenagers - good for young kids. The guide was lovely. The venue could be expanded a lot to make it more interesting but they need funding for that
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Check Availability
From $16
From $16
up to 15 guests
1 Adult
Select a date
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).