Guided Walking Tour - From Blackbeard to Banksy
BEST FOR
Ages 3-99
ENTRY
from £5
WHERE
Bristol
What it’s like
A two-mile guided walk through Bristol hunting Banksy street art and pirate history, for kids and grown-ups together.
You walk two miles across Bristol with a guide, spotting Banksy pieces and hearing about the pirates, the underground rivers, and a pub called Long John Silver's Inn. There's a door you get to touch and an echo that apparently does something odd, which is the sort of detail that'll stick with a seven-year-old long after the history bit's faded. It's billed as suitable from age three, and the guides skip the swearing, though they do get into Bristol's part in the slave trade, which your guide flags before you get there so you know what's coming.
Tours run twice most days, 11:30 and 2:30, and take about two hours to cover the two miles, so it's a proper walk rather than a stroll, worth thinking about if you've got small legs or a buggy in tow. £12 for an adult and £5 a child isn't a huge outlay for two hours of entertainment, and booking ahead is recommended, though they'll take walk-ups if the group isn't already full.
If you're running late, they hang about near the meeting point for the first quarter of an hour, then head off toward Pizza Rova on Park Street and the Hatchet Inn after that. Tours go out in the rain as much as the sun, and only proper weather warnings get things rescheduled.
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters are welcome, and the route's mostly flat with one workaround for the single set of steps, though the ground near the harbour can get uneven. Dogs are allowed too, if that changes your plans for the day.
Need to know
- Best for
- 5 to 12, though the site says three to ninety-nine works
- Booking
- Book in advance recommended. Walk-ups accepted if group not too large
- Wheelchairs
- Wheelchair and mobility scooter users welcome
- Dogs
- Allowed on tours
- Two tour times most days, 11:30 and 2:30, though Sunday only has the morning one
- Late arrivals can catch up at Pizza Rova on Park Street or the Hatchet Inn afterwards
- Dogs are welcome on the tour
- Cancel with 24 hours notice for a refund; less notice and they'll try to rebook you instead
Plan your visit
How much does it cost?
£12 for an adult, £5 for a child. Not bad for two hours out of the house.
Do we need to book?
They'd rather you did, but walk-ups get in if the group's not already too big.
Is it OK for young kids?
They say it works from age three to ninety-nine and there's no swearing, though the guide does cover Bristol's history with slavery and gives you a heads up before that part starts.
What happens if it's raining?
Tours go out rain or shine. Only a severe weather warning gets things rescheduled or refunded.
Can you manage it with a wheelchair or buggy?
Wheelchairs and mobility scooters join regularly, the route's mostly flat with a workaround for one set of steps, though the harbour ground gets a bit uneven.
How long does it take?
Two hours, covering two miles, so it's more of a walk than a wander.
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