Bristol Blitz – Above Ground Walking Tour

ID2596TypeCulture and historyWhereBristol (United Kingdom)Meeting pointOutside the main entrance of the Corn Exchange on Corn Street, BristolDuration1.5 hFormatGroupDifficultyEasy: suitable for children and seniorsGroup sizeup to 25 peopleScheduleSundays at 11amLanguagesEnglish

The excursion

Before the Second World War, Bristol's Old Town was a dense network of medieval streets and centuries-old buildings. Much of that historic fabric vanished during the long hours of the Bristol Blitz of 1940–41. Nazi air raids targeted the docks, factories and railway, but the surrounding Old Town suffered devastating collateral damage: incendiary bombs ignited fires that tore through timbered buildings, churches and entire streets, erasing landmarks that had survived for hundreds of years. This walking tour traces what remains: the fragments of the Old Town, the scars left by wartime bombing and the post-war architecture that rose from the ruins. You meet your guide, an ARP warden in full uniform, at the Corn Exchange, which served as an air raid shelter and played a vital role in wartime communications. You then compare photographs of the Blitz with the same streets today in Castle Park, once the heart of the Old Town, see the ruins of St Peter's Church and its memorial, the D-Day memorial (the US First Army planned its D-Day landings from Bristol), shrapnel damage still visible in the city centre, three hidden air raid shelter entrances, and Temple Church, destroyed on 24 November 1940. The tour ends at the Kings Head, a 1940s time capsule. The walk pairs perfectly with the Air Raid Shelter Tour, which reveals the hidden world beneath the streets where Bristolians waited and endured during the Blitz; both can be purchased as a combined ticket, saving 20%. Prices: Adults £14, Children £7. Distance: 1.5 miles. No age restriction. Includes steps and stairs; accessible toilets available.

Trace what remains of Bristol's Old Town after the Blitz of 1940–41: wartime scars, lost streets, bombed-out churches and the post-war city that rose from the ruins.

Itinerary

Meet at the Corn Exchange
Bristol's Old Town and Castle Park
Before-and-after photographs of the Blitz
St Peter's Church ruins and Blitz memorial
D-Day Memorial
Shrapnel damage on the street
Hidden air raid shelter entrances
Temple Church
Finish at the Kings Head pub

Included

Local guide in full ARP warden uniform

Details

CancellationCustomers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.

Organized by: Local companyverified

· ID E-143

View the meeting point on the map ↓

Frequently asked questions

How much does it cost?

≈ €17 (£14) per person.

How long does it take?

About 1.5 hours.

What is included?

Local guide in full ARP warden uniform.

Can I cancel?

Customers will receive a full refund or credit with 24 hours notice of cancellation. Customers will also receive a full refund or credit in case of operator cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Contact us by phone to cancel or inquire about a cancellation. No-shows will be charged the full price.

Where is the meeting point?

Outside the main entrance of the Corn Exchange on Corn Street, Bristol.

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