Tour de Bristol Chocolate

Bristol's rich history has a sweet side, with a long chocolate-making heritage. From the first imports of sugar and cocoa to Fry's producing the first ever chocolate bar, Bristol's history is intertwined with the sweet stuff. Join this tasty walking tour through the Old Town, sampling 8 delicious treats along the way: the perfect historic walking tour for those with a sweet tooth. The tour begins at the bottom of Christmas Steps, the best preserved part of medieval Bristol. Your local guide describes how chocolate making developed in the city, from medieval monks to the invention of the world's first chocolate bar and chocolate Easter egg. The route spans hidden rivers, crosses medieval city walls and passes buildings dating back to the origins of the city: Bristol's only surviving 17th-century sugar house (now a hotel), where you sample sugar cane, St John's Gate, the only surviving medieval gateway, Guilbert's Chocolates, making chocolates in Bristol since 1910, and the Corn Exchange and 18th-century financial district, where you sample raw cacao and hear how sugar and cocoa arrived from the Caribbean. A true highlight is the stop at Ruby Hue, Bristol's only bean-to-bar chocolate maker, to see chocolate making in action and taste their creations. The tour finishes at Treasure Island Sweets within St Nicholas Market, with WW2 ration chocolate and talk of the Bristol Blitz, leaving you free to explore the market stalls and food traders. Prices: Adults £17.50, Children £8.75. Distance: 1.5 miles. No age restriction. Accessible toilets available.