St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Walking tour

Explore the heart of historic Bristol on the St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Walking tour. St. Nicholas Market sits at the heart of Bristol’s Old Town and is situated within the Corn Exchange; the centre of trading in the city for 300 years. Your guide / friendly air raid warden will lead you through parts of the city which are inacccessible on any other walking tour. You’ll discover over 1000 years of Bristol’s history, hidden passageways and the city’s most vibrant food market before heading beneath the street to explore Bristol’s biggest public air raid shetler — all led by an expert local guide who brings the Old Town’s stories to life. This unique Bristol walking tour begins outside the Corn Exchange on Corn Street, the heart of the Old Town. Here you’ll learn about Bristol’s medieval origins, the city’s trading past, and the extraordinary architecture that shaped this historic quarter. Your local guide will show you surviving Blitz damage, lost landmarks, and original features that reveal how Bristol evolved from a medieval port into a modern cultural hub. You’ll then explore St Nicholas Market, Bristol’s most famous indoor market and one of the top Bristol tourist attractions. You’ll wander through its atmospheric alleyways, meet independent traders, and discover award‑winning food stalls offering some of the best street food in the city. St. Nick’s Market is the perfect place to experience Bristol’s famous food scene and the best place to grab lunch after your tour! St. Nicholas Market is located within the Corn Exchange in the heart of Bristol’s Old Town. The Corn Exchange is one of the citys most important biuldings and is located on a site which has seen trading take place for over 1000 years. Bristol Guided is the only tour company with exclusive access to behind the scenes of the Corn Exchange including the amazing subterranean WW2 air raid shelter hidden beneath the streets! There is no other Bristol walking tour which has the keys to Bristol’s most historic building and one of the nations best preserved WW2 air raid shelters! As you explore the Old Town, you’ll pass film locations, observe beautiful architectural details, and hear stories of the merchants, sailors, rebels, musicians, and artists who shaped Bristol’s identity. Bristol Guided is the only walking tour company who can show you secret time‑capsules and hidden corners that most visitors never find. The second half of your St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Walking tour is spent in our spectacular WW2 air raid shelter. Once back at the main entrance of the Corn Exchange you’ll be led behind a secret door into a hidden subterranean world! You’ll decend down two flights of stairs (with hand rails) into a part of Bristol which has remained untouched since the 1940’s. Your local guide now becomes a freindly air raid warden who will lead you the rooms of our amazing air raid shelter and vividly describe Bristol’s wartime story. You’ll see orignial drawings which were produced during the Blitz and are still on the walls of the shetler. You’ll pass wartime posters still in place since the dark nights of WW2 and hear about the heros and heroines of Bristol during the Blitz. Our air raid shelter is among the best preserved in the country. A real hidden gem and a must see for anyone visiting Bristol! After exploring the incredibly well preserved air raid shelter, your guide / personal air raid warden will perform a 20 minute presentation and demonstration of wartime artefacts and unique items from Bristol during the 1940’s. During this presentation you’ll be shown orignal newspapers from the dark days of the Blitz, see orignal street signs which hung in Bristol as the boms fell from above. You’ll hear personal stories from Bristolians who lived through the war and of course see gas masks, air raid sirens, stirrup pumps and much much more. The final part of your presentation then concentrates on D-Day when the U.S forces took over Bristol during their planning of the Normandy landings. You’ll then re-emerge back into the 21st century just in time for lunch! The St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour is ideal for families, solo travellers, groups, and anyone looking for the best things to do in Bristol. It combines history, culture, food, architecture, and storytelling — making it one of the most exciting and memorable Bristol tourist activities. (You can also book this tour as a private activity.) If you visit Bristol, join The St. Nicholas Market & Air Raid Shelter Walking Tour to explore Bristol’s Old Town and our incredible Air Raid Shelter! We look forward to seeing you on Bristol’s most unique walking tour in the city’s most atmospheric and historic neighbourhood..