Bristol Blitz – Above Ground Walking Tour

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. The scale of destruction permanently altered the city’s historic core.

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. It offers a chance to see how the Blitz reshaped Bristol and how a new city emerged from the destruction of the old.

Companion Experience: The Air Raid Shelter Tour

For those who want to deepen their understanding of Bristol’s wartime story, this walk pairs perfectly with our Air Raid Shelter Tour. Where this route explores the transformation of the city above ground, the shelter tour reveals the hidden world beneath it—the spaces where Bristolians waited, hoped, and endured during the Blitz.

Taken together, the two tours offer a fuller picture of how the war reshaped both the physical city and the lives of the people who called it home. Guests can purchase both experiences as a combined ticket, saving 20% while gaining a richer, more immersive understanding of Bristol in its darkest hours.