Guided Tours

Discover 900 years of history

Our guided tours are the best way to discover the history, architecture, and hidden details of Bristol Cathedral. Led by knowledgable and passionate guides, every tour brings the building to life in ways you wouldn’t expect.

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  • We offer two guided tour experiences, each giving you a different way into the Cathedral’s story.
  • Led by expert volunteers who know and love this building deeply.

Practical information

Meeting point

All tours begin at the Welcome Area inside the main entrance on College Green.

  • Some areas of the Highlights Tour involve uneven floors and steps, particularly around the Norman Chapter House.
  • The Tower Tour involves climbing 172 steps up a narrow spiral staircase with low doorways and pipes along the route.
  • Comfortable, flat-soled footwear is recommended for both tours.
  • If you have any questions, please get in touch before booking and we will do our best to help.

Exclusive Tour Offer

Why not make a day of it?

Our friends at Pinkmans Café offer a delicious afternoon tea package alongside out Tuesday Highlights Tours – perfect for birthdays, celebrations, or simply enjoying a leisurely afternoon after exploring the Cathedral.

A cream tea can be added to any tour.

Both options are available when you book your ticket.

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Upcoming Tours

Guided Tours

Highlights Tour

Join one of Bristol Cathedral’s dedicated tour guides as they take you on a journey spanning 900 years of history, heritage, and architecture at the extraordinary Bristol Cathedral! From the tale of St Jordan of Bristol (yes, Bristol has a saint!) through to the ordination of the first women priests in 1994, joining a Bristol Cathedral Highlights Tour is the best and most fascinating way to get to know one of the grandest buildings in the city of Bristol! The tours last between 45-60 minutes, and your guide will meet you inside the Cathedral at the Welcome Area. The entrance to Bristol Cathedral is level access. However, some areas of the Cathedral included in the highlights tours involve uneven floors and steps, particularly when accessing the Norman Chapter House. Sensible footwear is advised. If you have any accessibility requests or concerns and you would like to go on a highlights tour please contact Bristol Cathedral at [email protected] before booking your tickets.   Cream Tea Add-On A freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam, served with a pot of tea by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. The perfect way to round off your tour.

Fri 24 Jul | 13:15 – 14:15
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Highlights Tour

Join one of Bristol Cathedral’s dedicated tour guides as they take you on a journey spanning 900 years of history, heritage, and architecture at the extraordinary Bristol Cathedral! From the tale of St Jordan of Bristol (yes, Bristol has a saint!) through to the ordination of the first women priests in 1994, joining a Bristol Cathedral Highlights Tour is the best and most fascinating way to get to know one of the grandest buildings in the city of Bristol! The tours last between 45-60 minutes, and your guide will meet you inside the Cathedral at the Welcome Area. The entrance to Bristol Cathedral is level access. However, some areas of the Cathedral included in the highlights tours involve uneven floors and steps, particularly when accessing the Norman Chapter House. Sensible footwear is advised. If you have any accessibility requests or concerns and you would like to go on a highlights tour please contact Bristol Cathedral at [email protected] before booking your tickets.   Cream Tea Add-On A freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam, served with a pot of tea by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. The perfect way to round off your tour.

Sat 25 Jul | 11:00 – 12:00
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected] Cream Tea Add-On A freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam, served with a pot of tea by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. The perfect way to round off your tour.

Sat 25 Jul | 11:00 – 11:00
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected]

Sat 25 Jul | 14:30 – 15:45
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Afternoon Tea & Tour

Join one of Bristol Cathedral’s dedicated tour guides as they take you on a journey spanning 900 years of history, heritage, and architecture at the extraordinary Bristol Cathedral! From the tale of St Jordan of Bristol (yes, Bristol has a saint!) through to the ordination of the first women priests in 1994, joining a Bristol Cathedral Highlights Tour is the best and most fascinating way to get to know one of the grandest buildings in the city of Bristol! The tours last between 45-60 minutes, and your guide will meet you inside the Cathedral at the Welcome Area.  

Optional Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea Add-On (Tuesday Highlights Tour only) A selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and a pot of tea, served by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. A relaxed way to finish your Tuesday Highlights Tour. The entrance to Bristol Cathedral is level access. However, some areas of the Cathedral included in the highlights tours involve uneven floors and steps, particularly when accessing the Norman Chapter House. Sensible footwear is advised. If you have any accessibility requests or concerns and you would like to go on a highlights tour please contact Bristol Cathedral at [email protected] before booking your tickets.  

Tue 28 Jul | 14:30 – 15:30
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected] Cream Tea Add-On A freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam, served with a pot of tea by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. The perfect way to round off your tour.

Sat 01 Aug | 11:00 – 11:00
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected]

Sat 01 Aug | 14:30 – 15:45
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Afternoon Tea & Tour

Join one of Bristol Cathedral’s dedicated tour guides as they take you on a journey spanning 900 years of history, heritage, and architecture at the extraordinary Bristol Cathedral! From the tale of St Jordan of Bristol (yes, Bristol has a saint!) through to the ordination of the first women priests in 1994, joining a Bristol Cathedral Highlights Tour is the best and most fascinating way to get to know one of the grandest buildings in the city of Bristol! The tours last between 45-60 minutes, and your guide will meet you inside the Cathedral at the Welcome Area.  

Optional Afternoon Tea

Afternoon Tea Add-On (Tuesday Highlights Tour only) A selection of sandwiches, freshly baked scones with clotted cream and jam, and a pot of tea, served by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. A relaxed way to finish your Tuesday Highlights Tour. The entrance to Bristol Cathedral is level access. However, some areas of the Cathedral included in the highlights tours involve uneven floors and steps, particularly when accessing the Norman Chapter House. Sensible footwear is advised. If you have any accessibility requests or concerns and you would like to go on a highlights tour please contact Bristol Cathedral at [email protected] before booking your tickets.  

Tue 04 Aug | 14:30 – 15:30
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected] Cream Tea Add-On A freshly baked scone with clotted cream and jam, served with a pot of tea by Pinkmans Café in our cloister. The perfect way to round off your tour.

Sat 08 Aug | 11:00 – 11:00
Bristol Cathedral

Guided Tours

Tower Tour

Step behind closed doors and climb the soaring tower of Bristol Cathedral on a special guided tour that will take you through 900 years of history and architecture. Climb the 172 steps of Bristol Cathedral’s Tower for a guided tour where you’ll learn how the Cathedral has evolved over time and the engineering feats that have made it into the beautiful building you see today. You will come face to face with some of the finest medieval bells in the world, tales of Isambard Kingdom Brunel, and uncover the mysteries of the original 12th-century abbey that once dominated College Green. This tour involves ascending almost 200 steps up a spiral staircase which is narrow in places, with low-hanging doorways and pipes along the route. To make sure the tour is suitable for you and your group please consult the terms and conditions below. For Carers tickets please email [email protected]

Sat 08 Aug | 14:30 – 15:45
Bristol Cathedral

Interested in learning more about Bristol Cathedral’s past?

GROUP AND PRIVATE TOURS

Planning a visit for a group, organisation, or special occasion? We offer tailored tour experiences for groups of all kinds — from corporate away days to society visits, school groups to international tour operators.

We can build a tour around your interests, combine a Cathedral visit with the Lord Mayor’s Chapel nearby, or create a bespoke itinerary for a truly memorable experience.

Volunteering - Guide

Get in touch!

Small in size. Extraordinary in detail.

The Lord Mayor’s Chapel

A short walk from the Cathedral on College Green, the Lord Mayor’s Chapel is one of Bristol’s most extraordinary historic buildings. Filled with remarkable stained glass, medieval tiles, and monuments spanning centuries of Bristol’s civic life, it is well worth a visit in its own right. The Chapel is open to the public on Saturdays from 10.30am to 4pm. It can also be included in a bespoke group or private tour itinerary on request.

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044 - March 30, 2023 - Lord Mayor's Chapel - full res - DSC_9607-HDR - PULLEN
055 - March 30, 2023 - Lord Mayor's Chapel - full res - DSC_9662-HDR - PULLEN
Berkeley, Maurice and Ellen
LMC Windows
LMC Window
Gookin, John - figure detail
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