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Cathedral
Bristol Cathedral
Grade I listed cathedral on College Green, founded as an abbey in 1140 and made a cathedral in 1542.
A mini guide to
Old City, King Street & Park Street
Medieval streets, Georgian houses and museums from Corn Street up Park Street
Photos
1 / 7Welcome to the area
Medieval streets, Georgian houses and museums from Corn Street up Park Street
The Old City is the medieval core of Bristol, where Corn Street, Broad Street and Wine Street met at the High Cross. St Nicholas Market has been trading in the Exchange since 1743, and St John on the Wall still has its tower over the last surviving city gateway. King Street, laid out in the 17th century, has the Llandoger Trow pub and the Theatre Royal, home of Bristol Old Vic.
West of the cathedral and College Green, Park Street climbs towards Brandon Hill and the University of Bristol. Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, the Georgian House Museum, the Red Lodge Museum and the Wills Memorial Building are all within a short walk of each other, with cafés and bars along the street.
Highlights
Start here
If you only have a few hours, these are good places to begin.
Theatre
Bristol Old Vic
Theatre Royal on King Street, home of Bristol Old Vic, which calls itself the oldest continuously working theatre in the English-speaking world.
Historic pub
Llandoger Trow
Pub dating from 1664 on King Street, Grade II* listed and said to have inspired the Admiral Benbow Inn in Treasure Island.
Market
St Nicholas Market
Market in the Grade I listed Exchange on Corn Street, built in 1741 to 1743 by John Wood the Elder.
Church
St John on the Wall
Narrow 14th-century church with its tower over St John's Gate, the last surviving city gateway, in the care of the Churches Conservation Trust.
Museum
Red Lodge Museum
Free museum in a historic house on Park Row, from 16th-century party house to Victorian reform school for girls.
Find your way
On the map
The map shows Old City, King Street & Park Street and the streets around it. The Getting there page lists nearby stops and stations.
Insider tips
Before you go
1
Three free museums
Bristol Museum & Art Gallery, the Georgian House Museum and the Red Lodge Museum all list free entry. The Georgian House and Red Lodge open only on some days, so check Bristol Museums first.
2
Read the Georgian House story
The Georgian House was the home of a sugar plantation and slave owner, and the museum covers that history alongside the rooms upstairs and downstairs.
3
Park Street is steep
The street climbs from College Green to the Wills Memorial Building. Allow extra time with a pushchair or if you need step-free routes.
4
Check Cabot Tower
Bristol City Council's Brandon Hill page said the tower was temporarily closed for maintenance when we checked, so look at the page before you climb.
Tips from the Britlens editors
Explore this guide
Everything for Old City, King Street & Park Street
Bristol
More areas to explore
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Georgian terraces, the Downs and Brunel's bridge above the Avon Gorge
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12 sights · 18 places to eat
Stokes Croft, St Pauls & Montpelier
Street art, independent venues and Georgian squares north of the centre
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12 sights · 21 places to eat
Redcliffe, Temple Meads & Bedminster
Brunel's station, a great parish church and the murals of Bedminster
Open the mini guide →Photo credits
- Old City, King Street & Park Street (area photo): Hyspaosines, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Bristol Cathedral: Adrian Pingstone., Public domain, source
- Bristol Old Vic: Rodw, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Llandoger Trow: Photographed by Adrian Pingstone, Public domain, source
- St Nicholas Market: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- St John on the Wall: NotFromUtrecht, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Red Lodge Museum: Rodw at English Wikipedia, Public domain, source
- Georgian House Museum: Heather Cowper from Bristol, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Bristol Museum & Art Gallery: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Wills Memorial Building: Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK, CC BY 2.0, source
- Cabot Tower: Enrique Íñiguez Rodríguez (Qoan), CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Bristol Beacon: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- College Green: Raboe001, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Castle Park: Adrian Pingstone, Public domain, source
- Clifton & the Suspension Bridge: Anthony O'Neil, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Stokes Croft, St Pauls & Montpelier: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Redcliffe, Temple Meads & Bedminster: The wub, CC BY-SA 4.0, source
- Avon Gorge, Leigh Woods & Ashton Court: Tiia Monto, CC BY-SA 3.0, source
- Whiteladies Road & Redland: Steve Daniels, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Gloucester Road & Bishopston: Derek Harper, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
- Harbourside & Millennium Square: Andrew Abbott, CC BY-SA 2.0, source
Photos from Wikimedia Commons, used under the licences shown. All photo credits
Keep exploring Bristol