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9 locations not to miss during Bristol Open Doors
From Grade-II listed buildings to tours of sewage works, these are some of the best locations to visit this year at Bristol Open Doors, running from September 13-15 2019:
1.Blaise Community Garden
Next to Blaise House Museum, Henbury Road, BS10 7QS
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Saturday, 11am-3pm
Learn how Victorians grew plants for using in medicine and go on a guided tour to find out more about Victorian gardens. There will also be an activity area with trails, herb testing and more.
2.Avonmouth Asphalt Plant
Rockingham Park, Smoke Lane, BS11 0YA
Saturday, 10am-5pm
Find out about road making in Bristol and go on a tour of the plant, which will take place every 15 minutes – climb aboard machinery, learn about new, greener technology and take part in demonstrations.
3. Bristol Biosources & Renewable Energy Park
Kings Weston Lane, Avonmouth, BS11 0YS
Saturday, 10am-4pm
Learn how Bristol’s waste is treated and transformed into fertilisers and renewable energy with guided tours run throughout the day. No nose pegs required!
4.Bristol Museum & Art Gallery
Queen’s Road, BS8 1RL
Saturday, 10am-5pm
Get behind the glass cabinets and join a small group to explore the collection stores and conservation laboratories.
Find out about the history and architecture of the Edwardian Baroque building and learn more about one of the city’s most valued buildings.
Photo by Eve Andreski
5. Underfall Yard
Cumberland Road, BS1 6XG
Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 10am-5pm
A lesser-known jewel in the yard’s crown is its ‘time capsule’ Victorian workshop and a tour can be booked to take a look around the forges, machines and line shafting.
The yard will also be open throughout the festival for people wanting to drop in for a look around the rest of the site.
Photo by Chris Wilkins
6. LV 55 John Sebastian Light Ship
Bathurst Basin, BS1 6SG
Friday, midday-5pm, Saturday & Sunday, 10am-5pm
A lesser known piece of the city’s maritime past, the ship ensured safe travel around the shores of the South West.
Take a tour, enjoy demonstrations and view a theatre show on Saturday and Sunday at 3pm. If that wasn’t enough, there will also be a live band, colouring for children, competitions and refreshments.
7. Freemasons’ Hall
17-31 Park Street, BS1 5NH
Friday & Sunday, 10am-2pm
Set in the heart of Bristol, this Grade II listed building will be opening its doors during the festival for the first time in 2019. Recently refurbished, the building is primarily used for Freemasonry meetings and is normally not open to the public and tours of the building will take place at 10am, 11.30am and 1pm.
8.St Paul’s Community Darkrooms and The Real Photography Company
St Paul’s Learning Centre, BS2 8XJ
Saturday & Sunday, 10am-4pm
Invented in Bristol in 1803, this is a chance to follow in the footsteps of the city’s fathers of photography, Humphrey Davy and Thomas Wedgwood.
Talks will be held every hour on the hour on the history of photography in the city and there will also be a chance to take part in a workshop, exposing and developing an image of a leaf.
9.Going Underground: Wild Sound at Redcliffe Caves
Phoenix Wharf, Redcliffe, BS1 6SW
Saturday & Sunday, various times
Hidden behind a small door in the banks of the city’s harbour are the Redcliffe Caves. In 2019, they will come alive with the sound of salt-mining elephants and haunting seal pups, petrel seabirds and tiny insects.
Slots must be booked beforehand and tickets for adults are £5, tickets for children aged three-15 are £2 and children under three go free.
Photo by Jon Craig
Find out more at www.bristolopendoors.org.uk
Main photo by Jon Craig
Read more: Be a tourist in your own city
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