A street outside the old city
King Street was created in 1650 as Bristol merchants began developing the marshland beyond the old walled city into a new residential quarter.
Development of the north side began in 1663 and the street was named in honour of Charles II.
Its surviving cobbles and remarkable collection of buildings make King Street one of the best places in Bristol to see several centuries of architecture standing almost side by side.
Among its oldest institutions are the Merchant Venturers’ Almshouses, founded in 1554 to provide accommodation for elderly and sick seamen, and the Old Library, whose origins stretch back to one of England’s earliest public libraries.
More than 250 years of theatre
King Street is home to Bristol Old Vic, originally the Theatre Royal, which opened in 1766.
The interior was designed by James Paty, taking inspiration from Wren’s Drury Lane Theatre. Its horseshoe-shaped auditorium retains 18th-century features, including benches visible from the gallery.
Alongside it stands the earlier Coopers’ Hall, built in 1743–44 and later incorporated into the theatre complex.
Actor Daniel Day-Lewis described Bristol Old Vic as “the most beautiful theatre in England”, and extensive redevelopment has since revealed parts of the historic theatre that had previously been hidden.
Jazz on King Street
Music is woven into the history of this part of Bristol.
The Old Duke dates from around 1775, when it was known as the Duke of Cumberland. Today its name recalls Duke Ellington and its reputation is firmly associated with traditional New Orleans-inspired jazz and blues.
The musical story continues nearby at the Old Granary.
Built in 1869 as a grain warehouse, its distinctive polychrome brickwork became associated with the architectural style known as Bristol Byzantine.
In 1960 a jazz club opened inside under the guidance of Acker Bilk. It later became a celebrated rock venue, hosting bands including Yes, Genesis, Status Quo, Iron Maiden, Dire Straits and Motörhead.
Sailors, stories and the Spanish Main
Towards Welsh Back stands the Llandoger Trow, whose half-timbered façade has been part of this harbour quarter since 1664.
The inn takes its name from the flat-bottomed trows that sailed across the Bristol Channel carrying goods from South Wales.
Its first landlord was Captain Hawkins, himself a retired sailor.
Legend adds another famous visitor. The castaway Alexander Selkirk is said to have met Daniel Defoe here and recounted the story of the four years he spent marooned on an uninhabited Pacific island.
Selkirk’s experiences are often associated with Defoe’s Robinson Crusoe, although the story of their meeting at the Llandoger Trow remains legend rather than established fact.
Queen Square and a city in revolt
Queen Square began to take shape in 1699 on land that had once been marsh.
Named after Queen Anne, who visited in 1702, it developed into one of Bristol’s grandest residential squares.
That elegance was shattered during the Bristol Riots of 1831, when many of its houses were damaged or destroyed.
The unrest followed Parliament’s rejection of the second Reform Bill, at a time when Bristol had a population of more than 100,000 but only around 6,000 people were entitled to vote.
The square was subsequently rebuilt and today provides one of the city’s finest surviving Georgian spaces.
Back to the harbour
From Queen Square, the walk returns to Bristol’s maritime landscape.
The Hole in the Wall recalls the days when sailors feared press gangs who could forcibly recruit men into the Royal Navy. A projecting section of the building overlooking the harbour is traditionally associated with keeping watch for press gangs and government agents searching for smugglers.
Nearby, the Arnolfini occupies Bush House on the waterfront, while Pero’s Bridge crosses St Augustine’s Reach.
The bridge is named after Pero Jones, who was brought to Bristol from the Caribbean island of Nevis in the 18th century. Its distinctive horn-shaped counterweights have given it another familiar Bristol nickname — the Horned Bridge.
What you’ll discover
King Street combines some of Bristol’s best-preserved historic streets with the city’s theatre, music and maritime heritage.
- King Street — a cobbled street created beyond Bristol’s medieval walls.
- Bristol Old Vic — more than 250 years of theatrical history.
- The Old Duke — a Bristol institution synonymous with jazz and blues.
- Llandoger Trow — a 17th-century inn surrounded by maritime and literary legend.
- Welsh Back — part of Bristol’s historic working harbour.
- Queen Square — Georgian grandeur and the dramatic events of the 1831 riots.
- Pero’s Bridge — a modern harbour landmark carrying the name of Pero Jones.
The complete City Walks Bristol guide follows the route through these historic streets and along the harbour, revealing many more stories hidden behind their buildings, pubs, theatres and quaysides.
