HIGHLIGHTS
Guided Tours
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the harbour and its fascinating story at Underfall Yard…
Underfall Market
Looking to run a stall at the market? Dates are now live and applications are now open.
CALENDAR
Photo by Adam Gasson / adamgasson.com
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the harbour and its fascinating story at Underfall Yard! An ideal day out for history buffs or engineering enthusiasts, this tour will bring the boatyard to life with storytelling, stunning views and live demonstrations of historic machinery from the 19th and early 20th century.
Despite having lived in Bristol for decades, my Dad and I learned so much about the docks – the history, the engineering, etc. It was so informative and our guide was very knowledgeable. I’d highly recommend it!
Jo, five-star review from April 2025
Click here to book your tickets
| Adult (16+) | £10 |
| Adult + Guidebook | £13.50 |
| Child (8-16 years ) | £7.50 |
| Concession (Student | Over 65 | Bluelight card/ NHS Staff) | £8.50 |
| Concession + Guidebook (Student | Over 65 | Bluelight card/ NHS Staff) | £12 |
What’s Included?
- Guided tour of Underfall Yard’s historic boatyard
- Live demonstrations of 19th and 20th-century machinery
- Engaging storytelling about Bristol’s harbour history
- Stunning waterfront views and photo opportunities
- Access to the Underfall Café and Visitor Centre
- An exclusive 20% discount voucher for Underfall Cafe on your arrival
- Advance online bookings can include an exclusive 30% discount on our guidebook “Heart of the Harbour – The Story of Underfall Yard”.
Please arrive ten minutes before the start time to check-in and meet your tour guide. Once the tour group has left the meeting point, we cannot guarantee that you can join the tour. The meeting point is inside the Underfall Cafe and Visitor Centre, which will be open 9am – 4:30pm. You are welcome to visit before or after the tour. Accessible toilets are also available and the site is wheelchair-accessible.
The age requirement for this tour is 8+ years. Attendees aged 8-16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please make sure to read the site information on the booking site, which will also be emailed to you the day before your tour.
Photo by Adam Gasson / adamgasson.com
Take a behind-the-scenes look at the harbour and its fascinating story at Underfall Yard! An ideal day out for history buffs or engineering enthusiasts, this tour will bring the boatyard to life with storytelling, stunning views and live demonstrations of historic machinery from the 19th and early 20th century.
Despite having lived in Bristol for decades, my Dad and I learned so much about the docks – the history, the engineering, etc. It was so informative and our guide was very knowledgeable. I’d highly recommend it!
Jo, five-star review from April 2025
Click here to book your tickets
| Adult (16+) | £10 |
| Adult + Guidebook | £13.50 |
| Child (8-16 years ) | £7.50 |
| Concession (Student | Over 65 | Bluelight card/ NHS Staff) | £8.50 |
| Concession + Guidebook (Student | Over 65 | Bluelight card/ NHS Staff) | £12 |
What’s Included?
- Guided tour of Underfall Yard’s historic boatyard
- Live demonstrations of 19th and 20th-century machinery
- Engaging storytelling about Bristol’s harbour history
- Stunning waterfront views and photo opportunities
- Access to the Underfall Café and Visitor Centre
- An exclusive 20% discount voucher for Underfall Cafe on your arrival
- Advance online bookings can include an exclusive 30% discount on our guidebook “Heart of the Harbour – The Story of Underfall Yard”.
Please arrive ten minutes before the start time to check-in and meet your tour guide. Once the tour group has left the meeting point, we cannot guarantee that you can join the tour. The meeting point is inside the Underfall Cafe and Visitor Centre, which will be open 9am – 4:30pm. You are welcome to visit before or after the tour. Accessible toilets are also available and the site is wheelchair-accessible.
The age requirement for this tour is 8+ years. Attendees aged 8-16 must be accompanied by a responsible adult.
Please make sure to read the site information on the booking site, which will also be emailed to you the day before your tour.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
Yard Fest sees Underfall Yard transform into a place of fantastic music, local creative traders and makers, and a showcase of maritime machinery and traditional skills. On 19th-20th July, we celebrate our 9th edition of this great weekender – and we are going bigger than ever!
We are delighted to invite back Sonic Sounds and their rotation of DJs, providing genre-spanning global grooves to our piece of the harbour, alongside a great lineup of live music from Bristol and beyond.
We are excited to bring Underfall Market into the mix, too! A variety of well-known traders will be joining us, as well as new, rising talent, across the weekend to display their creative work. From woodcarving and ceramics to jewellery and photography – we even have some delightful food traders too…
The story of Underfall Yard is incomplete without our wondrous Victorian-era machinery and workshops. We will be running our Yard in Action event on both days for the general public to have a behind-the-scenes look at the beating heart of the historic City Docks.
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.
Underfall Market – Local Creatives at the heart of Bristol’s historic harbour
After a fantastic year for Underfall Market in 2024, we’re back with an exciting line-up for 2025!
Underfall Yard has a background of being at the centre of trade and craft for Bristol’s maritime ventures, and with Underfall Market we strive to continue that legacy. The working boatyard doubles as a destination for local arts, crafts and food traders to set up shop alongside our Victorian-era workshops and the best harbour view in the city!
Underfall Market – Dates for 2025
- Saturday 3rd May
- Bristol Harbour Festival – 19-20th July
- Saturday 2nd August
- Sea Shanty Weekender – 20-21st September
- Docks Heritage Weekend – 4-5th October
- Christmas Market – 6th-7th December
Underfall Yard Trust director Sarah Murray said:
“We are thrilled to continue welcoming Bristol’s talented makers into this historic setting and to build on the success of last year’s markets.
“The Trust remains committed to reinstating the workshops lost in the fire, ensuring the yard continues its long legacy as a working boatyard. Opening up to traders and inviting more of the public into the yard is a key part of this journey.”
Learn more about Underfall Yard’s Recovery and Reinstatement Project…
We are always on the look out for new traders to join us at our markets, too!
If you’d like to be part of our vibrant community of makers and traders, apply now!
The Docks Maintenance Workshop
The Docks Maintenance Workshop, one of the few remaining Victorian dock workshops in the world, will now have regular open hours for visitors to explore Bristol’s industrial heritage.
“Nowhere else is the essential character of the dock landscape preserved so completely…”
– J. Lord and J. Southam, 1983
This remarkable facility still houses original belt-driven machinery from the late 19th century, one of the many reasons why Underfall Yard forms the beating heart of the City Docks. Completed in 1884, the workshop provided a central workspace for the maintenance of the harbour. It is still in use by Bristol City Council’s Docks Engineers, making it a unique piece of living history.
Opening Hours
This walkthrough is open on the following dates:
- 19-20th July
- 20-21st September
- 4-5th October
This event is on a Pay What You Decide basis, with a suggested donation of £3 per person.
The workshop will be sign-posted on the east side of the yard, close to the Harbour Master’s office. Parking is not available on site for visitors, click here for more information on travelling to Underfall Yard.
Booking is not required but entry may be staggered to prevent overcrowding. Please note that dogs are not permitted to enter the workshop, and all visitors under 12 must be supervised by a responsible adult.
The workshop is an active work site, as well as a Grade II* listed historic site. Please respect the safety guidelines provided by volunteers and staff.
Visiting the yard as a group?
Group visits can be booked all year round, including a full tour of the boatyard. Click here for more information.