The route.

The Bristol Insight circuit starts at Broad Quay, at the foot of the Arnolfini, and returns there ninety minutes later after looping the harbourside, climbing out to Clifton and the Suspension Bridge, falling back down to the ss Great Britain, crossing the cathedral, skimming College Green, taking in the shopping streets of Broadmead and Cabot Circus, and returning via Temple Meads and St Mary Redcliffe.

The full loop is roughly thirteen kilometres of tarmac, but with stops that adds up to the best part of a half-day. Most visitors do the circuit once without getting off (to orient), then again with deliberate jump-offs at the stops that caught their eye.

Bus frequency

From April through October, open-top Insight buses run approximately every fifteen minutes from the Broad Quay departure point, between 09:30 and 17:30. In the winter months the frequency drops to every thirty minutes and the last loop leaves at 15:30. For Christmas illuminations tours, see Christmas in Bristol.

Tickets

Standard hop-on-hop-off tickets are valid for a full calendar day and let you rejoin the circuit at any stop. Under-fives travel free. Family tickets (two adults plus up to three under-16s) are sold at the ticket office on Broad Quay and via the Insight Bus ticketing partners.

Accessibility

All vehicles on the Insight Bus circuit are low-floor, wheelchair accessible at ground level, and provide space for one wheelchair and one buggy per bus. Audio commentary is available in English, French, German, Spanish and Italian. Large-print route maps are available at the ticket office.

On foot

If you prefer to walk the circuit, the route is broadly well-signposted via Bristol's harbour walk, Clifton path and the Cabot Circus frontage. Allow a full day. The steepest section is Constitution Hill (between Park Street and Clifton Village) - it has stairs, and the Insight Bus climbs it for a reason.