Wills Memorial Building, Bristol
Wills Memorial Building
Wills Memorial Building
5
About
Take a tour of the Bristol University Wills Memorial building and meet the 7th largest bell in the UK, as well as being there when the famous Great George strikes. Whilst on the tour, you can climb to the top of the 68m tower and see the panoramic views of Bristol. You will also visit the Great Hall, the Library, the Old Council Chamber and the Reception Room. The tours are held on Saturdays , Prices Visitors: £5 Students and Senior Citizens: Group bookings and Evening tours are available upon request.
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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5.0
512 reviews
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419
Very good
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1
Adam Saun
York, UK181 contributions
Aug 2021 • Solo
A beautiful building that is the centrepiece of Park street. It is used today by the University as a library and for graduation ceremonies, among other things. I took a guided tour to the top, which was well worth the £5 I paid for a two hour tour. We learnt about the history of the building and got to see the massive bell strike 12 times at midday. Afterwards, we climbed the narrow staircase all the way to the top to see the stunning views of Bristol.
Written December 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Matthew B
1 contribution
Dec 2021 • Family
Gary and his team were amazing!
Such knowledgeable and friendly guides, and they really engaged with the children (8 & 10) and kept them interested the whole time.
1.5 hours for only £5 per person is such great value for what you get.
Such knowledgeable and friendly guides, and they really engaged with the children (8 & 10) and kept them interested the whole time.
1.5 hours for only £5 per person is such great value for what you get.
Written December 5, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Jo S
1 contribution
Nov 2021 • Couples
This was really fascinating! We were led by 3 very helpful guides who were able to answer all curious questions. The view from the top of the tower is just incredible and being in the bell room with big George was quite an amazing experience. I’ve lived in Bristol for 12 years and can’t believe I hadn’t done this sooner - I learned a lot!
Wills building is at the top of park street which has some great shops and cafes if you’re looking for something to do before or after the tour.
Wills building is at the top of park street which has some great shops and cafes if you’re looking for something to do before or after the tour.
Written November 21, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Ellen
London, UK1 contribution
Nov 2021 • Couples
Fantastic tour of the Wills Memorial Building. Tour guides were really friendly and knowledgeable. The tour takes you all around the building - we are students at Bristol and we hadn’t seen half the things they showed us! We had a really great time and learnt lots.
Written November 13, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Maya L
1 contribution
Nov 2021 • Family
The guided the tour was amazing! All 3 of the guides were very kind and helpful. The views were incredible and bell very loud (but fun!).
Written November 6, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Kevin S
54 contributions
Oct 2021
Bristol has more than its fair share of classic buildings, and this is yet another. Tall and erect, this lovely landmark deserves to be visited, and admired.
Written October 27, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Alison18
Wimbledon282 contributions
Oct 2021
We had an unofficial tour from our nephew who is studying at Bristol and lucky enough to have lectures in this building. A very kind member of staff unlocked the doors to the Great Hall and talked to us about the history of the building, the scorch marks on the floor from the bombings and the ghost of the soldier in the library!
Written October 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
CXX1
Weston super Mare, UK73 contributions
Sep 2021
This is a gem of a tour. Well organised, very informative with a bit of fun thrown in by the tour guide Gary. A fantastic building to look inside and the views from the top of the tower are superb. Great value for money at £5 - which goes to charity, Do this tour, you will not be disappointed.
Written September 18, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
macedonboy
Glasgow, UK151,202 contributions
Sep 2021
Visited the Wills Memorial Building as part of the regular tours of the building. This incredible Neo-Gothic building is a memorial to Henry Overton Wills III, a major benefactor of Bristol University.
Immediately upon entering, you’ll see one of the most intricate fan vaults you're likely see in Gothic architecture. The tour lasts 1 to 1.5 hours and takes you all the way to the top of the tower where you’ll get incredible views of Bristol and as far away as Wales. You’ll also get to see the libraries, which were designed with old school charm.
The tour guide we got was Gary and he gave us all a fantastic talk about the history of the university and took us through some amazing rooms including the Great Hall, the Council Chamber and the aforementioned library. The tours are also timed so that it ends with when the Great George bell rings, which is a fun experience in itself. Well worth the tour fee.
Immediately upon entering, you’ll see one of the most intricate fan vaults you're likely see in Gothic architecture. The tour lasts 1 to 1.5 hours and takes you all the way to the top of the tower where you’ll get incredible views of Bristol and as far away as Wales. You’ll also get to see the libraries, which were designed with old school charm.
The tour guide we got was Gary and he gave us all a fantastic talk about the history of the university and took us through some amazing rooms including the Great Hall, the Council Chamber and the aforementioned library. The tours are also timed so that it ends with when the Great George bell rings, which is a fun experience in itself. Well worth the tour fee.
Written September 11, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
Lorraine Hughes
Bristol, UK41 contributions
Aug 2021
Great tour and amazing views . 340 steps to get to the top so may need to use one of the seats when you get there!!! I did - lol. We were able to watch the huge bell strike 3 pm and look down on the ‘Mars’ exhibition from a viewing gallery. Well worth £5 per person. Both guides were very knowledgeable and entertaining.
Written August 3, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC.
are you open for tours on sat 31st dec 2016
matthewharris2015
Bristol, UK27 contributions
Its doubtfull
Frequently Asked Questions about Wills Memorial Building
- We recommend booking Wills Memorial Building tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 1 Wills Memorial Building tours on Tripadvisor
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