Bristol Open Doors Explorer Wristband launched

Bristol Open Doors is back, but not as you know it. This year the city wide festival takes place from Friday 10 - Sunday 12 of September, and is offering you the chance to explore the city with your own Explorer Wristband that allows you to choose from over 60 specially curated adventures.

This year, the programme boasts a huge range of adventures to choose from, whether you’re looking to immerse yourself in audio tours, get a sneak peek inside Bristol Beacon, discover the history of Motion by daylight, tour Circomedia, jump on a boat, or take an atmospheric audio tour of Redcliffe Caves.

Image: Bristol Open Doors Redcliffe Caves CREDIT Jon Craig.

This year the festival features outdoors theatre at Ashton Court Mansion, brought to you by Show of Strength Theatre Company, where audiences can explore a moment at home with the Smyths. From high born to low born, from Civil War to Second World War and from first resident Hugh Smyth to Esme Smyth. Follow the Smyth’s through 400 years of Bristolian history. Full of family secrets, buried treasure and impostors, Ashton Court Mansion will never look the same again. 

The Explorer Wristband allows you to choose up to 4 of the 67 experiences, 
Anna Rutherford, Director at Design West explains;
“It’s been a busy lockdown for us as the team has worked with audio designers, artists, venues and historians to create a living history of the city’s spaces. This year, for the safety of our brilliant audiences, venues and volunteers, all experiences must be pre-booked online which allows us to keep to safe group numbers. We're excited that this year's programme gets you behind the scenes of some of Bristol's cultural icons with plenty of surprises!” 

All of the events from this year's incredible programme have been designed to ensure audiences feel safe and will each have a bookable time slot, with lots of experiences being outdoors, including 5 immersive audio tours, boat tours, and outdoor theatre. 
It’s never been easier to be a tourist in your own city for the weekend, and thanks to First Bus, you can now travel easily between venues as your Explorer wristband entitles you to free travel across the city during Bristol Open Doors. 

Image: Bristol Open Doors Walking Event CREDIT Jeremy Fennell Wainwright.

Anna continues with: “After an incredibly challenging few years for the heritage and culture sector, we’re supporting venues to re-open this September, and are asking audiences to join us in showing our city some love. Bristol Open Doors is organised by a charity and runs on a not-for-profit basis. Creativity and culture is at the heart of Bristol. This year we’ve worked with our city’s creatives to bring our heritage to life.”
Included in this year's programme is the chance to tour Temple Church and see at close the specialist conservation that is happening. The leaning tower and walls of this large late medieval church survived bombing during the second world war. Tour the internal space led by historic experts and discover how the work will protect the building’s history and hear about the building’s unique features including the aumbry & reredos, repairs to stonework and the stone tracery of the windows.

Explorer wristbands are now on sale for this year’s festival, and once purchased, you will then be able to book up to 4 experiences using your unique code. 
Head to Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter to find out more, or visit www.bristolopendoors.org.uk and follow Bristol Open Doors with hashtags #ExploreTheCity  #BrtistolOpenDoors