Redcliffe Caves: The Smuggler’s Descent
Dates
October 20, 2026
Doors
Early evening
Where
Redcliffe Caves
Tickets from
£28.50
Inside the venue
Gallery
Instant e-ticket
In your inbox the moment you pay
Secure checkout
Encrypted card payment
Guide-supervised
Every vigil led by experienced staff
Date changes
Move night up to 48 hours before*
About this
Event Description
A 2-hour horror walk and paranormal investigation inside genuine sandstone caves, followed by shanty singers and a floating food market on Bristol’s harbourside. 4pm–midnight.
- Format: A 2-hour horror walk and guide-led paranormal investigation inside genuine sandstone caves, then shanty singers and a floating food market on the harbourside.
- The Smuggler’s Bar serves alcohol to 18+ only. The venue’s real history connected to the transatlantic slave trade is addressed with care — see the content note.
- No contact: Performers will not make physical contact with guests; please don’t touch performers, fixtures or historic fabric.
- Supervision & age: All ages welcome; under-18s must be accompanied by a parent or guardian at all times, given uneven ground and low lighting.
- Optional: Your ticket covers the whole evening — only the timed headline experience needs a booked slot, so you can enjoy the festival, market and food areas without it.
Hand-carved from sandstone over centuries, Redcliffe Caves have served as a quarry, wartime air-raid shelter, and — according to well-documented local history — a holding point during Bristol’s slave trade era, a history the tour addresses directly and respectfully. This Halloween, the first half is a live-action scare walk through the tunnel network, the second half a guided paranormal investigation — and once you resurface, Bristol’s harbourside comes alive outside with shanty singers, a floating food market, and a cave-themed cocktail bar to round off the evening.
Why you should book this
Two experiences in one ticket (scare walk plus a genuine paranormal investigation) over a full 2 hours makes this the longest headline experience in the pack — genuinely strong value at £28.50 once you factor in the harbourside shanty singers and floating food market included afterwards.
What you’ll experience
- The Smuggler’s Descent — the timed 2-hour headline experience: live-action scare walk plus a guided paranormal investigation with EMF and spirit-box equipment
- Harbourside Shanty Singers — traditional sea shanty performers on the quayside from 6pm, evoking the caves’ smuggling history
- Floating Food Market — barge-based food stalls moored along the harbour all evening
- The Smuggler’s Bar — a cave-themed cocktail bar on Guinea Street, open to all evening (18+ for alcohol service)
- Bristol Docks History Talk — a short talk on the real maritime and trading history of the harbourside, held twice nightly
Evening schedule
| Time | What’s on |
|---|---|
| 4:00pm | Harbourside market and Smuggler’s Bar open |
| 5:00pm–9:30pm | Cave sessions depart every 30 minutes (2 hours each) |
| 6:00pm, 8:30pm Shanty Singers sets on the quayside | |
| 7:00pm, 9:00pm Docks History Talk | |
| 9:30pm | Last entry to the caves |
| 11:30pm | (approx.) Last cave session resurfaces |
| 11:45pm | Harbourside market last orders |
| 12:00am | Harbourside event closes |
Before you visit
🚗 Getting there & parking
By car: Guinea Street public car park is directly adjacent to the caves entrance — around a 2-minute walk. By train: Bristol Temple Meads is a 12-minute walk to Guinea Street.
🕐 Entry & times
Daily 4:00pm–12:00am, 20 Oct–1 Nov 2026. A valid ticket for your chosen date admits you to the whole evening; the timed headline experience needs its booked slot. Arrive a little before your slot — late arrivals are accommodated in a later slot subject to availability.
⚠ Code of conduct
Prohibited at all events: real or imitation weapons, full-face masks that prevent ID checks, and glass containers. Costumes are welcome within those limits. Security searches may be carried out on entry. Abusive or threatening behaviour, or failure to follow venue instructions, means removal without a refund.
Content note: This tour handles difficult historical content around Bristol’s role in the slave trade with care and factual context, led by trained guides — it is not played for shock value. Cold, damp underground conditions and low lighting throughout. Not accessible for those with mobility difficulties underground; the harbourside event is fully accessible. Good for: History-conscious visitors · Paranormal investigators · Groups wanting substance alongside scares · Anyone wanting a full evening on the harbourside either side of the caves
Getting there
Where
Venue
Redcliffe Caves
Please allow extra travel time — several of our venues are rural, with limited public transport. Parking details are on your ticket.
Event dates
October 20, 2026
Before you book
Good to know
Age policy varies by tier — check the ticket option you pick. Photo ID may be requested for age-restricted tiers.
Genuine historic buildings. Expect uneven floors and, at some venues, steep stairs and limited step-free access.
Bring a torch, warm layers and flat, sensible shoes. Venues are cold and dark.
No physical contact takes place. All vigils are guide-supervised and every activity is optional.
Still deciding
Questions
Is anything staged?
No. Nothing is staged and no outcome is ever promised. Genuine historic buildings, investigated with structured vigils and traditional techniques.
What happens after I pay?
Your e-ticket is emailed straight away, with a unique QR code per guest. Save it as PDF, add to Apple or Google Wallet, or resend from My Account.
Which ticket should I choose?
Twilight for families, Standard for the full after-dark tour, Premium for a small-group vigil with equipment, VIP for the extended late session on 31 October.
Can I change my date?
Yes, up to 48 hours before, subject to availability on the night you move to.
Do I need experience?
None at all. Guides run every session and stay with your group the whole time.
Book your experience
- Instant e-ticket by email, QR per guest
- Secure card checkout — total confirmed at checkout
- Every activity on the night is optional
£28.50
Early Bird — 20% off