Walking tours of St George Bermuda with a local guide
If you do not have the time to take the
Self Guided tour of St George, and instead like to take a shorter tour with a professional guide who can explain the background and history of all landmarks you visit then the tours described below can be good options. You can take a tour of the historic town accompanied by a native guide.
The advantage here is that you won't need to look around and find the sites, the guide will systematically take you to all the main places of interest and thereby completing such walking tour in a shorter duration.
However, the town corporation of St George requires that only certified tour guides can conduct such walking tours of the historic town. After all, St George has been accorded the World Heritage Site status by UNESCO. You can either join a group walking tour that operates on per person rate or a private tour.
NOTE: You can find several great guided walking tours in Bermuda (both group as well as private tours) through
this Viator site. You can check the tour details, rates and book one online.
Here are some select guided walking tours to explore St George.
Long Story Short Tours
Kristin White is an entrepreneur, story teller and an experienced tour guide in St. George. She is a native Bermudian and has been living in St. George for many years. She has a deep passion for the history and food culture of Bermuda, and particularly when it relates to the historic town of St. George.
She shares her deep insights and experience to visitors through curated guided tours. So, if you are interested in a tour that explores the
history & heritage of Bermuda, the beautiful coastline and the beaches in St. George or the
traditional food of the island, then she is one of the best persons to plan your tour with.
Kristin conducts both private and group walking as well as bicycle tours. The tours usually start from her little charming store known as
Long Story Short located in St. George (#7 Water Street). You can contact Kristin (Email:
[email protected], Phone/Whatsapp: 441/705.1838) for booking the following guided tours or for further information.
Below are the highlights of some of her guided tours (schedule and rates are subject to change):
Group Walking Tour of St. George
This is one of her most popular tours. This 90-minute tour explores the historic Town of St. George. You will get to see and know the history behind
centuries-old historic buildings, learn about the local artists and businessmen, and enjoy the charm of this quaint town, its cobblestone narrow streets and neighborhoods.
The sites on this guided walking tour includes
African Diaspora Heritage Trail, many stories related to the oldest neighborhood of the town where the first settlement took place in the island, visiting the famous
St. Peter’s Church which is the oldest Anglican church still in use in the western hemisphere, you will also see and know about the cemetery in the church compound.
This group walking tour takes place only on Saturdays (10:30am to 12pm).
Indicative cost per person: $45 - adults, $35 - seniors of 65+ and children 12-17. This tour cost includes donation to the church.
Private Electric Bike Tour
This is a 2-hour tour on electric bicycles. The tour focuses mainly on the beautiful coastline of St. George along with historic forts that were built during the British colonial days. You will visit the
Unfinished Church that was never completed due to parish infighting and lack of funds, the famous
Fort St. Catherine and then the beautiful small beach
Tobacco Bay which is ideal for swimming and snorkeling. Following the tour, if you want you can explore St. George on your own and return the bike later.
This private tour costs $460 for up to a private group of 4, and $105 for every additional person.
Private Walk and Electric Bike Tour
This is a 3-hour (half day) private combination tour where you first walk and explore the historic sites of St. George with Kristin for the first 75 minutes (similar to the group walking tour of St. George) followed by riding electric bicycle to explore the forts and beaches.
This private tour costs $560 for up to a group of 4, and $140 for every additional person.
Electric Bike Tour to explore St. David's
This is also a private group tour on electric bikes that explores St. David's island... the lesser known part of St. George's parish. This guided tour lasts for 3 hours. You will first visit the
Carter House Museum and learn about the unique community there. Then you will visit the beautiful
Clearwater Beach. You will then explore the adjoining
Cooper's Island Nature Reserve which is full of wonderful plantations and water bodies. There are a few lovely beaches in the reserve and you will get an opportunity to swim in one of them.
On your way back, the tour stops at a concession for a snack break before heading back to St. George. You can optionally keep exploring on your own and return the bike later.
This tour costs $560 for up to a private group of 4, and $140 for every additional person.
Haunted History Walking Tour
This is a guided group tour which takes place after dark. The guide acts as a story teller narrating interesting stories about St. George since its early settlement in 17th century and there are character roles played by several actors who would appear as you walk through the alleyways giving life to the story. This is a novel concept of knowing and visualizing different aspect of Bermuda's history.
UNESCO World Heritage Walking Tours
These short walking tours are organized by St. George's Foundation (which administers World Heritage Center located at Penno's Wharf at the western end of Water Street). Certified tour guides will take you through important landmarks and historical sites in St. George's following a set route and explain the historical significance of each.
Sites covered in such tours include
Replica of the ship Deliverance which was used by Sir George Somers (founder of Bermuda) to continue his sail to James Town,
Ducking Stool which is a historical reenactment of how talkative wenches were punished in earlier days,
Town Hall of St. George and the display of Stocks and Pillory placed in front of the building,
Thomas Moore garden named after the Irish poet who visited the island in early 1800s,
A historical building Buckingham created in Georgian style in mid 1700s,
The State House,
Tour fee
Tickets $12 for adults, $6 for children under 12. Tickets available at the St. George’s VIC.
Tour Timings
The guided tour is usually held between April 1 and October 31: The tour departs from the St. George’s Visitor Service Center at Kings Square, 10.30 am, Monday through Thursday and Saturday. You should contact the Visitors Service Center at Kings Square for current tour schedule.
Contact Info
Visitors Service Center at Kings Square, St. George.
Cedar Tours
The young lady Penelope Greene conducts this walking tour. Although it's a relatively new operation, she is a tour guide certified by St George's town and also has received Bermuda's Blue Flag Certification as a guide. But what I like the most is she is a St Georgian herself having been born and brought up in this historic town. So it is like walking with a native who knows all about her place and its history.
Other than visiting some important historical sites and gardens, the tour also includes observing old and unique architecture, walking along alleyways and narrow streets that had been named since the early British settlement in 1600s, visiting some local stores to look at local merchandize etc so that you get a good feel of the town and its vibe.
The tour starts at Kings Square (near the Town Hall). You will cross the small bridge to Ordnance Island and see the replica of
17th century ship Deliverance which was built by George Somers and his men to sail to James Town. They were the survivors of the wrecked ship Sea Venture.
The tour will take you through various other great sites including
2)
Somer's Garden with beautiful settings of plants and flowers and great for photo shots,
6) Walking through Shinbone Alley and other streets of St George,
7) Watching historical reenactment of ducking stool at 12:00 noon, etc.
Tour operates on: Monday through Friday, starts at 11am.
Starting and ending locations: Kings Square
Tour Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes (approximately)
Tour cost: $30 per person. Lunch and additional sites optional.
Update May 2018: Penelope Greene is no longer conducting this tour. She has moved to Hamilton.
Location and Contact
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Visitors' Reviews and Comments
Jean Weston (April 2023)
We are arriving on Wednesday May 24 and will be there until Friday the 26th (Norwegian cruise line). I was interested in one of your St George walking tours that was dine by Penelope Green, but saw she no longer does this. Has anyone else taken over her Cedars tour, or something similar. I was especially interested in the architecture aspect that was mentioned in hers, as well as the gardens. We are interested in a tour by a local guide, thought that was the most efficient way to see the sights in a short amount of time. If tour is not I'm the afternoon on Wednesday, we would have to do it on Friday, but ship departs that day at 3:00. I'd truly appreciate your assistance in this matter. Thanks
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) April 2023
Hello, you can consider one of the guided walking tours offered by Kristin White... she is a local guide and a storyteller. She lives in St. George and has a small store on Water Street... the walking tours start from her store. Suggest you go through the section 'Long Story Short Tours'.
Bonnie Betz (May 2018)
Hello, On your website you have information about a walking tour of St George with Penelope Greene. I sent an email to the email address you have listed and it was returned as undeliverable. I am very interested in contacting her for a walking tour for 6 people. Do you have any updated contact info for her? THANK YOU!
Raj (bermuda-attractions.com) May 2018
Hi, she seems to have moved out of St. George to Hamilton, and no longer conducting the tour.
Janice J (August 2015)
Penelope Greene's tour of St. George's was informative and fun. She has a great personality and we learned a lot during her walking tour. We are so glad that we decided to take this tour during our cruise stop in Bermuda.
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