[1] Starting at St James Barton, with Debenhams behind you, facing 'The Bear Pit'. Go down into The Bear Pit (subway) - there is both step or slope access. Take the first exit on your left; under the Premier Inn. Turn left out of the subway. As you come out you should have Beafeater on your right. Continue to walk on the raised path immediately outside this restaurant. The path takes you down St. James' Parade where you'll have Bristol Bus station on your right and St. James' Park on your left. Continue to the end of this path and down the short flight of steps. Turn right on to Lower Maudlin Street. Head to the top of this road, passing the eye and dental hospitals on your left. Turn left onto Upper Maudlin Street. Continue until you see a tiny alleyway on your left (see photo) just after the education centre and before a cafe. The alley is called Johnny Ball Lane. You'll have just passed the BRI (hospital) and the children's hospital on your right.
[2] Take Johnny Ball Lane and continue to the bottom. Be careful; this is a narrow secluded alleyway and best avoided if nervous or at night. The lane comes out on Lewins Mead. Turn right at the bottom. You'll see a sign saying 'Centre Gate Passage'. Continue under this passage way. You'll pass Christmas steps on your right. When you exit the passage way, cross at the first traffic lights you come across and then cross the road again. You'll find yourself on St Augustine's Parade; 'The Centre'. Turn right, heading away from the Blue Arrow Recruitment Services building. Soon you will come across St. Stephen's Avenue on your left. Take this Avenue past St. Stephen's Church and garden and then turn immediately left down the alleyway. The alleyway contains a small number of steps. Turn right at the end on to St. Stephen's Street. Then turn next left and immediately left again just the other side of Stanfords Book Shop. The lane is called Leonard Lane and is signposted 'CentreSpace'
[3] Leonard Lane is another narrow dark lane, so be careful if you are nervous or at night time. Continue on this lane for some time. It reaches Small Street, but continue across where it changes name to Bell Lane. This runs into Broad Street, but continue across when the lane is then called Tower Lane. Eventually you come out at the back entrance of 'Rock and Bowl Hostel' where you need to turn immediately left down the hill to Nelson Street.
[4] From here continue straight ahead on to Nelson Street, passed 'The Island' (art space) on your left - site of the former Bridewell Police Station. You'll then continue straight ahead into Broadmead and the central shopping street of Bristol. Turn left soon after Marks and Spencer into a shopping parade (a Cornish Pasty Company is on the corner) and go through the parade. You come out near the back of Marks and Spencer. Turn left and then turn right around the back of Primark. This takes you up to your starting point.
Hope you enjoyed the walk.