Although the idea of the learning city occupies a prominent place in the field of lifelong learning, it is still largely under-researched. The research note draws on an ongoing study in Bristol involving multi-sited ethnography, including participant observation, interviews and ethnographic encounters. In this research note, we argue that that using anthropological methods affords valuable insights into the relatively neglected aspects of urban learning within the international discourse surrounding learning cities. It can help to reveal the everyday practices through which the city affords learning and to explore how learners improvise and navigate the city.