Brandon Hill

General information

Brandon Hill, Off Park Street, Bristol BS1

Introduction

A couple of minutes walk from the city centre, Brandon Hill may be the oldest municipal open space in the country, coming into the posession of Bristol Corporation in 1174. It was sublet to farmers for grazing until 1625 when it became a public open space, to be used for what seems to be ‘unrestricted recreational pursuits’..! These days, Brandon Hill is one of Bristol’s most popular summer picnic spots with plenty to interest everyone, panoramic views of the city, and spectacular sunsets.

Access

Brandon Hill Park is open all day, all year round. Access is from Great George Street (off Park Street), Jacob Wells Road and Berkely Square – two minutes walk from the centre promenade. There is very limited parking in the roads off Park Street. Due to the very hilly nature of the site, access is very limited for people with disabilities and wheelchair users.

Plan your journey to Brandon Hill with Journey Planner , City Map Viewer and Regional Map

Click here to view a GIS map of Brandon Hill.

Community, clubs and associations

Bristol Parks are currently trying to set up a Friends Group for Brandon Hill Park.  If you would like more information or if you are interested in being part of such a group then please see the attached flyer for more information.

Events

Bristol's parks host hundreds of events each year from keynote festivals and performances in the city's magnificent green spaces, through sporting events and charity fundraisers, to smaller scale community events in local parks. Most of these events take place from April to September. To find out what is happening in the park, visit What's On. If you are interested in promoting an event in one of Bristol's parks and green spaces, click here for further information.

Facilities

There are toilets near the top ponds, close to the Cabot Tower, which are open the same hours as the tower.

Management and maintenance

If you have any comments, queries or concerns about the management and maintenance of this site, please contact Bristol Parks on the details below and we will ensure your information is promptly actioned.

Plants and wildlife

Part of Brandon Hill is set aside as a nature park and was the first of its kind to be established in Britain, becoming a site of nature study in 1981. A pond is now well established with a meadow of grass allowed to grow long to encourage wildlife. The trust manages part of the site from the Old Police Station on Brandon Hill. To find out more visit the Avon Wildlife Trust website. To find out more about wildlife in Bristol, click here.

Play facilities and activities

There is a small dog-free play area for under 12s set in lovely parkland towards the bottom of the hill. Children will also enjoy walking through the parkland and climbing the hill and tower. Please do not feed the squirrels.

Follow this link to find out more about Play in Bristol and in the city's parks and green spaces.

Recreation

From ancient times, local people used the area in their leisure time and until recently there was even an old notice board on the site which pointed out that carpet beating is allowed - but only at specific times! These days, Brandon Hill is one of Bristol’s most popular summer picnic spots and the perfect green space from which to enjoy panoramic views of the city and spectacular sunsets.

Sport

There are currently no sports facilities at Brandon Hill. To find out more about sports facilities in Bristol's parks and open spaces and how to make bookings, click here.

Contact us

You can call Bristol Parks on 0117 922 3719 or email: bristolparks@bristol.gov.uk  Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5pm (4.30pm Friday). Alternatively you can text us on 0771 039 6713 to report flytipping, graffiti, or make any other comments about Bristol's parks and green spaces. Please provide as much information and specific details as possible about the location attaching any supporting photographs. We will only call you back if we require further information.

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