Cotham Gardens

Redland Grove, Redland, Bristol BS6

Introduction

A small and attractive Victorian park in a delightful suburb of north Bristol. Despite the loss of the original features, much of the original charm remains.

Access

Cotham Gardens is open all the time. Access is from Redland Grove, Redland. The park is disabled accessible though there are some gentle slopes.

Plan your visit to Cotham Gardens with Regional Map, Journey Planner and City Map Viewer. Click here to view a GIS map of the site.

Art and architecture

The Redland and Cotham Amenities Society (RCAS) has placed a notice board on the park gate providing information on the history and layout of the park.

Community, clubs and associations

The Redland and Cotham Amenities Society (RCAS) is the local user group. It can be contacted through the link above or through Bristol Parks (see contact details below). Click here for more information about how you can get involved with your local park or green space.

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 Cotham Gardens, visit our information for event promoters.

History

Cotham Gardens was one of the first public gardens created in the city on land donated to the council by the Fry family from the Cotham Tower estate in 1879. The new park, already planted with many mature trees, was opened in April 1881. The trustees of the owners of Redland Court also donated part of that property’s avenue and the lower part of Redland Grove in 1884. Over the next few years, a flagpole, bandstand, seats, shrubbery walks and the Lovers Walk were added but have since vanished.

Much of the layout of the southern end of the park survives with its intricate system of paths and trees intact. The lower part of the park is now dominated by a popular well-maintained play area but the overall impression of an attractive little urban park full of flowers, tress and shrubs remains.

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 contact details below and we will ensure your information is promptly actioned.

Plants and wildlife

There are some beautiful specimen trees, plotted and tagged by RCAS. For more information about wildlife in Bristol, click here.

Play facilities and activities

There is a large dog-free play area for under-12s.

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

Recreation

There are no sport facilities in Cotham Gardens. The gardens are a peaceful and attractive neighbourhood green space popular with local families. Click here for details of parks and green spaces with sports facilities, availability and booking information.

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.