Cotham Gardens

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.

Location

Cotham Gardens are situated in central Bristol at Redland Grove, Redland, Bristol BS6.

Access

Access is from Redland Grove, Redland.  The park is accessible for disabled visitors though there are some gentle slopes.

Opening hours

Cotham Gardens are open all year round.

Travel

FirstBus numbers 8 and 9 stop outside the park, providing a link to Temple Meads Station as well as Redland, Clifton and the Centre. Redland Station adjoins the park and is one of the stops on the Severn Beach line.

Toilets and refreshments

The nearest toilets are on Gloucester Road and the nearest refreshments are plentiful cafés on Zetland Road and Gloucester Road.

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. For more information about events in Bristol's parks please visit our Events page.

Facilities

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

Nature and Wildlife

The wealth of mature trees (birch, oak, conifers, limes) attracts a large number and variety of birds, including jays, thrushes, robins and chaffinches, as well as redwings and fieldfares in the winter. Foxes and squirrels are also to be seen regularly. A recently planted wildlife hedge will in time encourage a wider range of birds and insects to the area.

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.

A full account of the history of the Gardens, by Roger Mortimer, is available in the Redland and Cotham Amenities Society publication "Cotham Park, Field, Arch and Grove" (available through RCAS)

Community engagement

The Redland and Cotham Amenities Society monitors the parks maintenance and arranges sponsorship or fundraising activites to improve Cotham Gardens and its play area. If you would like to get involved please contact the Redland and Cotham Amenities Society.

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