Activities in Bristol's parks

Get active in Bristol's parks

Bristol has 450 parks and green spaces

Nearly 150 Bristol parks and green spaces have dog free playgrounds for children.  Some have wheels parks, games areas and teen environments. There are three very popular sites at Hengrove Park, Blaise Castle Estate and Oldbury Court Estate.

Many events take place in the parks and green spaces. Check out our online events listing and find out what's happening in a park or green space near you.

Bristol has more green spaces than any other British city and a wealth of urban wildlife. There are over 80 designated wildlife sites in the city and several local nature reserves

Walking with buggies and wheelchairs

Walks with Buggies and Walks with Wheelchairs are the only UK web-sites totally dedicated to providing free information on routes that are suitable for those with access challenges.

The walks have been tried and tested by experts, parents and wheelchair users, or those knowledgeable about routes in the great outdoors. If you can recommend a walk that you think is suitable for parents with buggies or wheelchair users then please login and share it.

Walks with Buggies
Walks with Wheelchairs

Tai Chi

Tai Chi is an ancient Chinese martial art suitable for all ages and levels of fitness. Sessions are held in our parks and green spaces in the warmer months and are led by members of the Bristol School of Tai Chi.

Find out which sessions are taking place in a park near you on the Bristol School of Tai Chi website.

Outdoor sports

Book a wide variety of outdoor sport facilities in parks and green spaces across the city.

Check on the availability of specific sport facilities during the winter months or when access may be affected by adverse weather conditions, and construction or maintenance work.

Book golf courses at Ashton Court golf course.

Tennis in the parks

Each year we organise tennis coaching for adults in the parks during the spring and summer. All courses are taken by qualified, experienced coaches who provide lessons for both beginners and improvers. 

Tennis courts are available in several parks and green spaces and other facilities across the city including:

• Canford Park
• Eastville Park
• Greville Smythe Park
• Horfield Common
• St George Park
• Victoria Park

Orienteering

The aim of orienteering is to navigate between control points marked by small red circles on a special map, by planning the best route to complete the course in the quickest time. 

There are permanent orienteering trails at Ashton Court and Blaise Castle Estates.

For £1 you can buy a premarked orienteering map from:

• Ashton Court visitor centre (both trails)
• Golf course kiosk at Ashton Court (Ashton Court trail)
• Park Ranger's office near the car park café at Blaise Castle Estate (Blaise Castle trail)

There is further information on the orienteering trails with suggested trails of varying difficulty on the back of the maps.

Also try Avon Schools Orienteers and Bristol Orienteering Klub web site. 

Croquet

Why not visit the Croquet Association's website and find out more about the game? 

Or visit the South Bristol Croquet Club's website.

Urban Fringe Dispensary

The Urban Fringe is a collective term for the green and sometimes wild spaces that exist in and around the city. This includes parks, allotments, community gardens, and untended land accessible to the public. The Urban Fringe Dispensary project is about using these spaces to develop a deeper understanding of traditional and modern uses for wild growing medicinal and food plants.

To find out dates and locations of our walks and workshops, or to book us for your local group please contact: the Urban Fringe Dispensary on 0797 344 0615, email: Info@urbanfringe.org

Outdoor fitness training

Outdoor fitness training is a great way to lose weight, tone up and get fit using the natural environment. Classes are run in various parks in Bristol and in all weathers so don't be surprised if you get a bit wet and muddy!

• Circuit training in Bristol Parks
• Military fitness classes in Bristol

Nordic walking

Nordic walking is a specific fitness technique using poles. It is not to be confused with trekking, hill walking or trail running as the poles are not planted in front of the walker but in a specific way that increases the use of the upper body. .

Nordic walking technique must be learnt correctly if the participant is to get the most out of the activity – the full health technique that ensures the whole body works efficiently is only taught by NWUK qualified Instructors. 

For more information, visit the Nordic walking UK website.

Walkit

Walkit is an award-winning route planner aimed at encouraging people to walk. It provides essential information for anyone considering a journey on foot within a five-kilometre radius of the city centre.

Leave the car at home and plot your walk across the city. You will be offered a drect route between two points, or a quieter off-main-road route, with estimates of route length, time taken, CO2 saved and calories burnt on your healthy walk. You can also print out easy to follow maps and route instructions.

Table tennis

Tennis tables have been installed in two parks in the Community at Heart area of Bristol - the Dings Park in St. Philips and Gaunts Ham Park, Lincoln Street, Barton Hill.

The tables are concrete so they will stand the test of time (and British weather!) and they provide a free and easily accessible activity for all ages. Community workers and play rangers have a supply of bats and balls for lending out, or players can buy their own equipment so the tables can be used at any convenient time.

If you think an outdoor ping pong table like this would work well in a green space near you then please make your suggestion by emailing Nicola Ferris.

Disclaimer

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