Ashton Court Estate - 4 Things to Know Before Visiting

The Ashton Court Estate was once the gracious home of the Smyth family, and is now a historic park just 10 minutes from the centre of Bristol. It covers 850 acres of woods and grasslands in total, designed by Humphry Repton. It is the venue for a variety of leisure activities, including the now-defunct Ashton Court Festival, Bristol International Kite Festival and the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta. It is home to charity The Forest of Avon Trust.

Clifton Suspension Bridge is one of Bristol’s most recognizable structures. Designed by Isambard Kingdom Brunel. The bridge’s spectacular setting on the cliffs of the Avon Gorge has made it the defining symbol of Bristol, drawing thousands of visitors a year just to stroll across for views of the ancient Avon Gorge, elegant Clifton, and the magnificent city beyond.

The Avon Gorge is a 1.5-mile long gorge on the River Avon in Bristol, England. It forms the boundary between the unitary authorities of North Somerset and Bristol, with the boundary running along the south bank. As Bristol was an important port, the gorge formed a defensive gateway to the city. A nice attraction where you can spend some nice time.

A funicular railway cut out of the rocks of the Avon Gorge more than 125 years ago could be brought back to life as Bristol’s newest tourist attraction. A funicular railway cut out of the rocks of the Avon Gorge more than 125 years ago could be brought back to life as Bristol’s newest tourist attraction. After opening a museum, event space and café at the Camera Obscura site, Ian now has his sights set on restoring the funicular, which was built into the rock of Avon Gorge and opened in 1893.

Underfall Yard is a historic, working boatyard that welcomes visitors. There is an ever-changing landscape of boats to enjoy thanks to the skilled maritime businesses that call the yard home. Underfall Yard has been designated as a scheduled monument and from the 1970s onward many of the buildings at Underfall Yard have earned Grade II Listed Building status.

Clifton Observatory is a former mill, now used as an observatory, located on Clifton Down. The Observatory houses one of the only camera obscuras still open to the public in the UK. This iconic landmark of Bristol offers a unique viewing platform overlooking the Clifton Suspension bridge and the City of Bristol. The Observatory also offers visitors the chance to travel the underground passage to Ghyston’s Cave, cut out by William West, an artist who used the Observatory as a studio from 1828.