College Green

General information

College Green is an ancient and peaceful city centre green space within sight of the Centre Promenade. Surrounded by Bristol Cathedral, the Council House, Bristol Central Library and Bristol Marriott Royal Hotel, College Green lies at the foot of Park Street - a popular and lively shopping area close to University of Bristol.

Just to the south of the green lies the redeveloped Harbourside area and Bristol Harbour, with the @Bristol attraction and the Watershed multi media centre and cinema.

Visitor information

Location

College Green (Bristol BS1 5UY) is bounded by the Cathedral, Council House and the southern end of Park Street. The site is easily accessible from all sides and there are no restrictions on times to visit.

Accessibility

There are numerous wheelchair accessible pathways across the space connecting with pavements and a cycle lane runs across the main length of the site.

Toilets

The nearest public toilets are located at the Central Library, College Green.

Events

College Green is a popular site for events and promotions including media launches, press calls and photography. Exhibitions, charity fundraisers and product launches take place here including:

• Bristol Half Marathon Press Launch
• Welcome Event for the European Union Ministerial Conference
• Annual Young People's Services Playday
• Tethered balloon promotions

• Annual Sikh community celebration

If you are interested in holding an event on College Green, please view the City Centre Spaces page. Due to the sensitive nature of the site, any proposal to hold an event on College Green will need to be agreed by the landowners, Bristol Cathedral, as well as by the city council. The contacts below will arrange this on behalf of event promoters.

Nature and Wildlife

Limes, Norway Maples and Sugar Maples fringe College Green. In summer, the planters and hanging baskets are full of flowers in front of the Council House providing a stunning splash of colour around the green.

See Wildlife to find out more.

Architecture

Many of the buildings on and around College Green are noteworthy, including the Cathedral, Council House, Abbey Gatehouse, Central Library, and the Lord Mayor’s Chapel (originally St Marks). Several 19th and 20th century buildings at the southern end of Park Street are also noted for their decoration. When it was established in 1542, some of the buildings of the Bristol Cathedral School were carved out of parts of St Augustine’s Abbey and the Chapel of St Jordan.

The marble statue of Queen Victoria at the south east corner commemorates her golden jubilee. Between the old abbey gatehouse and the Council House is a statue of Raja Rammohun Roy, the Indian reformer who was buried in 1843 at Arnos Vale cemetery.

References

We are grateful to Dr Joseph Bettey for information he provided about College Green, including the history of St Jordan’s Chapel and the affray on College Green in 1579; the latter was taken from his article published in the Bristol and Gloucestershire Archaeological Society Transactions, Vol 122, 2004, 153-60.

Contacts

A number of organisations are involved in managing and maintaining College Green. If you are not sure who to approach with your enquiry, please contact the City Centre Spaces Manager in the first instance.

Management
Eric Dougall
Harbour Estate Services Officer - Bristol City Council
0117 903 9061
e-mail: eric.dougall@bristol.gov.uk

Bristol Cathedral
Andrew Philipps - Chapter Clerk
0117 946 8172
e-mail: andrew.philipps@bristol-cathedral.co.uk

Bristol City Council - Council House
Gordon MacLean, Facilities Manager, Central Support Services
0117 922 3930
e-mail: gordon.maclean@bristol.gov.uk

Barry Ranger, Security Services, Central Support Services
0117 903 1550
07770 965220
e-mail: barry.ranger@bristol.gov.uk

Event Licensing
Peter Watts
Event Licensing Officer - Bristol City Council
0117 922 3466
e-mail: peter.watts@bristol.gov.uk

Statues and Monuments
Robert Davis
Building Practice - Bristol City Council
0117 903 7407
e-mail: robert.davis@bristol.gov.uk

Crime and Anti-Social Issues
Police 0845 67000

PC David Jackson
Community Beat Officer - Avon & Somerset Police
0117 945 5023