Queen Square

Queen Square, Bristol BS1 4LH

Introduction

Queen Square is a magnificent Georgian square in the heart of Bristol, recently restored with the help of Heritage Lottery funding. Having played a leading role in the sometimes turbulent history and development of the city for hundreds of years, it is now a peaceful and relaxing green space animated by an exciting events programme including outdoor concerts, cinema and theatre.

Bristol City council and the Queen Square Association work in partnership to manage and maintain the square to a high standard. The partnership website  provides detailed information about the history and successful restoration (pdf, 198 KB) of the square and presents current management arrangements and public consultation activities. There is an event programme, with opportunities for local sponsorship, and information about the role and work of the partnership.

Green Flag Award

Queen Square has won the prestigious Green Flag Award, a recognition and reward for the best green spaces in the country, high environmental standards and a benchmark of excellence in recreational green areas. To win this award, green spaces must be freely accessible to the public, and are judged to be welcoming and well maintained, with the support and involvement of the local community. Green Heritage Site accreditation is judged on the treatment of the site’s historic features and the standard of conservation.  Find out more about Queen Square and the Green Flag Award.

Location and access

Queen Square is a large level public square with gravel pathways and grass. The paths within the square are wheelchair accessible and there are over thirty benches for public use.  View a GIS map of Queen Square.

Plan your visit to Queen Square with our Journey Planner, City Map Viewer and Regional Map.

The Green Flag and Bristol in Bloom Awards

Queen Square was awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2008 for its management and maintenance and the square features prominently on the City in Bloom judging route and our work is rewarded with regular Gold Standards from 2005 to 2009.   The Green Flag Award scheme is managed by The Civic Trust, a national charity which aims to inspire and promote improvements in the quality urban life for everyone.

Last year the Association raised just under £3,000 which it will use to create a schools pack to promote the history of Queen Square to local schools. This year we have held a Wine Tasting Evening at Mercure Brigstow which was kindly sponsored by Accor Hotels. The Association's Petanque League will start in earnest in May and the games will be completed by the end of June when a Finals Evening will be held. 

For more information please visit www.queensquareassociation.org.uk or call Metcalfe Solicitors on 0117 929 0451.

Spring bulb planting

We planted over 6,000 crocuses at the base of the mature plane trees last autumn bringing more colour to the square. Please join us from 12noon to 3pm on Friday, 9 October to help plant a further 8,000 bulbs for spring 2010. All tools and training will be provided. Please bring appropriate footwear. Light snacks will be provided.

Cigarette litter and new bins

We are still blighted by excessive cigarette litter throughout the square. To combat this we will install new bin lids with stub plates. The lids will also limit the nuisance caused by seagulls pulling litter from the bins. Please play your part by using the new stub plates and disposing of litter responsibly. Officers are able to issue Fixed Penalty Notices (FPN's) so you have been warned!

Improving safety and tackling crime and ASB in the square

The Safer Parks project has worked to take an evidence-based approach to dealing with crime and ASB. By encouraging increased surveillance and reporting of incidents, as well as more active use of the parks and green spaces, it is hoped local people themselves will help maintain standards. Please report crime and ASB using the contacts provided. The square is regularly patrolled by Police Beat Officers and Community Support Officers (PCSO's) and evening patrols have been increased.

Local sponsorship opportunities

New sponsorship opportunities exist to support the increasingly popular music and theatre performances, replace trees damaged by storms, install more bird boxes, to install more seating and to help publish a leaflet detailing the history of the square. For further information contact Estate Services - estate.services@bristol.gov.uk.

Cyclists and pedestrians

Few accidents and incidents between cyclist and pedestrians have been reported since 2007 and along with the Cycling Team we have concluded not to make changes to our current designs.

The square as a whole acts an informal 'shared space'. As such, you should expect to see pedestrians throughout this area even over the block work and give way to more vulnerable users, such as pedestrians and the disabled. The space is designed to work in much the same way as a busy European square or plaza. Members of the public cross the space in a variety of directions and on a multitude of different modes of transport, this is why we have not been prescriptive in our method of directing people.

Architecture and art

Architecture

Queen Square was the first residential square to be built outside London, combining the then fashionable idea of tree-lined walks and gravel paths set within grass, An elegant enclave for wealthy merchants, it was also the first example of urban planning carried out by Bristol Corporation.

The square was laid out in 1699 and when Queen Anne visited Bristol in 1702, it was named after her. The houses were solidly built of brick and stone - commercial tenants and workers’ cottages were not allowed. The square was finally completed in 1827 by which time it was already finding fame as the largest in Europe. The houses were built with the new classical regularity but with no imposed terrace design.

In 1936 the quality of the square was ruined by the construction of a dual carriageway right through the middle, serving as a busy bus route. With 20,000 vehicles a day crossing the square, a steady long term decline in the quality of the environment and empty buildings falling into disrepair quickly resulted. This has been remedied by recent developments detailed on the next page.

Many of the properties have since been redesigned or rebuilt entirely, but the grouping of apparently random and diverse properties around the square retains its original handsome scale and layout when glimpsed through the fine mature plane trees which surround the square.

Art

Another royal touch was added in 1736 with the erection of the superb equestrian statue of William III by Michael Rysbrack. Cast in London in 1733, the monarch appears as a powerful roman noble on horseback, splendidly positioned on a grand plinth in the middle of the square

Developments

The construction of a dual carriageway and major bus route through the square in 1936 led to a steady decline in the quality of the local environment as up to 20,000 vehicles a day crossed the square.

This changed in 1999 when the city council, supported by English Heritage and the Queen Square Residents Association, made a successful grant application to Heritage Lottery Fund to restore the square as part of the fund’s Urban Parks Programme.

The successful regeneration and enhancement of Queen Square has been well recognised nationally and features as an exemplar scheme on the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment website. The project has won two national awards – the Royal Town Planning Institute National Planning Award for the Built Heritage, 2003 and the National Civic Trust Award, 2004.

Management matters and maintenance

Management

Queen Square is managed by City Centre Spaces Management, City Development, Bristol City Council. This team coordinates all aspects of management and maintenance and facilitates and monitors the event programme. Queen Square News is published annually and provides news on events, projects, improvements and the implementation of the management plan.

The Queen Square Management Plan 2007-2017 is now published and it identifies the key issues affecting the square; sets out a "vision" for future management with aims and objectives; establishes an action plan and process for ongoing consultation and performance monitoring. The plan will be key to the effective management and future development of the square and will be reviewed and updated annually. If you would like to know more about this, get involved in the review or simply make any comments please contact Estate Services - estate.services@bristol.gov.uk.

The management plan and results of recent public consultation (pdf, 1.5 MB) may be viewed by appointment at Metcalfes Solicitors, 46-48 Queen Square. 

Queen Square was awarded the prestigious Green Flag Award in 2008 for its management and maintenance and the square features prominently on the City in Bloom judging route and our work is rewarded with regular Gold Standards from 2005 to 2009.

The successful regeneration and enhancement of Queen Square features as an exemplar scheme on the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment website and has won two national awards – the Royal Town Planning Institute planning award for the Built Heritage (RTPI National Award 2003), 2003 and the National Civic Trust Award, 2004.

Having your say

Local residents and businesses were consulted in 2006 through a series or workshops and  a green space and community questionnaire, in order to produce a long term management plan. The Queen Square Management Plan identifies the key issues affecting the square; sets out a "vision" for future management with aims and objectives; establishes an action plan and process for ongoing consultation and performance monitoring. The management plan will be reviewed and updated annually with a more substantial rewrite will be undertaken after five years in 2012.

Reporting anti-social behaviour

The Safer Parks project has worked to take an evidence based approach to dealing with crime and anti-social behaviour. In order for us to measure problems and improvements more accurately, some changes have been made. The police computer system did not register parks and green spaces as they do not have a post code. This meant that all calls made to 999 and non emergency numbers were not recorded in parks - leaving big information black holes. The system has now been updated to identify all parks and green spaces across the city, enabling more accurate reporting and subsequent deployment of police resources.

By encouraging increased surveillance and reporting of incidents, as well as more active use of the parks and green spaces, it is hoped local people themselves will help maintain standards.  If you witness anti-social behaviour in Queen Square please report it to either the "It's Your Call" action line on 0845 605 2222 or the non-emergency police line on 0845 456 7000. Whilst a police response will not always be possible, these calls will help us build up a picture of hot spots and issues in the area and are extremely valuable in helping us reduce antisocial behaviour.

If you are aware of issues of vandalism, or have concerns generally about safety in the square, please contact us.

Winning awards

Queen Square features prominently on the City in Bloom judging route and our work has contributed to three Gold standards being awarded to the city from 2005 to 2007. The successful regeneration and enhancement of Queen Square features as an exemplar scheme on the Commission for Architecture and Built Environment website and has won two national awards – the Royal Town Planning Institute planning award for the Built Heritage (RTPI National Award 2003), and the National Civic Trust Award 2004. We now hope to build on this success by applying for a Green Flag award in 2008.  This scheme is managed by The Civic Trust  a national charity which aims to inspire and promote improvements in the quality urban life for everyone.

Publications

Restoration and Enhancement

Phase IV Restoration Newsletter 2005; a newsletter from Bristol City Council, Urban Design team detailing the planned final restoration works.

Queen Square, Bristol; an article in Green Places September 2004, by the Restoration Project Officer, Christopher Heath.

Queen Square, Bristol: Regeneration and Enhancement; an article in "Planning" about the scheme's successful Royal Town Planning Institute Planning Award 2003.

Restoration of Queen Square: Application to Heritage Lottery Fund 1996; the detailed application document.

General History

Queen Square: A Brief History; a brief summary of the square from the 1600’s to today.

Queen Square Bristol; a detailed and well-illustrated history of the square by Andrew Kelly, 2003. Redcliffe Press Ltd. ISBN 1 900178 84 2. The book is available from the Visitor Information Centre on Bristol’s harbourside.

The History and Development of Queen Square; a comprehensive and illuminating historical study by Bristol City Council, funded by English Heritage, 1996, prior to the Heritage Lottery Fund application.

Wildlife

The magnificent plane trees which frame the square were planted about 150 years ago. Planes can resist pollution, helping them to survive city centre traffic and other urban fumes. The square is also a noted spot to observe birdlife – apart from the ubiquitous gulls and pigeons, pied wagtails roost around the docks and can often be seen in winter.

The artwork project "High Life" placed bird boxes high up in the trees in the square in 2001 as part of Bristol’s Legible Cities programme. It consists of the work of eight artists - Antoni and Alison, FAT, Kathleen Herbert, Luke Jerram, Julian Opie, Seamus Staunton and Elizabeth Wright. The artworks were created in response to the square’s ecology, history, design, and to ensure "homes for all"!  Visit the project's website to find out more.

Welsh Back, a few seconds walk from the square, is the place to see Bristol’s famous swans, often taking off in large numbers and in spectacular formation.

Queen Square is part of Bristol’s City Centre Nature Trail – for further information download a guide (pdf, 3.2 MB) or visit the Avon Wildlife Trust website.

Contact us

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

Management
Estate Services, Bristol City Council
email:  estate.services@bristol.gov.uk

Queen Square Association
Martino Burgess - Secretary of Association
Metcalfes Solicitors
0117 929 0451
email: mburgess@metcalfes.co.uk

Restoration Programme
Vicky Welchman
City Projects & Urban Design Team
0117 922 2968
email: vicky.welchman@bristol.gov.uk

Parks Events
Harriett Martin, Bristol Parks
0117 922 3538
email: harriet.martin@bristol.gov.uk

Parking Leases
Joe Jeffrey, Property Services
0117 922 4031
email: joe.jeffrey@bristol.gov.uk

Parking Issues
Mike James, Parking Services Team
0117 922 3705
email: mike.james@bristol.gov.uk

Problems on the Highway
Neighbourhood and Housing Customer Services Team
0117 922 3838
email: customer.services@bristol.gov.uk

William III Statue
Christina Raddon, Central Support Services
0117 923 7457
email: christina.raddon@bristol.gov.uk 

Crime and Anti-social behaviour issues
Police Community Support Officer (PCSO) Danny Campbell (0117 945 5023)

If you witness anti-social behaviour in Queen Square please report it to either the 'It's Your Call' action line on 0845 605 2222 or the non-emergency police line on 0845 456 7000. Whilst a police response will not always be possible, these calls will help us build up a picture of hot spots and issues in the area and are extremely valuable in helping us reduce antisocial behaviour.

If you are aware of issues of vandalism, or have concerns generally about safety in the square, please call the parks public enquiries line on 0117 922 3719, Monday to Friday 8.30am - 5pm Monday to friday (4.30pm Friday).

Chris Abbott, Head of House Services
University of the West of England
0117 328 2209
email:chris.abbott@uwe.ac.uk

Maintenance Contractors
John Walters, Contract Manager, Continental Landscapes
0117 974 8090 / 0779 316 6975
email:john.walters@continental-landscapes.co.uk

Mark Babbage, Contract Site Management, Mark Babbage & Sons
0779 978 5464

Colin Owen, Contracts Manager, SITA
0117 953 7535 / 0797 423 3085
email: colin.own@sdita.co.uk

Queen Square Management Plan 2007-2012

The Queen Square Management Plan 2007-2017 is now published and it identifies the key issues affecting the square; sets out a "vision" for future management with aims and objectives; establishes an action plan and process for ongoing consultation and performance monitoring. The plan will be key to the effective management and future development of the square and will be reviewed and updated annually. If you would like to know more about this, get involved in the review or simply make any comments please contact Estate Services - estate.services@bristol.gov.uk.

The management plan and results of recent public consultation may be viewed by appointment at Metcalfes Solicitors, 46-48 Queen Square or downloaded:

• Updated Queen Square Management Plan 2007-12 (pdf, 1.5 MB)
• Updated Queen Square Management Plan 2007-12 - Appendices (pdf, 5.2 MB)