The Downs

Large green spaces on the edge of the city suitable for picnics, exercise, sport and events.

Admission and opening times

There is no charge for admission. The Downs is open at all times. Access may be restricted for special events.

Location

Clifton Down and Durdham Down are north of the city centre.

Parking

There is no dedicated car park. Find out where to park in Bristol.

Disabled access

To find out about accessibility at The Downs, you can look at an access guide on DisabledGo.

Facilities and features

The Downs Cafe
toilets and baby changing facilities at Sea Walls (on Circular Road)
benches and picnic areas
children's playground on Sion Hill
pdf BBQ area on Ladies Mile (3.82 MB) , you can only BBQ on the flagstones set into the signposted area
six outdoor exercise stations
football pitches and changing rooms
Avon Gorge
Clifton Down Camp, an Iron Age hillfort near the Clifton Observatory
Clifton Observatory, camera obscura and cave
Roman Road on Durdham Downs
parts of The Downs are scheduled ancient monuments

Toilet opening times

Toilets are open daily from 8am to 5pm.

Closed: 25 and 26 December, and 1 January.

Nature and wildlife conservation

The Downs is a local Site of Nature Conservation Interest (SNCI) with over 14 hectares of species-rich grassland, including wildflowers like bee orchids and autumn ladies tresses. pdf Discover the wildlife of the Avon Gorge and Downs (1.00 MB) .

These areas of grassland are managed as hay meadows, with funding from Defra. Volunteers help with scrub control each winter to protect the area. Find out how you can get involved in wildlife monitoring and conservation work.

The site is also a Regionally Important Geological and Geomorphological Site, making it an important place for geology and geomorphology and a Dark Sky Discovery Site, a good place to look at the night sky.

The Avon Gorge, which borders The Downs, is known for its rare limestone grassland and plant communities. It is internationally recognised as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and Special Area of Conservation (SAC). Goats are used in the gully to control scrub and help rare plants grow. Scrub is also controlled on the rocky slopes and ledges using specialist rope access contractors.

The Avon Gorge and Downs Wildlife Project, started in 1999, works to protect the area's wildlife and offers educational activities. Public funding from Defra supports restoration efforts. You can find out more on the Avon Gorge and Wildlife Project website.

The Downs Committee

This is a group that manages The Downs and makes decisions about the area and events held there. Members are Merchant Venturers, councillors and council officers. You can look at agendas, minutes and reports from Downs Commitee meetings.

Following a recent governance review and consultation, The Downs Committee has adopted a:

These outline the structures and processes in which the committee operates.

The Work Plan is a working document and updated versions will be published regularly at Downs Committee meetings which can be found in the agenda papers for those meetings.

Community support

The Friends of The Downs and Avon Gorge is a community group that supports the park. For more information or to join visit the Friends of The Downs and Avon Gorge facebook page.

Activities

Events on the Downs

All events remain subject to site permissions and licensing approval.

Cycling

There is an off-road cycle path from Saville Road to Stoke Road. You can't cycle on footpaths, woodland and grass areas of The Downs.

Horse riding

You can ride horses around the football pitches except on Sundays and bank holidays. You can't ride horses on the football areas or the area from Bridge Valley Road to the Clifton Suspension Bridge.