Brandon Hill Reviews Summary

Views and Scenery

Pros:

• "Great views over Bristol! A trek to get up but totally worth it."
• "The views over south Bristol are magnificent, the gardens are lovely, all topped by Cabot Tower."
• "It’s blooming beautiful up there. The scenery is stunning."
• "Views are amazing. Highest point in Bristol."
• "The views over Bristol are magnificent and get even better if you climb up Cabot Tower."
• "Amazing views of the city from the hill."
• "The view from the top of hill is amazing. You can see the skyline and entire Bristol with the church backdrop."

Cons:

• "Not so good for ball games as it's mostly sloping."
• "Shame about all the litter."
• "Litter bins could be useful at the top though... couple of bottles of alcohol were left at the top! Guess it adds a unique smell to the city atmosphere..."
• "The only downside is that the toilets aren’t very nice at all, would recommend to hold it instead of using them."
• "The tower at the top has been closed for longer than I can remember."
• "Unfortunately, the tower is still closed. Perhaps it will re-open on 17th May."
• "One drawback is that so far as I could see there are no public toilets."

Accessibility and Facilities

Pros:

• "Pushchair/wheelchair access very good. Stunning views across the City. Great children's park. Pay & Display £4 for 2 hours max."
• "Access to Cabot Tower is free and the views are phenomenal at the top."
• "Also free toilets which whilst appreciated are a little worse for wear."
• "Great place for families. Can climb the tower, play in park, have a walk, have an ice cream, toilets there also."
• "Public toilets that haven't been shut down."
• "The Cabot Tower is one of the best attractions in Bristol, free to climb with a stunning panoramic view of the city."
• "Parking requires plenty of change and valid from 8am til 10pm. FREE on a Sunday."

Cons:

• "Parking is on road meters."
• "Be aware it is very dark going up the tower and very very small staircase."
• "The toilets are acceptable but not fantastic."
• "There are also public bathrooms up there but they seem to have never been cleaned ever."
• "Wheelchair access is limited to the top of the hill, no access to the tower ( about a 500m medium incline)."
• "The tower was closed the day we visited due to slippy weather conditions as the stairs could become dangerous."
• "Parking nearby can be tricky though, and can be quite expensive even at weekends."

Wildlife and Nature

Pros:

• "One of the best free places to visit with my grandchildren and friends. Nice little van selling coffees and snacks up there."
• "The area by the tower is really pretty with trees, flowers and interlinked ponds."
• "Best thing is squirrel feeding. They are so brave that eat from your hand:) lovely vue to all city."
• "An amazing park/garden. Calm and peaceful atmosphere. The top small pond, flowers, birds and Squirrels give a wonderful atmosphere and view to the city."
• "Feed the squirrels, they're amazingly tame and will take nuts etc from your hand with a little patience."
• "Beautiful trees and plants, even saw some squirrels and a wild bunny!"
• "Koi carp and ducks in the pond and plenty of squirrels after your sandwiches!"

Cons:

• "Place is awesome but considering it is Park & fun place to be, all I could find on a hot sunny day was, lot of youth/young people smoking & drinking. It wasn't good for kids at all."
• "A beautiful oasis in the centre of Bristol what a shame that the council cut this beautiful 100 year old tree down."
• "Really lovely place, could do with a few more litter pick ups please as being used a lot for picnics."
• "While the park is well-maintained, some areas could benefit from a bit more attention, especially during peak seasons when it can get quite busy."
• "Could do with a few more litter pick ups please as being used a lot for picnics."
• "There are public toilets, but they're in bad shape and I avoided them."
• "Sadly the best bit has been closed due to the virus, which is the Brandon tower."

Activities and Amenities

Pros:

• "Nice picnic spot especially on sunny days."
• "It's a great place to relax, unwind, and enjoy the natural beauty amidst the city."
• "A lovely park / garden 🪴 that much like Bristol is very hilly."
• "Lovely central park."
• "Great park with full of different interesting parts."
• "Playground for kids. Squirrels. Fish pond. Benches with good views. Exotic garden walk."
• "Good swings and slides, there's usually an ice cream van on hot days."

Cons:

• "Cabot Tower closed for covid but it's worth the climb in the future."
• "Quite hilly area so if Mobility is a problem then you may need a mobility scooter but love spending time there."
• "The extensive wider area has ponds, views and is delightful on a sunny day, plenty of space to relax, picnic and walk."
• "Bring your own food and drinks as nothing are sold in the park."
• "There a small food joint on the hill serving pastas and coffees."
• "You can hand feed the squirrels monkey nuts in the summer time."
• "In summer, Barandon Hill turns into an ideal place to make a bbq or a picnic and enjoy an ice cream from the tradicional ice cream van."