Bristol: A tour of the leisure facilities

Several bus routes stop at the hospital, including First Bus routes 20, 36, 51, 75, 76 and 90, and Wessex 515.

There are a number of cycle paths leading to the hospital. Secure bicycle anchor points are available at the front of the hospital.

There is limited parking at the site, which will need to be paid for, unless you are a blue badge holder.

Note that if you start the walk at the Leisure Park, car parking there is free.

Starting from the Community Hospital entrance, walk along the path to the right (away from the road) with the Leisure Centre and golden globe on your left. Dog-leg through the barrier.

[1] At the path crossroads keep straight on along the broad path with lamp posts. When the path meets the end of the tarmac runway, bear left and go through a barrier, to pass  the Wheels Park on the left and the Play Park on the right. Continue along the path and through another barrier.

[2] When you reach  the Leisure Park, the broad main path continues ahead under a tall red-painted structure,  and narrower pavement paths go off to left and right. Take the left-hand path beside the Cineworld complex until you reach the cinema’s entrance lobby.

[3] Turn right at this point, crossing the roadway on the raised footpath, heading towards Frankie & Benny’s and the Oriental Buffet.

[4] When you reach the main broad path, turn left (between the two restaurants.)  Continue  along this raised path, which is crossed by several roads of the car park.

[5] Just before reaching the main exit road (with the Site Security Office on the far side and KFC & McDonald’s further to the left) turn right and cross two separate traffic lanes to reach the pavement by the Wessex Flyer pub-restaurant. Turn right and walk past it and the Premier Inn to the end of the pavement.

Safety Note: when crossing the two separate traffic lanes, in both cases traffic will come from the left.

[6] Cross the service yard and join the pavement to the right, which runs along the front of the Gala Bingo club

Safety Note: the ramp for wheelchairs & pushchairs leads into the road: be aware of traffic from behind you, as well as to & from the service yard.

At the end, turn left onto the broad main path which leads you back, passing the Play Park on the left. After the Wheels Park and the second barrier, bear right at the end of the runway onto the path which goes back to the hospital.

A. Bristol (Whitchurch) Airport, also known as Whitchurch Airport, was the main airport for Bristol and area from 1930 to 1957. When opened, It was only the third municipal airport in the country.

During the Second World War it was, for a time, the only operational civil airport. It enabled air connections to Lisbon, to Shannon and from there to the United States, and later to North Africa. The actor Lesley Howard was killed whilst on a flight from Africa to Bristol.

The airport closed in 1957, with services transferred to what is now known as Bristol International Airport. The runway was last used in 1993 when a Cessna light aircraft landed on it in emergency.

Toilets & cafe are available in the Hospital and also the Leisure Centre opposite. There are five other food & drink establishments in the Leisure Park. The Play Park, which also has facilities, is officially only open to adults when accompanying children. There are benches in the Play Park and Wheels Park.