Bristol: St George Park and Avonview Cemetery

Buses 6 and 7 from central Bristol stop on Whitehall Road close to Stretford Road.

It is usually possible to park in the local streets but note that Stretford Road is a one-way street direction Whitehall Road to Congleton Road.

The St George Park car park is on Chalks Road close to the junction with Church Road.

[1] With your back to the Beehive Centre turn right and then right again into Stretford Avenue.  At Park Crescent turn right and continue until you reach Church Lane. 

[2] Cross Park Crescent and enter St George Park on the path opposite.  Fork right and follow the path as it curves round with the hedge around the bowling greens on your left.  Turn left immediately after the park keepers buildings and follow the path as it curves to the right to join another path.  Turn right and almost immediately left onto a path which goes uphill between trees.

[3] At the T junction turn left and continue a short way to a 'crossroads' where 7 paths meet.

This is the crossing point of the figure of eight walk so if you would prefer a shorter walk go to [7] and continue from there back to the Beehive Centre.

Take the second path on your right which slopes down out of the park onto Church Road.  Turn right onto Church Road and cross at the pelican crossing.  Continue down Church Road and take the first left into Richmond Road.  Continue up Richmond Road to the T junction with Beaufort Road.

[4] Opposite you is the Avonview Cemetery.  (If the cemetery is open and you have the time and energy it is well worth a visit.)  Turn right into Beaufort Road.  To get the best views cross Beaufort Road and walk beside the cemetery boundary.

Be very careful when crossing Beaufort Road as traffic moves quite fast here and is often hidden from view by parked vehicles.

Continue along Beaufort Road until you come to Cossham Road. 

[5] Cross back over Beaufort Road, turn right into Cossham Road and walk back down to Church Road.  At Church Road turn left and cross at the traffic lights back to St George Park.

[6] Enter St George Park and take the right hand path which rises gently along the avenue of London Plane trees.  Continue until you reach the 'crossroads' where 7 paths meet.

[7] Take the second path on your left which slopes gently down with a view over the lake on your left.  Turn left when this path meets another path and continue around the end of the lake.  Follow this path as it climbs up towards Park Crescent.  Where the path divides take the left fork.

[8] Continue straight ahead onto the path which runs alongside Park Crescent.  At the 'crossroad' turn right and leave the park opposite Congleton Road.  Cross Park Crescent and go up Congleton Road.  Turn left into Stretford Road to return to the Beehive Centre.

A. St John's Almshouses were resited here in 1906 but continue a tradition dating back to 1490 when 7 poor women were boarded for a cost of 8s 6d (42.5p today) each per week.

B. St George Park is a Victorian suburban park with many fine trees, a lake, a skateboard and cycle activity area, a dog-free children's play area and a kiosk cafe.

C. Avonview Cemetery was opened in 1883.  The views from the cemetery are wonderful and there are some interesting gravestones and memorials including one to Handel Cossham (31 March 1824 – 23 April 1890).  Handel Cossham was a colliery owner, lay preacher and Liberal politician who was active in local government and sat in the House of Commons as MP for Bristol East from 1885 to 1890.

D. Enjoy the view ahead of Purdown and the communication tower and the views down the side streets on your left across the city towards Ashton Court.  Also note the intricate mouldings on the Victorian terraced houses.

E. The gateposts at the main entrance to St George Park are the only original Victorian structures that remain in the park.  The blue plaque on one of the gateposts commemorates Bob Hope who, as a small child, lived for a short time in St George and Whitehall.

F. An area of the park has been left unmown and seeded with wild flower seeds.  At certain times of the year this is a very colourful sight.

There are toilets at the Chalks Road entrance to St George Park.

There is a kiosk cafe in the park and also cafes on Church Road.

Avonview Cemetery is open from 9am - 4.30pm Mon - Fri.  On weekends and bank holidays the Cossham Road entrance is open from 11am - 4.30pm.  There are toilets in Avonview Cemetery not far from the Cossham Road entrance but these may be locked.

The possible difficulties for wheelchair users are:

- Slopes in St George Park and on Richmond Road.

- Cars parked on the pavements on Richmond Road making the pavement very narrow.

- The pavement on Beaufort Road is narrow in some places.