Greville Smyth Park

Situated opposite Ashton Gate Stadium, this park suffers from the same problem as most inner city green spaces: it is too small, and too over crowded. However, that said, this is a pleasant enough place to sit on the grass in the sun or give the dog a quick walk. There is a Bowles club at the top of the hill (like everything in Bristol, Greville Smythe park is on a hill!) and a children’s play area at the bottom of it. The play area has been recently refurbished, but it has been tailored more towards older children, with large swinging arms and such like, so perhaps it is not very suitable for very little ones. There is always an ice cream van stationed here during good weather, selling the usual cans of drink, whippy cones and ice lollies. On some evenings in good weather, and on a Sunday, there are football academies which take over the flatter parts of the park, with classes from the very young to adults. The park is popular with joggers, so you’re likely to encounter people in spandex and red faces, but on match days you’ll encounter people with similarly red faces for different reasons, and who wouldn’t be seen dead in spandex.

My firends live pretty close to this place and to them it is called the ‘Futuristic Park’ because some of the faqcilities in this place truly are futuristic. As well as this the park boasts a very generous amount of open space, along with tennis courts, a bowling green and football pitches which on the weekend tend to be inhabited by a number of the local football teams. This place is great to chill out and enjoy a lazy sunday, with some picnic snacks, a frisbee and your mates.
The ‘Futuristic Park’ is great, if maybe a Health & Safety nightmare — genuinely as good as it gets!

If you are fond of vast green spaces, you’ll enjoy Greville Smyth Park. Situated alongside the river Avon, and in view of Clifton Suspension Bridge, it is the perfect place for a summer picnic, or indeed, a winter stroll. Once owned by Lady Greville Smyth, owner of Ashton Court Estate, the park now belongs to Bristol City Council. It is one of my favourite rural spots in Bristol, and I especially love picnicking here in the summer. If you happen to be in the area and fancy a nosh-​up in the park, I’d recommend you pop across the road to North Street’s renowned Southville Deli and pick up a few delightful treats. Then you can find a spot under one of Greville Smyth Park’s many Weeping Willow Trees and sit and watch the world go by. Nice…

I love this park! It may be surrounded by busy dual carriageway roads, but its a really bustly green space in the centre of Bristol and gets lots of use by the whole community. There’s a lovely safe play area for kids, which is separated into activities for younger and older children. There’s also tennis courts, bookable through Bristol City Council and a beautiful Bowls Green where I believe a regular league is held. I often cycle through the park, whether on my way to work or just off to burn some calories on the cycle paths of Bristol. You often see football matches here, and in the summer its not uncommon to see competitive frisbee games here too. If you’re really lucky, the ice cream van will be parked up and you can indulge in a ninety nine!