Prior Park Landscape Garden was created in the eighteenth century by Ralph Allen, the entrepreneur who made his fortune from Bath stone and the postal service and built a mansion above the city to advertise his quarries. He worked with the poet Alexander Pope and the landscape designer Capability Brown, and the result is a small valley of lakes, cascades, woodland and lawns arranged as a series of views. The famous feature is the Palladian Bridge, one of only a handful of its kind in the world, which spans the lower lake and is the classic photograph of the garden. A path leads up past the Serpentine Lake and the Wilderness to a viewpoint above the mansion, from which the whole of Bath lies spread out below. The house itself is a school and is not open to visitors, so the visit is about the grounds. The garden is looked after by the National Trust, which sets the ticketing, so check the Trust page for current entry arrangements and opening days before you go.
Why visit
It is the quietest of the major sights in Bath and very different in mood from the city centre. You trade crowds and cobbles for birdsong, water and steep wooded paths, and the views back over the golden stone are some of the best in the area.
Allen wanted visitors to look across the valley to the city, and the view from the garden still does that job. If you have walked the Bath Skyline, you will recognise the same hills from another angle, and the two can be combined for a long day outdoors.
What to see
Start at the Palladian Bridge and the lake, then follow the paths through the woodland to the Serpentine Lake and the Cascade. The garden has a gentle sculptural logic, with lakes stepping down the valley and the sightlines opening and closing as you move. Seasonal highlights include bluebells in spring, rhododendrons in early summer and rich colour in autumn. There is normally a tea room and a small shop at the entrance, and the garden often hosts family trails during school holidays.
Practical advice
Wear proper footwear, because the paths are steep and can be slippery after rain, and some sections have steps. Allow about two hours, three if you like to linger. The garden has very limited parking, and the Trust encourages visitors to walk or use public transport, so check current guidance. Regular buses and the hop-on hop-off sightseeing service serve the area, and on foot it is a climb of around thirty minutes from the centre, partly uphill. Dogs are welcome on leads, and the garden is much less crowded on weekday mornings.
National Trust members enter free, so bring a membership card if you have one. Since the visit is outdoors, it is best in dry weather, though the woodland is pleasant in light rain and the lakes can look wonderful in mist. Pair the garden with an afternoon at Thermae Bath Spa, where the warm water suits legs tired from the hill, or with a gentler day in Royal Victoria Park.
Bring water and a layer, since the valley can feel cooler and damper than the city streets, and keep your tickets and membership card handy at the entrance.
What to expect
The experience
A self-guided walk through an eighteenth-century landscape garden with lakes, woodland, a Palladian bridge and city views, run by the National Trust.
Best time
Spring for bluebells, early summer for rhododendrons and autumn for colour; weekday mornings are quietest.
How long
About two to three hours.
Tips
Wear sturdy shoes for steep, sometimes slippery paths, arrive by bus or on foot because parking is very limited, and bring a membership card if you have one.
Quick picks
- Best for
- Garden lovers, walkers and anyone who wants a quiet, green half-day with a view.
- Families
- Good for children who like exploring, with woodland trails, water and open space; the slopes are steep for pushchairs.
- Couples
- A peaceful walk to the Palladian Bridge and the viewpoint over the city.
- Pair with
- The Bath Skyline walk, Thermae Bath Spa and Royal Victoria Park.
- Time needed
- Half a day.
Good questions
Can you go inside the mansion at Prior Park?+
No. The mansion is a school and is not open to visitors, so the visit is to the landscape garden.
What is the Palladian Bridge?+
It is a classical stone bridge spanning the lower lake, one of only a few of its kind in the world, and the signature view of the garden.
How do I get there?+
Walk up from the centre in about thirty minutes or take a bus, since parking is very limited. Check the National Trust page for current advice.
How long should I allow?+
About two to three hours, longer if you combine it with the Skyline walk.
Is it suitable for pushchairs and wheelchairs?+
The paths are steep and uneven in places, with steps, so access is limited. Check the National Trust page and call ahead for specific needs.
