This is a perfect place to take young family members who like to run around and make noise!…read more I recently took a young niece here, and she absolutely loved it - an added bonus was that she was so tired out by the end of it her mum said she slept like a log! I remember going to something like this when I was really young too, it offers a ideal mix between being able to see and touch animals like rabbits and pigs, to an adventure playground with those big slides that probably aren't so big when your a grown up but are huge when your little that you sort of drop off almost vertically, with your bum hardly touching the slide! There's also a nature trail. The park is great in nice weather, not so good in the rain but there are still inside things to do. It is also quite reasonable priced - £7.00 adult and £6.50 child, check their website for special offers.

This is a large, leafy recreational area covering 50 acres just outside Bristol with an animal…read morefarm, riverside walks, playgrounds and picnic areas. With stacks to entertain children, it's also a pleasant space for adults, and even when it's sunny and busy there seems to be plenty of space for everyone. For kids, the play arena has trampolines, slides, rope climbing structures and go karts, plus mini golf and the Strawberry Line miniature train. The six or so shire horses kept at the park are a big attraction, and there are lots of smaller animals to see, and even handle (under supervision). The park has falconry displays at the weekends (and during school holidays), plus a nature trail along the river (with a junior assault course running parallel to it). Adults cost £7.50, children (and OAPs) £7, and little ones under 2 go free. The park's open every day from April - end of October, then the indoor play barn is open on weekends and school holidays.

An old church might seem like an odd place to have a climbing wall but it actually works…read moresurprisingly well. The high walls are perfect, with climbs in excess of thirty feet. The view when you get to the top is amazing as well; you literally get a totally different perspective on the building. Plus, it doesn't have that hot sweaty feeling that some climbing walls have - all the space means you can breathe a little better. All the space means the sound gets soaked up a bit too - sometimes gyms can sound like factories with all the machines going, but this place certainly doesn't. Usually the only sounds that will interrupt your thoughts are the echoes of whatever the receptionist has decided to put on the sound system. As well as conventional climbing walls there's a large bouldering area, with soft crash mats that have caught my body on the many occasions that my fingers have decided to give out. The atmosphere's great though, and nobody judges you if your new or just a bit crap like me. If you do want to improve they have excellent instructors on hand, who are very patient (they get a lot of school groups in here so they have plenty of practice. Bristol Climbing Centre is unique, a great place to learn to climb, and a wonderful environment to do it in.

it just never ceases to amaze me the wealth of exiting and slightly unusual things to do in and…read morearound Bristol. Set within an old church, god knows how much effort must have been put in to convert the building to a climbing centre, the South West's biggest Climbing centre - if you didn't know! There are all sorts of levels of walls and sessions available to accommodate for the real beginner (which is where I was) and the more experiences climber. 12 meters doesn't sound very high until you get half way up it and feel like you might be able to reach the clouds with your next step up! They run things like Easter courses so great for kids but also for adults.

Streamleaze road park is great for the little ones ,some swings ,a slide , rope climb etc all…read moreenclosed and gated

This is a really nice sports facility where you get a welcome as soon as you enter. There is ample…read moreparking facilities on site and the opening hours mean you have little excuse not to go and utilise your membership. The reception staff are fantastic, I really feel that nothing appears to be too much trouble for them. The facilities on site are good, occasionally, I have found the water in the pool to be a little cool, but thats maybe me. The changing rooms are always immaculate and they offer good facilities, there are lots of hairdryers and it reminds me of a spa in there. The gym itself is well laid out and is a comfortable temperature for your workout, it has never been too busy and I have never felt that I have been looked down upon for my poor physique - whereas some gyms you feel uncomfortable. The staff are all really friendly and helpful and after your workout there is a really nice restaurant which serves really nice food and really tasty coffee.

This is by far my favourite park in Bristol. It's got everything you'd want in a park…read more.. Massive open green spaces perfect for football, frisbee, cricket and any other park game. A huge playground suitable for children of all ages. A hut that sells tea/coffee/ice cream and bacon baps. Beautiful meadows that are buzzing with wildlife. The river Frome runs through it and throughout the different seasons a walk along that river offers an array of different colours, wildlife and scenery. I also love the fact you can start in Eastville park and follow the Frome Valley walkway right through Snuff Mills, Oldbury Court, Frenchay, Winterbourne and beyond. If you live in Bristol and haven't visited this park then get on it, you won't be disappointed.

There is a big rolling walkway of green stretching from Eastville to right out under the ringroad…read moreat Hambrook, if you know where the paths are. Some of it is part of Oldbury Court, which is how you will see part of this park on the Google map. Part of that group is Vassell's Park (which used to be called Vassell's Family Estate). It must have been an arboretum at one point as it has a fantastic collection of trees so it looks stunning all year round. Largely split into four fields you have the main entrance and car park on Vassall Park Road (note how the spelling is different!) and a sports field to the left with a very good enclosed childrens' playground, and a larger green space on the right with a concrete path. Most dog walkers during summer and weekends stick to the right side as the left side has footie and cricket. Other times it is a free for all as it is only dog walkers and joggers who come to the park in winter and early mornings! Then there are two fields at the back which are just big green spaces, again only dog walkers and runners seem to get that far into the park. You can also gain entrance to the park at the bottom of the right-hand field near the back fields - at Goffenton Drive - but there is only one car space! And there is a way in by the allotments past Glaisdale Road at the back of the left-hand field. No parking available here. There is a constant coffee truck near the car park all year and an ice cream truck whenever children are likely to be about. There is a limited amount of waste bins in the hope that everyone will take their rubbish home - unfortunately they don't and during summertime I become volunteer litter picker when I walk my dog. It does get filthy when the weather is hot and the picnics come out. Annoying and dangerous for my dog. The park does have numerous dog poo bins and the dog walkers here are very clean - I rarely see any left about in the park. I should say if you don't like dogs then don't come here - even at 6am on a wintery day I will see 5 other dogs, on a Saturday afternoon in summer we're talking 30+. The park connects down to Snuff Mills and the river Frome at various points. The easiest option is to follow the concrete walking path all the way through the back fields and then when you reach the third entrance and car park at Frenchay Road turn back on yourself and go down the steps. Personally I like careering with my dog down through the the woods! Of course Snuff Mills can connect you to Eastville Park and to the Purdown Estate for more green space by just crossing a road. If you want to go on to Downend the woodland path continues opposite the car park but be careful as the path has eroded quite badly and is slippery on a slope. You can also take a short walk through the quiet Frenchay streets and keep going on the Frome Valley Walkway.

I'm new to yoga but I've been to about 7 classes here so far and had lots of different teachers who…read morehave all been great. It's all Iyengar yoga but there's a lot of variation between classes. I have only been to beginner classes but have now been on every day they run (all except Friday and Sunday) and the teachers all have a slightly different style. Because of that you need to try it a few times on different days I think, see what pace of class suits you. The building is tucked away off Gloucester Road and is basic to look at but has a lovely atmosphere. It's very peaceful and smells of scented oil. You take your shoes off at the door and there's 2 studios and 2 changing rooms. You pay £10 for a one hour 15 min class but you can buy sessions in bulk to make it cheaper. I bought 12 classes for £84 so that's a hefty saving and after testing the water a couple of times in single sessions I knew I'd want to go all the time. You get 3 months to use the 12 classes. They provide all the equipment for free and they make sure you're happy and comfortable. There's no pressure to tie yourself in knots from day one and no judging - a 60 yr old woman regularly kicks my a*s and I'm half her age! It's first come first served so try and get there five minutes early. I haven't been turned away yet but the size of the class is quite unpredictable. I already feel stronger and today I did restorative yoga for the first time and I loved it. It's taken until now but I'm really into it and I'm historically unfit and don't go to the gym or do any exercise. I'd really recommend this place and yoga in general, I feel healthier every time I go.

I LOVE yoga west and everything about it!! Went for a…read moremeetup.com (Bristol thrive) group meet here for beginners yoga with Anne marie and it was hands down the best yoga class i've been to so far. It's just off gloucester road on denmark street, right at the end of the little side road. Shoes come off at the door and it's bare foot/socks around the studio. The nicest man ever greets you at reception telling you info. Cost is £10 per class which is the higher end cost wise- totes worth it! The class was busy with about 15 people attending, anne marie was amazing taking into account peoples various balances, hips and strengths. Easy to follow moves with definate pushing to achieve but without injury! Calming 5 minutes at the end left us all feeling calm but revitalised. Def will be booking more sessions, really really enjoyable :)

Last year I decided to try some of this windsurfing lark at The Channel view leisure centre,…read morededicated water to all things water sports related. I went on the absolute beginners course which to begin with is expensive. £124 for two days. But once you get your level one it goes down to £34 for 5 sesh so gets better as you do. What consists of the beginners course is to begin with an on land simulator to make you feel an utter charlie. YOu are embarrassingly guided by qualified wind surfing tutors. You are then allowed out in the wet stuff after a few hours and this is where the real fun begins. Expect to get wet, col and spend more time off your board than on it...Well me anyway. It was so much fun my face was hearting from smiling so much over the two days. It's a great way to meet people and you become quite close to your group over the time and I still speak to a couple of the people I met there. There is so much more at CBWAC with Kayaking, sailing, rowing and power boating. If summer pops up this year you must visit here!

This Centre is housed in a purpose-built facility in South Cardiff, on the edge of the River Taff…read moreby Cardiff Bay. Despite the name, they actually offer activities both in the water and on land - including climbing (using Channel View's indoor climbing wall and automatic belaying equipment, as well as the outside bouldering facility); archery; bell boating in a vessel up the Taff; bush survival skills; trail biking; sailing; windsurfing; course and sea fishing; rowing; etc. For parties and corporate days they do day packages, and this is what I've experienced - all great fun, with excellent tuition and guidance, and a choice of 16 different activities (though obviously you have to choose in advance and book which you want to do, as there's not enough time to fit all of them in!). Great for a team day out away from the office.

In Ashton Court Estate you will find this pitch and put course on a hillside. It takes a bit of…read morefinding. At the main entrance (that is, where the gatehouse is, not down in the hill around Bedminster) go straight along the road and then take the first right, going up the hill. You'll come to a little car park and a slightly desolate looking hut. The hut is where you can hire clubs and balls (remember not to smack it into the bushes...) and get putting. It's run by the council, which means its a) cheap and b) not full of stuffy old men, the two usual vices of a golf course. Give your ball a thwack and follow it round the course, nobodies going to judge you. The only downside I can think of is that things can get a bit congested, especially if the weather is even vaguely nice. You may have to wait a little while, or have people queueing up behind you, to use one of the holes. Making golf a bit less of the pursuit of old men at country clubs, the pitch and put golf course is a great way for those of us that think golf looks like a lark to give it a try.

I used to hate golf until two of my mates practically dragged me across the bridge to Ashton Court…read morefor some pitch and putt. What can I say? I was almost instantly seduced by the satisfying feeling of smacking a little ball as hard as you can with a massive piece of metal, and the faraway sound of ball on deer. It's great value - £6.50 gets you 18 holes and a great view across the whole of Brizzle and beyond on a fine day. The only problem is that, when the sun's out, it can get pretty busy, and there's nothing guaranteed to give an amateur the yips more than a queue of people staring and tutting as you continually swing and miss at the ball off the tee. One tip: the course on the Bristol side of AC offers more variation, and there's even one par five hole where you can get your wood out and give it a real thrashing.

Awesome local gym!…read more It's not massive, but the locality and quality of equipment make up for that. There is a ton of cardio equipment, a lot of different weights and weight rooms and I've only been to a few of them, but the classes I've been to were just awesome. As I said, it's not massive, so obviously don't join expecting a pool or anything, but don't let that deter you from a great local gym

So, it's been a while, but it was time for me to re-join a gym and get superfit. I have limited…read morefunds at the moment and also know that I need a gym nearby to where I live, otherwise, I'll assume that paying the fee alone will get me fit - ridiculous I know! Workout is on North Street in Bedminster - super easy to get to, and for a joining fee of £15, and by paying 2 months up front at £9.99 a month for off peak membership - I was signed up. They did also advise me that they also charge one further fee which is payable in February and goes towards maintenance of the club - it's a fixed fee and everyone has to pay it - but apart from that it's contract free. As an off peak member I can use the gym from 8am til 4.30pm Mon to Fri, and 8am - 8pm at weekends - absolutely perfect for me. I can also access their classes and have 50 in a year for no extra charge. There's a sauna and steam room, and even a separate womens only area for toning!! None of this negotiating weights with huge muscly chaps :) Now as a budget gym I have to say my expectations weren't particularly high - and I'm the first to admit that I was wrong to have this preconception. I was massively impressed and surprised by the quality and standard of the equipment - it is top notch and definitely on a par with more expensive gyms in this city that I have previously been a member of. You do need to bring a padlock with you, as you need it for the lockers in the changing room, but.... If you're looking for a gym - I would definitely recommend it. Go sign up.

Very simple fun, but my step-kids (6-11) LOVE running around the maze chasing each other and trying…read moreto find their way to the middle (with a bit of cheating!). The maze is made up of bricks laid into the ground, so there's very little to hurt themsleves on and it looks crazy as they dart left and right trying (or pretending) to stay on the paths.