The Parade Gardens sit along the River Avon in Bath. The gardens were an oasis during our visit…read morewith spring flowers just emerging. Ancient walkways and steps lead the way down into the park. House boats line the River. A whimsical statue of Mozart greets visitors. Another statue of King Bladud, founder of Bath, and his famous pig reminds guests of the importance of the magical hot springs in the town that cured him and his pigs of disease. The Wings of Peace statue celebrates Edward the VII, the Peacemaker, who brought peace between Britain and France after 1000 years of conflict. The walk through the Garden is beautiful and quiet with a glimpse of the Pulteney Bridge to the West. There are a few benches to sit.

The Parade Gardens is a grade II listed park in Bath, Somerset, England. The gardens are situated…read moreto the south of the Empire Hotel, Bath and 250 yards to the east of Bath Abbey. There is a small fee to enter Parade Gardens or residents with a Discovery Card have free access. There is also a cafe on site. There are wonderful views of Bath architecture from here to include including the Pulteney bridge.

A square of green, surrounded by terraces on all sides, St. Andrews Park is probably deserving of…read morethe 'green oasis' cliché. Big old conker trees at the top of the hill make lovely shade for reading. As you go further down, there's a bit more open space usually where people play football. As the land isn't flat here it's not perfect for sports, although I have enjoyed a few afternoons of Frisbee here. There's a kids park, which doesn't usually have glowering teenagers sitting on the swings, always a plus. They've also got a bowls green (so a lied, there is at least one small patch of perfectly flat land) tucked away for your granddad. Since its surrounded by housing it's unsurprising how popular it gets when the sun comes out. On a fine day in July or August it can be a challenge to find enough space to set your picnic and you can certainly forget about being able to play Frisbee. I don't blame the people for coming, this park offers a little lung for the surrounding area.

St Andrews park is great, it's a luscious green haven just a short walk from the hustle and bustle…read moreof Gloucester road. The park has lots of green grassy space, and trees to offer shade from the sun. The kids play area is at the top of the hill and hosts your usual park utensils, it also has a paddling pool which is open during the summer. This park offers something for everyone, it has a really chilled feel and during the warm weather has a real festival vibe. With groups of people having BBQs and enjoying a few beers in the sun. There's a small catering can that offers drinks and nibbly treats! The toilets are the only downside to this place, they are a little worse for wear and could do with a bit of TLC. I love this park and would definitely recommend you pay a visit!

Lovely place for a walk, but my favourite is when the Mela is in town. Transforms the gardens, and…read morebrings everyone together!

The Town Gardens still feel a little Victorian in the layout, with formal flowerbeds and a gorgeous…read morerose garden. There is also a small kiosk for those who didn't have the foresight to bring a picnic, and a bandstand nearby to sit if it is raining. There's also an aviary and pond, but I never found it particularly interesting, I can't even remember if there are actually any birds there. Close by is The Bowl which opened in 1936. It is now a site for regular summer concerts. (When I was a kid we used to play 'sardines' here... it was ace.)

Once a year the Bristol Balloon Fiesta is held at Ashton Court and is a great day. The Ashton Court…read moreestate is set in 850 acres of land and the gardens are great to roam in, even if it isn't the Balloon Festival. You could spend all day walking around, admiring the wonders of nature. There are deer enclosures dotted around too. The Balloon Fiesta attracts over 150,000 visitors but the park is great all year round. Enjoy activities such as cycling, Golf pitch and putt, horse riding, deer-feeding walks and have a look at the miniature railway.

Ashton Court Mansion is not open to the public but hosts functions such as corporate activity days,…read moreweddings receptions and dinners. It is owned by Bristol City Council and they have struggled to invest the amount of money this mansion needs to be restored fully to its former glory. The rose garden is really lovely in summer. Last summer I went to a performance of Taming of the Shrew here in the walled garden. It was a case of bring a picnic and a blanket and chairs, sit back and enjoy the show. It was such a perfect spot for some outdoor theatre and luckily the sun gods were shining on us. There wasn't a very large crowd, so you could almost feel like you were a lord or lady of the manor sitting out in your gardens enjoying some light summer entertainment. The old stables area of the mansion has public toilets, a cafe and the stables bistro restaurant. The visitor centre is located on the ground floor and there is a lovely exhibition space on the first floor.

The great thing about Bristol is that it's a thriving city with cosmopolitan restaurants and…read morenightlife, but you're still only a stone's throw from beautiful scenery and greenery. And nowhere is this more evident than the Downs, where you can walk up the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road and straight onto over 400 acres of rolling grassland. It says much about the place in our hearts that the Downs holds that as soon as the sun comes out, the first reaction of pretty much everyone I know is to head straight up there. A vibrant place, it's always filled with people playing games, enjoying barbecues, having a drink or just relaxing. There's plenty to see and do, too, with a huge football league held there on Saturday afternoons, the observatory, the rockslides and a café to name a few, plus the stunning views across the Suspension Bridge. A beautiful place and a big reason why I'm proud to be a Bristolian.

The Downs are a lovely area where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol city. Its…read morea good 30 minute hike uphill if you are planning on walking from the centre so it may be best to grab the bus. The number 9 bus goes from Temple Meads and the centre and drops you off right at the heart of the Downs which is helpful. I would recommend walking right to the furthest point where there is a viewing area. The views over Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge are stunning. There are many other little paths to explore which will take you to the river and other areas, but you will probably need a map to find them. Definitely worth a trip up here for the amazing views and a breath of fresh air.

What a fantastic day out. This place offers a lot for family's…read more Great value for £8 per adult and £5 for children over two, under twos are free ! The grounds are fantastic lots of open space for the children to wonder and explore and also paths that follow through the trees and gardens. There's a big adventure playground full of lots to explore, zip wire, slide climbing frame etc. There were also blow up slides and a paddling pool. There was a separate area with Wendy houses, trampolines and a climbing frame for the smaller children which was in a really nice relaxing area. You can get up close with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens in Pet's Corner. There is 66 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland walks, the views across the River Severn and Wales and spectacular ! There's also a cafe and shop. The cafe is really nice I had a caramel latte with a cheese and chutney sandwich came to £5.50 wich Is good value. Plenty of parking available. Overall a fantastic day out which was really enjoyed by all.

Old Down Country Park is not your typical stately home. It is a farm/zoo/park/house. Great for the…read morewhole family too. They have large lawn areas for picnics, a café for those who didn't pre-prepare food, and lots and ltos of animals. Expect to find your typical farm animals. Goats? Check. Pigs? Check. Sheep? Check. Ponies? Check. Wallabies????check!!! Entry is only a fiver and you can spend the whole day there (weather permitting) walking along the Victorian walls and cooing at all the cute animals.

This is a beautiful little park. Ideal if you are a runner as there is a circular path going around…read morethe whole park, with various different off-shoots if you fancy a change of scenery. The path's are wide as well so there is plenty of room for a group of runners to be running one way and a couple walking their dog going the other way and still space inbetween for a baby in a pram! The park is almost a perfect dome, if you sit at the top you have a pretty good view of the whole surrounding area. There's a childrens play park and some football goals to cater for all. I'm hoping to make the most of parks like this as the summer time begins to invade Bristol!

This park is one that I come to when I want to be surrounded by green. Yes, I hear you, most other…read moreparks are green, but this one really is quite big, that you feel enveloped in all its trees and hills. There are paths running through the whole park, which is ideal for joggers, runners and cyclists. There is also a basketball court at the bottom of the park, along with slides, swings and other playground type things. There is often some art exhibition going on - a few months back there was a large sculpture made out of metal and looked like a prehistoric anthropod just sitting around the middle of the park, which was a fascinating addition. It is now gone though, but not long before there will some other exhibit appearing I'm sure! The people who live around this park are lucky, as I would love to be so close to a park this lovely.

My firends live pretty close to this place and to them it is called the 'Futuristic Park' because…read moresome 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…read moreriver 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...