It gives you a unique insight
The gardens at Cornwallis Crescent
Last weekend, I found myself having to entertain a couple of friends visiting Bristol for the weekend but unsure what to do with them.
My initial thought was Millennium Square and the Festival of Nature, but I got the wrong weekend – that is on this weekend. Turning to our best friend Google, an event quickly stood out to me: the Clifton and Hotwells open gardens weekend.
With the forecast being for dry and sunny weather, this would be a nice way to spend the day outside – especially given my friends are both into gardening. Tick, tick, I am thinking.
The annual event has now been running for over a decade and sees more than 20 communal garden squares and private gardens hidden in the area open to the public for a single weekend in the summer.
The gardens at Cornwallis Crescent were my absolute favourites
Being given a map when we bought our tickets in a little stall by Victoria Square, I have to admit we didn’t have the smoothest of starts. My toddler was struggling and generally in a bad mood (great) and we seemed to keep getting lost, with gardens taking a very long time to find.
After exploring a few gardens on the eastern side of Clifton, we headed over towards Cornwallis Crescent – which is split into the East and the West side. And what a treat we were in for here.
Hidden behind a row of houses were these magnificent and huge gardens. They both had stalls serving food and drinks, so were the ideal place to spend some time.
The Paragon in Clifton
With Cornwallis Crescent East having a small playground, I spent over an hour there – finally being able to relax as my son played around. My friends took the opportunity to explore a couple more gardens, but I do not regret our choice of staying there; I would come back to this event just for this gorgeous hidden garden.
We rounded off the day by visiting the gardens at the Paragon, having overheard these were a must visit – and those women were not wrong.
With houses in the street selling for an average of £1.8m according to Right Move, this is certainly a fancy street that, was it not for the open gardens’ day, I may not have discovered.
The views from the garden at the Paragon
The garden at the Paragon has direct views over the Suspension Bridge and, at the time we visited in the afternoon, there was a bit of a crowd watching a choir.
The Clifton and Hotwells open gardens day was a different way to explore one of Bristol’s most well-known areas, giving you a unique insight.