Situated directly behind the Holbourne Museum in Bathwick, these formal city gardens are ideally placed for a stroll before heading back into the city center. Imaginative flower beds and gracious trees line the walkways and access to the canal provides a relaxing way to waste a few hours. Wildlife thrives in this environment so do not be surprised to catch a glimpse of the resident squirrels. Train spotters (or enthusiasts, as they prefer to be called) will love the unrestricted view of the passing trains. Children will enjoy the play area and sand-pit. As for the rest of us, we will take a seat in one of the wonderful gazebos and watch the world go by.
Situated at the junction of the A4 and Gloucester Road, Alice Park is ideal for a quick summer stop-off. During weekends in summer, the cafe opens giving visitors the welcome opportunity to purchase cold drinks and snacks. Picnic tables are also available. The children's play area is dominated by an enormous sand-pit, which proves popular with the kids (if not the parents!) and kids can wear themselves out on the helter-skelter slide, climbing frame and swings. Younger children are fascinated by the pond life that can be seen in the wildlife pond but keep a close rein on little-ones because the water is unfenced and deeper than it looks.
Sir William Holburne's fine art collection can be traced back to the 19th Century. Since then, it has grown to include many historic pieces from renowned artists, especially locals whose work was inspired by Bath. Holburne Museum of Art, gloriously set at the top of Great Pulteney Street in the midst of the Sydney Pleasure Gardens, was originally a hotel in the late 18th Century, but transformed into a museum in 1916. Holdings include Holburne's collection of silver and porcelain, excellent examples of period furniture, a Schantz Fortepiano, and a harp dating from 1802. The many paintings include landscapes by Guardi and Turner, and portraits by Bath artist, Gainsborough. It also plays host to special events like lectures and concerts.
This beautiful park was opened to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria in 1897. It covers large acres of land and is blessed with mature trees and elaborate bedding areas. Take the time to explore the King George V Memorial Garden, now a garden for the blind complete with Braille labels. Each of the plants has been carefully chosen for scent and are particularly fragrant on warm summer afternoons. The Memorial Garden also boasts a wisteria-covered pool complete with fountain. Toilets available including facilities for the disabled.
Bristol is unique among cities in the UK in owning this civic chapel, which has been used as the Corporation's official place of worship since 1722. It was originally the chapel of the hospital of the Gaunts and was known as St Mark's Church. It was founded in 1220 and was granted by King Henry VIII to the Corporation in 1541 (as part of the infamous Dissolution of the Monasteries) for the sum of GBP1000. No other hospital buildings remain. It's particularly noted for its fine, 16th-century stained-glass windows and an intricately fan-vaulted roof, as well as for a wealth of monuments that chronicle the city's history. But best of all, it's a wonderfully peaceful oasis amidst the bustle and hurry of the city center just outside. Its a place to sit quietly and soak up the atmosphere.
Installed as the abbey church of St Augustine in 1140, the Bristol Cathedral was one of the cornerstones of the newly-formed Diocese of Bristol in 1542. With a peak length of 91.44 meters (300 feet), the cathedral's ornate twin towers elegantly soar over the hustle and bustle of Bristol's Park Street. The structure's architectural complexity is further enhanced by its splendid Gothic-Revival nave and an elaborately decorated rose window that sits atop the church's arched entrance. Its Norman chapter house is captivating, to say the least, and is widely touted as the finest surviving specimen of its kind today.
Literally in the shadow of the Abbey, this box-shaped little church could hardly be a greater contrast. And for Seventh-Day Adventists Sunday comes on Saturday here as that was the Old Testament day of rest. Relatively rare here as the denomination first started in this country with a mission in Southampton in 1878, this church was only dedicated in 1959. Informality and the Bible rule, and the hour long service is largely attended by a West-Indian congregation.
The first stone of this impressive Gothic-Revival style church was laid in 1814, and the building was completed by 1820 at a cost of GBP14,226. Added to at various times since, it's the Bathwick parish church, and inside are frescoes, paintings, an elaborate high altar, plus Italian marble in the Lady Chapel. As you might expect from this description of typical Italian style opulence rarely seen in Anglican churches, the services are High Church ornate affairs with bells and smells familiar to Catholics of a certain age. A good choir and elaborate organ pipes complete the effect.
Hidden amongst the many craft and antique shops of the Tithe Barn Workshops is a small gallery. Hand-painted frames are available for sale, as well as many modern prints and summer period pieces made to look like oil paintings by using a technique called oilography. Regular exhibitions feature regional artists, and you may be lucky enough to find some work by Robert Heindel, an American ballet artist. The shop also has a good stock of locally produced Farmhouse Blue Pottery as well as candlesticks and similar gift items.
The Gillingham Methodist Church is located on the High Street of the largest town in Dorset and apart from being a place of worship is also a venue for various classical concerts and musical events. The main feature of the church is its organ which is a two-manual tracker instrument made by William Sweetland in 1890.
The Church of St Thomas a Becket, Shirenewton, dates back to the 13th Century. As was the trend at that time, the church was built to serve the dual purpose of a place of worship and a defensive structure. This duality is evident from the architectural style of the square fortified tower. In 1853 the church was partially rebuilt, and underwent large-scale restoration which led to a loss of a great number of historical and religious artefacts along with the original architectural style. However, this church has still managed to maintain its character and charm. Housed within are a number of memorials that are of special interest to anyone with an appreciation for local history, and on the north and south walls of the chancel the six corbel stones have been carved in the form of human heads, including one of St. Thomas a Beckett. These and many other factors make this church of interest to visitors who are seeking out a warm and comfortable place to pray, as well as those interested in history and architecture,
Uley Bury is an Iron Age hillfort located at the top of a flat topped hill. Excavations at the hillfort have uncovered pottery, currency and other artifacts which suggest that it was inhabited from around 300 BCE. The fort is protected on three sides by steep slopes and the fourth side is protected by ramparts which are still visible today. With Stunning views of Severn Vale and the surrounding grasslands, Uley Bury is a great destination for walks and hikes.