There’s a lot of shade here as the weather warms up again
File image of people enjoying sunny weather in St Andrews Park (Image: John Myers)
The weather this summer has been scorching, with numerous heat waves in which temperatures in some places have even reached 30 degrees Celsius.
And with another heatwave approaching this week, many of us are looking for the perfect picnic spots where we can relax and spend some time outdoors without having to venture too far into the heat.
It can also be difficult for families to find places to entertain little ones in unique ways while trying to keep them cool. One of these parks in Bristol has its own play area, bowling green and even a children’s pool in the summer months, as well as plenty of shaded areas covered with trees and an ice cream kiosk.
St Andrews Park, located in Bishopston, was founded in 1895 and has its own dedicated community, the Friends of St Andrews Park, a group of people committed to protecting and improving the area.
Since its inception, many changes have occurred. Through the foliage you can see the impressive old houses lining the perimeter of the park – a view that has remained unchanged for decades, except for the caravans and modern cars parked between them.
The famous Wellington T2905 bomber war memorial in St Andrews Park (Image: Chris Ge)
Some of the key aspects that set it apart from other parks and green spaces in the city include a variety of trees, a wildlife pond, a perennial flower meadow, a community vegetable garden and even a Wellington bomber memorial.
And while exploring or finding some much-needed peace and quiet in an idyllic setting is a pleasure, there are also a number of hidden attractions to discover. Beneath the park benches can be found a series of mosaic artworks named and themed for the seasons.
You can even download a Tree Trail Guide that will guide you on a unique walk through the park and its 25 different tree species. The route starts at The Tea Garden kiosk in the center of the park and is fully accessible to wheelchairs and buggies. The complete route will take about 30 minutes.
According to the latest information from the official Friends of St Andrews Park webpage, parking can be difficult on busy days, but if you can find a space, parking around the park is free. However, it’s a short walk from Gloucester Road, so you can get there by bus if you’re on the right route.
Entrance to St Andrews Park in Bristol (Image: John Myers)
The café is generally open depending on weather conditions: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm Tuesday to Friday, 9:00 am to 4:00 pm on weekends and closed on Mondays.
The park is dog friendly, with the exception of a fenced picnic area and play area where children can happily run around without much supervision. The playground has a large sandbox, climbing frames, swings, slides, parallel bars and other equipment.
You’ll also be able to find toilets in St Andrews Park, which is a rarity these days.
Children’s pool in St Andrews Park
The children’s pool at St Andrews Park, which is completely free to use, usually opens from June to September each year. When not in use it is fenced off and each year before opening for the summer season it is cleaned and filled with several inches of water – ideal for people of all ages to swim in.
Children’s pool in St Andrew’s Park in Bristol (Image: Sophie Grubb/Bristol Live)
It’s annually one of the park’s top attractions for families and has been sorely missed for years during the Covid-19 pandemic, having been closed for renovations in 2020 and left surrounded by a fence that many neighbors called an “eyesore.”
Local residents feared the pool would not reopen at all after the pandemic caused delays in renovation work.
In early 2022, a petition was launched to try to remove the fencing around the children’s pool, claiming it was having a “detrimental effect on park visitors”. He now even has his own Facebook group called We Love St Andrews Paddling Pool, which has around 1,500 members.