Around Bath & Bristol

Flowers and megaliths — Spring flowers among the stones

Spring tulips in the Rose Garden at Tyntesfield

Magnificent houses, peaceful gardens, wooded trails and little-known treasures.

Places to visit

Map Loading...

Around Bristol and Bath there is lots to explore in the spring. You will find historic houses and their gardens, countryside and woodland walks to allow you to get close to nature and escape in the outdoors as the seasons change.

Children enjoying the woodland play area — Swing, dangle and jump at the woodland play area

May half-term in Bath & Bristol

Places close to Bath and Bristol have a wide variety of things to keep the family entertained this half term.

Read the list

The great outdoors

The gardens in Spring time at Tyntesfield, Somerset

The best spring gardens near Bristol and Bath

Close by there are dramatic landscape gardens, informal kitchen gardens, flower borders and shady woodland, all of which are transformed at this time of year as spring blooms fill them with colour.

Great spring walks near Bath and Bristol

There are plenty of great walking routes close to Bath, Bristol and in north Wiltshire. Here a few to try.

Sir Francis Drake comes home to Buckland Abbey

This year the portrait of Sir Francis Drake, which belongs to the National Portrait Gallery, is at Buckland Abbey, offering a rare opportunity to see this wonderful Elizabethan portrait exhibited in his former Devon home.

Find a place to visit

Discover somewhere to visit using our search. In the South West you're never far from somewhere to explore.

Find a place to visit

Where to go today?

Reasons to book a trip to England today

As we head into spring, what's better than taking a trip away? Better still when you haven't got far to go. Disclaimer: this article may lead to the uncontrollable urge to book a holiday in Britain.

Girls sitting on a bench overlooking the coast

Places to embrace JOMO (the joy of missing out) in the South West

If you’re looking to get away from the constant pressure of texts, WhatsApp groups and social media here’s a list of our locations with truly awful phone reception. Perfect to escape to for a little quiet contemplation.

Visitor sketching one of our special places

Drawing inspiration

Wherever you live in the South West, find somewhere near to inspire your creativity

Groups of people outside the front of the house for a popular event at Arlington Court — A busy event day at Arlington Court at the annual May Fair

Find an event

Places in the South West host everything from guided house tours and ranger days to walks and runs.

Find an event

Avebury

Still digging ... Recent excavations around Avebury

Wed 22 May 2019

+ 223 other dates

10:00-17:30

This year at Avebury we’ll be shining a light on recent excavations through a pop up exhibition in the Barn gallery. This exhibition will highlight many of the results of those excavations alongside a selection of the artefacts discovered.

Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum and Village

Photography exhibition at the Fox Talbot Museum by John Paul Evans

Wed 22 May 2019

+ 46 other dates

10:30-17:00

These metaphoric photo series examine various points of view regarding gay marriage — with the pictures of ‘otherness’ fluctuating between the poignant, the comic, and a potentially disturbing presence in the domestic space.

Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum and Village

Healing Herbs in the Botanic Garden

Wed 22 May 2019

+ 73 other dates

10:30-17:30

The Botanic Garden in Lacock's grounds will be bringing back the Healing Herbs border from last year due to popular demand.

Lacock Abbey, Fox Talbot Museum and Village

Spring flowers at Lacock Abbey

Wed 22 May 2019

+ 9 other dates

11:00-16:30

With the appearance of snowdrops, crocuses and the sounds of birds singing in the fresh air, escape for a spring walk around the grounds at Lacock.

Tyntesfield

House tickets: May 2019

Wed 22 May 2019

+ 9 other dates

12:00-16:00

In 2019 the house at Tyntesfield will be open in some way, every day (except Christmas day). Tickets can be pre-booked or picked up from the Ticket Office on the day.

Bath Skyline

Train in 10

Wed 22 May 2019

18:30-19:30

Trail runs. In nature, for nature. Join our Run leader and Bath Skyline ranger who will introduce you to trail running to complete a Trust10 10km event in 10 weeks. Wednesday evening sessions 22 May - 17 July, plus the Trust 10 on 28 July