Prior Park Landscape Garden
Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath - undergoing a major restoration on its historic dams
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Overview
Beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath - undergoing a major restoration on its historic dams
One of only four Palladian bridges of this design in the world can be crossed at Prior Park, which was created in the 18th century by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from 'Capability' Brown and the poet Alexander Pope.
This year, things are different at Prior Park as the garden undergoes major restoration on its historic dams. Built in the mid-1700s, both time and the destructive American signal crayfish have taken their toll on these structures and the dams are in need of major and expert attention.
The project is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see conservation in action on the garden's 18th-century landscape engineering. It will allow us to strengthen the dams, refill the lakes, reinstate paths and put back a small cascade – a long-lost original feature.
Set in a sweeping valley above Bath, visitors can enjoy magnificent views and are a stone's throw away from the Bath Skyline - a six-mile circular route encompassing beautiful woodlands and meadows, an Iron Age hill fort, Roman settlements, 18th-century follies and spectacular views.
- Telephone
- 01225833977
- priorpark@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Further reading
- Buy the guidebook
Prior Park Landscape Garden
How to get here
- Address
- Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, Somerset, BA2 5AH
- By cycle
- NCN4, ¾ mile
- Cycle route information
- On foot
- 1 mile uphill (very steep) walk from rear of railway station: cross river, pass Widcombe shopping parade, turn right onto Prior Park Road at White Hart pub, proceed uphill, garden on left. Kennet & Avon Canal path ¾ mile
- By train
- Bath Spa 1 mile
- By road
- No onsite parking. Please note that due to construction work on site, there is currently no accessible parking available. Parking is available in Bath city centre. Please see our 'FAQs' page for more details.
- By bus
- Buses run regularly from the city centre. Catch the no. 2 bus (FirstGroup bus company) from stop BK on Dorchester Street. The bus runs every 30 minutes Mon – Sun. Alight the bus just in front of the Prior Park Landscape Garden entrance gate. You can also catch the red City Sightseeing bus (Skyline route) from various locations in the city centre: Manvers St, Terrace Walk, North Parade and Great Pulteney St. Alight at Stop Q - Prior Park.
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Prices
Garden
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Adult | £5.50 | £5.00 |
| Child | £2.80 | £2.50 |
| Family | £13.80 | £12.50 |
| 1 adult, 2 children | £8.30 | £7.50 |
What is Gift Aid?
Most of our places run the Gift Aid on Entry scheme at their admission points.
Under this scheme, if you're not a member you have the choice of two entry tickets:
- Gift Aid Admission
- Standard Admission
If the place runs Gift Aid on Entry, we'll offer you a clear choice between the Gift Aid Admission prices and the Standard Admission prices at the admission point. It's entirely up to you which ticket you choose.
Gift Aid Admission includes a 10 per cent or more voluntary donation. Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
An extra £1 paid under the scheme can be worth over £3 to the National Trust as shown below:
| Gift Aid | Standard | |
|---|---|---|
| Amount paid by visitor | £11.00 | £10.00 |
| Tax refund from Government* | £2.75 | £0.00 |
| Total received by the National Trust | £13.75 | £10.00 |
*Gift Aid Admissions let us reclaim tax on the whole amount paid - an extra 25 per cent - potentially a very significant boost to our places' funds.
Please note...
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Opening times
Please note...
Last entry one hour before closing.
Tuesday 7 December
- Garden Closed
- Tea Shed Closed
Wednesday 8 December
- Garden Closed
- Tea Shed Closed
Thursday 9 December
- Garden Closed
- Tea Shed Closed
Friday 10 December
- Garden Closed
- Tea Shed Closed
Saturday 11 December
- Garden 10:00 - 16:00
- Tea Shed 10:30 - 15:00
Sunday 12 December
- Garden 10:00 - 16:00
- Tea Shed 10:30 - 15:00
Monday 13 December
- Garden Closed
- Tea Shed Closed
Prior Park Landscape Garden
Contact us
- Telephone
- 01225833977
- priorpark@nationaltrust.org.uk
- Address
- Ralph Allen Drive, Bath, Somerset, BA2 5AH