Explore the garden at Prior Park

Sham Bridge covered in snow at Prior Park — Sham Bridge and the Serpentine Lake with a dusting of snow | © National Trust/Dawn Biggs

The meandering paths around Prior Park reveal all sorts of flora, fauna and historical features. The 18th-century garden created by Ralph Allen was designed to delight and surprise. Today it offers a peaceful escape from the hustle and bustle of the city centre, and a chance for you to explore nature, to play or just sit and enjoy the surroundings.

Things to look out for in winter

Winter and early spring is a wonderful time to explore Prior Park’s garden. The garden is surprisingly green throughout the winter, with glossy green laurels and other evergreen trees and shrubs.

The bare trees reveal views not possible with summer foliage and crisp days give way to clear still reflections in the lakes. Mist rising from the lakes, frosty grass and the occassional snow days are all possible during the winter at Prior Park. In January snowdrops start to pop up around the edges of the paths and in the Summerhouse Glade (currently closed), these are replaced by daffodils and wild garlic as the season moves towards spring.

Family-friendly activities

Christmas at Prior Park

On weekends 30 November - 15 December then daily 21 December - 5 January (closed 24/25 December), a magical trail will be available to discover around the garden at Prior Park. Festive refreshments will also be available from the Tea Cabin at the bottom of the garden - think hot chocolate and mince pies.

Nature explorer packs

For little explorers you can borrow a seasonal back pack from visitor reception. The pack includes binoculars, a bug pot and of course a seasonal guide to creepy crawlies and animals you can spot during that time of year. In spring you'll be able to find lots of birds, ducklings and wild garlic.

Brass rubbing trail

This is a permanant fixture around the paths of the garden. Just ask at reception on arrival for some paper and pencils and see how many you can do. Can you also spot the real plant or animal in the garden?

Play dens

Find the play dens tucked away in the Summerhouse Glade, use your imagination to create a game and look through the spy holes to see what you can find. As the seasons change the views will change from thick foliage to glimpses of the lakes.

The Wilderness: Serpentine Lake, Cabinet and Gothic Temple site

This area was restored, as part of a project funded by a Heritage Lottery Fund grant in the mid-2000s. The Serpentine Lake gives the impression of a continuous body of water, while the Sham Bridge marks the end of the water, but suggests that there might be water beyond.

Water plants keep the lake water healthy and give clear reflections of the bridge. Water from the Serpentine Lake flows over the cascade where it is carried underground to the lake above the Palladian Bridge.

In the 18th century guests would admire the cascade from the Cabinet – a circular expanse of gravel – when the flow of water was controlled by raising and lowering weir plates. The Cabinet is a great space from which to admire the summer blooms.

A metal frame that outlines the shape of the Gothic Temple that once stood in this location — Site of the Gothic Temple at Prior Park | © National Trust/Rachel Beaumont

The site of the Gothic Temple is marked out on the ground below the Cabinet. This feature was built around 1754 as Ralph Allen started experimenting with a different style of architecture. By the 20th century it had fallen into a bad state and was sold in the 1920s.

Mrs Allen’s Grotto

Alexander Pope, the 18th-century poet, built the grotto as a retreat for Mrs Allen. It was designed to show off rocks, minerals and fossils that decorated the floor and roof. When the National Trust started caring for the garden back in 1993 the remains of the Grotto were discovered in undergrowth. They are now protected by a covering structure.

Temporary closure

Please note that the Grotto is currently closed.

The summerhouse

Tucked away among the trees of the Summerhouse Glade is the summerhouse. This was a later addition to the garden, and was recreated in the 1990s using historical images as a guide. It’s now a relaxing place to stop and enjoy the sounds of nature.

Visitors walking on the woodland path at Prior Park, Bath | © National Trust Images/James Dobson

The lakes at Prior Park

There are three lakes and dams to discover at the lower end of the garden. The water from the Serpentine Lake at the top of the garden flows down through cascades and under the Pasture to these lakes. The Palladian Bridge is one of only four like it in the world, and the only one that also acts as a dam.

In the spring and summer brightly coloured dragonflies and damselflies can be seen hovering above the lakes. Swans, ducks and even the odd kingfisher have resided on the lakes in the past.

Silent Space trail

In spring 2024 Prior Park launched the first Silent Space trail in the UK. The trail encourages visitors to take a moment to switch off, be present and soak up nature. Prior Park is a tranquil garden away from the centre of Bath and has numerous places where you can sit and find your own peace. The trail marks some suggested locations where you can take in the view or sit and listen to babbling water. Just ask at visitor reception for more details.

Silent Space is a charity that creates opportunities for silent reflection in numerous green spaces in the UK. For more details about Silent Space, visit the website.