Ashton Court Estate is free to walk around, open from 8am daily until dusk (as early as 5.15pm in winter, as late as 9.15pm in midsummer). The 600-year-old deer park costs nothing to visit, the mountain bike trails are free to ride, and the only charge on site is for parking, from £1 an hour depending on which of the three car parks you use.
Most visitors think of Ashton Court as an add-on to Ashton Gate football stadium a mile away, but they're unrelated. Ashton Court is Bristol's biggest single green space: 850 acres of parkland, deer, ancient trees and mountain bike trails, just over the river in North Somerset.
Getting there and admission
The estate sits in Long Ashton, on the edge of Bristol proper, at Ashton Court Estate, Long Ashton, Bristol, BS41 9JN. There's no admission charge to walk in and explore, and no ticket to buy. You'll only pay if there's a special event running (a festival or the Balloon Fiesta overspill, for example) or if you park a car.
Opening hours run from 8am every day, but closing time shifts through the year:
- November to January: 5.15pm
- February: 6.15pm
- March: 7.15pm
- April: 8.15pm
- May to August: 9.15pm
- September: 8.15pm
- October: 7.15pm
The deer park
Ashton Court has had a deer park for over 600 years, one of the oldest in the country, and it's still a working one: around 200 red and fallow deer graze the estate and help manage the grassland. You'll usually spot them from a respectful distance across the open plateau near the mansion and golf course. Every summer, a roped-off conservation zone goes up on the plateau to protect ground-nesting birds and wildflowers, so keep dogs on a short lead and stay outside the rope if you see one.
Mountain biking trails
Ashton Court is one of the best-known mountain biking spots in the Bristol area, with trails built and maintained for riders of all abilities, free to use:
- Nova Cycle Trail: a 4-mile blue (moderate) trail, the one most families and newer riders take.
- Super Nova Trail: a half-mile red (difficult) trail for more experienced riders wanting a technical challenge.
There's a bike wash by the Clifton Lodge car park, and Pedal Progression on site hires out mountain bikes if you haven't brought your own.
Parking prices
Charges apply from 8am until the estate closes, across three car parks with slightly different rates:
| Car park | Up to 1 hour | Up to 2 hours | Up to 5 hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mansion House | £1.00 | £2.00 | £3.00 |
| Church Lodge | £1.00 | £2.00 | £3.00 |
| Clifton Lodge (Golf) | £1.50 | £2.50 | £4.00 |
Staying longer than 5 hours costs extra on top. Clifton Lodge sometimes opens overflow parking at busy times, charged at the same rate as the main car park. Blue Badge holders park free. If you'd rather skip the car entirely, see our guide to getting around Bristol without a car; Ashton Court is a manageable walk or cycle from Bedminster and Southville, or a short hop on local buses.
Other things to do on the estate
Beyond the deer and the bike trails, Ashton Court has a golf course, a network of way-marked walking paths through woodland and open parkland, the Grade I listed mansion house (used for events and occasionally open to the public), a café near the Mansion House car park, and wide-open space that hosts the Bristol International Balloon Fiesta and other big outdoor events through the year.
Tips for visiting
Arrive early on weekends if you want a space near the trailheads, since Clifton Lodge fills up fast once the weather's good. Wear proper footwear if you're walking rather than driving in, since large parts of the estate are unpaved grass and woodland track. If you're bringing children, it's one of the better free options in our guide to Bristol with kids, and it also makes a natural stop on a longer day trip from Bristol.
FAQs
Is Ashton Court Estate free to enter? Yes. There's no admission charge for the estate, the deer park or the mountain bike trails. The only cost is parking, unless there's a ticketed event running.
Where do you park at Ashton Court? There are three car parks: Mansion House, Church Lodge and Clifton Lodge (Golf). Mansion House and Church Lodge charge £1 for the first hour, rising to £3 for up to 5 hours; Clifton Lodge is slightly more, from £1.50 to £4.
Can you see deer at Ashton Court? Yes. Around 200 red and fallow deer live on the estate, part of a deer park that's over 600 years old. They're usually visible from a distance across the open plateau.
Is Ashton Court good for mountain biking beginners? Yes. The Nova Cycle Trail is a 4-mile blue-grade route suitable for families and newer riders. The Super Nova Trail is a shorter, harder red-grade trail for more confident riders.
Is Ashton Court the same as Ashton Gate? No. Ashton Gate is Bristol City's football stadium, about a mile away. Ashton Court is the separate country park with the deer, the mansion and the bike trails.
Are dogs allowed at Ashton Court? Yes, dogs are welcome, but must be kept on a short lead near the deer and inside the roped-off summer conservation zone that protects ground-nesting birds and wildflowers.