Brislington is a residential neighbourhood in southeast Bristol, built along the Bath Road corridor with the wooded Brislington Brook valley running through it. It has a mix of Victorian terraces near St Anne's Park and postwar semis further out, sits next to the historic Arnos Vale Cemetery, and is a direct ride into the centre on First Bus route 36.
Where Brislington is
Brislington sits on the edge of Bristol, roughly three miles from the centre and about ten miles from Bath, split for council purposes into Brislington East and Brislington West. Bath Road runs straight through it, historically the main coaching route out of Bristol towards Bath and London, which is why the area still has a cluster of older coaching inns and Georgian-era buildings mixed in among more recent development.
Until the 18th and 19th centuries Brislington was a country village dotted with the homes of Bristol merchants, and it had a sideline as a centre for English delftware pottery. Suburban growth caught up with it through the Victorian era and again after the Second World War, and it's now solidly part of the city rather than a separate village.
Nightingale Valley and St Anne's Wood
The best reason to make a special trip to Brislington is Nightingale Valley, a pocket of ancient woodland where Brislington Brook cuts through steep valley slopes, reached from an entrance on Hill Lawn. It links to the neighbouring St Anne's Wood and takes about 45 minutes to walk round on the main circular route, with a well-known "pooh sticks" bridge over the brook. It's free to visit, popular with dog walkers and families, and cared for by the volunteer group Friends of Brislington Brook.
St Anne's Park itself, in the northern part of Brislington, follows a loop of the River Avon and has a large family play area. The park sits on a stretch of the medieval pilgrimage route to the Chapel of St Anne, said to have been walked by Henry VII.
Arnos Vale Cemetery
On the Bath Road edge of Brislington, bordering the city side, is Arnos Vale Cemetery, a 45-acre Victorian cemetery opened in 1837 and now run as a nature reserve and heritage site with free public access to the grounds. It's one of Bristol's more unusual green spaces: wooded paths, listed monuments and a visitor centre with a café, and it regularly hosts talks and walking tours.
Getting around
First Bus route 36 runs directly between Brislington and Bristol city centre via Barton Hill and St Anne's, making it one of the more straightforward commuter routes into town. Brislington also has good road access via the A4 (Bath Road) and is close to the A4174 ring road, which makes it a popular choice if you're commuting by car towards Bath or the M4/M32. For the wider public transport picture, see our guide to getting around Bristol.
Moving to Brislington
Brislington tends to be more affordable than inner south Bristol areas like Totterdown or Windmill Hill, while still being a direct bus ride from the centre. It suits people who want a garden, decent-sized family housing and quick road access towards Bath, without the price tag of the more fashionable inner suburbs. For how it stacks up against other parts of the city, see our neighbourhoods overview and renting in Bristol guide.
Quick facts
| Brislington | |
|---|---|
| Location | Southeast Bristol, along the Bath Road (A4) |
| Known for | Nightingale Valley, Arnos Vale Cemetery, St Anne's Park |
| Housing | Victorian terraces near St Anne's, postwar semis further out |
| Getting into the centre | First Bus route 36, direct via Barton Hill and St Anne's |
| Nearest green space | Nightingale Valley and St Anne's Wood (free entry) |