Cabot Tower on Brandon Hill is free to visit and open every day from 8am, with no ticket or booking needed. The climb up its spiral staircase takes a few minutes and gets you one of the best 360-degree views in Bristol, over the harbour, Clifton and the Avon Gorge, for nothing.
Where it is and how to get there
Cabot Tower stands in Brandon Hill Park, just off Park Street, at Brandon Hill Park, Park St, Bristol, BS1 5RR. It's a steep but short walk up from the harbourside or the top of Park Street, and an easy add-on if you're already heading to the Clifton Suspension Bridge or wandering around Clifton.
There's no dedicated car park at Brandon Hill. If you're driving, you'll need to use one of the pay-and-display bays or car parks nearby; see our Bristol parking guide before you set off, since much of the surrounding area is residents' parking only during the day.
Opening hours and closing times
Brandon Hill Park itself is open at all times, but Cabot Tower keeps its own hours. It opens at 8am daily, and closing time changes through the year:
| Month | Closing time |
|---|---|
| November, December, January | 5.15pm |
| February | 6.15pm |
| March | 7.15pm |
| April | 8.15pm |
| May, June, July, August | 9.15pm |
| September | 8.15pm |
| October | 7.15pm |
The tower closes on 25 and 26 December and 1 January. It also closes periodically for short maintenance works, so if you're planning a special trip around it, it's worth a quick check of the Bristol City Council Brandon Hill page before you go. Toilets near the tower are open 8am to 6pm daily.
What you'll actually see
Cabot Tower was built in 1897 to mark the 400th anniversary of John Cabot's voyage from Bristol to Newfoundland. It's a 105ft (32m) red sandstone and limestone tower with two internal spiral staircases, and the viewing platforms at the top look out over the Floating Harbour, the university tower, Clifton's terraces and the Avon Gorge. On a clear day you can pick out the Clifton Suspension Bridge and the hills beyond Bristol.
Brandon Hill itself is worth the trip even without the tower: it's Bristol's oldest park, with a nature reserve, an under-12s dog-free play area, two outdoor exercise stations, and a good spot for a picnic on the grass below the tower.
How it compares to Bristol's other viewpoints
| Viewpoint | Cost | Effort | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cabot Tower, Brandon Hill | Free | Short, steep spiral stairs | A quick 360-degree view near the centre |
| Clifton Observatory camera obscura | Paid ticket | Short walk, small entry fee | Combining a viewpoint with the camera obscura and Giant's Cave |
| Sea Walls, the Downs | Free | Flat walk, no stairs | Suspension Bridge views without climbing anything |
For more ideas nearby, our best viewpoints in Bristol guide rounds up the rest, and our things to do hub covers the wider list of Bristol attractions.
Tips for visiting
Go early or in the evening in summer to avoid the busiest stretch of the day, and take the weather into account since the staircase gets slippery when wet. The tower isn't wheelchair accessible because of the internal stairs, but Brandon Hill Park around it is.