Parks & Gardens in Weston-super-Mare

Weston-super-Mare is renowned for its sandy beaches and Victorian charm, but beyond its famous seafront lie several parks and gardens that offer tranquil retreats, play spaces, and a connection to nature. Here’s a guide to some of the best green spaces in this seaside town.

Grove Park

Grove Park is a hidden gem tucked away on the edge of Grove Village - Weston's entertainment quarter. This Victorian park, complete with its traditional bandstand and war memorial is perhaps the most beautiful of all the parks in Weston-super-Mare. The flower beds are meticulously maintained by volunteers, offering a riot of seasonal colours, while paths weave through mature trees and into different areas of the garden.
One of the park’s standout features is the Jill Dando Memorial Garden, a peaceful area dedicated to the memory of the late journalist and TV presenter, who hailed from the town. It is an area of reflection that was created by the BBC Ground Force team. 

In addition, Grove Park has several other different areas including rockeries, ponds and a large bug hotel. In addition, there are plenty of benches where you can sit and relax while taking in the view and watching some of the most friendly squirrels you will ever see!

Grove Park is also home to many events throughout the year including free bandstand concerts and the incredible GLOW Festival of Light when the park comes alive after dark with amazing light shows and illuminated installations.

The Prince Consort Gardens

Perched on the hillside above Weston-super-Mare's northern shores, Prince Consort Gardens offers a unique blend of natural beauty, stunning bird's eye  views over Birnbeck Pier and a bizzare art collection featuring several intriguing faces for you to spot!

The garden, which was was opened in 1902 to commemorate the life of Prince Albert, consort to Queen Victoria, is home to a unique and mysterious art trail - that many of the locals don't even know exists. Hidden in the stone walls around one of the park's ponds are 17 faces - a gathering of sculptures which look like a cross between gargoyles and goblins. It’s tempting to believe each face has an intriguing ancient story to tell but no, the sculptures were the final year project for an art student and they have remained there ever since.

With its panoramic views and multiple benches, the park is a favourite spot for picnickers and anyboy looking to relax and take a few quiet moments in the sun.

Clarence Park

Set just back from the Southern promenade Clarence Park offers an oasis of green serenity. This spacious park is a hub for dog walkers, joggers, and families. With a bowling green, mature wooded areas, café, and children’s play area, it caters for a wide range of interests.

The park’s location makes it a great spot to get some shade on hot beach days and its well-kept gardens and open spaces ensure it remains a favourite among locals. The park is effectively split into two with Walliscote Road cutting through it. The top end of the park, which is the one furthest from the beach, offers a little bit of cricketing history. Until 1996, Somerset County Cricket Club played their festival matches in this park and one of their most famous players, West Indian Viv Richards, smashed a double century there (204) against Surrey while Sir Ian Botham claimed a fifer on the ground.

The Italian Gardens

The Italian Gardens is something of a misnomer as this large open space in the middle of the town centre adjoining the covered Sovereign shopping centre, is more paving than grass. However, it is still a very plesant outdoor space and popular lunch stop. It has large feature fountains shooting jets of water up through the paving providing endless free fun for children who love to run in between the jets. The gardens are also home to several outdoor events including markets, food festivals, concerts, performances and exhibitions.

Ashcombe Park 

Ashcombe Park is a large and attractive park some way from the town centre. It features two tennis courts, two children's play areas a bowling club and meandering paths wandering off into areas of woodland and open spaces.

Bluebell Woods

Weston is fortunate enough to have a couple of excellent bluebell woods just a short drive away. You will find carpets of bluebells near Goblin Combe and they couldn't be easier to see. This glorious wooded beauty spot, just up the hill from the combe, is right by the side of the road allowing people to pull over in their cars to see them. 

Prior's Wood, near Portbury, is also famous for its abundance of bluebells that cover the woodland floor every spring. Once inside the woods, there are a few different paths to take, so explore until you find the best of the displays. And, if you're lucky, you might even catch sight of an elephant as well because the woods back on to Noah's Ark Zoo Farm. Trust us, we've done it. We've seen the magnificent bluebells and also the elephants on this wonderful woodland walk!

A little further afield

Tyntesfield National Trust House and Gardens makes for a great afternoon or day trip from Weston-super-Mare. There's also the Bishop's Palace House and Gardens at Wells. Meanwhile, and a little further afield still, there is a treat garden officionados won't ever want to miss. Stourhead - which must be right up there with England's most photographed gardens, below  - is under 90-minutes away by car.