Prior Park Landscape Gardens

Prior Park is currently undergoing a tremendous amount of conservation work. Well over half of the small parkland is shut off to the visiting public. It is no longer possible to enjoy the attraction as it was meant to be. The work they are doing is essential and in the long run the Park should return to its former glory. Prior Park at its best is a place to contemplate life enjoy wonderful views over Bath and a lovely little place to de-stress close to the city centre. It is to put it mildly upsetting to see the park in its current state. They are still charging visitors the full rate to visit for what is now a very very limited experience. There is a warning on the National Trust website that work is going on but a couple paying the gift aid admission will have to pay £ 16.80 to walk through a construction site.
If you are in the area I would consider visiting Stourhead instead. I have no problem with the National Trust keeping the park open during the conservation work it is interesting to watch the progression of the work. However it should be either free, a nominal amount or a donation. The current work is costing around 2 million pounds but it seems very unfair on unsuspecting visitors to Bath to be expected to pay for this.

Currently you have to book prior to 3pm the day before you visit. That's a bit off-putting and strange especially when we came into much closer contact with the general population in Bath city centre all week and even walking up the impressively steep hill to prior park. We were greeted by an over officious and overbearing attendant who took 10 minutes explaining to us that things were a bit different at the moment and describing the route we would follow and what we'd see. I could tell you the same in one sentence, 'follow the one way path down the steep steps (don't visit with a wheelchair or a pushchair) past the closed tea shack (bring a packed lunch) go down the hill to the building site (the lakes are closed due to essential dam repairs) and keep going up the steep steps and hill (really don't bring a wheelchair or a pushchair) back to the start which you'll reach in less than 40 minutes.
I'm a member of the national trust, but if I'd had to pay for a walk that was less interesting than the walk from the city to get there I'd have considered myself short changed. Prior park is currently not worth visiting and if you'd like a decent walk and views there are many better in Bath, which is a beautiful place. Walk Bath Skyline. View the Pulteney Bridge. Skip Prior park until the renovations complete, the tea shack reopens and the booking system is removed.

£ 5 per person ticket to walk in the mud and see a bridge and a view of the city of bath and for the rest 60/70% closed for construction. no care of the lanes in the park. a disappointment to pay to see anything. no parking space. bus £ 2.50 per trip per person

to avoid

I wish I had read the reviews before we visited as we wouldn't have bothered. We tried to follow the signs to get there but somehow was sent up the wrong hill so would recommend using Google maps! However once on correct road it was around a mile walk up up a hill to the entrance. The guys in the tickets office were very friendly and helpful. Since there is no car park or anything in the ticket office we were slightly confused as to why the bottom gate couldn't have been used for access for the period that the works are ongoing to at least make it a slightly nicer experience.
Thankfully we are NT members as I wouldn't recommend anyone paying £5 each to visit a field with ongoing work. Although there is work going on I feel like the area are unkept compared to other NT properties.
Hopefully in years to come it will improve but I would give it a miss for at least a couple of years.

Have been before and really enjoyed but not this time. Arrived to be told cafe and toilet closed. A lot to pay for what was left to see which included workmen doing nothing in the former cafe area. The walk available was very short after a bus ride to get there

The first thing I’d say is that Prior Park has no parking at all, it’s roadside and then walk to the entrance , you can’t get in anywhere else. We did two circuits of the park and my wife phoned them to confirm it didn’t have a car park but apparently the number 2 bus from town stops right outside. Once we found the entrance we paid our £8 (National Trust non members ) each entrance fee and was shown some walks. The Tea Shed cafe was first stop to get a coffee and some food. It only serves pre made sandwiches and cakes so bring a picnic if you need something more substantial. It’s a beautiful park though but the iconic bridge and dam is being renovated so a lot of it is cordoned off, it’s still worth a visit though

Such a beautiful landscape, please take the time to visit!

Yes, parking was a bit of an issue, but we parked on a street at the top of the hill and walked down. not a problem if you don't have any mobility issues.

The views were stunning, we're so glad we made the effort to visit. It's probably best if you are a National Trust member rather than a one off visitor, definitely better value that way.

The Palladian bridge was so beautiful, we took lots of great photos. Once we walked up the hill, we could look down onto the bridge and enjoy it's full splendour.

The gardens are stunning and the higher you go the better the views of Bath. We walked up from behind the train station and it took around 30 minutes up the very steep road. There is a bus from the center which stops just outside, as well as the open top tour bus.

Only a short bus ride away from the city of Bath, we were pleasantly surprised to learn that we visited the park on their heritage open day! Walk was pleasant as weather was sunny yet cool. Great vantage views of the city appreciable from the Priory Path viewpoint as well as in front of the Priory Park College. Scenic walk back to the city through Church Lane.

Warning - it’s a steep walk to get there! (But there is a bus stop virtually at the entrance)
The gardens are under development at the moment whilst work is done on the damn (think there’s just a couple of months to go) but it’s still a lovely place to visit. The views are fantastic and the chap from the NT was very helpful and informative.
They do accept walk ins if they can (we hadn’t booked but it was a rainy Weds) but would recommend booking if you can.
It would be good to return once the work is completed to see the changes.
I expect that this is a beautiful place during Autumn when the trees would come into their own with the colours.