A square of green, surrounded by terraces on all sides, St. Andrews Park is probably deserving of…read morethe 'green oasis' cliché. Big old conker trees at the top of the hill make lovely shade for reading. As you go further down, there's a bit more open space usually where people play football. As the land isn't flat here it's not perfect for sports, although I have enjoyed a few afternoons of Frisbee here. There's a kids park, which doesn't usually have glowering teenagers sitting on the swings, always a plus. They've also got a bowls green (so a lied, there is at least one small patch of perfectly flat land) tucked away for your granddad. Since its surrounded by housing it's unsurprising how popular it gets when the sun comes out. On a fine day in July or August it can be a challenge to find enough space to set your picnic and you can certainly forget about being able to play Frisbee. I don't blame the people for coming, this park offers a little lung for the surrounding area.

St Andrews park is great, it's a luscious green haven just a short walk from the hustle and bustle…read moreof Gloucester road. The park has lots of green grassy space, and trees to offer shade from the sun. The kids play area is at the top of the hill and hosts your usual park utensils, it also has a paddling pool which is open during the summer. This park offers something for everyone, it has a really chilled feel and during the warm weather has a real festival vibe. With groups of people having BBQs and enjoying a few beers in the sun. There's a small catering can that offers drinks and nibbly treats! The toilets are the only downside to this place, they are a little worse for wear and could do with a bit of TLC. I love this park and would definitely recommend you pay a visit!

This is by far my favourite park in Bristol. It's got everything you'd want in a park…read more.. Massive open green spaces perfect for football, frisbee, cricket and any other park game. A huge playground suitable for children of all ages. A hut that sells tea/coffee/ice cream and bacon baps. Beautiful meadows that are buzzing with wildlife. The river Frome runs through it and throughout the different seasons a walk along that river offers an array of different colours, wildlife and scenery. I also love the fact you can start in Eastville park and follow the Frome Valley walkway right through Snuff Mills, Oldbury Court, Frenchay, Winterbourne and beyond. If you live in Bristol and haven't visited this park then get on it, you won't be disappointed.

There is a big rolling walkway of green stretching from Eastville to right out under the ringroad…read moreat Hambrook, if you know where the paths are. Some of it is part of Oldbury Court, which is how you will see part of this park on the Google map. Part of that group is Vassell's Park (which used to be called Vassell's Family Estate). It must have been an arboretum at one point as it has a fantastic collection of trees so it looks stunning all year round. Largely split into four fields you have the main entrance and car park on Vassall Park Road (note how the spelling is different!) and a sports field to the left with a very good enclosed childrens' playground, and a larger green space on the right with a concrete path. Most dog walkers during summer and weekends stick to the right side as the left side has footie and cricket. Other times it is a free for all as it is only dog walkers and joggers who come to the park in winter and early mornings! Then there are two fields at the back which are just big green spaces, again only dog walkers and runners seem to get that far into the park. You can also gain entrance to the park at the bottom of the right-hand field near the back fields - at Goffenton Drive - but there is only one car space! And there is a way in by the allotments past Glaisdale Road at the back of the left-hand field. No parking available here. There is a constant coffee truck near the car park all year and an ice cream truck whenever children are likely to be about. There is a limited amount of waste bins in the hope that everyone will take their rubbish home - unfortunately they don't and during summertime I become volunteer litter picker when I walk my dog. It does get filthy when the weather is hot and the picnics come out. Annoying and dangerous for my dog. The park does have numerous dog poo bins and the dog walkers here are very clean - I rarely see any left about in the park. I should say if you don't like dogs then don't come here - even at 6am on a wintery day I will see 5 other dogs, on a Saturday afternoon in summer we're talking 30+. The park connects down to Snuff Mills and the river Frome at various points. The easiest option is to follow the concrete walking path all the way through the back fields and then when you reach the third entrance and car park at Frenchay Road turn back on yourself and go down the steps. Personally I like careering with my dog down through the the woods! Of course Snuff Mills can connect you to Eastville Park and to the Purdown Estate for more green space by just crossing a road. If you want to go on to Downend the woodland path continues opposite the car park but be careful as the path has eroded quite badly and is slippery on a slope. You can also take a short walk through the quiet Frenchay streets and keep going on the Frome Valley Walkway.

I was looking for a park to film a short documentary in a few months back, but it needed to have a…read morebasketball ring and not be too busy on a Saturday morning. I can't remember who found this one, but I wasn't disappointed. I'm too old to appreciate swings and slides in the same way a child can but when I walked into this park I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. I remember parks when I was a kid and either I'm remembering them incorrectly or this park in Lockleaze is simply a cut above the rest. It has everything you'd expect from a decent park, but simply a million times better. There's a giant wooden tower with labyrinthine gangways and walkways leading in several direction. There's a giant round about type contraption set about 4 feet off the ground. At least I think it's a roundabout, but it's unlike anything I'd seen before. There's also (and this was the best thing) a death slide that is attached to the wooden tower. I was taken aback at how extreme this death slide was. It is quite literally a vertical drop down a five foot wide sheet of polished metal with a gentle curve at the last minute to save you from falling to your death. I was with 6 or 7 kids on the day and none of them had the guts to go on it.

Kingswood leisure centre has been around for years, I remember coming here as a child for swimming…read moreand and inflatable pool parties! They are part of the Active scheme which gives you the chance to pay monthly for membership and gives you swimming, classes and gym included. They do have some really good classes here, circuits and abs classes are popular choices. More recently I have been here for a swim, they have a 25 metre pool and offer plenty of lane and casual swimming and it's all clean and tidy. You won't find anything fancy here, but for standard fitness activities you'll find it here.

I come here every week as non member for the fitness classes. Although it looks abit run down they…read morehave had a refurb with the gym and reception area. They have all fitness equipment and have slowly started replacing the old equipment with brand new ones. The pool has been the same for years and the changing rooms could do with a refurb still. Im not a member but i always seem to get into the clases without booking and paying on arrival, unless its in the spin studio then i recommend booking far in advance. The classes are £4.90 and around a hour long. The carpark lets it down alot, its VERY small and always packed. And the roads have double yellows everywhere. Go careful parking i managed to get myself a parking ticket there a while ago! I will still continue to use this centre but does still need some improvements.

Small piece of enclosed green opposite the main set of shops in Fishponds, and opposite the Porto…read moreLounge bar. This is a nice square with a children's play area and a war memorial. It is mainly used as a walkthrough by people, but do be careful when it gets dark as there has been incidents of bag snatching. Otherwise it is kept nice and clean and good for a daytime contemplative sit to eat your lunch. Although it is enclosed the entrance ways are open and quite wide, so it is not suitable for letting your dog off leash.

What better to compliment such a pleasant strip of shops than a nice little park? Fishponds Park…read moremeasures up quite nicely, using a small plot of land to the best potential. Well kept paths, colourful flower beds and a war-time statue in the middle all ooze vibes of good maintenance and a family-happy environment. There's a children's play area in the corner cordoned off by colourful fencing and at the far reaches a church. It's not a massive park but it's excellent for escaping the town and getting a bit of peace and quiet.

Nice enough leisure centre and friendly staff. Unfortunately, their direct debit company DFC are…read moreabsolute horrors to work with. Twice I have used Active Lifestyles leisure centre memberships. Both times have I been chased and harassed for money from DFC for months that I had cancelled for, did not need, and was not even in the vicinity of the centre. Do not sign up with these monsters if you can at all help it. Attend any other gym or pool. DFC have ruined what could be a good chain by their horrendous payment policies and total inability to listen to good sense. If I sound furious, it is because I am. Honestly, just sign up elsewhere. It is not worth it.

We come here regularly to take our 22 month old swimming. The small pool is always a good…read moretemperature and very clean and they always have different floats & toys around for the children which I think is a nice touch. Sometimes they have beach balls floating around too which my little one absolutely loves. One thing I will say is you have to get there early on a weekend if you don't want to wait around for the next session, this has happened to us a few times now which can be a little annoying when you're all ready to swim. This is one of my favourite pools out of the active leisure centres in Bristol.

How lucky are we to have a handful of expansive and beautiful Victorian parks dotted around the…read morecity? I didn't even know about this one and it's just around the corner from me really. So, I wrapped up warm and stepped through the impressive (and original) wrought iron gates on Church road. It was rather like stepping from the bustle of the modern city with all its traffic and noise into a tranquil Victorian landscape. An avenue of trees, lawns on which to give the dog a good run and a large duckpond/small lake (I can't quite decide which it is - man made whichever!). That's about it, but a refreshing change from walking on concrete. The gates are is open 24 hours (although I wouldn't recommend using it as a cut through to anywhere late at night). There's also a car park nearby. Recent developments to the greenery is that the park is part of the 'TreeBristol project' and 70 new trees were recently planted by people from the local community. Yay!

It's great to find Park's of this size very near to City centre's. Especially considering the area…read moreit is in. As it is not in the best area of Bristol it does give young people an area to not only play a bit of football, bit there is also a skate park. For young families as well there are a couple of playgrounds so you can keep your little angles(brats!) entertained for a few hours as you catch a quick restbite on a bench. You don't hear much traffic when you are in the park which is nice, and it is great to see everyone treats it with repect.

Lovely traditional park at the end of Staple Hill Page park has a promenade walk through lawn and…read morebeds, larger bits of green with a bandstand, tennis courts and a bowling green. There is also an enclosed Sensory Garden which is thoughtfully planted and has an aviary in one corner. This garden is out of bounds for dog but they are welcome everywhere else. Watch out as the walls surrounding part of the park are very low, so if your pooch is a car-chaser then this isn't the walk for you (or keep him on a lead!)

This ancient National Trust woodland covers 180 hectares (440 acres) - so it's big enough to escape…read moreto, enjoy the peace and quiet of the woods, and explore woodland sculptures and some unusual trees. Not only is it a beautiful parkland with views of the Avon Gorge, but it's also a Site of Special Scientific Interest, a Site of Nature Conservation Interest and a National Nature Reserve. The network of hard-surfaced paths means it's fairly accessible, too. Look out for the timber framed barn, which was constructed fairly recently but using the same techniques as were employed in medieval times.

Up yonder past suspension bridge lies Bristol's emerald mystery. Swoop with rare peregrine falcons,…read morestroll with the kids or blow the cobwebs off your mountain bike like I did (it didn't even feel like exercise!) The woods are National Trust owned, crammed with wildlife and only a 15 minute saunter from Clifton. Pack a picnic and make for this site of Scientific Interest (and no, that doesn't mean UFO sightings!). Each avenue you find yourself on is lined with conifers, well-located benches and dizzying views over the Avon gorge. Great for an afternoon's game of good ol' fashioned hide'n'seek. I grabbed my coat and scarf and unleashed my inner child! How often can you say that?!

Woodland and parks which used to be the land for the fancy schmansy yellow mansion you can see from…read morethe less fancy M32. Dower House is now just apartments, but the land is public access with well formed paths and tracks and often used by horse riders, hikers, cyclists and dog walkers. The land is linked easily to Pur Down so you can walk for a good few hours across this part of Bristol.