This park, situated just by the Swimming Pool in Bedminster, is a great place to come and relax on…read morea summer's day. As well as a good-sized area of grass for picnics and the like, the park also contains a basketball courts, a skate park and an enclosed play area for children. As such, a multitude of different kinds of folk converge in this one spot, making it a fantastic place to come and people watch. The fence on one side of the park has been designated as a graffiti zone and the murals adorning it are painted over pretty much every weekend. It's worth heading down on a Saturday to watch some of the artists at work, if you're so inclined.

A popular little park that has embraced all of what is needed for a modern park to succeed. WIth a…read moreskating area and a basketball court you have already ticked most of the boxes of requirement for all the boys to want to go to the park. Having a designated Graffiti zone as well means the park has embraced the popularity of the art form that Banksey so famously shown the people of Bristol, and allows young people a surface to legally practice their art without having to worry about people frowning at them for Graffiting. Being just by the swimming pool means that it is popular with families to bring their children for a small kick-about or frisbie throw.

The great thing about Bristol is that it's a thriving city with cosmopolitan restaurants and…read morenightlife, but you're still only a stone's throw from beautiful scenery and greenery. And nowhere is this more evident than the Downs, where you can walk up the hustle and bustle of Whiteladies Road and straight onto over 400 acres of rolling grassland. It says much about the place in our hearts that the Downs holds that as soon as the sun comes out, the first reaction of pretty much everyone I know is to head straight up there. A vibrant place, it's always filled with people playing games, enjoying barbecues, having a drink or just relaxing. There's plenty to see and do, too, with a huge football league held there on Saturday afternoons, the observatory, the rockslides and a café to name a few, plus the stunning views across the Suspension Bridge. A beautiful place and a big reason why I'm proud to be a Bristolian.

The Downs are a lovely area where you can get away from the hustle and bustle of Bristol city. Its…read morea good 30 minute hike uphill if you are planning on walking from the centre so it may be best to grab the bus. The number 9 bus goes from Temple Meads and the centre and drops you off right at the heart of the Downs which is helpful. I would recommend walking right to the furthest point where there is a viewing area. The views over Avon Gorge and Clifton Suspension Bridge are stunning. There are many other little paths to explore which will take you to the river and other areas, but you will probably need a map to find them. Definitely worth a trip up here for the amazing views and a breath of fresh air.

This is a lovely relaxed little place which is perfect for a gentle bite and a relaxing stroll…read more Would it be bad to admit that I generally gravitate towards this place when hungover? Basically they do a big, cheap fry up which is just the job. And what better way to walk it off than by taking a quick stroll to see exactly where your food came from? They also serve up simple soups, baguettes, etc and when the weather's nice they've got a nice big outdoor area with a view of the farm. This lovely little place is under threat of closure at the moment, though, so you may need to get in while you can.

I love Windmill Hill City Farm, I visit at least once every couple of weeks with my daughter. She…read moreloves looking at the ducks and chickens, goats, sheep, pigs, rabbits and the lovely calves who are being reared for veal (a meat I am incredible passionate about) The farm has a lovely little cafe which sells light meals, sandwiches and jacket potatoes, where possible they use produce from the farm and all meals are very reasonably priced. There is also a really lovely playground with a great sandpit and climbing tower for bigger kids. The farm is free to visit but I always put a couple of quid in the collection box as it is run by volunteers and is funded by donations.

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.

What a fantastic day out. This place offers a lot for family's…read more Great value for £8 per adult and £5 for children over two, under twos are free ! The grounds are fantastic lots of open space for the children to wonder and explore and also paths that follow through the trees and gardens. There's a big adventure playground full of lots to explore, zip wire, slide climbing frame etc. There were also blow up slides and a paddling pool. There was a separate area with Wendy houses, trampolines and a climbing frame for the smaller children which was in a really nice relaxing area. You can get up close with pigs, rabbits, guinea pigs and chickens in Pet's Corner. There is 66 acres of beautiful gardens and woodland walks, the views across the River Severn and Wales and spectacular ! There's also a cafe and shop. The cafe is really nice I had a caramel latte with a cheese and chutney sandwich came to £5.50 wich Is good value. Plenty of parking available. Overall a fantastic day out which was really enjoyed by all.

Old Down Country Park is not your typical stately home. It is a farm/zoo/park/house. Great for the…read morewhole family too. They have large lawn areas for picnics, a café for those who didn't pre-prepare food, and lots and ltos of animals. Expect to find your typical farm animals. Goats? Check. Pigs? Check. Sheep? Check. Ponies? Check. Wallabies????check!!! Entry is only a fiver and you can spend the whole day there (weather permitting) walking along the Victorian walls and cooing at all the cute animals.

There are quite a few play cafés in Bristol and portico play is one of the only ones I hadn't…read morevisited until last week. It's lovely, a nice big (but not too big) main play area with 2 other smaller rooms, the toys are really fantastic, my 16 month old especially loved playing in the room with the small slides and climbing frames, she loves climbing and these toys were small enough so that if she did fall she wouldn't fall very far and it would be a soft landing. Around the outside of the main play area there are tall seats around so parents can sit there enjoying a tea or coffee and watch the children play. There are lots of snacks hot and cold drinks and things like paninis and sandwiches, I had a cheese and ham panini and it was delicious ! The staff were really friendly and I shall definitely be going back very soon

I've been meaning to go to Portico for ages as everyone I know with small children raves about it!…read more My time finally came on Friday and it didn't disappoint. My only grumble came from trying to find some where to park, so if you are able WALK!! I sadly didn't have that option and had quite a stressful 10mins with a screaming child trying to park. Once inside I ordered a coffee and some lunch and found my friends. The menu is simple but nice. I had a panini which was fine and the coffee was really good. The children's menu is perfect and simple. Once we'd revitalised ourselves with refreshments we hit the play area. Most indoor play places I've been to have a soft play and a few toys but this is so much more. The play area is full of great toys, there is a whole kitchen and shop which kept my son entertained on his own for far longer than any other play. This is also closed in with seating around so you can sip coffee and chat with your eyes on your little one. Genius! It's 3.75 for the day and worth every penny if you want to meet friends and chat while your child is entertained.

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!

In Ashton Court Estate you will find this pitch and put course on a hillside. It takes a bit of…read morefinding. At the main entrance (that is, where the gatehouse is, not down in the hill around Bedminster) go straight along the road and then take the first right, going up the hill. You'll come to a little car park and a slightly desolate looking hut. The hut is where you can hire clubs and balls (remember not to smack it into the bushes...) and get putting. It's run by the council, which means its a) cheap and b) not full of stuffy old men, the two usual vices of a golf course. Give your ball a thwack and follow it round the course, nobodies going to judge you. The only downside I can think of is that things can get a bit congested, especially if the weather is even vaguely nice. You may have to wait a little while, or have people queueing up behind you, to use one of the holes. Making golf a bit less of the pursuit of old men at country clubs, the pitch and put golf course is a great way for those of us that think golf looks like a lark to give it a try.

I used to hate golf until two of my mates practically dragged me across the bridge to Ashton Court…read morefor some pitch and putt. What can I say? I was almost instantly seduced by the satisfying feeling of smacking a little ball as hard as you can with a massive piece of metal, and the faraway sound of ball on deer. It's great value - £6.50 gets you 18 holes and a great view across the whole of Brizzle and beyond on a fine day. The only problem is that, when the sun's out, it can get pretty busy, and there's nothing guaranteed to give an amateur the yips more than a queue of people staring and tutting as you continually swing and miss at the ball off the tee. One tip: the course on the Bristol side of AC offers more variation, and there's even one par five hole where you can get your wood out and give it a real thrashing.

None other than an 18th Century mansion house set in acres and acres of wooded landscape, as…read moredescribed by Ms. Jane Austen herself. The 'Castle' part is actually a grassy hillfort upon which you can gallop to your heart's content. But there is a small Gothic Folly to explore, at the top of a steep hill or course. The mansion house has been lovingly converted into a museum of childhood (sounds a bit creepy - full of china dolls etc - but actually a great deal of fun, with costumes, old games and toys - will get your grandparents reminiscing and your kids learning - gotta be a good thing!) The adventure play parks also prove screamingly popular with little 'uns of all ages. With a regular ice-cream van, a coffee shop and a generous car park - for me Blaise is a proper 'day-out', without being miles and miles from the city.

I've been coming to Blaise since i was a child and my love is still strong for it!…read more There's free parking and lots of it, a great little cafe serving ice creams and such, a large kids playground, old house and museum And the most BEAUTIFUL scenery in Bristol. Acres of rolling hills and trees you forget your in a city after being there for a while. The land goes up hill and over some rocky path's to the top overlooking the Bristol valley, walking down past the house and further into the woods you find a lovely stream with stone bridge. It's a great spot for taking photos or having a romantic stroll. Great to be with Nature and there are no restraints to where you can walk, depending on how brave you are. There are walk ways and proper pathways or you can go into the woods themselves. It feels like a little magical place away from everything. Easily the best place next to the downs for a picnic and dogs are welcome to/ if you don't mind a little walk buses 76 goes there or driving can easily be 20 minutes or less from the centre. You can visit in the summer or even when it's snowing- it looks beautiful either way