From guided garden walks and tower visits to public tours of archive collections dating back to the 11th and 17th centuries, the University’s offering is a chance for everyone to experience some of the city’s remarkable cultural landmarks.
Among the attractions is the Bristol Botanic Garden, where visitors can explore the stunning plant collections that are carefully conserved and of both national and international importance. The grounds of Goldney Hall offer an equally tranquil experience, including an opportunity to see the magical, shell-lined grotto with its intricate mosaics.
A walking tour of Royal Fort Gardens will explore four of the artworks from the University's public art collection and the horticultural features of the gardens. A Green Flag-winning space, the gardens rank among the finest in the country and were originally landscaped by the renowned 18th-century ‘English Landscape’ designer Humphrey Repton.
Two sites ordinarily closed to the public will be open for people to visit during the weekend. At the Theatre Collection, people will have rare access to interactive displays, set models, and materials dating back to the 17th century, including prompt scripts, playbills, posters, costume designs, and rare artefacts like Bristol Old Vic silver tokens. For guests interested in a guided tour, dedicated archivists and specialists will be on hand.
For those seeking a panoramic view of the city from the vantage point of a neo-Gothic landmark, tours will be available some 68 meters above Park Street at the Wills Memorial Tower. Back on ground level, visitors to Wills Memorial Building will be able to step inside the EarthArt Gallery where the current exhibition, 'Collapsing Time', explores the fluctuating landscape of the River Avon by drawing on research from Bristol’s geologists, oceanographers, and flood experts.