Prior Park Landscape Garden tickets cost £12.00 for an adult (£13.20 with Gift Aid) and £6.00 for a child (£6.60 with Gift Aid), with no pre-booking required. The thing most visitors don't find out until they're already driving is that there's no car park at all: you walk, cycle, or catch the bus up from the city centre, and your satnav will send you to the wrong place if you try. Garden opening hours typically run 10am to 4pm (last entry an hour before close), so build the steep, mile-long walk from Bath Spa station into a morning or afternoon rather than squeezing it into a short gap.
What's there
The garden was designed in the 1730s and 40s for Ralph Allen, the Bath stone magnate, and its centrepiece is a Palladian Bridge, one of only four like it anywhere in the world, crossing a lake at the bottom of a sweeping valley. From the top of the garden you get a wide view down over Bath itself, which is the other reason people make the walk. There's a tea cabin near the lower entrance (same hours as the garden), a picnic area if you'd rather bring your own food, and a bike rack at both the main and lower entrances if you've cycled up. Dogs are allowed on short leads, cattle graze the fields in spring and autumn, so leads matter then especially.
Prices
| Ticket | With Gift Aid | Without Gift Aid |
|---|---|---|
| Adult (18+) | £13.20 | £12.00 |
| Child (5-17) | £6.60 | £6.00 |
| Family (2 adults, up to 3 children) | £33.00 | £30.00 |
| 1 adult, up to 3 children | £19.80 | £18.00 |
Under 5s are free, and National Trust members get in free with their membership card. No pre-booking is required, you just pay or show your card on arrival. Prices and hours are set seasonally by the National Trust, so check the garden's own page before you travel, particularly in winter when opening hours are shorter.
Getting there without a car
There genuinely is no visitor car park at Prior Park, and the postcode will send satnavs to the wrong place, so don't plan to drive and park on site. The walk up from Bath Spa station is about a mile via the main entrance route (steep, uphill from the rear of the station, via Widcombe and Prior Park Road) or a shorter but still uphill 0.8 miles to the lower entrance. If you'd rather not walk uphill, First Bus's number 2 service runs from Dorchester Street in the city centre and stops right by the entrance gate; published timetables show a regular daytime service on weekdays that thins out on Sundays, but check First Bus's live timetable for the exact departure times on the day, since frequency can change.
If you're driving to Bath
Use one of the city's park and ride sites or a central car park, then walk or bus up from there, since there's nowhere to leave a car at Prior Park itself. The only parking anywhere near the garden is at Prior Park College next door, which has limited paid parking on Sundays only and isn't run by the National Trust. There is currently only one accessible parking bay at the garden itself, and the paths inside are steep and uneven, so the National Trust notes the site isn't easily suitable for wheelchairs or mobility scooters; call ahead if you need the accessible bay or more detail on routes.
Is it worth the walk
Yes, if you enjoy gardens, a proper view, and don't mind a steep climb. It's a different kind of Bath sight to the Roman Baths or the Abbey, quieter and more of a countryside outing than a city visit, so it suits a slower half-day rather than a quick stop between other things.
Planning your visit
Pair it with a walk along the Kennet and Avon Canal towpath, which starts from a similar part of the city, or fold it into a longer stay using our day trips from Bath guide. If you're relying on public transport for your whole visit, see getting around Bath without a car for the wider picture.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Prior Park Landscape Garden tickets?
£12.00 for an adult without Gift Aid, or £13.20 with it. Children are £6.00 to £6.60, and under 5s are free. National Trust members enter free.
What are Prior Park's opening hours?
The garden typically opens around 10am and closes around 4pm, with last entry an hour before closing. Hours are shorter in winter and can shift seasonally, so check the National Trust's own page for the exact times on the day you're going.
Is there parking at Prior Park Landscape Garden?
No, there's no general visitor car park on site, only a single accessible parking bay. The nearest alternative, Prior Park College next door, only allows paid parking on Sundays. You need to walk, cycle, or take the number 2 bus from the city centre, since satnavs will send you to the wrong spot if you try to drive there.
How far is the walk from Bath Spa station?
About a mile to the main entrance, steep uphill for most of the route, or roughly 0.8 miles to the lower entrance, which is slightly less steep.
Do I need to book tickets in advance?
No, pre-booking isn't required. You pay or show your membership card on arrival.
Are dogs allowed at Prior Park?
Yes, on short leads. Cattle graze parts of the site in spring and autumn, so keeping dogs close is important during those periods.
Is Prior Park suitable for wheelchairs or pushchairs?
Not easily. The paths are generally steep and uneven, and the National Trust notes the site is largely unsuitable for wheelchairs and mobility vehicles. There's currently only one accessible parking bay, available by calling ahead.
Can I book Prior Park tickets online for a discount?
No. Unlike some other Bath attractions, Prior Park has no advance-booking discount: the price is the same whether you pay on arrival or (where available) via the National Trust's own site. Members just show their card.