4 min readDownend, a small suburb to the north-east of Bristol (and actually located in South Gloucestershire), is not somewhere many would think of travelling to, unless you’re coming for the now famous ‘Freak Shakes’ at The Beehive Coffee House!
So here's a quick guide on what to see, what to do and where to eat…
Freak Shakes at The Beehive Coffee House
The Beehive Coffee House is a charming independent cafe found on the Downend High Street, which is incredibly popular with locals and Instagrammers alike. Their eye-catching Freak Shakes are their trademark - not only are you greeted with a frothy, creamy milkshake from a whole myriad of flavour choices, but they also like to top their shakes with whipped cream, marshmallows, topping sauce, sprinkles and even a doughnut!
Additionally, as can be expected from a thriving indie coffee house, you can expect fine coffees, teas and handcrafted cakes - all locally sourced of course.
Image - The Beehive Coffee House
W.G. Grace Memorial Ground
Home to the Downend Cricket Club, the W.G. Grace Memorial Ground is a great place to come to if you’re into sports. Many locals support the team, cheering from the sides of the grounds, making this a friendly community spot. Legendary cricketer William Gilbert Grace was born in 1848 in a house overlooking the cricket grounds - he later went on to play 44 seasons worth of cricket with the team before retiring aged 60.
Cycle Along the Bristol and Bath Railway Path
When in Bristol, cycling is an absolute must, isn’t it? You can get onto the Bristol and Bath Railway Path via a number of entrances around Downend, making the area a really safe (and enjoyable) place for cycling.
If you can’t quite manage a ride all the way to Bath, then it’s possible to cycle into Bristol City Centre in about 30 minutes, with a number of other decent suburbs to stop at on the way if you prefer as well.
Image - The Bristol and Bath Railway Path in East Bristol
Walk Along the Leap Valley Trail
Throughout Downend runs the Leap Valley and part of the River Frome, which is a great place to head to for an afternoon’s walk or a refreshing morning ramble. Despite winding its way through housing estates, once you’re walking along the waymarked Leap Valley trail, you will feel like you’ve left the hustle and bustle behind and wandered straight into the countryside.
Along the walk, keep your eyes peeled for various types of birds, pond life and flowers, and just breathe in the country air.
Traditional fish & chips at Good Frydays
Consistently offering delicious fish ‘n’ chips, family run chippie Good Frydays is well worth a visit if you’re in the area. Although they are very popular, service is speedy so it won’t be long before you can tuck into flaky cod, chunky chips and a whole host of other tasty chip shop dishes.
Image - Fish and chips at Good Frydays
Pirate Bay Adventure Golf
Whilst you’re in Downend, there is lots of fun to be had in the surrounding areas too. One firm favourite is Pirate Bay Adventure Golf at the Bristol Golf Centre in Hambrook. This pirate-themed miniature golf course is 18 holes of complex trickery to keep kids, adults and grandparents alike entertained for a few hours. This, combined with the fact that some of the holes require you to pull your own boat across water to get to them makes this a perfect day out.
Although not strictly in Downend, it’ll only take you 10 minutes by car to get there, so it is definitely worth doing whilst you’re in the area!
Image - Pirate Bay Adventure Golf
About the author
Justine Cross is a travel writer and business blogger based in Bristol. You can read more of her travel stories, recommendations and tips for Bristol and the rest of the world over on her travel blog: Wanderer of the World.
