Temple Church Gardens

Quiet: Low noise (can vary), birdsong A circular photo of a grassy lawn area, with mature leafy trees running along each side and a church ruin at the far end in the distance.

Cool: Shaded by trees

Best for: Pausing or passing through

Open: 24 hours

Best entrance: From Victoria Street onto Church Lane, near the church ruins

Address: Temple Church, 1 Church Lane, Redcliffe, Bristol BS1 6FR

What3Words: ///stick.lodge.dime.

Google Map: https://maps.app.goo.gl/KtstozVHVNQQvBNs6. This will take you directly to the entrance of the church garden

Toilets: 0.2 miles away (mostly flat). Bristol City Council Customer Service Point, 100 Temple Street More information about facilities here

View and download the Bristol Quiet Areas Maps by clicking here (opens .pdf in new window)

Social Story

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 1 - A photo of a pavement on the right with a paved road on the left. There is a pub ahead with a low red barrier around some outside seating. There is a large tree up ahead on the pavement past the pub.

Today, I’m going to Temple Church Garden

The Ye Shakespeare pub on Victoria Street means I am close to the entrance and Church Lane.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 2 - A photo of a wide path leading up to a quiet road with parked cards. There are some three storey building along the left side of the road and a wonky church tower begind them.

Church tower

As I turn into Church Lane I see the church tower and entrance to the garden.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 3 - A photo of a cobbled street with building and cars parked on either side. Up ahead there is a large mature tree.

Cobbled Church lane

The cobbled lane feels quieter and calmer than the nearby main streets.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 4 - A photo of a cobbled street in the foreground and a dark green gate ahead, which leads into a garden with a church ruin on the left and a large mature green tree to the right.

Sheltered approach

Historic buildings and mature trees make the approach feel more sheltered.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 5 - A photo of a wide paved areas leading to a narrower paved path. There are large shady trees on either side of the path and a bench on the right hand side on some grass.

Garden entrance

The entrance feels tucked away behind trees and the church ruins. It is a bit noisy here.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 6 - A photo of a wooden slatted bench in a gassy area.

Seating

There are benches I can sit on.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 7 - A photo of a entrance to a church ruin, there is a black information sign on the left side and a smaller arched doorway in a stone wall leading into the church. The windows of the church are just the stone structure without any glass and the church has no roof so is open to the sky.

Church ruins

There are church ruins I can visit, there are steps.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 8 - A photo of a grassy lawn area, with mature leafy trees running along each side and a church ruin at the far end in the distance.

Open lawns

I can sit on the lawn or benches surrounded by trees and narrow paths. This is shady and quieter.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 9 - A photo of a path in a garden leading out to a wide, open gate through a green metal fence. There is a tall building, a hotel, on the other side of the gate. There are some bushes and small trees lining the fence alongside the gate.

Other entrances

I can use these other entrances but they are smaller and tucked away.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 10 - A photo of a narow path running through an avenue of tall leaft mature trees. There is a bench on the right side of the path in the foreground and you can just see some church ruins over to the far right past a grassy area.

Seating and shade

I see the tree-lined wide paths and benches feel shaded and peaceful. The path surface is uneven.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 11 - A photo of a curving path leading to a wide gate in a long green metal fence. There is an area of grass on the left and a mature leaft tree is growing in the grassy area.

Back to the entrance

I feel enclosed in the garden and separated from the busy streets outside.

Temple Church Gardens Social Story Picture 12 - A photo of a cobbled street with parked cars lining each side. The cobbled street leads out to a wider busier road. There is a tall, wide building on the other side of the road ahead.

Exit the garden

I walk on the cobbled Church Lane and see Victoria Street ahead.

What to expect

Temple Church Gardens is a green, tree-shaded space in the city centre.

Quieter areas are usually along the edges of the garden, away from the main path.
Quieter than the surrounding streets
Natural sounds such as birds and leaves
Seating along paths and quieter edges

It can be busier at lunchtime or on good-weather days.