Things to see and do

Take some time away from lectures or work to enjoy this historic green space. 

More to see and do in these gardens: 

• Trees and plants
• Wildlife and nature
• Volunteer
• Instagram for our gardens

Trees and plants

In this garden you'll find majestic old trees and lush shrub borders dating back generations. On the right of the driveway, there is a colourful display of Galiu, Persicaria and Lamium. Enjoy the aroma of wild garlic as you enter. On your left, discover a mix of beautiful cornus, hellebores, and acanthus.  

At the top of the drive stands a grand Turkey oak and Monterey cypress, which towers over Cotham House. By the gazebo a mature Acer negundo stands tall and you can explore the woodland border filled with a variety of trees and understory plants. 

To the right of the driveway lies the rose garden. Beyond this is a gravel path that winds around Hampton House itself. Along the way, you'll see Pulhamite rocks, topiary shrubs, flowering plants, ferns, and bulbs.

We survey our trees annually, to monitor their health. You can see the name, location and detailed information about our trees, with photographs, on our tree map. Click or tap on a tree on the map for more information about it.

If you are in the garden, you use the QR codes on many of our larger or more unusual trees to access detailed information about them on the online map.

Seasonal interest

Throughout the year, the garden bursts with colour, maintaining its beauty. 

In March, it comes alive with the vibrant blooms of magnolias, particularly the stunning Magnolia denudata that hangs over the lower carpark. Prunus and Amelanchier trees adorn the rest of the garden with their blossoms, while tulips and Leucojum bulbs add colour to the borders. 

As summer arrives, the formal rose garden bursts with beauty and fragrance of various  varieties. The two Albizia trees within the lawn also join the floral display. 

In autumn, the mature Gingko tree in the border below the turkey oak shows off its magnificent leaf colours. 

In winter, the vibrant stems of Cornus brighten up the driveway, while the yellow flowers of mahonia and the pinky-white blooms of viburnum provide bursts of colour elsewhere.

Wildlife and nature

Hampton House garden is a haven for local wildlife. Throughout the year, you'll spot songbirds in the shrubs and trees. Large flocks of tits often gather in the rose garden. Squirrels are a common sight, darting through all the borders. 

Come summertime, our garden becomes a hive of activity as bees and butterflies flutter among the pollinator plants. Dragonflies and damselflies dance around the pond. 

While foxes prefer to stay hidden during the day, they come out to play at night.

Volunteer

Students and staff can join organised volunteering sessions helping out the Gardens and Grounds team in our gardens.

Volunteering activities include:

• general maintenance including weeding and fence building
• bulb planting
• building and maintaining homes for wildlife.

To find out how to take part in volunteering activities:

• staff, contact us
• students, find University-organised volunteering opportunities on the events calendar or volunteering opportunities organised with the SU in the Students' Union's What's On events list
• students, if you want to volunteer with us regularly, join the Students' Union's Conservation Group

Instagram for our gardens

See what others are doing in the garden and add your own images #unibrisgardens or tag us in your stories @unibrisgardens.

Facilities

• Access
• Parking
• Bike storage
• Refreshments and toilets
• Seats and benches
• Code of conduct

Access

A mixture of surfaced and unsurfaced paths with some uneven terrain and steps.

Parking

There is no dedicated parking at Hampton House Garden. There is metered parking in the streets around the garden.

Bike storage

You can store your bike near Hampton House Garden.

Find bike stores on campus.

Refreshments and toilets 

The nearest University Source Cafe is the Priory Road Café. This is open to staff and students. 

There is a toilet at the Source Cafe. 

Find Source Cafe opening hours.

The nearest water fountain is location in the Priory Road Complex, 12 Priory Road, BS8 1TU. 

There are several local cafes and shops on Whiteladies Road, Cotham Hill and around The Triangle.

Seats and benches

There are several benches near the path all around the garden.

Code of conduct

This is a private garden, and we expect visitors to treat the space with respect and courtesy.

• Take your litter home with you.
• Keep dogs on a lead; only assistance dogs are allowed.
• Clean up after your dog.
• Supervise children.
• Stick to paths, avoid disturbing wildlife, and don't damage property, trees, plants or lawns.
• No barbecues, fires, camping, skateboarding, or aggressive cycling.
• Follow additional safety instructions, if there are building works taking place.

History of the site and the garden design 

Find out more about the history of the site how the garden design has evolved.  

Opened on 20 May 1925, the Old Homeopathic Hospital (now known as Hampton House) was financially backed by Melville Wills of the Wills tobacco firm. Melville was also President of the Hospital. The gardens were an integral part of its therapeutic design. At the time they proclaimed that ‘every ward has its own separate sun balcony for open-air treatment,’. The garden itself contained features such as revolving shelters, a pond and Pulhamite rockeries. Most of the previous features have gone, however, you can still see glimpses of the original domestic garden owned by Wills and his wife.

Find out more about the history of Hampton House garden and our other gardens in the Historic Gardens book.

Research in Hampton House Garden

Our gardens and green spaces are often used for research projects involving: 

• small mammals such as bats and birds
• larger mammals such as badgers and foxes
• insects such as moths and bees.

We welcome researchers and research projects from various disciplines, including archaeology, art history, biological sciences, geography and geology.

Learn more about doing research in our gardens.