National Trust Prior Park Landscaped Gardens, Bath, England

Prior Park is a beautiful and intimate 18th-century landscape garden in Bath, south west England, owned by the National Trust. The house itself can be admired from the gardens but is not open to the public. There are several ornamental lakes filled with fish, and often made even more picture perfect with the addition of swans. There is a looping walkway through the ornamental forest, with an abundance of specimen trees, and many opportunities to stop, read about the history of prior Park and take in the breathtaking views.

One of only four Palladian bridges of this design in the world can be seen at Prior Park, which was created in the 18th century by local entrepreneur Ralph Allen, with advice from ‘Capability’ Brown and the poet Alexander Pope.

The garden is set in a sweeping valley where visitors can enjoy magnificent views of Bath as well as the surrounding valley from the hill top vantage point of the estate. 

A five-minute walk leads to the Bath Skyline, a six-mile circular route encompassing beautiful woodlands and meadows, an Iron Age hill fort, Roman settlements, 18th-century follies and again, spectacular views!

Only a few minutes drive from the centre of Bath, Prior Park gardens make a great addition to any visit to the city. There are regular busses from the city centre and it is a pleasant, but very step walk if you’d prefer to come on foot. The property itself does not offer any parking so bus, taxi or foot is preferable. Whether a summer visit to relax on the lawns, perhaps with a picnic, or an Autumn trip to marvel in the colours of their extensive collection of ancient trees, Prior Park offers spectacular scenery and an interesting history.

Prices for a single visit to Prior Park gardens are as follows:

Gift Aid Standard
Adult £8.40 £7.50
Child £4.20 £3.75
Family £21.00 £18.75
I adult family £12.60 £11.25
Group Adult
Minimum group size 15
N/A £7.10

If you are planning on visiting other National Trust properties in the area, such as those in Bath and its surroundings great savings can be made with a multi day pass known as a National Trust Touring Pass. The passes give you free to over 300 National Trust properties in the UK. If you’re in the UK for longer than a week or two or are a UK resident, consider a full annual National Trust membership for  year round access to over 500 National Trust properties as well as free parking and a discount a the gift shops! I have included prices for the passes and membership below. Please note that passes and membership cannot be bought at the Nation Trust properties, but must be bought here in advance. As soon as you have purchased your passes or membership you are instantly eligible for free entry, with no waiting period!

National Trust Multi Visit Touring Passes

If you’re travelling to the UK this year, buy a touring pass and enjoy free entry to over 300 houses and gardens – it makes great sense.

Prices

There are three categories of pass to choose from – Admit one, Admit two or Admit family (two adults and any children under 18, children under five go free). The 2019 prices are as follows:

7 day:
Admit one – £33
Admit two – £58
Admit family – £64

14 day:
Admit one – £38
Admit two – £69
Admit family – £81

National Trust Touring Passes cannot be bought at National Trust properties, they must be bought in advance here.

National Trust Membership

Free entry to over 500 special places

Free parking at most National Trust car parks

National Trust Handbook full of ideas to help you plan a visit

National Trust Magazine sent to you three times a year

Regular newsletters sent straight to your inbox

Join now and you can visit as a member straight away….they email you a handy code to use until your membership card arrives!

Plus, buy online and pay by annual Direct Debit to receive a free pair of binoculars!

They also have a special Junior Nation Trust membership and a reduced Young Persons National Trust membership for those 18 – 25 years old.

Click here to buy! You cannot purchase membership at the venues.

Prices

Joint membership
Adult
Two adults (aged 18+) living at the same address
£120 a year
£10 a month by direct debit.

Family memberships

Family 2 adults
Two adults (aged 18+) living at the same address and up to 10 of their children or grandchildren (17 or under). Under 5s go free.
£126 a year
£10.50 a month by direct debit

Family 1 adult
One adult (aged 18+) and up to 10 of their children or grandchildren (17 or under). Under 5s go free.
£78 a year
£6.50 a month by direct debit

Individual membership
Adult
26+ years
£72 a year
£6 a month direct debit

Young person
18-25 years
£36 a year

Junior
0-17 years. Under 5s go free
£10 a year

National Trust life membership benefits:
Unlimited use of all National Trust places
Free parking at most National Trust car parks
Free National Trust Handbook every year, full of ideas to help you plan a visit
Free National Trust Magazine, three times a year, packed with news, interviews and inspiration
New life member welcome pack including life membership card and an A5 hardback book titled ‘Leave No Stone Unturned’

Individual life membership prices

Individual life membership includes free admission for one accompanying guest at National Trust places

Individual life: £1,730
Individual senior life: £1,295
An individual aged 60 or over

Joint life membership prices
Joint life: £2,160
Two people, who are lifetime partners, living at the same address

Joint senior life: £1,620
Two people, who are lifetime partners, living at the same address, one of whom is aged 60 or over

Family life membership prices
Joint family life: £2,265
Two adults and all their children or grandchildren up to the age of 18. Adults must be lifetime partners, living at the same address. Under 5s go free.

Any of the National Trust memberships can be purchased here.

Why not combine your trip to Prior park with a stroll around the city of Bath, or pop to the picturesque villages of Castle Combe, or the National Trust owned village, abbey and museum at Lacock! Not had your stately home fix yet? Dyrham Park, another National Trust property is just 15 minutes away!