Leigh Woods Area Guide

Leigh Woods shares the Clifton Suspension Bridge with its famous Clifton neighbour, however, this small residential settlement on the other side of Avon Gorge not only benefits from easy access to all that Clifton has to offer, it arguably has better views of the Gorge and the city, and finer expanses of lush natural greenery. Leigh Woods nature reserve is a veritable haven for ramblers, bikers and families to enjoy a stroll in.

Leigh Woods’ trump card, though, is its architecture. Developed for Clifton’s wealthy set (read: multi, rather than mere, millionaires) from the mid-1860s onwards, homes here are almost exclusively detached, unique and jaw-droppingly impressive. A number of architectural styles were adopted to take advantage of the unique vantage point Leigh Woods occupies: Italian, Scottish Baronial, Domestic Revival, neo-Jacobean and Swiss chalet are all styles that are in evidence as you walk along the tree-lined North Road.

The residential area of Leigh Woods is extremely small. You can walk around it in less than ten minutes, and that includes the occasional stop to peer across the Gorge and enjoy the spectacular views. To extend your pleasure of Leigh Woods, it’s recommended you take a detour through the wooded valley, enjoying the varied flora and fauna and enjoying the sense of secluded serenity that is rarely found in a city like Bristol.

Sights of interest back among civilisation include Burwalls House, which is a stunning Victorian mansion that is owned by the University of Bristol, and the St Mary the Virgin church, which is located on Church Road and divine to sit in during a sunny July afternoon.

House prices here are among the highest in the southwest, and with good reason. You can easily walk into the bustling heart of Clifton, and it’s a short drive north to the M5, or south to Bristol airport. Leigh Woods though is worth the price.