If you were to choose the most visited free attraction in Bristol last year, where do you think it was? I’ll give you a hint. It’s not Clifton Suspension Bridge, the M-Shed, or Cabot Tower. Still not figured it out? It’s Arnos Vale Cemetery – the Victorian-era cemetery with 45 green acres to explore.
Visit Britain’s annual survey has been looking into the latest attraction trends across the country – from visitor numbers and entrance fees to sustainability, accessibility and more. Laying out the most visited free attractions in the South West, Arnos Vale Cemetery welcomed 505,162 visitors in 2023.
This is down from 2022 (-8%), which saw 546,132 visitors, but is still far higher than the second most visited free attraction, The Donkey Sanctuary (399,000). In third was Wells Cathedral, which saw 312,264 visitors. Clifton Suspension Bridge was the only other Bristol attraction to feature, which came 10th with 74,860 visitors (30% up on 2022).
What’s so special about Arnos Vale Cemetery?
The first burial took place here in 1839, Arnos Vale Cemetery was once the most popular burial site in Bristol through the Victorian era. During the 20th century, the cemetery fell into disrepair and wouldn’t become a popular visitor attraction until the early 21st century.
Still, there’s something quite untouched about the cemetery. Overgrown trees, old buildings, and broken graves are everywhere. And with 45 green acres to explore, endless spectacular sights and creepy mysteries are behind every corner. Plus, you’ll find self-guided/guided tours, on-site exhibitions and a cafe serving hot drinks and cake. You can even get married here…
There are also the graves of many noteworthy people to find. Among them are Bristol Rovers footballer, Harry Bamford; captain of SS Great Britain, James Hosken; and Elsie Joy Davison, the first female British aviator to die in WWII. The tomb of Indian reformer Raja Ram Mohan Roy can also be found at Arnos Vale, as well as hundreds of British Commonwealth servicemen and women from both World Wars.
What about the most visited paid-for attractions in the South West?
When it came to the most popular paid attractions in the South West, some notable names made up the top five – Stonehenge (1,327,423 visitors), Roman Baths (991,437), Longleat (800,056), Weston-super-Mare’s Grand Pier (545,011) and Westonbirt (423,813). Also, close to Bristol making up the list was Tyntesfield (7th), Wild Place Project (13th) and WWT Slimbridge (17th). But now where officially in Bristol crack the top 20.