Queen Victoria was new to the throne when Arnos Vale opened as a ‘garden cemetery’, where classical buildings and Arcadian landscaping provided a stylish, fashionable and spacious alternative to Bristol’s cramped and unhealthy city centre graveyards.

Arnos Vale Cemetery is a unique location that is now in the care of the Arnos Vale Cemetery Trust, a UK registered charity, so that it can be enjoyed now and saved for future generations, as:

Arnos Vale Cemetery BuildingA place of heritage
Containing many listed buildings and monuments of regional, national and international importance.

A place of tranquillity
A 45 acre haven of peace and quiet in an otherwise busy part of a bustling city.

Arnos Vale Cemetery VisitorA place filled with stories
A city within a city, inhabited by memorials to Bristolians of all classes, and others who found themselves in the city by accident or design.

A place to return to
Because there is so much to see and do and such seasonal variety that one visit to Arnos Vale Cemetery will never be enough.

Wildlife
Exploring Arnos Vale reveals wildlife surprises at all times of year. In Spring, there’s a vibrant array of wildflowers and the air is full of bird song; in Summer, rare migrants can often be heard or glimpsed, while bats put on aerial acrobatics shows; Autumn see brambles heavy with fruit and squirrels laying in food for the winter; as leaves fall and colder weather starts, the swish of fox’s tail may be spotted and the holly and the ivy show their Yuletide colours.

Learning
Arnos Vale is full of learning and research opportunities for people of all ages. Set in a 45 acre historic landscape and a Site of Special Conservation Interest, it is a magical outdoor classroom which abounds with places to explore art, architecture, history and nature. In addition, well-equipped learning spaces are part of the Spielman Centre. The Learning Team offers a wide variety of educational experiences including activities and learning resources for schools, families and adult learners and opportunities for academic research.

A place of respect
Where more than 300,000 people are buried or remembered, from much-loved members of ordinary Bristol families to those who changed their world or sacrificed their lives in war.

Venue Hire

Two special venues at Arnos Vale, Bristol are available for private hire, for business events, family or social occasions, (including funeral gatherings or celebrations of life) performances, conferences, product launches and exhibitions. They are the Anglican Chapel and the Spielman Centre. Both these unique venues are stylish Victorian buildings of a classical design which have recently been expertly and carefully restored.

Hire the Anglican Chapel

This beautifully restored Chapel features ornate plastered walls and ceilings, restored original tile and oak timber flooring, large period windows and restored funeral bell. This fabulous venue can be hired on an hourly, half daily or day basis.

This space is appropriate for funeral services, remembrance services, conferences, music performances, art galleries or general exhibition space.

The Anglican Chapel seats 84 people on comfortable modern conference seating in addition to 20 standing and 20 seated on polished timber benches on each side.

Hire the Spielman Centre

This was formerly the Non-Conformist Chapel with grand entrance either up stone steps and through the portico or into the glass Pavilion via the garden terrace which has an accessible ramp. Typical of the best of its period, this venue is elegant and simple in design and has been restored to a high standard incorporating contemporary features. This space is appropriate for functions, conferences or exhibition space.