Clifton Down
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Clifton Down | |
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| Type | public park |
| Location | Bristol, England |
| Coordinates | N51:27 W2:37 |
| Size | 400 acre |
| Status | open all year |
Clifton Down is an area of public open space in Bristol, north of the village of Clifton. With its neighbour Durdham Down to the northeast, it constitutes the large area known as The Downs, much used for leisure including walking and team sports. Clifton Down was given to the public by an Act of Parliament in 1861, from the Society of Merchant Venturers. From the southwest corner of Clifton Down there are panoramic views of the Avon Gorge and the Clifton Suspension Bridge. This is the site of the Observatory, a small tower with a camera obscura at the top. Located close to the observatory is an open face of rock that has been used as a slide by generations of Bristolians and students. This rock slide has worn to become very smooth and is now a popular attraction to visitors to the area.
