It's been called an 'oasis', a 'gift for photographers', a 'cemetery with a difference' and even a 'beautiful Victorian necropolis and nature reserve', by visitors from afar, which boasts the question: Do Bristolians realise just how lucky we are to have Arnos Vale on our doorstep? To passers by on their way to work, or meeting friends for a coffee day after day, they probably aren't thinking much about the cemetery or what lies within its grounds.
But visitors to one of Bristol's most eerily beautiful attractions have written up their experiences on TripAdvisor - and some will have even the most Bristolian of Bristolians wondering what spectacles they might encounter if they paid a visit to the venue. After all, Bristol's Arnos Vale has recently been declared one of the best cemeteries in the UK - as rated by visitors, so they must know what they're talking about right?
Ironically, Legal & General (yes, that's right they're the people who offer life insurance and the like) has analysed TripAdvisor rankings to uncover the most loved cemeteries across the UK - and Arnos Vale ranked fourth, after Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial, Highgate Cemetery in North London and Liverpool Cathedral. But what is it that makes Arnos Vale stand out among the rest, in the eyes of those who have been there?
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Arnos Vale has attracted visitors from across the globe, including TripAdvisor reviewer 'Mara P' from Romania, who visited back in August 2018 and wrote: "Absolutely lovely. I am not a fan of cemeteries, but this was the most beautiful one I've ever seen.
"Green valleys, lovely Victorian architecture. Perfect for nature lovers."
Another reviewer, visiting from Falfield, said there was simply 'too much there for a quick visit", adding: "There are so many different things to see, from modern memorials, to massive Victorian displays of grief, and smaller, more reflective monuments. It's the type of place I could explore for hours on end and still never be finished.
"The words that are chosen for headstones fascinate me, but even if you aren't as mawkish as I am the site is relatively serene (we did see several school groups) and there is bound to be some quirk of stonemasonry that catches your eye."
Arnos Vale regularly puts on a show, or a tour - with murder and grisly endings, as well as war memorials and even superstitions as key topics for tour conversation. However, there is a theme here that many visitors have picked up on and that is that, for a place that is renowned as being a resting place for the dead, Arnos Vale is 'strangely full of life'.
Not only is this a venue for weddings, parties, movie nights and other more lively events, it is also teaming with flora, fauna and wildlife that is very much alive - and many of those who have walked through the gates of the cemetery will tell you that it seems to have its own heartbeat, no matter your reason for visiting. And it's definitely a place many people choose to go to spend time while they themselves are very much living and breathing.
One Bristolian summed up the many faces of the cemetery, dubbing it an 'interesting and unusual place to while away a few hours', writing: "This is a beautiful, quirky, wild, gothic, Victorian cemetery. It is a place to quietly remember the dead, but it's also a thriving testament to life, with something to appeal to all ages and tastes.
"There's plenty of history, local wildlife and rambles to enjoy and it's often packed with dog walkers, runners and families. The lovely cafe caters to young children brilliantly and has a box filled with toys and books, but on a sunny day its terrace is also is a great spot for adults to enjoy a beer."
One recent reviewer (who visited in July 2022) actually celebrated her 50th birthday by having a 'Day of the Dead' themed party at the Spielman Centre at the cemetery. People even get married here, in what Arnos Vale dubs 'Bristol's most unique wedding venue'.
There are three venues to choose from - or you can 'mix and match' for the ultimate ceremony, wedding breakfast and evening celebrations. From the wooden beamed Underwood Centre outside, to the Spielman Centre with grand steps and elegant pillars and even an Anglican Chapel, it has seen rustic and boho themed weddings - and even those inspired by Vikings.
But weddings, events and excuses to visit aside, many a Bristolian meanders through the cemetery each day, with some saying there's fairy doors for little ones to find and you can 'walk a different path each day because it's just that big'. One former local said that, even if you think you know Bristol, this will open up a whole new side to the city.
He added: "This wonderful Victorian cemetery in the heart of the city is a wildlife haven, a place of peace and remembrance, a place of history and a testament to local community spirit. The trust which has restored this to a place of contemplation, exploration and imagination should be congratulated for their determination and commitment.
"You could spend hours wandering amongst the memorials, headstones, war graves and commemorative plaques, each one telling a tale of a life gone by."
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