What's Here

Arnos Vale Cemetery is a quiet place of remembrance. It is also a spectacular landscape with many listed buildings and monuments of architectural as well as local interest and a haven for wildlife in an urban setting. The cemetery provides an amazing social map of how people lived their lives and view have changed over time, illustrated through the design and context of monuments, and the stories behind those buried in the cemetery.

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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. Click here to find out more about the site’s long and interesting history, life in the cemetery, campaign to save Arnos Vale, architecture, monuments and war graves. Or for a more detailed, full colour, illustrated, account, place an order for the Arnos Vale Guide Book.

Exploring Arnos Vale reveals wildlife surprises at all times of year; arrays of wildflowers; a variety of trees, bird song including rare migrants; owl prowls, three breeds of bat; months and insects; squirrels; foxes, badgers and recently roe deer. Click here to find out more about the site’s natural history and Conservation Management Plan or book on a guided wildlife walk or come and see our film about the seasons at Arnos Vale, which is also viewable here.

From notable personalities and wealthy families to humble working folk and lost children, each memorial helps to tell the city’s story spanning more than 150 years. Digital technology enables us to search the cemetery’s burial and cremation records, providing an invaluable resource for those who want to look into local people or carry out a Family Record Search. The Books of Remembrance are now also available on line. You can book on a Heritage Touror purchase a Self Guided Trial Leaflet or click here to learn about notable people buried at the cemetery, the different types of burials, create a family photo gallery or find family history research tools.