Temple Church
Bristol
A leaning medieval tower and bombed out church walls in central Bristol, with the graveyard now a quiet walled public garden for you and your dog.
Bristol's own leaning tower, and it genuinely leans. Temple Church takes its name from the Knights Templar, the medieval military order founded to protect pilgrims to the Holy Land, who built the original round church on this site. The later medieval church was gutted by bombing in the Second World War, and what stands now is the roofless shell of the walls and the tower, which began tilting during construction in the 14th century and was completed at an angle. It is around five feet out of true.
Whilst you work out how it stayed up, your dog gets the graveyard, which has been laid out as a peaceful public garden: a quiet, green, walled space in the middle of the city where you can sit down, a short walk from Temple Meads station and the floating harbour.
Free and open. There are no posted dog rules here, as the surrounding garden is a public open space, so normal city rules apply and a lead is sensible given the roads around it. Bristol's harbourside walks are close by.
At a Glance
- Site Type
- Medieval & Tudor
- Entry
- Free
- Members
- Free for English Heritage members
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Planning Your Visit
Opening times and prices were checked on 26 August 2026 and are subject to change, and some sites close for events or over winter. Confirm on the English Heritage site page before you travel.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Temple Church dog friendly?
Yes, the garden surrounding the ruined church is a public open space, so dogs are welcome to explore with you. There are no specific dog rules posted, which means the usual city guidelines apply — and the graveyard garden makes for a genuinely pleasant stop, a quiet green space tucked away in the middle of Bristol.
Are dogs allowed at Temple Church year round?
The site is free and open, and there's nothing to suggest any seasonal restrictions on access. As a public open space in central Bristol, it's the kind of place you can drop into any time of year.
What should I know before visiting Temple Church with my dog?
Because the garden sits close to city roads, keeping your dog on a lead is the sensible approach here. The good news is that Bristol's harbourside walks and the floating harbour are nearby, so it's easy to combine a look at the leaning tower with a longer waterside walk.
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