We are making improvements in Royal Victoria Park to make it safer and easier for you to get around.
The improvements include better pavements, crossings and lighting, as well as a proposal for a family-friendly cycle lane along the southern and western park roads.
Construction began on 19 October 2026 with the installation of new pavements and heritage-style lighting columns. See our construction timetable and traffic management plan for more details.
We expect construction to continue until mid-March 2027. We are delivering the work in phases to reduce disruption and maintain access to park facilities.
We secured government funding for the scheme; however, this money can only be spent on active travel improvements (walking, wheeling and cycling) and public transport. It can't be used for other schemes in the park or for other things like highway repairs and fixing potholes.
During the first phase, short-stay visitor parking is available on the northern and eastern park roads, Park Lane and Weston Road. The access road from Park Lane remains open, with parking available on one side, but we expect this to close from 2 November for approximately two weeks.
Pedestrian footways and crossings are protected around the works, and businesses are open as usual.
View or download a map of the proposed Royal Victoria Park improvements
Improvements we are making
The project proposals include:
- heritage-style, energy-efficient lighting through the south-west section of the park to make the park feel safer
- resurfaced pavements
- four new raised pedestrian crossings through the south of the park
- a new raised zebra crossing on Park Lane
- a new raised crossing at the top of the north-west access road
- six additional accessible parking bays, doubling the number in the southern area of the park
- a family-friendly, segregated contraflow cycle lane between Park Lane and the Victorian Obelisk
Long-term parking arrangements
Parking will still be available throughout the park, with 177 spaces available. We are doubling the number of accessible parking bays in the south of the park to 12.
We will relocate six existing accessible bays from the northern side of the southern park road to the southern side, closest to the play park.
Short-stay parking, with the first hour free, will remain available on all sides of the park and on the north-west access road.
There are also 74 new short-stay spaces on Weston Road, with the first hour free. Existing short-stay parking on Park Lane is free for up to 3 hours.
Construction programme and traffic management
We will update the construction programme as dates and arrangements for new phases are confirmed.
Construction will generally take place from Monday to Friday, 7.30am to 5pm.
Traffic management measures and parking restrictions will remain in place outside these hours where needed for safety.
Phase 1: 20 October to 2 November 2026
During the first phase, we will:
- install new paving along the western side of the Park Lane access road
- install new paving along the western and southern park roads near the play park
- prepare for the installation of new heritage-style lighting columns.
These restrictions will be in place 24 hours a day.
- The access road from Park Lane will remain open, but the western and southern park roads near the play park will be closed to vehicles.
- All parking within the closure area will be suspended.
- Parking on the western side of the Park Lane access road will be suspended, but parking on the eastern side will remain available.
- The western footways along the access road and affected park roads will be closed.
- The pedestrian gates to the park off Park Lane (opposite Audley Park Road and Tennyson Road) may be closed temporarily to ensure the safety of pedestrians. These will be opened as soon as possible.
We will maintain access in the following ways:
- The access road from Park Lane will remain open, with parking retained on its eastern side.
- Drivers and cyclists can continue to follow the clockwise one-way route around the park from the Park Lane entrance.
- Drivers and cyclists can leave through the north-east gate on Weston Road or through Royal Avenue and Marlborough Buildings.
- Pedestrian access is maintained via the Park Lane Access Road. Pedestrian gates off Park Lane may be suspended for a short period until it’s safe to re-open them.
- Access to the play area and park amenities will be maintained via protected pedestrian footways on the eastern side of South Road, with dedicated crossing points provided.
- Parking will remain available in other areas of and around the park.
Short-stay visitor parking will remain available at:
- the eastern side of the Park Lane access road
- Park Lane, which is free for up to 3 hours
- Royal Avenue, including the accessible parking bays
- the northern and eastern park roads near the Botanic Garden, including the accessible parking bays
- the new parking bays on Weston Road.
Access to businesses and amenities
Pedestrian footways through the park and play area will be protected throughout the work, and dedicated crossings are provided.
We and our contractor are working with businesses in the park so that deliveries and essential vehicle access can continue.
Site supervisors will assist when access is needed for maintenance vehicles, deliveries or other operational requirements.
If you have questions about access for deliveries or maintenance, contact the project team using the details at the end of this page.
Events in the park
Events in the park will continue as planned.
Temporary restrictions on vehicle movements and parking will be in place in some areas while the work is underway.
If you are attending an event, consider using public transport and allow plenty of time for your journey.
If you are organising an event and have questions about access during the work, contact the project team.
Future phases
The work will continue in phases to reduce disruption and maintain access through the park.
From 2 November we expect the Park Lane access road to be closed for approximately two to three weeks, with vehicle access available from the northeast gate only (to exit via the Victorian Obelisk).
We will publish information about future phases and traffic management arrangements before work begins in each area.
Other improvements in the park
Restoring the historic ponds
Work is progressing on the restoration of Royal Victoria Park’s historic ponds.
We have removed silt and the damaged pond liner to help restore a reliable water supply and improve conditions for wildlife. We will consult on the long-term future of the ponds later in autumn 2026.
Find out more about the Royal Victoria Park ponds project
Golf and footgolf
We are also working to secure the long-term future of golf and footgolf following the operator's decision to cease trading. Excel Tennis Ltd, which operates the tennis courts and Treetop Café, is running golf and footgolf sessions at weekends during October while we complete the appointment of a new long-term operator. We expect a new operator to be in place from November.
We expect a new operator to be in place from November 2026.
Contact the project team
Contact the project team if:
- you have a question about the project
- you need to discuss access for business, delivery or maintenance vehicles
- you need this information in an alternative format.
You can email BWWCL@bathnes.gov.uk or call 01225 394025.
Visit our Bath, Walking Wheeling and Cycling scheme page to read about the background to the Royal Victoria Park improvements