The Bearpit, officially St James Barton roundabout, is a

roundabout A roundabout is a type of circular intersection or junction in which road traffic is permitted to flow in one direction around a central island, and priority is typically given to traffic already in the junction.''The New Shorter Oxford En ...

and urban space in

Bristol Bristol () is a city, ceremonial county and unitary authority in England. Situated on the River Avon, it is bordered by the ceremonial counties of Gloucestershire to the north and Somerset to the south. Bristol is the most populous city in ...

, UK.

History

The roundabout was constructed in the late 1960s and was reported to cost £900,000. It contained an inner garden with hexagonal flower beds. In the 2010s, in response to safety concerns regarding the pedestrian subways, the roadway around the north and west of the roundabout was narrowed by one lane, and a new at-grade pedestrian and cycle route was created. In June and July 2019, Bristol City Council carried out a £250,000 eviction and cleanup process where squatters and their possessions were removed from the space within the Bearpit.

Local area

To the immediate west of the roundabout is

Avon House, Bristol The Bristol City Centre (Haymarket) Hotel, formerly known as Avon House, is an 18-storey building, one of the tallest structures in central Bristol, England. It is situated adjacent to The Bearpit roundabout. History The building formed part ...

, now a hotel, and

Bristol bus station Bristol Bus and Coach Station serves the city of Bristol in the west of England. It is situated on Marlborough Street, near the Broadmead shopping area. The original bus station and onsite depot were opened in 1958 by the Bristol Omnibus Compan ...

References

{{Coord, 51, 27, 33.99, N, 2, 35, 26.67, W, display=title Roundabouts in England Transport in Bristol