The Bearpit, Bristol
| St James Barton roundabout | |
|---|---|
| The Bearpit | |
The Bearpit in 2022 | |
| Location | |
| Bristol, England | |
| Coordinates | 51°27′33.99″N 2°35′26.67″W / 51.4594417°N 2.5907417°W |
| Roads at junction | |
| Construction | |
| Type | Roundabout |
| Constructed | 1967–68 |
| Opened | 1968 |
| Reconstructed | 2019 |
| Maintained by | Bristol City Council |
The St James Barton roundabout, colloquially known as the Bearpit, is a grade-separated roundabout and sunken pedestrian area in the city centre of Bristol, England. Completed in 1968 as part of Bristol’s post-war road development scheme, it carries the north-south A38 and the east-west A4044 while pedestrians and cyclists circulate one storey below in a circular concourse whose form inspired the nickname.
Situated between the Broadmead retail district, Bristol Bus Station and Stokes Croft, the Bearpit is a key gateway for traffic arriving from the M32 and a busy foot-and cycle link into the city centre. Since 2010 the area has also been a focus for community-led trading, public art and urban-greening projects as well as periodic policing operations prompted by anti-social behaviour and rough sleeping.