One of the best FREE activities to do is visit your local park or playground. Parks really are a life saver at times aren’t they?! There isn’t a child out there that does not get excited about going to the park. Parks & playgrounds in Yorkshire are our specialty with so many great ones to choose from.
But when you are put on the spot then you a draw a blank. So I have compiled a round up of our favourite parks & playgrounds in and around Yorkshire. Pack a picnic, the wellies and head off to spend the afternoon at one of these amazing parks & playgrounds in Yorkshire:
Parks & Playgrounds in Skipton
Aireville Park, Skipton – A large wooden adventure playground. There are separate sections tailored for toddlers and older children. Items include zip line, swings, round about, musical instruments, sand pit, climbing frame, rope bridge and slides. There is also a pump track which is great for balance bikes, a skate park and woodland walks. There are plenty of green open areas to run around, have a picnic or play ball games.
No facilities but there is a cafe and toilets in the Leisure Centre. Parking is in their pay and display car park too.
Raikes Recreation Field (The Rec), Skipton – This large field has a newly installed playground which is perfect for under 7’s. There are slides, tunnels, swings, bouncy things, a roundabout and a trampoline (be prepared to get wet!). There is also a balance beam obstacle course next to the playground. The rest of the field is a football pitch with additional open space.
No facilities but free roadside parking.
Ginnel Park, Skipton – This small park is contained behind the bowling green next to Wetherspoons. There are swings, a large rope climbing frame and a slide.
No facilities but free parking can be found on the streets around Brougham Street.
Corner Fields, Skipton – The newest park in town! Corner Fields is the estate by the Embsay turn off opposite Skipton Building Society. There is a great climbing frame, bucket swing and mini obstacle course. plus a few benches.
No facilities and parking is limited on the estate.
Surrounding villages
Cononley – This park is located in the centre of the village, very close to the railway station, has it all. A little road way is marked out so it is fab for balance bikes. Plenty of play equipment including a fast slide, tunnels, sand to play in and swings. There is covered band stand for if it rains plus picnic benches. A skate park is present at the bottom of the site plus plenty of space to run or bike around.
No facilities but free road parking is available.
Embsay – Embsay village park is great for a picnic meet up with friends as there is are plenty of picnic benches as well as a covered shelter. A football field is centre stage with nets and a bund to keep balls away from the playground. It is surrounded by good paths which are great for balance bikes plus a newly installed pump track is amazing for learning the skills required to handle a bike. The playground is fun for all ages, with a tall climbing frame for the big kids, a high slide then smaller wooden equipment for the younger ones. This includes a wooden train and carriages. There are 2 sets of swings, baby and older too.
No facilities. Free parking is available in the village car park a few minutes walk away.
Carleton – the best thing about this small village park is that it’s usually super quiet. Located behind the old post office, this park has an ace pump track perfect for testing the little ones. There is also a roundabout, seesaw, climbing frame including a slide into the sand play, swings, zip line plus a football pitch. Winning!
No facilities but free parking on the roadside.
Bradley – A very small village park next to the Cricket Field. There are swings and climbing frames for both toddlers and older children.
Free parking is in the car park next to the canal.
Sutton Park – This large village park not only has playgrounds but it has a paddling pool that is filled with water in the summer months. There is a playground for toddlers including climbing frame and swings and one suitable for older kids. Plenty of green open areas.
Toilets available and free parking on the roadside.
Lothersdale Park – Lothersdale is a large village park. There is a playground with swings, roundabout and a climbing frame for both older children and toddlers. The rest of the park has adult gym equipment, a wooden obstacle course over the footbridge and a basketball court. The park is set in a wood with a stream running through the middle. This offers a woodland walk and a bird hide as well as places to paddle in the stream. A large grassed area for ball games and running around. There is a covered seating area so ideal for picnics during the April showers.
No facilities but free parking available on the roadside.
Gargrave – Tucked away behind the Cricket Field with access off Airedale Avenue. This park is a bit of a hidden gem with lots going on. Trampoline, climbing frames, zip line, swings, a toddler section and a skate park.
No facilities but limited free parking is available at the bottom of Airedale Avenue.
Yorkshire Dales villages
Grassington – Tucked away between the school and the YDNP car park. There is cute fire engine, swings, obstacle course, skate park, climbing frame with slides suitable for bigger kids as well as another for little ones and a big seesaw.
Toilet facilities are available a 2 minute walk away in the YDNP car park.
Kettlewell – this park is huge to say where it is, with the most gorgeous backdrop. Climbing frames, obstacle course, climbing wall, swings, bouncy things and a football field. A great find located on Conistone Lane.
No facilities but there are toilets in the village. A small layby for a few cars right outside.
Giggleswick – we love this park when we visit Settle. A 10 minute walk across the river from Settle. It is a big field with old school slides, loads of space to run around, climbing frames for little ones and big ones, a zip line and the best tandem swing around. Picnic benches dotted around so a great place to meet friends.
No facilities and limited street parking.
Lancashire parks
Victory Park, Barnoldswick – A large park in the town just behind Aldi. There is a large designated cycle track with road markings plus the whole park has flat tarmac paths which are great for riding bikes. There is a separate playground for toddlers and older children plus a skate park. Plenty of grassed open areas. A stream runs alongside the park which is fun for paddling.
There are no facilities but parking is free in the car park.
Gisburn Park – A small village park split over 3 levels. The bottom is for toddlers with bouncers, swings and a climbing frame. The middle has a large slide, basket swing and spaceship roundabout and the top level has a zip line. There are covered seating areas ideal for snack spots.
No facilities but parking is free in the car park.
Ball Grove, Trawden – A large village park with a nature reserve too. The park contains climbing frames for older and younger children, bouncers, roundabouts, zip line and balancing section. If you carrying on walking up past the park there is a small lake which is the ideal spot for feeding the ducks. There is a beck that flows past this too. Following it upstream brings you to a nature reserve.
There is a cafe and toilets next to the lake and car parking is free in 2 car parks.
West Yorkshire playgrounds
Cliffe Castle, Keighley – a great park suitable for toddlers and older kids with a sand pit, huge slide, climbing frame, swings and tunnels. In the centre of the park is a free museum which will entertain the kids for an hour. There is also a small bird aviary and a small mammal section that at the entrance to the park.
Facilities include a cafe and toilets. Parking is free in the car park.
St Ives, Bingley – This large playground on the St Ives Estate has very recently had a total refurb with new equipment installed and a lot of the old favourites fixed. The park is wooden equipment which contains swings, a large slide, climbing frame for both toddlers and older children, a wobbly bridge, musical notes, tyre swings and zip line. There are plenty of green open areas. The rest of the Estate has walks, a tarn, cafe and toilets.
There are facilities including a cafe and toilets. Parking is free in the numerous car parks around the Estate.
Wharfe Meadow Park, Otley – This park was our super find a few years back. A large playground alongside the river just down from the rowing boats. The older children climbing frame is epic! There is also a toddler section with climbing frame, swings, roundabout and an archimedes screw. A skate park is close by plus plenty of green open areas amongst the riverside paths.
Facilities include toilets and a cafe kiosk. Free parking is available on the roadside or at Gallows Hill Nature Reserve for free, or paid in the town centre.
Riverside Park, Ilkley – Last year Ilkley Riverside park had a full refurn and new exquipment installed. There is a sand pit, climbing frames for both age groups, swings and a large slide. The new equipment is a wooden obstacle course and a zip line. The rest of the park is great for riverside walks and plenty of open space for ball games.
The facilities here include toilets and a cafe kiosk selling ice-cream and fish & chips. Parking is pay and display on the roadside.
Addingham – located just behind the medical centre and memorial hall. There is a good little climbing frame for little ones as well as a really tall one for the older ones. Swings and a large pyramid rope climbing frame can be found here too. Next to this fenced off area is a natural wooden obstacle course and old school roundabout. A small skate park too.
No facilities (that I know of) but free parking is available in the memorial hall/medical centre car park.
Which other parks & playgrounds in Yorkshire would you recommend I include in this roundup?
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