We’ve compiled a list of ten great parks and play areas in York so you can add some variety to your days out and enjoy even more of the many beautiful green spaces that York has hidden away.
Just a short walk from the city centre, this is a huge 30 acre park offering plenty of space to stroll with the buggy or let your children run free. But be aware, the park is situated in the River Ouse floodplain so can be closed when it’s badly flooded.
⭐️Why it’s great⭐️
✅ Rowntree Park Reading Café – all parents need refreshments (coffee!)
✅ Large play area
✅ Toilets
✅ Sporting facilities including a tennis courts, basketball court and skateboarding area
✅ Ornamental lake with ducks & geese
Parking:
There is a small pay & display car park adjacent to the park on Terry Avenue
What do Mumbler’s think? “It’s a nice park. Loads of grass to play on and a little park as well. Just watch out for duck/goose poop.”
This large park is fantastically well maintained and a complete joy to wander around, enjoying the plants and flowers during different seasons. The summer displays are always stunning and this year feature Winne the Pooh.
⭐️ Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Huge play area, including equipment for children with disabilities
✅ Toilets
✅ Fantastic picnic spot
✅ Tree trail (enjoy spotting the numbers and finding all the trees)
✅ Small pond
✅ Pop up café (March – Oct open week-round late May- 2 Sep, weekends only all other times)
Parking:
Small free car park at the Shipton Road entrance (postcode YO30 5RE) and plenty of on-street parking outside the park.
What do Mumbler’s think? “It’s a great park and we’ve been enjoying recent events which have been held there and the cafe is a great addition. Better toilet facilities would be my only suggestion.”
This park is tucked away in the middle of Holgate, and on first sight seems small but is an impressive 20 acres and you can get a close up view of the windmill if you walk all the way through the park.
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Two play areas – one for under 11’s and one for over 11’s
✅ Toilets
✅ Woodland walk and tree trails
✅ Rose terraces and pergola walk
✅ Meadow picnic area
Parking:
There is a free car park off James Backhouse Place, adjacent to the park and plenty of on-street parking in the surrounding streets.
What do Mumbler’s think? “We like West Bank, exploring the little wood and there’s a play area.”
This is a small park compared to some of the others on our list, but these traditional gardens offer a tranquil space close to the city. Its location is handy if you are visiting the hospital but need some fresh air or your children need to run of some energy!
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Handy location next to the hospital
✅ Newly refurbished children’s play area (entrance from Haxby Road)
Parking:
Pay & display car park next to the Gardens
What do Mumbler’s think? “It has a good play area – there is parking right behind. It’s next to Clarence Gardens and has got new equipment.”
This is another small, traditional garden tucked away in Heworth, centred around two bowling greens.
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Good play area – with a long slide on a mini hill
✅ Close to Heworth shops, including cafes
✅ Toilets
✅ Nice picnic spot
Parking:
The nearest car park is just over the road at East Parade car park (pay & display) or there is plenty of on-street parking.
What do Mumbler’s think? “Glen Gardens in Heworth gets my vote and on Saturday, Sunday and Tuesday they open the cafe in the gardens.”
Situated next to the Rawcliffe Bar Park & Ride, just 2 ½ miles from the city centre, the park is a huge grassed parkland surrounded by trees and close to the river, making it great for a walk or run around.
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Play area
✅ Toilets (at Park and Ride)
✅ Climbing boulder – 3m high with more than 60 square metres of climbing features
✅ Pump bike track – a 70 metre inner track and an easier 140 metre outer track.
Parking:
Rawcliffe Bar Park and Ride site is adjacent to the park.
What do Mumbler’s think? “Rawcliffe Country Park has wooded and open areas. And it’s right next to the Rawcliffe Park and Ride site so the bus takes you right to it!”
This large green space is close to Acomb Front Street, so handy for a run around after a trip to the shops.
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅ Play area
✅ Large grass area for games
Parking:
On-street parking in the surrounding streets
Bus:
No 5 & No 412 stop at Acomb Green
This is a really large open space, in a great setting just on the outskirts of the city.
⭐️Why it’s great ⭐️
✅Play area
✅Large open grassed area
✅ Outdoor table tennis table
✅ Five-a-side football posts
Parking:
Bishopthorpe Road car park is approximately a 5 minute walk away. On-street parking is available in the surrounding streets, but be aware some streets are restricted to residents only.
Bus:
No 11 stops here (ask for Scarcroft Primary School Stop)
There is no park area here, but this is a large new play area including a sandpit area so it made our list!
Parking:
On-street parking in the surrounding streets
What do Mumbler’s think? “Bishopthorpe park is brilliant with a large sandpit for little ones!”
And finally… there are no play areas as such in the centre of town, but when your children need to run off some steam after a few hours in town ( or have been dragged around the shops 😀), here is our list of lovely green spaces right in the centre of York.
Museum Gardens – great for a picnic or a run around after a visit to the Art Gallery or the Yorkshire Museum.
Dean’s Park – enjoy the magnificent views of the Minster in this beautiful green space.
The Garden at Treasurer’s House – a beautiful garden, again with Minster views and often in the summer, garden games are available on the lawn (Note: Treasurer’s House is owned by the National Trust – the gardens are free to enter).
How many of these parks have you already visited? Have we missed any parks or play areas in York you love that we should add to our list? Do let us know.
