Parks & nature in Derby

Bennerley Viaduct

Awsworth

A free, buggy- and wheelchair-friendly skywalk 18m above the Erewash Valley, with a café (Thu-Sun) and wildlife-rich nature reserve below.

Accessible toiletCaféFree parkingFood on site+6 more

Bestwood Country Park - Mill Lakes

Nottingham

A free walk around a quiet lake with birdwatching, a Saturday morning café and no fishing or swimming to worry about.

CaféDog friendly

Calke Abbey

Ticknall

A 600 acre parkland estate with natural play, cycling trails and a faded stately house to poke around when legs need a rest.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingCaféChanging Places+12 more

Cannock Chase Forest

Rugeley

AONB forest trails near Rugeley - free forest, paid parking.

ToiletsParkingPicnic areaCafé+1 more

Chatsworth

Bakewell · ages 3-16

A vast garden of fountains and sculpture to roam, a farmyard for animal handling, and a woodland playground with big slides and water play.

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféDog friendly+8 more

Darley Playing Fields

Derby

Free playground, tennis courts and riverside park walks, with a tea room for when everyone needs sitting down.

Accessible toiletCaféFree parkingOutdoor play+2 more

Derby Arboretum

Derby

A free public park with lawns and mature trees for a picnic and a wander, no ticket, no time limit.

ToiletsOutdoor playParkingPicnic area+1 more

Felley Priory Garden

Underwood · ages 0-16

Underwood - Felley Priory gardens near the M1, under-16s free, free parking, tea room (no dogs or picnics).

Accessible toiletBooking requiredCaféFree parking+7 more

Golden Beach Karaoke Bar 黄金海岸KTV

Leicester

Adults-only private karaoke rooms in Leicester city centre, from 5pm to 2am, with cocktails and food brought to your table.

Birthday partiesFood on siteParty rooms

Highfields Park Boating Lake

Nottingham · ages 3+

Hire a rowing boat, canoe or KataKanu and paddle round the lake for an hour, no under-18s allowed out without an adult.

Outdoor play

J R Clarke & Partners Manor Farm Fruits

Tamworth · ages 2-8

Strawberry and raspberry picking, a maize maze and a straw pyramid to climb, on a farm that books up so plan ahead.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBirthday partiesBlue badge parking+5 more

Kedleston Hall

Derby · ages 0+

National Trust neoclassical hall and parkland north of Derby - house, grounds and cafe from about £4.25 parkland.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingBlue badge parking+12 more

Maxeys Pick Up A Pumpkin

Kirklington · ages 0+

Pick your own pumpkin from the field, ride the tractor carriage and take a shot at the pumpkin cannon.

Free parkingToiletsBaby changeCafé

Moorways Stadium

Derby

An athletics stadium and sports village where you can watch track events, use the football pitches, and catch free family activity days like National Play Day.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingChanging PlacesDog friendly+4 more

Mr Pumpkin

Morley · ages 0-15

Pick your own pumpkin from a field of nearly 90,000 plants, then hit the bouncy castle and mini fairground rides.

Booking required

Naturescape Wildflower Farm

Langar, Nottingham

A free-to-visit wildflower garden with two ponds, a play area and a tearoom for cake afterwards.

CaféDog friendlyGift shopIndoor play+6 more

Nottingham Arboretum

Nottingham

Free tree trail walks through 800-plus trees on flat paths, right by Nottingham's tram stops.

CaféDog friendlyFood on siteOutdoor play+5 more

Nottingham Beach

Nottingham

A free pop-up beach with sand, a pool and paid rides in the middle of the city, open all summer.

Card onlyCash onlyToilets

Nottinghamshire Pick Your Own Pumpkins

Oxton

Kids pick pumpkins and seasonal fruit in the open fields - no entrance fee, pay for what you pick.

Free parkingToiletsFood on site

RSPB Consall Woods

Stoke-on-Trent

Six waymarked trails through wood pasture and riverside woodland along the Churnet, free to walk and open for a proper muddy ramble.

Accessible toiletBaby changeParkingPicnics allowed+3 more

Sherwood Pines

Kings Clipstone

Race the play trails and pedal paths under the pines - free forest entry, pay for parking.

CaféParking

Silverhill Wood

Sutton-in-Ashfield

Free reclaimed colliery woodland near Mansfield with cycling trails, orienteering and a dog selfie spot, no parking charges.

Dog friendlyFree parkingOutdoor playParking+2 more

Sinfin Moor Park

Derby · ages 0-99

A big open park with a play area and a Nature Club, plus a Saturday café run by park volunteers.

CaféFree parkingOutdoor playParking+2 more

The Halloween Farm (at Cattows Farm)

Heather

Heather - seasonal Halloween farm with pumpkin patch, harvest ride, Trick or Treat Street and circus

Booking requiredFree parkingToiletsBaby change+2 more

Tissington Trail

Ashbourne

A traffic-free 13-mile trail along an old railway line for walking or cycling, taking in Tissington village and the stepping stones at Dovedale.