CATEGORY · A HUDDLEPIN LIST

Parks & nature in Leeds

Country parks, woods, lakes and trails for burning off energy.

28 places 8 free to visit

⇅

A couple in formal attire standing together in a sunflower field at sunset.

Bert's Barrow

Leeds

A pumpkin patch where you pick your own straight from the field, open from the 2nd of October.

Food on site

Indoor swimming pool with multiple lanes, seating galleries above, and colourful bunting decorations.

Bramley Baths

Leeds

A historic Leeds pool running proper swimming lessons for little ones, from first splashes to confident lengths.

Promenade overlooking a sandy beach with moored sailboats, shallow water and visitors under a partly cloudy sky.

Bridlington South Beach

Bridlington

A wide golden beach for paddling, kite flying and ball games, with beach huts you can hire for the day.

Dog friendlyFood on siteToilets

An interpretive information panel on a hilltop overlooks a sprawling city skyline with buildings and church spires visible across the landscape.

Cabbage Hill

Leeds

A short, gentle climb to a viewpoint over Leeds, good for a stretch of the legs with the dog and a picnic.

Dog friendlyFree parkingPicnics allowedPushchair friendly+1 more

A curved pathway winds through a spacious green field with mature trees and stone buildings in the background under a cloudy sky.

Free

Calverley Lane Park

Leeds · ages 1+

Free playground with a slide, climbing frames and swings, plus open grass for football or rounders.

Dog friendlyOutdoor playPushchair friendlyWheelchair accessible

from £20

Dean's Park

York · ages 0-17

A cathedral visit that doubles as a history lesson, with a museum, a 275-step tower climb and a year-long ticket to come back to.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBreastfeeding friendlyGift shop+5 more

Fish and Forest

York · ages 12+

This is a restaurant that only admits over-12s, so leave the younger ones at home and book a proper sit-down meal instead.

Booking required

Cooked prawns and vegetables artfully plated on a blue-grey dish with fork and garnish visible.

Forest

York

A restaurant with a hotel dog on reception, breakfast through to an evening à la carte, and afternoon tea you book ahead for.

Booking requiredDog friendlyRestaurant

Autumn landscape with tree-lined river, manicured lawns, and historic ruins visible in the distance.

from £10.50

Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal Water Garden

Ripon

Abbey ruins and water garden near Ripon - lakes, lawns and a proper half-day wander.

ToiletsParkingCaféPicnic area+2 more

Busy sandy beach with dozens of visitors, colourful windbreaks and tents, swimmers in the sea, and grassy dunes along the shoreline.

Fraisthorpe Beach

Driffield

Miles of flat sand for walking, kite flying and windsurfing, with dogs allowed off the lead all along the beach.

Dog friendly

Multiple rows of fruit plants growing in raised beds across a flat agricultural field with hedges and farm buildings in the distance.

Fruity Berry Fruit Farm

Thirsk

Strawberries off raised guttering and gooseberries or blackcurrants from the field, with a grass spot to picnic afterwards.

Food on sitePicnic areaPushchair friendlyWheelchair accessible

Wooden groynes extending into the sea along a sandy beach with waves and clear blue sky.

Hornsea Beach

Hornsea

A sand and shingle beach open all day, good for water sports and a walk along the Transpennine Trail.

CaféDog friendlyFirst aidGift shop+3 more

from £3.25

Ilkley Pool and Lido

Ilkley · ages 3+

An outdoor unheated lido where kids swim, splash and picnic by the water from May to October.

Accessible toiletBlue badge parkingBooking requiredCafé+7 more

Exterior of a modern brick leisure centre building with signage, entrance stairs, and surrounding landscaping under a partly cloudy sky.

from £3.15

Kirkstall Leisure Centre

Leeds

A local pool for swimming lessons, family splash sessions and an inflatable obstacle course for the over-eights.

Baby changeWheelchair accessibleWi-Fi

Exterior of a modern bike park facility with planted flower containers lining the entrance and contemporary brown and white buildings under a blue sky.

Free

Leeds Urban Bike Park & Cafe

Leeds · ages 0+

Free mountain bike trails and tracks in Leeds, with coaching on offer and a café doing full breakfasts for when you're done.

Birthday partiesCaféDog friendlyGroup bookings+2 more

Calm blue water with trees reflected along both banks under clear sky.

from £15

Maran Lakes

York

Fly fishing for rainbow and brown trout on a day ticket, with catch-and-release or catch-and-take sessions from four hours.

This is a designed graphic — a promotional image for the venue with overlaid text.

GRAPHIC

Meanwood Valley Trail

Leeds

A 7-mile Leeds trail through Woodhouse Ridge, Meanwood Park and on to Golden Acre Park, done on foot, by bike or at a run.

Dog friendlyPicnics allowedToilets

A park with green grass, autumn trees, wooden railings, paths and street lighting under a cloudy sky.

Free

Moortown Park

Leeds

Free park with animal climbing frames, a sandpit and a wildflower meadow for wandering off the path.

Free parkingOutdoor playPicnics allowedPushchair friendly+2 more

Temporary beach venue in city square with sandy area, deckchairs, palm trees and inflatable water slide beside classical buildings.

Free

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

Redwood Park

York

Seven lakes for fishing and cabins to stay over in, open early to late most of the year.

Open grassland with several horses grazing, bordered by bare trees and a tall residential building in the distance.

Rein Park

Leeds

Wide flat paths for bikes and scooters, a playground with swings and slides, and a play box of games in a Leeds park.

Dog friendlyFree parkingPicnics allowedPushchair friendly+1 more

Dark-coloured newt or salamander on green moss with blurred countryside background.

Free

Rothwell Country Park

Leeds

Free country park with pond-dipping events, a sculpture trail and a spoil heap summit to climb for the views.

Picnics allowedPushchair friendlyWheelchair accessible

Sunset view across a lake with industrial mining structures on the far bank, surrounded by autumn vegetation and trees.

RSPB St Aidan's

Leeds

Reedbeds, wetland pools and a big sky to walk round while the kids spot ducks and hire a Nature Quest backpack.

Accessible toiletBaby changeBike parkingCafé+6 more

Family playing and building sandcastles on a sandy beach with a pier visible in the background.

Southport Beach

Southport

Miles of open sand near Southport's Victorian seafront, with room to walk, paddle and build without another soul getting in the way.

Aerial view of turbulent sea water with white foam and waves from above.

Free

Winscar Reservoir

Sheffield

A flat tarmac bridleway round a big reservoir for walking or cycling, with free parking and picnic spots but no swimming.

Free parkingPicnics allowedToilets

A curved stone platform set in a grassy woodland clearing with a path running alongside and countryside views beyond.

Free

Woodhouse Ridge

Leeds

A free woodland walk above Meanwood Road with a heritage trail, muddy steps and picnic spots to make a slow afternoon of it.

Dog friendlyPicnics allowedPushchair friendlyWheelchair accessible

Paved pathway curving through woodland with open grassy clearing, surrounded by mature trees under cloudy sky.

Free

Wykebeck Woods

Leeds

Free ancient woodland by a stream where kids can cycle the paths, spot birds and hunt for crayfish in the shallows.

Outdoor playPicnics allowedPublic transport nearbyPushchair friendly+1 more

White trillium flowers blooming amongst broad green leaves in a garden bed.

from £10

York Gate Garden

Leeds

A series of small, distinct garden rooms to wander through, with children under 16 let in free.

Accessible toiletBaby changeCaféParking+1 more

Good to know: parks & nature in Leeds

Are any of them free?

Yes, Calverley Lane Park, Leeds Urban Bike Park & Cafe, Moortown Park, Nottingham Beach and 4 more are free to visit.

What does a paid visit cost?

Paid entry starts from £3.15 at Kirkstall Leisure Centre. Prices, ages and facilities are listed on every place page, taken from each venue's own published price list.

Which ones are indoor?

Dean's Park is indoor, good to keep up your sleeve for a rainy day.

Whereabouts are they?

You'll find parks & nature in Leeds, Bridlington, York, Ripon, Driffield and 6 more. Every place we list is in or around Leeds, and each listing has the full address and directions.