Moorways Stadium
WHERE
Derby
What it’s like
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.
This is a proper working athletics venue first: an eight-lane, 400m floodlit track with a 1,000-seater grandstand, plus two full-size grass football pitches and a 3G Astroturf pitch. It's not just for watching, either, there's soft play sessions and Karate demonstrations that pop up too, so it earns its keep beyond match days.
The date to ring on the calendar is National Play Day, 12th August 2026. It's free, no booking needed, just turn up between 11am and 3pm, and the site lists inflatables (with a toddler zone for the smaller ones), a Circus Skills Workshop with stilt and bubble performers, and a Bike Zone for anyone who wants to get on two wheels. Food vendors are on hand, including an Everyone Active stall doing hot dogs, burgers and ice lollies, though it's cash only so don't rely on card.
Outside of the event, the stadium runs long hours through the week, 9am to 9pm Monday to Thursday and 9am to 8pm on Friday, dropping to 9am until 3pm at weekends. There's a Changing Places room in the Leisure Centre and a sensory room in the main building, which is a genuinely useful detail if a quiet space matters for your day out. Parking on event days is free on the grass (weather permitting), with the main car park reached via Moorways Sports Village.
There's also a 25% off code for the Water Park during National Play Day, and a summer £2 activities campaign running July and August, though what's included varies by centre so it pays to check what's on that week.
Facilities
Need to know
- Parking
- Free on-site grass parking at event (weather permitting), main car park access via Moorways Sports Village
- Food
- And drink vendors available on event days
- Picnics
- Allowed with blanket at event
- Pushchairs
- Event is pushchair accessible
- Dogs
- Assistance animals are welcome
- National Play Day (12th August 2026) is free and needs no booking, just turn up between 11am and 3pm
- The Everyone Active food stall is cash only
- There's a code for 25% off the Water Park during National Play Day
- Dogs aren't generally mentioned but assistance animals are welcome at the event
Plan your visit
Do we need to book for National Play Day?
No booking, just turn up any time between 11am and 3pm on the day.
How much does National Play Day cost?
It's free. The activities are funded by local neighbourhood boards and Everyone Active, so there's nothing to pay on the day.
Is there parking?
On event days there's free grass parking on-site, weather permitting, with the main car park accessed via Moorways Sports Village.
Is it OK for pushchairs and wheelchairs?
The event is designed to be accessible, and there's a team on hand if you spot any issues on the day.
What toilets and facilities are there?
Toilets are in the Stadium Building, and there's a Changing Places room over in the Leisure Centre. St John Ambulance covers first aid, and there's a Quiet Room in the main stadium building.
Can we bring food or have a picnic?
Picnics with a blanket are fine at the event, and there are food vendors on site including an Everyone Active stall selling hot dogs, burgers, drinks and ice lollies. Bring cash for that stall.
What's actually on for kids at the event?
Inflatables with a separate toddler zone, a Circus Skills Workshop with stilt and bubble performers, a Bike Zone, and Karate demonstrations.
What are the normal opening hours?
Monday to Thursday it's 9am to 9pm, Friday 9am to 8pm, and weekends 9am to 3pm.
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