Warley Woods
ENTRY
Free
SETTING
Outdoors
BUGGY FRIENDLY
Yes
What it’s like
Free woodland park with a play area, sledging slopes when it snows, and trails that make for a proper muddy wander.
This is a valley of woodland on the edge of Smethwick, and the shape of the land is the first thing you notice: steep slopes that make sledging brilliant when it snows, but that also mean pushchairs and wheelchairs will find some routes hard going. There's a children's play area near the Abbey Road entrance and swings for older kids, plus Forest Play sessions and, in the school holidays, Golf Academy sessions with free junior golf if an adult comes along.
Entry costs nothing and the car park is free too, though donations are welcome and it's a nice thing to leave one given they keep the whole place going. Gates open early in summer, from 7am at weekends, and shut earlier through winter at 4pm, so a snowy Saturday sledging session needs planning around daylight rather than a lie-in.
BBQs and campfires are banned across the site, which stings if you'd planned a picnic with a disposable grill, but picnics themselves are fine and there's a café at the Pavilion doing full English breakfasts, cake and sausage baps if you'd rather not carry a hamper. Dogs are welcome off lead in the park itself, just not inside the café, though there's outdoor seating for that.
Small family outings need no permission at all, but anything larger or with organised games should be discussed with the park first, which is a fair rule for a place that relies on staying wild rather than roped off. Bikes are fine on the paths but not the golf course, and if you fancy adding a fairy door to a tree, that's actively encouraged.
Facilities
Need to know
- Best for
- No set age range, but the play area and sledging suit younger kids best
- Parking
- Free on site, donations welcome
- Food
- Anajen café at Pavilion serves full English breakfast, homemade cake, salads, soup, sausage baps, drinks
- Picnics
- Allowed freely. Family parties welcome without permission if small-scale
- Dogs
- Welcome in park to run free
- No wheelchair or mobility scooter hire on site, so bring your own if you need one
- Steep valley slopes mean some routes are hard work with a buggy
- Large or organised parties need to be discussed with the park first
- Feeding the wildlife is discouraged, so leave the bread at home
- Fairy doors are welcome additions to the trees if your kids like that sort of thing
Plan your visit
How much does it cost to get in?
Nothing. Entry and parking are both free, though donations toward the upkeep are welcome.
What time does the park open and close?
Summer weekdays run 8am to 7pm, weekends 7am to 6pm. In winter it's 8am to 4pm every day.
Is there anywhere to eat?
The Anajen café at the Pavilion does full English breakfast, homemade cake, soup and sausage baps, and the shop sells snacks and ice cream.
Can we take a picnic or have a barbecue?
Picnics are fine and small family outings need no permission. Barbecues and campfires aren't allowed anywhere on site.
Is it suitable for a pushchair or wheelchair?
There's step-free access and an accessible toilet, but the valley means some slopes are steep. There's no mobility scooter or wheelchair hire on site.
Are dogs allowed?
Yes, dogs can run free in the park. They're not allowed inside the café itself, but there's outdoor seating.
Can we book a birthday party there?
Small-scale family parties don't need permission. Anything large-scale, or with organised games and guests you don't personally know, needs to be discussed with the park first.
What do kids actually do there?
There's a play area near the Abbey Road entrance, swings, woodland trails, and sledging on the slopes when it snows. Forest Play sessions and holiday Golf Academy sessions run too, with free junior golf alongside an adult.
Can we ride bikes there?
Bikes are fine on the paths around the park, just not on the golf course, and it's worth going steady where paths are shared.
Is there parking?
Free on site, opening around 6am when groundstaff arrive.
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