Best parks in manchester

When it comes to finding things to do with your children the park is one of the best places that is not only budget-friendly but also gives your family the chance to be outside. However, how do you know which parks are worth visiting? I wanted to share with you the best parks to visit in Manchester. They all have something to offer for the whole family to enjoy quality time together. Find more great family days out North West here.

Parks are great because they usually have green space for ball games or other outdoor activities like playing frisbee, picnics, and outdoor games, but they also have play areas and usually attractions within them that the whole family can enjoy.

Heaton Park

One of the best parks in Greater Manchester has to be Heaton Park. Heaton Park happens to be the biggest park in the North West and has so much to offer within it. There are a few different areas where that are cafes and things to do such as lake boat rides.

There are a variety of outdoor play areas that are suitable for children of all ages, as well as fun attractions within the park such as Treetop Adventure. They also regularly run family events, some of them are free or low cost and others are big attractions like Christmas events.

Stamford Park

On the outskirts of Manchester is Ashton-Under-Lyne and while it has a number of parks, one of the best has to be Stamford Park.

Here you have a sand-filled play area, a more grown-up play park and even fountains (within the pavement that spray upwards for children to run through). The fountains get switched on during the summer months between 11 am and 5 pm.

This water feature is a great place to spend a warm day as kids love running in and out of them. There is also a lovely cafe and an aviary area that has birds and is open 9 – 3:30 pm. There is also a boating lake with pedalo and rowing boats.

Fletcher Moss Park and Parsonage Gardens

Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens can be found in Disbury, just on the outskirts of Manchester and is a great location to enjoy. There are plenty of seating areas to enjoy the beautiful surroundings and a play area for children to enjoy.

A lovely spot for family walks. We love exploring the gardens which are a beautiful place to spend time and walking around the wider area that includes woodlands and a river bank walk too. It’s a real hidden gem with lovely scenery to enjoy as well as great facilities too.

Daisy Nook Country Park 

If you want something a little more different then head to Daisy Nook Country Park. Here you will find lots of walks to enjoy and areas to explore, steams where you can even take time to paddle and cool off, as well as a fabulous play area that even includes a sand play area. You will find Daisy Nook Country Park in Failsworth. 

Haigh Woodland Park 

Haigh Woodland Park is located in Wigan and has plenty to offer. With lots of wooded hiking trails for park visitors to enjoy, an adventure golf course, crazy golf and a foot golf course.

As well as a rope course and a miniature railway. There is also an excellent adventure play area for children to enjoy. There are plenty of picnic tables as well as a cafe. Well worth a day out.

Moss Bank Park

You will find Moss Bank Park in Bolton with lots to see and do. It is a 34-hectare area so there are lots of open spaces to enjoy. Along with the open spaces, there are woodland trails, gardens and play areas for children. 

You’ll also find The Hive run by The Wildlife Trust for Lancashire, Manchester and North Merseyside. It’s an amazing place for encouraging nature play and children to explore our wildlife. They run regular events too.

Dunham Massey

Dunham Massey is a National Trust location in Altrincham which has a lot to offer. It’s a great day out if you are National Trust member. Find out why I love the National Trust for kids here. We have loads of great ones in the North West.

Dunham Massey has extensive gardens, a deer park and an on-site cafe, restaurant and ice cream parlour that will certainly make your visit that bit more enjoyable.

Dunham Massey also holds many events throughout the year so it is always worth checking the website for more details. Or better yet, make sure you follow my events guides for the Manchester area. Full details are at the end of this post.

Hyde Park 

Hyde is a market town just outside of Manchester and one that offers a larger than average park for the area. There are a few different play areas at Hyde Park, wooded walks to enjoy, as well as open spaces. The council regularly hold events within the park for children to enjoy during the summer holidays. 

Mayfield Park

This is a new park in the centre of Manchester and it is a fantastic one. It’s packed with amazing slides, a sunken trampoline and swings. There are security patrols as well as free toilets and a cafe. A fantastic place to take the kids in the middle of the city.

Find out more here – Mayfield Park

Alexandra Park

One of the larger parks in the central Manchester area, Alexandra Park is a large area with plenty of open spaces and things to enjoy.

There are tennis courts, a football pitch and even a cricket pitch, a couple of play areas for different ages, different garden areas to explore and even a cafe to get yourself a nice warm drink and some food during your visit. 

Chorlton Park and Chorlton Water Park

Chorlton Park and Chorlton Water Park are two very close parks in the area. Chorlton Water Park is a large area of water, which, although the name doesn’t give an indication, is not a place for recreational swimming. But offers a great area to walk and enjoy the great outdoors.

Chorlton Park is a large park with wooded areas and play areas that the whole family will enjoy. 

RHS Bridgewater

The gardens and woodlands at RHS Bridgewater are great for walks and there is a large woodland play area for kids to enjoy. There are swings, tunnels, climbing frames, wooden musical instruments, mud kitchens and more.

Find out more here – Visiting RHS Bridgewater with kids

Boggart Hole Clough

In Blackley, just outside of Manchester you will find this huge 74-hectare woodland and open park area to enjoy. There are varying levels of terrain in Boggart Hole Clough from big ravines to large cloughs, so it is definitely a park to visit if you enjoy walking and being outside with friends and family. 

Etherow Country Park

Located just outside of Romiley on the outskirts of Manchester in the Stockport area, you have Etherow Country Park. This is a large lake area where you can enjoy walking around and taking in the wildlife. There are an extensive amount of birds, ducks, and geese here that you can watch and enjoy. There is no playground.

There are also lots of different walking areas to enjoy here. Find out more in my guide to Etherow Country Park walks.

Moses Gate Country Park

To the south of Bolton, you have Moses Gate Country Park, a large family-orientated park filled with plenty of things to do that everyone will enjoy.

There are play areas suitable for children of all ages one of which boasts to be the largest in the Bolton area, a nature reserve to enjoy, and plenty of scenic woodlands and water edge walks to enjoy. 

Wythenshawe Park and Gardens 

Another great park on the outskirts of Manchester in Wythenshawe is Wythmeshawe Park and Gardens. Here you will find lots of open spaces, sporting facilities, as well as lovely manicured gardens to enjoy.

There is plenty on offer for the whole family to enjoy including a small community farm and a large children’s playground. There is also a lovely, short children’s walking trail with a storybook theme.

Bruntwood Park

Bruntwood Park in Cheadle is a great family park. The main attraction is the large children’s play area and the free BMX track. There are also lovely woodland walks around the park as well as a cafe and 18 hole pitch and putt course.

Walkden Gardens 

Finally, in another area just outside of Manchester, Sale, you will find Walkden Gardens. The gardens all have different areas housing unique plants and flowers. If you love scenic places then this park is for you. 

Hopefully, this list of the best parks to visit in Manchester will offer up inspiration for somewhere you can visit this week or perhaps during the school holidays. Public parks and community gardens as well as local nature reserves are the ideal places to spend a low-cost day with the family. There are some great ones not far from Manchester city centre.

Lyme park

The playground at Lyme Park is one of the biggest National Trust play areas in our region and it has loads for children of all ages to enjoy. The gardens and parklands are also great for walks including our favourite Lyme park circular walk to the lantern.

More places to explore in Manchester

• Parks are great places for family walks. Find more ideas for pram-friendly walks Manchester here.
• Find loads more Free things to do in Manchester with kids here.
• If you have older kids, I have a post on Things to do in Manchester for teenagers
• Find lots of great Things to do in Manchester with a toddler here.
• Find loads of fun things to do this summer here – Things to do in Manchester in the summer holidays
• Not that far away are more great parks in Lancashire. Find the Best parks in Lancashire here.

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