Great Parks and Green Spaces: Free Days Out in Leeds

Looking for your next free day out in Leeds?

At Muddy Boots, we want to encourage families to get outdoors as much as possible. Whether you want to stay local or travel somewhere further afield, it’s important to go outside for some fresh air, relaxation, and to explore a new environment - no matter how old you are!

In this blog, we’ll be sharing some fantastic parks and green spaces across Leeds, to help you find your next family adventure.

Oakwell Hall & Country Park

Relatively new to the Kirklees area, Oakwell Hall and Country Park is a wonderful place to explore. With over 110 acres of land, the park is perfect for any adventure rain or shine. Enjoy picnics in the field over the summer, or explore the woodland keeping an eye out for all the different bugs and wildlife that live there. Follow the nature trail to see all the best bits of Oakwell Country Park on a short leisurely stroll fit for all the family. If you fancy a little more adventure, try their permanent orienteering trail too - download all the information you need from the Oakwell Park website.

Dartmouth Park

Located in the centre of Morley, Dartmouth Park is a nice little nature haven perfect for local adventure. Offering a mix of play areas, tennis courts and lots of natural land, Dartmouth Park is great for a variety of activities with your family. The park is also home to a botanical garden, great for exploring in Spring and Summer when the flowers are in full bloom. The park is also home to yearly dog shows, fun fairs and some live music events - check out the Leeds Town Hall website to stay updated on upcoming events.

Middleton Park

Just 4 miles south of Leeds city centre, and with travel connections near our Muddy Boots sites, Middleton Park is another fantastic natural escape from the hustle and bustle of city life. Middleton Park also has a combination of grassland, woodland and activity areas, as well as a cafe inside the Visitor Centre. Visit the Friends of Middleton Park website to see some of their upcoming events; all their activities are completely free and a wide range of events take place meaning there’s something for everyone!

Western Flatts Cliff Park

Just south of Leeds city centre is Western Flatts Cliff Park, another combination of grassland and activity areas with some great views of the city. The park has a mixture of flat and steep terrain, meaning if you can get to the top you’ll find an almost birds-eye-view of the city. The park also has a rose garden to visit and explore when in bloom, with new selections of roses planted each year. Friends of Western Flatts Cliff also host activities and clubs at the park, which you can find out more about via their website.

Meanwood Park, Trail and Urban Farm

Just on the edge of the Meanwood Valley Trail is Meanwood Park, a large expanse of grassland and woodland perfect for family adventures. Recently equipped with play areas suitable for children of all ages and abilities, as well as lots of grassland to roam, Meanwood Park is a wonderful place to explore just 4 miles north of Leeds city centre. Find the river and waterfall bridge in the woodland area as an extra little haven to explore, and see what wildlife you can discover. 

Nearby, you can also discover the Meanwood Valley Urban Farm where you can see some of their animals, enjoy a little treat at the cafe, and explore the gardens, ponds, playgrounds and more! Visit their website to find out more, and see what events are happening ahed of your visit.

Golden Acre Park

Connected to the Meanwood Valley Trail is Golden Acre Park, another lovely haven not too far outside of the city centre. Full of grassland and woodland to explore, as well as flower displays and a cosy cafe, this really is the perfect place for your next family adventure. Not only is there lots of parkland to explore, Golden Acre Park also has lakes, streams and ponds - view a map of the park and all it has to offer here. Two local nature reserves sit adjacent to the park as well, Breary Marsh and Adel Dam, with a mix of paths to follow and explore as you look out for some of the local wildlife. With three amazing spaces to explore all within close proximity and easy access, Golden Acre Park would make a fantastic day out for all the family!

Roundhay Park

One of the biggest city parks in Europe, Roundhay is another excellent escape from busy city life in Leeds. The park itself is home to a variety of wildlife, perfect for spotting animals and insects as you explore. There are also a few different gardens in Roundhay Park, themed around Monet paintings (the Monet Garden) and other world famous gardens (the Alhambra Garden). There are lots of activities for little ones to get stuck in with as well, such as the Little Friends Trails, Sculpture Trail, and a Land Train through the park. 

Roundhay Park is also home to Tropical World where you and your family can see all kinds of exotic butterflies, birds, meerkats and more as you explore the recreated habitats. Throughout the year, Roundhay Park also hosts a variety of events - discover more on the Friends of Roundhay website.

There are plenty of amazing natural places to visit across Leeds, some of which are local to our nurseries. We hope this guide has given you some ideas of new places to visit in Leeds, as well as some added inspiration to get outdoors and explore!

Check out our blog for more free days out in York, as well as some great National Trust locations across Yorkshire to visit with your membership.

If you visit any of these locations, make sure to share what you get up to with us on Famly - we’d love to see your adventures!