Parks and Play Areas in Gloucester
Parks and play areas are a great free activity for any family, and Gloucester has a number of hidden gems. Whether it is gloriously warm, or you are donning your rain coat and welly boots, a trip to the park can be fun and refreshing (and not to mention helping your littles to burn off that energy!).
Here at Gloucester Rocks, we have tried and tested a number of parks across Gloucester and given our verdict on what they have to offer.
If we’ve missed your favourite park or if your organisation is holding an event in one of Gloucester’s parks, get in touch via the contact form to tell us about it and we’ll try and add it to the site.
Robinswood Hill Country Park
The bottom of Robinswood Hill features a little play area with a climbing frame, wooden aparatus and a big slide. There are lots of benches for picnics, a decent sized free car park, and a café. The café is run by Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust and is open every day during school holidays & public holidays , 11am-5pm, and every weekend from Sat 31st March – Sun 2nd Sept, 11am-5pm. If you do then fancy a walk up the hill, there are great views of the Severn Bridge, the Malvern Hills, and the Black Mountains. Read more here.
Barnwood Arboretum
Whilst not strictly a park or play area, Barnwood Arboretum makes a great place for a leisurely stroll with little ons. It has a number of quirky trees to expore, a duck pond, wild flowers growingn seasonally, and on occassion a rogue friendly sheep or two! It was even nominated one of the UK's Best Parks in 2017, so it is well worth a visit. Read more here.
St James Park
St James Park is a pretty well equipped play area. Alongisde an enclosed play area, there is also a basketball hoop, a few pieces of exercise equipment, and a relatively fenced-in green space. The play area is packed with two slides, two swing sets, and a number of climbing apparatus and sit-ons. Attached to the park is St James City Farm which has free entry, so you could always pop along and say hello to the animals once you are done playing. Read more here.
Holmleigh Park
A really well equipped park with a big hill slide, a smaller slide for the littler ones, baby swings, big swings, a tire swing and a roundabout. It also has an epic zip wire and a few climbing apparatuses. For more information, see here.
Longlevens Recreational Ground, GL2 9EU
Manor Farm Park
Manor Farm Park is a lovely play area tucked away in Kingsway. There is a play area with swings, a see-saw, roundabout and slide. There is also a small skate park, basketball area, and playing field. Located directly next to it is an ancient apple orchard which is nice to have a little stroll through and explore. It is also close to a large supermarket and a pub with a small indoor and outdoor play area. See here for more information.
Churchdown Park Recreation Ground
Churchdown Park Recreation Ground boasts a children's play area, picnic area, a skatepark, BMX track, football pitch, and a pond area. To read more, see here.
