Riverside Park, Durham Review For Families

Sometimes it’s the unplanned stops that turn out to be the best, and Riverside Park in Durham was exactly that. We called in on the way back from a Scottish Borders trip during the February half term. Durham was a brilliant stop-off point, and as a vibrant, outdoor city, we knew it would have a good park. With a fantastic play area and riverside walkways, it’s definitely worth knowing about if you’re ever near Durham or fortunate enough to live in the city. 

Where is it located?

Riverside Park is just a short walk from Durham city centre, sitting alongside the River Wear. It’s well signposted from the main roads and only a couple of minutes off the A1 – so it’s ideal if you’re passing through or visiting Durham with kids. The postcode DH1 1SZ will get you there easily.

History of Riverside Park

The park has evolved over the years from a simple riverside green space to a modern, family-friendly park packed with features. Once part of Durham’s riverside leisure network, it now plays host to community events, a superb adventure playground and a riverside trail into the city. There’s also some lovely public art dotted around, including the famous bronze sculptures of rowing crews and swans, which tie in beautifully with Durham’s rowing heritage.

What is there to do?

If you’re travelling with little ones like we were, the play area is going to be your first port of call. It’s a really good playground with varying types of play equipment. 

The playground is huge and very thoughtfully laid out. There are:

• Towering climbing frames
• Slides of all shapes and sizes
• Rope bridges
• Trim trail on the outer perimeter of the park
• Zip wires
• A separate toddler zone
• Swings, spinners and plenty of space to run wild
  

There’s also a riverside walk, which is buggy-friendly and ideal for bikes and scooters. We didn’t have time to do the walk, but it looks beautiful and takes you right into Durham city centre. Having researched, and from what we’ve read, it’s a popular family route. Our visit was time sensitive as we were keen to get home from our trip, but we plan another visit to Durham again soon and we will make sure we do this.

If you look at the pictures, you can see the expanse of the park. For a free, public park, it’s a bit of a beast and we highly recommend it.

If you’ve got time, there’s public art to spot, benches to relax on, and a real sense of being tucked into the landscape rather than on the edge of a busy city.

Facilities

It’s well set up for families:

• Toilets and baby changing: Clean and practical. Very welcome after a long car journey!
  
• Café: Sadly, it was closed during our winter visit (off-season midweek), but we believe it opens regularly during weekends and school holidays. It looked great from the outside, right by the play area, too.
  
• Kiosk / Ice Cream Van: Often present in warmer months.
  
• Seating & Shelters: There’s a whole raft of benches surrounding the play area and throughout the park. Great for picnics.
  
• Tennis courts and a bowling green nearby (we didn’t use them, but worth knowing they’re there).
  
• Splash Pads: As you can see from our photos, there’s a splash pad area, which by all accounts is brilliant during the Summer months. This is only open in the Summer months, so it’s not something we can comment on. Neither child was keen in February anyhow!
  

Would you recommend it?

Yes – without hesitation. It’s the sort of place you could easily spend a couple of hours or more, especially in better weather when the café’s open and you have a full day to explore. We would have loved to have ridden into Durham from the park (the signposts were teasing us), but we didn’t quite have the time on this trip. It’s something will will do next time.

The mix of open green space, quality play equipment and safe walking/cycling paths makes it a brilliant stop for families. Furthermore, in the Summer months, the splash pad is the icing on the cake, and as a council-run park, it looks hard to beat.

We’re already planning to loop back and explore more of the riverside route into Durham.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a café?

Yes. There’s a café on-site near the main play area. It wasn’t open when we visited (February half term, midweek), but is reportedly open during peak times like weekends and holidays.

What was your favourite part?

The play area is obviously HUGE, so it was a firm favourite, especially given it was a quick pit stop. Both kids loved the varied equipment available. 

How much is it?

Completely free. There may be a small charge for parking (depending on where you park), but access to the park and facilities is entirely free.

Are there bike trails?

Yes. The park links directly with a lovely riverside trail that leads into Durham city centre. While we didn’t cycle it on this visit, it looked perfect for family cycling. Durham itself seems to be becoming increasingly bike-friendly, and we saw plenty of locals out cycling on the paths.

Is there suitable parking?

Yes – there’s a car park right next to the park. It wasn’t busy when we went, but during summer weekends it may get a little busier, so arrive early if you’re making a day of it.

Is it bug-friendly?

Yes. Very. Wide paths, flat surfaces, and plenty of space to manoeuvre.

Can you bring a picnic?

Absolutely. There are loads of benches and grassed areas to set up for a picnic. If you are coming out of season, we would recommend a picnic as the cafe has sporadic opening times.

Pros & Cons

Park enjoyment rating

Last Updated on July 16, 2025 by Ryan