Museums&Parks

We’ve been meaning to do a proper review of Middleton Park for a while now. You might already know it as the giant green space that wraps around the Leeds Urban Bike Park (which we’ve raved about here), but it’s much more than just a spot for cycling.

This place is huge, varied, and full of the sort of outdoor family fun we love. It’s a fantastic spot for families, dog walkers and runners with trails, play areas, tennis facilities and a lovely cafe. Best of all, it’s completely free.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

If you haven’t yet stumbled across Woolley Park, tucked away in the gorgeous little village of Woolley near Wakefield, then pop it on your list. It’s one of those parks that surprises you with how much it offers in such a small footprint – perfect for a chilled weekend with the kids, especially if you’re local.

We’ve been coming to the park for years, but with our new school location just 5 minutes up the road, it’s a great spot for after-school play and some quick outdoor time.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

We’ve lost count of how many times we’ve been to Newmillerdam over the years. It’s just 1.5 miles from home, close enough to cycle with the kids, and familiar enough that we rarely stop to take photos anymore. It’s the kind of place that is the place you go if you have a couple of hours of free time on a weekend morning. That’s our favourite time as we tend to beat the crowds, and it’s peaceful. 

Whether it’s a Sunday roam or a full afternoon of woodland wandering and gnome hunting, Newmillerdam has become our family’s go-to for fresh air and fun when we want to stay local and leave the car at home. 

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

Huddersfield and the wider Kirklees area are packed with brilliant free outdoor play areas that families can enjoy all year round. Whether you’re based in the town centre or in one of the surrounding villages like Holmfirth, Meltham or Mirfield, there’s no shortage of parks to explore. From large Green Flag country parks to community-supported green spaces, this list rounds up the very best free play areas for children of all ages.

The beauty of our location in Wakefield is that you can venture into Barnsley, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Bradford (to name a few) quite easily and enjoy the amenities they have to offer. Our weekends are typically spent venturing around parks and spaces throughout the county. Sands Park in Holmfirth is just half an hour away and feels like a different adventure.

Below is a summary table to help you compare the parks at a glance, followed by detailed breakdowns for each one.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

As a West Yorkshire based family, we’ve loved venturing into Barnsley to explore the free public outdoor play areas across the borough. All the parks listed here are completely free to access and open to the public year-round. We’ve included a variety of options – from large country parks with themed play features to small neighbourhood playgrounds – to appeal to families in Barnsley’s town centre and surrounding villages like Wombwell and Cudworth.

These sites are managed by Barnsley Council or community groups, ensuring they are welcoming and well-maintained for residents and visitors alike. The beauty of our location in Wakefield is that you can venture into Barnsley, Leeds, Huddersfield, Sheffield, Bradford (to name a few) quite easily and enjoy the amenities they have to offer. Our weekends are typically spent venturing around parks and spaces throughout the county.

Below is an overview table of the play areas, highlighting each park’s pros, cons, and our overall rating based on family-friendly amenities and reviews. Further below, you’ll find a brief description of each location with details on facilities, pros and cons, and why it made our list. If there are any parks we have missed then please feel free to comment below and we will get them added!

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk

Leeds boasts various free outdoor play parks, from sprawling country parks with adventure playgrounds to hidden neighbourhood gems. Below is an overview of some of the best free public play areas in the Leeds (LS) postcode region, followed by detailed descriptions for each.

As a Wakefield-based family who were originally based in both North & South Leeds, we love to explore the free public play areas within the West Yorkshire area. The recurring theme with all the recommended parks is that they are completely free of charge and are open to the public.

We have chosen a breadth of options located within a 10-mile radius of the city centre, so they appeal to all families within the district.

We will continue to work through more extensive reviews of every park so you can get the lowdown before visiting. We understand that people’s interests are very different, so by giving you the insight before visiting, you can see if the park is right for you. It’s also worth noting that this is not an exhaustive list but should give you some ideas. If you have any to contribute, please feel free to comment. It’s appreciated.

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Ryan

Hello. I am Ryan and along with my wife Beth and our two children Matilda and Barney, we love all things cycling and exploring. We spend our weekends exploring fun places to cycle and discover and wanted to help other people do the same too. There’s no better way to travel than via bike and it’s an amazing activity for the whole family to enjoy.

familycycling.co.uk