Parks In Manchester

Whitworth Park, Oxford Road, Manchester

18 acre (7.28 hectare) park in central Manchester presented to the City Council by the Whitworth Trustees in 1905.  The Whitworth Art Gallery is located in the park opposite the Manchester Royal Infirmary.  The closest of the larger parks to the City Centre, it is popular at lunchtimes with workers from the hospital and nearby Rusholme.Facilities include a five-a-side floodlit football pitch and children's play area.  Access for disabled people.
Open: daily

Alexandra Park, Whalley Range, Manchester, main entrance Russell Street, Moss Side

opened in 1870, lies just two miles from the bustling city centre. Designed by Alexander Hennel, this was the first park to incorporate sports facilities as well as ornamental features. One of the 60 acre (24.28 hectare) park's features was a raised terrace lined with a half mile long avenue of lime trees. The avenue, which still survive, was designed as a place for families to stroll together and was an attempt to keep working men out of alehouses on their day of rest!  Alexandra Park soon became the showpiece of the city and today the park is a green oasis in this busy urban area. Fshing lake with an island sanctuary, nature trail, sporting facilities and children's play area.  Access for disabled people. 
Open: daily. Tel: 0161 226 3117.

Philips Park, Stuart Street, Bradford, M11 4DQ

a East Manchester park - one of three parks to be opened on the same day in 1846 (the other two being Queens Park and Peel Park, Salford).  The 31 acres were laid out by Joshua Major to cope with the 'promenading of large groups of people'.  The park had paths and ornamental ponds and soon became known for its displays of tulips.  It also had a range of activities for children and sporting facilities, including football and cricket pitches, tennis courts and a bowling green. In 1920 the water features formed boating and paddling pools. The River Medlock runs through the park and many species of flora and fauna can be identified.  Philips Park is adjacent to the The National Cycling Centre (Manchester Velodrome) and opposite the City of Manchester Stadium, home to Manchester City FC.  Access for disabled people.
Open: daily Tel: 0161 231 3090

Platt Fields Park, Mabfields Road, Fallowfield, M14 6LP

two miles from the city centre, this 100 acre (40 hectare) park is one of Manchester's major open spaces. In 1907 the Manchester Corporation purchased the Platt Fields Estate to prevent domestic housing encroaching on the city.  The park was laid out over the winter of 1908-09, during a period of high unemployement, giving work to over 700 unemployed men.  Platt Fields Park was formally opened in May 1910.  Football pitches, tennis courts, a bowling green and swimming pool.  Today the park has three dedicated show fields for local and national events.  These include the prestigious Manchester Show and annual firework and bonfire displays
Open: daily Tel: 0161 224 2902.

Birchfields Park, Birchfields Road/Dickenson Road, Rusholme

a 32 acre (24.28 hectare) park was purchased in 1887 from a landowner, Sir William Anson, whose name is commemorated in the nearby Anson Housing Estate.  Recent investment created new sports facilities and play areas. On one side of the park is a stone garden and natural habitat and on the other is a nature trail, playing field and children's play areas.  An unusual feature of the park is a 13 ton boulder unearthed by a  building contractor during excavations on a local housing estate and presented to the park as a curiosity.
Open: daily Tel: 0161 224 2902

Boggart Hole, Clough,  Rochdale Road, Blackley

a beauty spot in North Manchester.  The name Boggart Hole refers to a local legend that the area is haunted by a mischievous spirit or 'boggart'. The 190 acre (77 hectare) park is on an ancient historical site with a number of narrow valleys.  These 'cloughs' range from steep ravines to gentle sloping gullies. Tennis courts, basketball courts, athletics track, kickabout area, boating lake, fishing, orienteering course, multi court and play area. The park also stages a number of outdoor events including summer fundays and the annual bonfire and fireworks display.  Access for disabled people.
Open: daily Tel: 0161 795 2650

Wythenshawe Park,  Altrincham Road, Wythenshawe

Wythenshawe Park,  Altrincham Road, Wythenshawe, with 270 acres (109.27 hectares) Wythenshawe Park is an important leisure facility.  Attractions including woodland walks, footpool pitches, tennis courts, childrens' play areas, bowling greens, crazy golf and pitch and putt.  There is also a Horticultural Centre and Community Farm.  Outdoor events runs throughout the year.  At the heart of the park is Wythenshawe Hall, built in 1540 by Robert Tatton - a black and white timber-framed house was developed over the centuires by generations of the Tatton family.  In 1926, when the Tatton estate was sold to provide housing, the Hall and Park became an art gallery and recreational centre.  The Hall has several rooms open to the public, on display is a exhibition detailing the history of the house and the family. At the rear of the Hall are Victorian gardens, and facing the house is a statue of Oliver Cromwell, whose troops occupied it in 1644.  Cafe
Open: all year Tel: 0161 998 2117          

Broadhurst Park, St Mary's Road, New Moston

in the Irk Valley in North Manchester, this 57 acre park offers a range of outdoor activies - sports activities for children in the summer, fun fairs and an annual bonfire and firework display, football pitches, tennis courts, a bowling green with bowling pavilion and a Multisports Area.  Access for disabled people.
Tel: 0161 795 2650

Brookdale Park, Droylsden Road, Newton Heath

44 acre park known for the variety of its birdlife and several less common species can be found there.  Woodland area, football pitches, bowling green with veteran's pavilion and play areas.  Access for disabled people.
Open: daily.  Tel: 0161 795 2650

Debdale Park,  Hyde Road, Gorton, Mancheste

130 acre (52.61hectare) park, three miles east of the City Centre, woodland, parkland, allotments, natural scrub, pasture and open water. Extensive sporting facilities including tennis courts, football pitches, bowling greens, basketball pitch, skateboarding ramp, pitch and putt golf area, children's play area and a conservation pond area.  The park hosts outdoor events.  Access for disabled people.
Open: daily. Tel: 0161 223 8278

Fletcher Moss Park and Botanical Gardens, Millgate Lane, Didsbury

in the busy Didsbury district of South Manchester, this park was aa gift from Alderman Fletcher Moss.  The 21 acre (8.5 hectare) garden, containing many unusual plants and flowers, has retained many of its features including rock and heather gardens. A pergola, planted fountain and alpine house have been added to the collection of herbaceous plants, shrubs and trees. Tennis courts and a picnic area.   The office is in an 18th century house called The Croft, where, in 1890, that a group of ladies meet to campaign against the craze for of egret feathers from Florida, which was driving the birds to extinction.  This meeting lead to the formation of the RSPB.  Today The Croft has a café with a terrace.  Partially accessible to disabled people.
Open: daily Tel:  0161 434 1877