Take part in your biggest ever game of hide and seek on your visit to Fountains Abbey and Studley Royal. Hide in all corners of the large abbey ruins before following the river to the water garden. Race around the moon ponds, see the swans swimming and discover the winding dark tunnel. Emerge from the tunnel to find three fun buildings called follies along this woodland path. With acres of space to explore, hidden places to discover and lots of sniffs to sniff, Fountains Abbey is the perfect place to bring your four-legged friends. Dogs are welcome in all the outdoor spaces and in the Visitor Centre Restaurant too.
Be sure to have a playground adventure. There are things to wobble along, jump over and climb on…you’ll find a wooden abbey, a woodland house, scramble nets and posts, swings, fireman’s poles, a slide, a roundabout, a gigantic rope bridge and a huge zip wire for the most daring adventurers of all.
Have a well-earned sit down with a seasonal meal in the Visitor Centre Restaurant, tuck into tea and cake with a lakeside view at Studley Tea Room or a sweet treat at Mill Café.
If there’s still oodles of energy left visit the deer park. Admire the views down to Ripon Cathedral and see if you can spot the deer. There are three different types from small fallow deer to the largest of them all: red deer.
There’s lots to do but don’t worry if you can’t fit it all in this time – we’ll be here another day! Become a member on your first visit and come back for free as many times as you like. Plus, get the feel-goods about it as every time you scan your membership card, you’re contributing towards the essential conservation work we do.
Discover Lotherton, a country estate, historic hall and Wildlife World zoo.
The expansive grounds and gardens are lovely walking spots, with or without four-legged companions. Each season brings new surprises including wild garlic in the spring, a sea of colourful blooms in summer in the formal gardens and stunning autumnal colours later on in the year.
The two playgrounds mean there’s plenty of space for running about and letting off steam, with zip wires for older children to enjoy.
The evolving zoo, Wildlife World, is a real highlight and visitors can see the Humboldt penguins splash and swim in their pool. Other colourful characters include Arthur the tapir, porcupines and a flamboyance of pink flamingos. New for 2021 is the Nocturnal House with a kinkajou, armadillo and more!
To discover the history of the estate step inside the former home of the Gascoigne family and wander the rooms. A fascinating collection of artworks and objects fill each room and tell the story of its former residents and the community around them. The Museum is also home to an annually-changing exhibition on the first floor.
The traditional stables area courtyard is where you’ll find the Stables café serving a range of lunch options, cakes and ice creams.
To make the most of Lotherton there is an annual membership available which means regular trips, invitations to exclusive events and behind-the-scenes updates straight to your inbox.
All visitors, including members, require a timed ticket to visit the estate between 9am – 4pm, book online here. Children under 5 can visit for free.
Within historic woodland along the River Nidd is Mother Shipton’s Cave, the birthplace of Yorkshire’s famous prophetess. It is situated next to the Petrifying Well, England’s oldest visitor attraction. The attraction tells the story of Mother Shipton and the water which turns objects to stone.
The park is a unique, unspoilt remnant of the Royal Forest of Knaresborough. During a visit it is an old tradition to make a wish. The Wishing Well is fed by the same magical waters as the Petrifying Well and has been wished upon for over 300 years. Many visitors have been in touch to tell us their wishes have come true!
The park has several scenic picnic areas, a coffee and ice cream kiosk, an adventure playground and museum and gift shop. Dogs are welcome in all areas, apart from the playground.
Themed events run during school holidays. For more information about family events visit our website.
Please check the website for up-to-date opening times and any unforeseen park closures. Open from February.
Boroughbridge Rec Play Area Springfield Road Boroughbridge YO51 9AZ
Ponderosa Play Area Off Hazel Road Boroughbridge YO51 9UT
Stumpcross Play Area Wetherby Road Boroughbridge YO51 9HS
Belmont Park Play Area High Street Starbeck HG2 7JE
Newly refurbished in 2020 with inclusive swings, inclusive roundabout, inclusive climbing frame, sensory instruments and nest swing.
Camwell Play Area Camwall Terrace Starbeck HG1 4PZ
Great modern range of equipment with a separate area for smaller children and a range of equipment teenagers.
Coltsfoot Drive Play Area Coltsfoot Court Jennyfields HG3 2WW
Cornflower Way Play Area Cornflower Way Jennyfields HG3 2WL
Crimple Meadows Play Area Crimple Meadows Pannal HG3 1EN
Set within a large playing field next to the woods.
Fewston Crescent Play Area Fewston Crescent Jennyfields HG1 2PB
Pocket play area for younger children.
Forest Springs Play Area First Avenue Starbeck HG2 7PA
Refurbished in 2019 with inclusive swings, inclusive roundabout, with a fun train themed climbing frame.
Harlow Hill Play Area Otley Road Harlow Hill HG2 0JF
Refurbished in 2019 to have an inclusive roundabout, inclusive swing, seesaw, three way springer, adventure trail, nest swing, climbing frame and slide.
All weather goal end.
Hartwith Drive Play Area Hartwith Drive Jennyfields HG3 2NX
Tucked away this is a traditional play area
Hutton Gate Play Area Hutton Gate Harrogate HG2 9QH.
Decent sized play area with a smaller and a larger climbing frame, swings and plenty for all ages.
Jennyfields Rec Play Area Norwich Drive Jennyfields HG3 2TQ
Great area for teenagers with an all-weather sports pitch.
Knox Play Area Pecketts Way Bilton HG1 3EW
Refurbished in 2018 with to have an inclusive roundabout, inclusive swing, seesaw, climbing frame and slide.
Long Acre Park Play Area Long Acre Walk Pannal HG3 1RG
A quiet tucked away site with an enclosed grassy space and goal end.
Luchon Way Play Area Hampsthwaite Road Harrogate HG1 2DU
Oakdale Drive Play Area Oakdale Avenue Harrogate HG1 2JP
Oatlands Park Play Area Hookstone Road Harrogate HG2 8BT
Panhandle Play Area Dalby Avenue Harrogate HG2 7DN
Pannal Ash Play Area Hartley Road Rossett HG2 9DQ
Queen Ethelburgas Play Area Young’s Drive Harrogate HG3 2GA
Located at Killinghall Moor Country Park with a car park and a basketball court
Roberts Crescent Play Area Roberts Crescent Harrogate HG1 2AY
Rosewood Crescent Play Area Rosewood Crescent Harrogate HG1 4NL
Saltergate Play Area Barberry Close Jennyfields HG3 2NZ
Located close to Killinghall Moor Football Pitches so there’s plenty of parking.
St Nicolas Play Area St. Patricks Way Harrogate HG2 7NZ
Stonecrop Drive Play Area Stonecrop Drive Jennyfields HG3 2SQ
Verity Walk Play Area Verity Walk Harrogate HG2 9QE
Has a spacenet and climbing frames for younger and older children.
Woodfield Park Play Area Woodfield Road Woodfield HG1 4JB
Located in a lovely grassy field, this one is worth seeking out.
Aspin Lane Play Area Abbey Crags Way Knaresborough HG5 8EF
Conyngham Hall Play Area Conyngham Hall Knaresborough HG5 9AY
King Georges Play Area and Skate Park, Stockwell Avenue Knaresborough HG5 0LG
Knaresborough House Outdoor Gym High Street Knaresborough HG5 0HW
Knaresborough Pool Play Area King James Road Knaresborough HG5 8EB
Nidderdale Drive Play Area Garsdale Road Knaresborough HG5 0LU
Scotton Banks Play Area Off Appleby Court Knaresborough HG5 9LU
The Spinney Play Area The Spinney Knaresborough HG5 0TD
Wetherby Road Play Area Wetherby Road Knaresborough HG5 8LG
Bishop Monkton Play Area St Johns Way Bishop Monkton HG3 3QX
Kirby Overblow Play Area Wharfe View Kirkby Overblow HG3 1HN
Little Ouseburn Play Area Main Street behind Police House Little Ouseburn YO26 9TG
Markington Play Area Kingwood Markington HG3 3NT
Masham Rec Play Area Silver Street Masham HG4 4DX
The Oaks Play Area, Masham The Oaks Masham HG4 4DT
Bewerley Rec Play Area Bewerley Park Pateley Bridge HG3 5BD
Skelton Play Area Jubilee Close Skelton on Ure HG4 5AJ
The Green Play Area, Tockwith Prince Rupert Drive Tockwith YO26 7RA
Gilsforth Lane Play Area, Whixley High Street Whixley YO26 8AW
Allhallows Park Play Area St Marygate Ripon HG4 1LY
Borrage Green Play Area Borrage Green Lane Ripon HG4 2JH
Camp Close Play Area Dallamires Lane Ripon HG4 1TT
Doublegates Play Area Off Doublegates Avenue Ripon HG4 2TU
Grove Lane Play Area Grove Lane Ripon HG4 1TH
Millfield Play Area King Street Ripon HG4 1PJ
Paddies Park Play Area Stonebridgegate Ripon HG4 1LH
Ripon Leisure Skate Park Dallamires Lane Ripon HG4 1TT
Spa Park Play Area Church Lane Ripon HG4 2AY
Stump Cross Caverns is an ancient natural cave formation deep underneath the Yorkshire Dales. As well as the caves, they’ve also got a cinema, cafe, time out private dining pod, shop and visitor centre on site. They are located on the B6265 between Pateley Bridge and Grassington and open seven days a week (9am-6pm).
The premier play park in Harrogate! The equipment is fantastic here with loads to do for all ages including a zip wire, fortress, plane, paddling pool as well as the usual slides, swings etc. There is also the recently completed skate park for the older kids.
There is a new kiosk selling ice creams and light refreshments in the play area and further down the gardens there is a café which sells Ripley ice-cream as well as a boating pond and bandstand.
The park also offers pitch and put, crazy gold, Frisbee gold and tennis courts.
At the top of the Gardens lie the Pine Woods.
