Parks are like the jewels of a city. They help make the city shine, allowing for comfortable retreats for people who want to escape their daily lives. More often than not, cities, whether big or small, can be too much for people who live there. Be it for work, play, or simply being around too many people, it's enough to give exhaust anyone if they're not careful. Even the city of Leeds can feel like that too! Fortunately, this place also has its own parks worth exploring. Worth escaping too when everyday life gets a little too much!
Beckett Park
Even though it's part of the
Leeds Beckett University campus, Beckett Park is open to the public. And thank goodness for that! A vast open field bordered by a prestigious institution is perfect for a day of relaxation and fun. Just imagine how much fun you can have on this grassy parkland, be it playing football with your friends or having a picnic date with your partner. Not to mention there's a small forest just at the edge of the park where you can explore. You might even see the 250-year-old Queen Victoria Arch there too!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Gotts Park
To say that Gotts Park is other-worldly would be an understatement. Stepping unto here is sort of like going to a
garden in Rome, there's an old-world charm to it that will make you feel nostalgic. It helps, though, that Gotts Park is filled with Grecian structures, not the least of which is the famous Gotts Park Mansion. Now here's a place you just have to take a selfie in! Or, if you want, you can also play golf in the 18-hole course within the 30 hectares of the park too! Compete with your friends and see which of you will be the next Tiger Woods!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Kirkstall Abbey
If your reason to go to a park is to disconnect from the world a bit, Kirkstall Abbey is your best bet. Here on this 24-hectare park stands the ruins of a Medieval abbey. The scene looks straight out of 'Lord of The Rings' or even a British period film. Just looking at it from a distance, you'll get a sense that something tragic or romantic happened here decades or even a century ago. And if you're an artist, there's no other place in Leeds that can inspire you to let go of your creativity than this one!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Meanwood Park
It's almost as if Meanwood Park is made up of two sides of the same coin. On one end, there's an enchanting patch of botanical bliss that will almost make you forget you're still in the city of Leeds. A fairytale-like corner complete with a tiny stream under a bridge, overarching trees that give ample shade, and enough flora to fill a wedding hall! On the other end, however, there's a tennis court, a basketball court, even bowling greens where families can have as much fun as they can. It's easy to get lost and
spend an entire day here!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Roundhay Park
Now, take Meanwood Park and multiply it by hundreds more! What you'll get is Roundhay Park. With over 700 acres of parkland, it's one of the largest city parks in all of the UK, Not a single
London park can rival it in terms of size! But the best part is there's something for everyone here. For the athletic people, the fields of green make for a great place for a football game or two! There are also some tennis courts where players can let out their inner Serene Williams or Roger Federer. And for history buffs? The stunning mansion is a great place to explore!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
Temple Newsam
Manicured parks aren't exactly that common in the UK. Most especially in a city like Leeds, which is located right smack in the middle of the English countryside. Such parks are more common
in Paris than in Leeds. But there is one, Temple Newsam, that's just as well-kept as those in the French capital. With tended flower beds, beautiful sculptures, and even a bamboo garden for a touch of exoticism, beautiful doesn't even begin to describe this park! You'll get lost in the natural beauty of it all, further helping your cause of escaping everyday city life in Leeds!
Source: Wikimedia Commons
When your life in Leeds gets a little too much and you just want to escape it all, try going to any or all of the beautiful parks in the city instead. These are places where you'll find peace, solace, and even a fun time with your loved ones too!
