Parks, recreation grounds and play areas

See all these parks, playgrounds and recreation grounds on our map of parks and playgrounds.

Find public transport and driving directions to these locations on Transport Direct.

Alexander Gardens

• bowling green
• playhouse, swings and springers for the under 6's
• climb net for older children.

Arbury Court play area

• tower, swings and trim trail for small children
• modular climb unit, nest swing and rotating items for older children

This small green area is situated next to the shopping centre.

Arbury Town park

Large recreation space situated behind the Arbury Community Centre on Campkin Road with a car park.

Brooks Road play area

• springys, a slide and swings suitable for all ages

Cherry Hinton Hall park

• two small paddling pools, one of which is specifically aimed at the very young toddler
• aerial runway, climbers, group swing, springers, slide, tower unit, disabled kit and space net for older children
• small play area for very young children

Cherry Hinton Hall came into our ownership after the second world war and has been developed over the years into a very attractive park set amongst mature trees.

The natural area of park contains a lake with a collection of ornamental wild fowl which are always eager to be fed.

The park hosts the annual Cambridge Folk Festival.

Cherry Hinton Hall consultation

A consultation exercise was undertaken in 2008 to review the current usage and needs of Cherry Hinton Hall, understand aspirations regarding improvements for the site and explore possible uses for the site of the old propagation centre.

The consultation comprised of three focus groups, one comprised of known stakeholders, one for parents with young children, and the other for interested park users.

You can read the consultation report.

Cherry Hinton recreation ground

• two football pitches
• all ages play area with a climbing frame, skateboard ramp, swings and a slide

Chesterton recreation ground

• two pitches
• for the under-6's there is a climber, swings and springys
• for older children there is a skate ramp, mobilus and climber swings

Chestnut Grove recreation ground

• climber, swings, and see saw for all ages

Christ's Pieces

• toilets with disabled facilities
• refreshment kiosk
• bowling green that is home to the City of Cambridge Bowls Club
• four free tennis courts that are very popular in the summer
• play area for the under 6's with swings, climber, springys, and graphics, situated next to the the tennis courts, in the north west corner

Christ's Pieces is situated in the centre of the city, bordered by the bus station, Christ's College, Emmanuel Road and King Street.

It is of typical Victorian park design with tree lined avenues. The formal seasonal bedding displays planted in the 'petal beds' near Emmanuel Road, provide all year round colour.

There are also large ornamental shrub beds around the perimeter to add further year round colour and interest.

On 22 September 1999 the new rose garden, in memory of Diana, Princess of Wales, was dedicated by the bishop of Huntingdon and officially opened by the mayor of Cambridge.

Christ's Pieces and New Square form a link between the historic city centre and the modern Grafton shopping centre.

Coleridge recreation ground

• football field
• tennis courts
• children's playground.

Ditton Fields Recreation Ground

• basketball court.

Dudley Road recreation ground

• skateramp, modular unit, swings, spinning unit and springys suitable for all ages

Flower Street play area

• swings and a cabin slide.

Green End Road recreation ground

• for younger children's there is a town climber and springys
• for older children a runway, climbing net, and swings
• youth shelter

Gunhild Close play area

• slide, swings, springys, and a modular unit
• timber goals.

Histon Road recreation ground

• climber, swings and springys for younger children
• runway, futball goals, modular climber and rest swing for older children

Holbrook Road Recreation Ground

• climber, goal end and springys

Jesus Green

• bowls
• on summer sunday afternoons there are band concerts
• toilet block with disabled facilities
• refreshments kiosk which is open throughout the year
• outdoor swimming pool which is very popular throughout the summer, open from May to September, from 10am to 8pm each day
• six tennis courts on the park, two of which are tarmac and four which are grass
• play area caters for children of all ages and is based on the theme of railways, the younger children can play on the railway engine itself with its wagon, a mini roundabout, spring tractor, cradle seat swings, and agility climber, while the older children can use up their energies on net climber, group swing or slide

Situated to the north of the city centre, Jesus Green is bordered by the river Cam, Victoria Avenue and Jesus College.

Divided by avenues of london plane and horse chestnut trees, it is primarily an area of open parkland grass, offering informal and formal outdoor sports.

On the facing bank of Jesus Green, is a thin strip of land called Jubilee Gardens, this is host to 40,000 carlton type daffodil bulbs in a 'field of hope' in recognition of Marie Curie Cancer Care.

When the outdoor pool is operational, the tennis courts need to be hired and bookings can be made at the outdoor pool or by calling 01223 302579. During the closed season, October through to April, only the tarmac courts are available and can be used free of charge on a first come, first serve basis. The grass courts are the only ones within the city's parks and open spaces

Although next to the river, the play area is completely fenced, as is the small picnic area, so parents can watch the boats go by confident that their children are playing safely.

King's Hedges recreation ground

• 'The Pulley' play area has children's play equipment - swings, modular climbers, springys, trim trail, goals, sliders - for all ages
• learner pool.

Large green space built with housing around it facing in, and bike paths to provide through routes.

Lammas Land

• for young children there are springys and toner units
• for older children a space net, climbers, swings, and a toner climber
• the play area is close to a large shallow paddling pool
• car park
• hard surface tennis court
• bowling green that is home to the Newnham Bowls Club
• public toilets are located by the paddling pool

Located to the south west of the city about half a mile from the centre, Lamas Land is bordered by Fen Causeway and Newnham Road. There is a bridge to Sheeps Green.

A very popular park in the summer primarily because of its paddling pool and large play area. There are large areas of mown grass which are ideal for picnics and sun bathing.

The area has many ancient willows, traditionally managed by pollarding, a form of pruning which enables regenerative growth.

The play area is part of a much larger open space so, having tired of the play area, you could walk on to Coe Fen and across to the river which, in summer, is busy with punts, or walk in the more peaceful Paradise Nature Reserve.

Lichfield Road play area

• all ages with swings, springys and climbing unit

Nightingale recreation ground

• four pitches
• bowling green
• for younger children there's a springy, climber, slide and spinner
• for older children, a runway, swings, spica, and rotating unit

Nuns Way recreation ground

• two football pitches
• sand play and a climber for small children
• high tomers, high nets, spinners and running for big children

Parkers Piece

Parkers Piece is one of the best known open spaces in Cambridge. Located in the centre of the city it is bordered by Park Terrace, Regent Terrace, Parkside and Gonville Place.

Its origin is derived from an Edward Parker, a cook, who held the original lease to the land, which at the time was used as grazing land.

The grass is well manicured and it is known today chiefly as a spot for picnics and games of football and cricket,

The gas lamp at the cross roads of the paths, erected in 1893, was nicknamed during the 1960's by students as Reality Checkpoint and is still known by this today. It is also listed on English Nature's statutory list of listed objects.

Petersfield

• all ages play area

Next to Zion Baptist Chapel and surrounded by mature trees and shrub beds. Read more about the history of Petersfield.

Peverel Road play area

• springy, climber and swings

Ravensworth Gardens play area

• springys and swings

This play area is situated at the end of Ravensworth Gardens and is suitable for younger children.

Riley Way play area

• springys and a slide

This play area is suitable for younger children.

Romsey Recreation Ground

This is a public park with children's playground. It is also known as Vinery Road Park.

Scotland Road recreation ground

• springy climber and swings for younger children
• basketball half court for older children

Shelly Row play area

• springy, swing, tot town climber for small children

St Albans Road recreation ground

• football pitch, basketball
• skateboard ramp
• play area for the under 6's with a springy, trin trail, swings, runway, MUGA and mobilns

St Matthew's Piece

• for young children there are springys, swings and a climber
• for older childrne a modular climber, nest swing and a basketball half court

Common-land park since 1898.

St Thomas Square play area

• see saw, swings and a slide

Tenby Close play area

• all ages with springys and a slide

Tennison Road/Ravensworth Gardens play area

• for older children with a tower unit, swings and a springy, for younger children springys and swings

This play area is located on a roof garden.

Thorpe Way/Fison Road play area

• climber, swings and trim trail for younger children
• for older children there are toners, rotating units, swings, a surf rider, runway and full ball court, fitness zone and climbing boulders

Trumpington recreation ground

• slide, swing and springys for young children
• runway, swings and rotating climbing unit for older children
• football pitch is open between September and May
• bowling green

Trumpington recreation ground is a large open space surrounded by housing and known locally as King George's Playing Field, one of 471 public open spaces in Great Britain which registered by the National Playing Fields Association as a dedication to King George V.

Woodhead Drive play area

• swing and a slide

Thank you to Ian Kitching for some of the historical background.