Calderdale’s best parks and playgrounds – recommended by local parents!
My kids love nothing more than tearing around a playground and with lockdown upon us, wide open spaces will be a literal breath of fresh air.
We’ve got our tried and tested favourites, but since Calderdale has so many parks to offer, we asked local parents which playgrounds in Calderdale are the ABSOLUTE BEST, and why.
Please note, these parks weren’t necessarily recommended because they have the latest equipment or are kept in good nick – they are loved for all kinds of reasons, such as grass to roll in, woodland, space to ride bikes and gorgeous views.
So without further ado, here’s what everyone said!
Manor Heath
“There’s loads to do at Manor Heath, especially during the summer when the kids can splash about and pour water around in the splash area. There’s a cafe and Jungle Experience where you can see terrapins and butterflies too. (Please note that Jungle Experience is currently closed due to COVID-19.) My youngest loves to run in and out of the trees and bushes pretending to be Peter Rabbit!”
- Lots of nice equipment in an enclosed area
- Great stretches of grass to run on and bushes to hide in
- There’s a little cafe with seating outside
- Toilets
- Outdoor gym equipment
- Jungle Experience with butterflies, plants, fish and terrapins
- Water play area
- Good for riding your bike or scooter
- Nice formal gardens to sit in
- Lovely views
Manor Heath, Halifax. HX3 0EB.
Hullen Edge, Elland
“It has two fenced play areas which are next to each other. One is more for toddlers, the other for slightly older children with bigger slides, etc.”
- Skate park
- Football pitch
- Lots of green grass to play on
- Good space for riding bikes and scooters
- Good variety of apparatus for children
Hullen Edge, Elland. HX5 0QY
Warley Town Park
“Great climbing frames for kids who are walking but not confident climbers.”
“There is a huge field and some planted fruit trees in the public area.”
- Lots of space for the kids to play
- Lovely views
- Picnic benches
- Great climbing frames
Paradise Lane, Warley Town, Halifax. HX2 7RQ
Beechwood Park
“It’s an amazing area, it has a huge wood, a park, a gym and a pond.”
- Nature Reserve
- Gym equipment
- Woodland
- Lovely greenery
- Play area
- Pond
- Bike track
- Football pitches
- Bowling green
- You might even be able to spot some deer!
- Lovely views
Beechwood Park, Healthy Lane, Halifax. HX2 9UN
Calder Homes Park, Hebden Bridge:
“Sometimes we catch the train, have a walk around Hebden Bridge and along the canal, go to the park, have a picnic and the kids feel like they have been on a day out miles away from home. It’s a cheap day and different scenery”
- Next to the canal so great for walks
- Spacious children’s play area
- Football pitch
- Skate park
- Tennis court
- Basketball court
- Garden areas
- Hebden Bridge is really lovely to walk around with the children
Calder Homes Park. Hebble End, Hebden Bridge. HX7 6HJ
Centre Vale Park, Todmorden
- Animal house
- Lots of open parkland, woodland walks and formal memorial gardens
- Under 12s roadway
- All weather 5-a-side football pitch
- Great play area with a zip wire, space net, inclusive climbing frame and inclusive roundabout
- Outdoor gym
- Skate park
- Cycle way
- Football pitches
- Bowling greens
Centre Vale Park, Burnley Road, Todmorden, OL14 7BS
Crow Wood Park, Sowerby Bridge
“Crow Wood is a lovely smaller park”
- Skate Park
- Play area
- Football field
- Basketball court
- Bowl court
- Tennis/badminton court
- Nice and spacious
Crow Wood Park. Rochdale Road, Sowerby Bridge, HX2 7NP
Norland Park
“It’s got a nice climbing frame and swings, a good zip line and a big field for running. I have heard there are animals to look at nearby too.”
- Gorgeous views and walks nearby on Norland Moor
- Zipline
- Swings
- Climbing frame
- Large picnic benches
- Car park nearby
- Big grassy play area next to the play park – so much space!
Norland Park, Shaw Lane, HX6 3RN
Woodhouse Lane Play Area, Brighouse
“Bits for all ages but could do with the grass cutting a bit more often, it gets a bit lengthy around the toddler bit.”
- Lots of green space
- Lovely activity frame for the little ones with a tunnel and slides
- Baby swings, normal swings and a boat swing
- Big slide
- Big climbing frame
- “Road” for cycling/scooting with zebra crossings
- Climbing wall
- Seesaw and other play equipment
- Fully enclosed
- Picnic benches
Woodhouse Lane Play Area, Brighouse, HD6 (no designated parking)
Carr Green Recreation Ground, Rastrick
“Good for mums with multiples, it’s small, has two swings, it’s fully gated, a really short walk from where you park the car and has a flying fox and race track for running off that extra steam.”
- Nice, gated play area for the little ones
- Short walk from the car park
- Lots of green grass to play on
- Good for bikes too
Carr Green Recreation Ground, Carr Green Lane, Rastrick
“Shibden is a great place to spend a few hours, with a good playground, lake to walk around (and boats to hire during the summer), ducks to feed, a nice cafe, beautiful grounds and loads of woodland to explore. Take change for the car park.”
- Nice enclosed playground with a separate area for the little ones
- Plenty to keep bigger kids happy too (great slide and zip line are favourites in our house)
- Big slide
- Lake to walk around and ducks to feed
- Family-friendly cafe
- Lots of places to have a picnic
- Woodland to explore
- Shibden Hall
- Boats, miniature railway and land train when it’s warm
Shibden Park, Godley Lane, Halifax. HX3 6XG
Wellholme Park, Brighouse
“Fabulous park with lots of equipment and great fields to run around in. It’s right next to Tesco so you can pop in and buy some bits for a picnic”
- Lots of equipment for all ages, separate areas for small and big kids
- Great fields to run around in, play football or walk the dog
- Skate park that’s good
- Good area for bikes and scooters with a road marked on
- Putting green & crazy golf
- Tennis courts
- Cafe
- Lovely flowers during spring and summer
Wellholme Park, Bradford Road, Brighouse. HD6 4AA.
Mount Tabor
“It’s got some nice wooden play equipment (needs attention but safe enough), swings, a massive pile of stacked slabs to climb on, stone picnic bench and a large football pitch. It’s a bit exposed on the tops but amazing views and usually very quiet.”
- Wooden climbing frame with high netting
- Big pile of rocks to climb on
- Willow tunnel
- Large stone picnic table
- Football field with goals
Mount Tabor, Mount Tabor Road, HX2 0UP
Not in Calderdale but definitely worth a visit:
St Ives Estate, Bingley, BD16 1AT: Fabulous and large park with loads of wooden eqiupment, swings, climbing frames, roundabouts, slides, sand and lots more. There is gorgeous woodland to explore and a lake to walk around too. you could easily spend a few hours here. There’s a cafe, toilets and lots of picnic benches.
Greenhead Park, Trinity Street, Huddersfield, HD1 4DT: Lovely, large play areas set in large grounds. Currently everything else is closed, but in non-Covid times there is a paddling pool, zip wire, miniature railway, play tower with a tube slide and tennis courts. The toilets are closed too.
Harold Park, Low Moor, Bradford, BD12 0EW: Green Flag park with a fenced playground, a climbing wall and lovely walks.
Do you have any other suggestions? I’d love to hear about them at [email protected].
Looking for other ways to get outside?
Family-friendly Walks in Calderdale
And here are some ideas for getting kids outdoors more in the cold weather.
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